This underwater photo series titled "The Distant Dreamland" features Abigail from Fate/Grand Order. When deciding to take on this theme, I was drawn to the character's innate ethereal, tranquil essence, attempting to materialize that dreamy mood through the transparent medium of water in this Abigail cosplay.
An underwater environment is immensely challenging for a model. This white ruffled bonnet and light-colored costume became quite heavy once soaked, with the fabric generating numerous bubbles, and keeping the blonde hair from tangling underwater was even tougher. Every time I submerged, I had to hold my breath to stabilize my posture while controlling facial micro-expressions. To prevent water currents from disrupting the composition, the photographer and I repeatedly adjusted water levels, lighting positions, and angles. The supine floating angle seen in Photo 3 actually required great core strength and buoyancy control; otherwise, the body easily sinks to the bottom, disrupting the scattered petals.
We experimented with diverse camera angles throughout the session. Photo 4 focuses on the water surface waterline close-up, mainly highlighting the parallel perspective between the eyes and the water surface to convey a sense of fracture between above and below the water; Photo 2's gesture of raising hands to cup water aims to show the Anime girl's gentle interactivity with natural elements underwater. In post-processing, I retained many suspended particles and white petals underwater, as those delicate white foreground elements nicely elevate the atmospheric layering. For lighting, we leaned toward warm amber tones, which—combined with the water's natural refraction—produced shimmering, dreamlike ripples. Retouching this set took considerable time, primarily balancing uniform color temperature and correcting perspective distortions caused by water refraction, ensuring the subject looks natural while preventing background caustics from overpowering the frame. Underwater shots severely test a photographer's shutter timing, as underwater lighting and angles shift dramatically every second; nailing the composition and posture in Photo 3 took countless rounds of trial and error.
Because Abigail's lore leans toward mysterious and gentle grace, I consciously subdued my expressions and avoided exaggerated gestures during the shoot, striving to recreate that ethereal aura. In an enclosed water tank, even subtle water movements become part of the visual dynamics. This environment created a natural protective sanctuary for the character, isolating her from the outside world and making her feel remarkably serene. Once the photos were finalized, the translucent underwater texture matched the character's temperament seamlessly. Although the preparation was exhausting—and shooting meant enduring water in the ears and nose alongside the chill of being soaked—achieving such a dreamy, hazy aesthetic made every bit of hardship worthwhile in this Cosplay photoshoot behind-the-scenes endeavor. I hope this underwater Abigail set brings everyone a unique visual experience!