[Cartethyia Cosplay] The Golden Elf of Wuthering Waves' Rinascita: On-Location Photo Record

This set of Wuthering Waves Cartethyia photos was shot at the Realm of the Gods studio by Guangzhong Photography, and today I'd like to share some of my thoughts and details from the shoot. From the moment I got this costume, I could feel its exquisite design. The black, white, and blue spliced skirt is incredibly stylish, especially the blue translucent ribbons draping from both sides, which take on a seawater-like texture under natural and studio lighting—perfectly matching Rinascita's ocean and breeze themes.

For a look with so many ribbons and a long train, preparation before shooting takes up a large portion of the work. The wig is a custom long braid, which was both my favorite part and the area requiring the most meticulous care during the shoot. The long braid and translucent ribbons tangled together very easily; on the day of the shoot, the photographer and I spent nearly half an hour untangling them to ensure that every spin and swing allowed the hair and fabric to present a natural, airy flow. Although the staff prop looks light in my hand, it actually has a decent weight. To strike that dignified yet dynamic stance—as if casting magic—I had to repeatedly find the right balance points in my arms and wrists to maintain stability the moment the shutter clicked.

Regarding the comment in the thread about it looking a bit like Saber, when I saw that marble white archway and the classical statue holding a water pitcher next to it on set, I also found it quite amusing. Standing on the high platform, with the staff in hand and the cool-toned crystal chandelier behind me, it indeed projected a wonderful blend of a knight and an elf, which was a pleasant, accidental surprise. Compared to a purely soft mage, I think presenting her with a bit of heroism and strength fits another side of the character very well.

The studio environment was also key to these final photos. The setup of the Realm of the Gods has a great sense of depth; the archway and steps allow the model to stand at different heights. Low-angle shots enhanced the character's commanding aura, while eye-level shots meticulously displayed the black splicing design on the chest of the outfit and the metallic texture lines around the waist. To avoid breaking the cool, aloof atmosphere, the base makeup was kept matte, and the lighting was primarily cool-toned white, supplemented by a slight side light to outline the facial contours, making the elf ear ornaments appear exceptionally three-dimensional.

Although it was a solo shoot, we actually encountered quite a few minor episodes, such as the ribbons constantly sweeping against the nearby classical water jug statue, or the hair ornaments shifting with my movements and needing frequent resetting. Fortunately, the photographer's skilled direction and our on-site coordination turned these unexpected situations into fun memories. When finally picking out the photos, I found that several moments truly captured that sense of beautiful isolation. Behind every photo, from the hair and makeup styling to the photographer's on-site direction, and finally the post-processing color grading, we couldn't afford to be careless at any step. Standing in the white hall surrounded by deities with a staff in hand was not only a visual treat but an immersive character experience.