Yesterday, I completed this Rei Ayanami cosplay photoshoot set at Beijing Wild Duck Lake. The wind was exceptionally fierce that day, especially in the afternoon, with cold winds blowing directly against my face, stinging my eyes so much that tears kept streaming down. The tear in the first image was completely genuine; the photographer captured that fleeting split second, which was truly no easy feat. Without using eye drops or post-processing edits, the expression and emotion appeared remarkably natural and vivid.
Regarding this Neon Genesis Evangelion shoot, to match Rei Ayanami's inherently cool, aloof temperament, we chose Beijing Wild Duck Lake for its expansive waters and open natural scenery. In the morning, the light was relatively soft as we shot the main uniform sequence—the blue-green pinafore skirt with a white shirt and red ribbon tie, which looked vibrant under natural light. As the wind intensified in the afternoon, both for warmth and to fit a winter setting for the character, I changed into a white down jacket and a blue scarf. The contrast in clothing textures also generated distinct visual effects.
During the shoot, the trickiest element to handle was the wig. Because the wind at Beijing Wild Duck Lake was so strong, the wig was difficult to secure and frequently blown into a mess, though it unexpectedly brought some fantastic dynamic motion. This required the photographer to maintain high focus to catch the optimal shutter moments. The photographer kept seeking ideal angles, hoping to use backlighting to make the blue hair strands translucent while highlighting the plush texture of the scarf. In terms of composition, a telephoto lens with a shallow depth of field was used to blur the lake and woods behind me, letting light filter through foliage into bokeh circles. This Mood portrait approach gave the overall frame an extremely delicate texture, perfectly complementing the character's ethereal and solitary aura.
The shooting process was relatively arduous: because of the frigid temperature and needing to wear light clothing to recreate the character faithfully, my hands and feet were freezing. But to convey Rei Ayanami's subtle sense of detachment on camera, I had to endure the cold wind and keep my facial composure steady. We switched angles multiple times, such as using wooden railings as a foreground or standing right by the water's edge. To capture the exact moments of wind-blown hair, many throwaway shots were taken. This Outdoor photography experience was truly challenging, demanding not only overcoming environmental obstacles but also maintaining form in freezing conditions.
The final photos turned out great; beyond specific close-ups, the intervention of the wind added an authentic touch of bleak serenity to the set. In truth, this was a wonderful experience—in the presence of nature, artificial posed traces are far less moving than occasional, natural outpourings of emotion. These genuine tears were one of the biggest highlights of this shoot, documenting a real instant within a specific environment and endowing this character portrayal with even deeper emotional resonance.