[Cartethyia Cosplay] Elven Ballad of the Night Wind and Lake Water

Choosing to shoot this set of photos by the waterside in the evening, the light was right at the transition into twilight blue. The sample calm lake water in the background reflected the deep blue of dusk, coordinating with the cool-toned blue-and-white gradient cape to create a highly cohesive overall atmosphere. When I received this outfit, what amazed me most was the fabric of the cape on the back; its semi-transparent texture creates rich layers when puffed up by the wind, exhibiting a highly delicate luster even away from harsh light.

To match the character's aloof temperament, I specially chose light blue color contacts for the makeup, paired with that small metal forehead ornament that shimmered beautifully under the side-backlight. For the wig, a light golden double braided plait look was selected. The wind was actually quite strong while shooting by the lake, and it was entirely thanks to applying strong setting spray in advance that the bangs and braids didn't tangle into a complete mess. Producing the elf ears also took a lot of thought; I used foundation and concealer to blend the edges with my skin tone, so after putting them on, they didn't look abrupt from either the front or the side, but instead framed my face nicely.

For the shoot, we chose a silver aluminum alloy folding ladder as a prop, which was actually a spontaneous decision. Since the outdoor grass was relatively short, standing directly or sitting on the ground would easily make the character look squished and short. After sitting on this ladder, my line of sight was slightly elevated, and my body's center of gravity could naturally relax, crossing my left leg over the right one. This allowed for many extended poses without feeling rigid at all. For example, the feeling in my first photo where my hand is slightly raised as if trying to grasp the gentle breeze is incredibly effective when shot while sitting high up on the ladder.

Speaking of props, that longsword was also a centerpiece of the entire costume. The hilt and guard were covered with pink flowers, bead strings, and metal chains, creating complex yet well-layered details. While shooting the second picture, propping this sword with one hand, I could feel its distinct weight, which translated into a steady, grounded aura in the photographs. However, holding it also brought a minor annoyance—those little chains were exceptionally prone to catching on loose threads of the outfit or my fingers, and I always had to spend a lot of effort during shooting intervals untangling them one by one.

The greatest difficulty in this night portrait photography is actually the uncertainty of the weather and environment. Nearing evening, the wind by the lake fluctuated in intensity. Sometimes a gust would blow the cape right into my face, making it impossible to even open my eyes. Fortunately, the photographer understood my rhythm perfectly, and we crouched down to capture snapshots during those few seconds of intervals when the wind died down. Luckily, the exact moment the wind whipped the cape up formed a wonderful dynamic-meets-static visual effect with the darkening blue lake water in the background, looking far from cluttered while adding a touch of elegance.

I normally really love this kind of pure, natural outdoor setting that doesn't require much artificial construction; as long as there is water, grass, and twilight, the simple light and wind can bring out the character's charm via this blue-themed outdoor cosplay. Although I was a bit disheveled from being blown around by the wind this time, seeing the moments frozen inside the camera—the wind-blown hair strands and skirt hem, along with the faint, delicate clinking of the metal chains hitting each other—filled these few photos with immense vitality. Leaving the texture of an outfit, the essence of a fantasy character recreation, and the weather atmosphere of the shooting day in the photographs is a highly comfortable way to keep a record.