This set of Ryuge Kisaki looks has really made me look forward to it for a long time. From getting the costume to finalizing the real-scene shoot, we prepared for nearly a week, repeatedly confirming every detail several times.
The deep blue high-slit Qipao fabric selected a glossy satin material, and the golden dragon embroidery is extremely fine. The auspicious dragon pattern on the chest, cooperating with the stand collar and that blue Chinese frog button, presents an introverted nobility. The outer long striped jacket is one of the souls of this look; it can not only adapt to action switches under different scenes, but its wide silhouette can also visually modify the body shape. The moment I put it on, it truly carried that sense of the leader's awe-inspiring presence.
The white styled headpiece and black double-bun hairstyle on top of the head beautifully reproduced the character's clean-cut yet traditionally charming traits. The whole body is also enhanced by black short gloves, along with the iconic black tights and high heels. The Black tights outfit paired with high heels greatly elongated the leg lines. Under low-angle or side-sitting perspectives, cooperating with the high slit of the Qipao, the visual impact is indeed highly powerful.
When shooting sitting and standing poses, I deliberately kept my waist and back upright, because the character's temperament carries a calm sense of control. The sitting pose in Image 2 was guided by the photographer; sitting on a wooden stool with legs crossed, with the right leg slightly extending forward, which both shows leg length and avoids making the overall center of gravity look heavy.
I really love the set design of this shoot. Traditional Japanese shoji doors served as the background, with blue silhouettes of plants projected onto them, creating a cool and dim atmosphere. Meanwhile, two ancient paper lanterns emitted a warm yellow glow. The photographer @红白 controlled the on-site light very precisely, just happening to utilize this interwoven hot-and-cool light and shadow to let the metal dragon patterns on the costume reflect a soft sheen. The black Qipao displayed a premium satin texture under the illumination, making the entire frame look as if frozen on a quiet night. This is the essence of Chinese-style photography.
In fact, when shooting characters with an Eastern classical aura, the hardest part is not the standing pose, but the conveyance of the gaze. To display that composed and serene feeling in front of the lens, I practiced slight eyebrow-raising and slightly drooped eyelids in front of the mirror for a long time. During the shooting process, whenever the photographer called out "Don't move," "This look is great," I was trying hard to control the relaxation of my facial muscles, striving to make every frame fit the character setting.
Shooting this set of photos actually heavily tests physical strength and endurance, because one must both maintain an upright posture and let the jacket drape naturally, while also taking into account the focus of the gaze under the lantern light. Sometimes, to capture a just-right lantern reflection effect on the skirt hem, we needed to repeatedly adjust the camera position and my sitting angle. This process of striving for perfection is exactly one of the most attractive parts of Cosplay to me.
The final presentation effect of this set of photos exceeded my expectations. From the costume texture, the unity of makeup and styling, to the harmony of environmental light and shadow, it all presents a restrained yet exquisite Eastern aesthetic. I hope these moments I captured can convey the unique tranquility and sense of power of this look.