[Rapi Cosplay] GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE's Poolside Snapshot

The natural light by the pool is one of the most ideal conditions for outdoor shoots. This time, I specially chose an outdoor pool with a tropical style to recreate this look. For a character like Rapi, who appears slightly lazy in her daily state but possesses extreme explosive power at critical moments, I hoped the swimwear look could also showcase her unique contrasting charm.

The design of this costume is very clean and sharp. The white T-shirt is patched with blue-green short sleeves, and the number 01 on the chest is an iconic element. The red tie-up bikini on the lower body is one of the visual centers, with the red strings draping naturally around the waist, forming a strong color echo with that eye-catching red long hair. The black choker around the neck and the small black hair clips on top of the head are details that cannot be ignored for accuracy. When I got this outfit, I was thinking that the lightweight feel of the fabric is indeed perfect for a summer vibe. However, to showcase that casual yet slightly damp texture, we didn't actually go directly into the water during the shoot. Instead, we achieved the creation of the feeling through local misting/spraying and status adjustments, cooperating with the ambient lighting.

Outdoor shooting often places very high demands on our work, especially with the high-saturation wig I used this time. Wind is inevitable by the pool; as long as it gets even slightly blown messy, the iconic bangs and hair ends' direction will deform, so I needed to constantly trim and secure it with styling spray. Meanwhile, to present the most ideal body lines under the relatively thin white clothing material, I strictly controlled my diet and engaged in physical training before the shoot. This is because whether it's the forward-leaning posture half-kneeling on the lounge chair or the side-facing backward glance sitting on the edge of the lounger, it heavily tests muscle extension and overall limb stretchiness during our Cosplay photography session.

Cooperating with the photographer was also a challenging yet fun thing. After all, the light changes very quickly at an outdoor pool, and we needed to seize every most natural light moment to capture the sharpness of the gaze. Although it's a vacation-style outfit, I still hoped to retain Rapi's unique traits in my gaze. Therefore, when making eye contact with the lens, I would intentionally maintain a relaxed, even slightly cool aura. The entire shoot lasted from morning until afternoon, consuming a lot of physical energy, and combined with the muggy weather, it was a real test of focus. The surrounding woven rattan lounge chairs and beige sun umbrellas superimposed a great vacation atmosphere onto the frame, while the fountain water splashing continuously by the pool made the image more vivid.

For post-processing, we didn't add overly complex filters or special effects but placed the focus on precise color restoration. For instance, letting the red wig present a more translucent texture under natural light, while balancing the white of the top, the blue-green of the cuffs, and the blue-green of the pool water across the entire image, striving to keep it tidy while maintaining clarity. The focus of this Poolside photoshoot is to present a relaxed, authentic summer state. I hope that in this set of works, everyone can see a Rapi who is casual and relaxed by the waterside, distinct from her combat stance. Capturing these moments felt like a wonderful contribution to my ongoing Anime Street Project.