[Hamel cosplay] Path to Nowhere's deep-sea dark blue fantasy dream

This time, the cosplay shooting of Hamel from Path to Nowhere was completed outside the CICF Expo. To restore the character's aloof and ethereal temperament of being independent from the deep sea world, I chose a high-saturation light blue long straight wig for the makeup and styling, paired with an exquisite crystal chain headwear. The costume is a specially made white semi-transparent lace gauze dress. Due to the special fabric, it produces a body-hugging drape when wet. The legs are paired with white pearlescent stockings, and the overall color scheme echoes the blue-toned waterscape of the venue.

The shooting location was chosen next to the pool at the outer field of the comic convention. To create the visual effect of floating underwater, we utilized a transparent water tank and cinematic lighting in blue-purple tones. During the actual shoot, I had to hold my breath and lie into the water. The water temperature and the weight of the gauze dress after absorbing water were both significant tests, but in order to present perfect water ripple-refracted light spots, I tried my best to keep my body relaxed and extended. In terms of facial expression control, I abandoned the conventional smile, using a calm and slightly dreamy gaze to fit Hamel's character setting. To showcase the character's skin transparency under light and shadow, I did plenty of moisturizing before makeup and used a body highlighter with subtle shimmer.

The effect of this final set of photos is largely thanks to the post-production editor. With just a tiny bit of post-processing adjustments, the underwater light and shadow atmosphere was magnified to the extreme, and the bubbles and refracted light spots made the frame full of dreaminess. The hardest part of shooting outside the convention is avoiding the surrounding crowds and uncontrollable ambient light. We made many attempts on camera positions and lighting angles, relying on a large aperture and specific lighting methods to make the background completely deep, blocking the hustle and bustle outside the frame.

From early planning, costume preparation to on-site live shooting, the entire process gave me a more multi-dimensional understanding of the character. The mystery and melancholy on Hamel require not only the foil of costumes and scenes, but even more internalization into body language. This challenge of the flowiness of underwater hair and gauze dress also allowed me to accumulate more shooting experience in complex environments. I hope everyone will like this work full of light and shadow tension.