On the outdoor stairs of Hechai 1972 in Hefei, taking advantage of the midday light, we accomplished the most dynamic photo of this set. The freeze-frame moment of tossing the top hat in Photo 1 is my absolute favorite from this shoot. Through a specific action-capture angle and a bit of post-processing assistance, the magician's top hat appears to float out of thin air, creating a magical visual sensation as if the magic show is about to start and frozen in that exact second.
This time I cosplayed Lynette from Genshin Impact. As one of the magician twins, her overall costume layering is exceptionally rich. The wig is light silver-gray, featuring straight bangs and natural long sideburns. The animal ears on top needed to be securely fixed to the wig cap to ensure they wouldn't shift during the shoot. The black star mark on the side of the cheek is a crucial step in the makeup; every time I draw this mark, I have to strictly manage symmetry and color intensity to prevent it from looking overly abrupt in bright outdoor sunlight.
Regarding costume texture, the jacket utilizes a large black leather corset design, with back and sleeve cuffs stitched with blue gradient-dyed fabric, complemented by a cyan-blue and orange checkered bow tie at the white shirt collar for vivid color contrast. Under natural light, the leather material reflects a wonderful luster, and the subtle stitching textures on the shirt are captured nicely by the lens. However, wearing leather outfits outdoors for extended periods gets somewhat stifling, especially when constantly walking around searching for camera spots, making breathability a small challenge.
One tricky aspect during location shoots is coordinating props. Beyond the top hat, there is a red-and-white folding fan and the animal tail behind me. In Photo 3, leaning against the staircase handrail with one hand lightly touching my cheek and the other holding the folding fan naturally demonstrates the character's elegant and calm side. That fluffy gray tail is actually secured via a waistband during filming; to prevent it from feeling too heavy, a lightweight internal frame was used for support. To avoid dirtying the tail on grass or stairs, I made sure to hold it up during breaks.
Many players also pay close attention to this character's leg accessory details. The Stocking outfit combining black pantyhose with a golden metallic ring thigh garter on the right leg, alongside thick-soled black Martin boots, makes overall proportions look sleeker and longer. When standing on the lawn in Photo 4, direct sunlight caused high reflectivity, requiring us to continually adjust my standing position so light formed pleasing rim highlights across the boot surface and leather miniskirt. Meanwhile, under harsh outdoor sun, facial light-shadow transitions become hard, so we aimed to avoid deep shadows beneath the nose or eye sockets, requiring the photographer to find optimal angles and utilize nearby tree shade or building shelter for soft fill lighting.
The location chosen for this shoot was Hechai 1972. The vintage red brick walls of the old factory, metallic stair handrails, and outdoor grassy slopes created a wonderful contrast with the aura of my magician costume. In Photo 5, shot sitting on the grassy slope, the background red brick architecture was softened by a wide aperture, making the overall image look soft and quiet. Being able to shoot a Genshin Impact character in a venue steeped in history was a uniquely immersive experience.
Completing this location shoot—beyond standard outfit changes, makeup touch-ups, and prop adjustments—spent the most time finding suitable compositional angles. Especially when snap-shooting on stairs in public areas, ensuring safety while maintaining steady expressions and poses was vital. For a cosplayer, every attempt deepens the understanding of the character. Although the process was tiring with numerous props and warm weather, this set of photos under outdoor natural light truly presents the character's subtly playful and mysterious aura. It stands as a genuine record of the energy I poured into this character.