When shooting this Arknights Shu cosplay, what took the most effort was integrating the tail with the surrounding water scenery. The tail was crafted by my friend Yizhi Junmu, and the reflective texture of the scales caught the light perfectly. Because the entire shoot was set on the water, we chose an antique black-awning boat. On the day of the shoot, we invited photographer British Grand Witch, who excels at capturing natural light and shadow—especially setting up lights from a backlit angle to add an extra layer of depth to the frame.
Maintaining balance on a boat while wearing a heavy wig and intricate garments was harder than expected. The skirt hem easily got messy, so I secured it in advance with snap buttons. The Koi fish in the water were very cooperative; scattering just a little feed brought them swarming over, their vivid colors enriching the frame's color palette significantly. Posing required continuous adjustments to my sitting posture to avoid looking stiff or letting the tail slide off, all while coordinating with the composition of lotus leaves to ensure visual harmony. The black-awning boat gently swayed on the water, so I regulated my breathing to stay steady in front of the lens.
Although I sat by the water all day, got the bottom hem of the costume wet, and felt my legs go slightly numb from holding one pose for so long, seeing the lighting and texture of the RAW shots made all that hard work completely worth it. This Outdoor shoot also deepened my grasp of the character's aura and grace.