[Ch'en cosplay] Arknights Lungmen Guard Department Swordsman Frozen Between Mountains and Waters

In Lungmen, I deeply understand that every swing of the sword must point directly to the core of the problem; while in real-life shooting locations, every press of the shutter must precisely grasp light and shadow. This outdoor photography trip finally brought Madam Ch'en out of the city and into this realm of mountains and waters.

The most brilliant part of this outfit lies in the combination of the bamboo hat and the blue-violet long hair. Paired with the long trench coat featuring black-and-white checks and red-and-black color-blocking, it is actually quite easy to capture a heavy, rich texture under the strong natural outdoor light. But precisely thanks to the diffuse reflection of natural light formed by the mountains and the water surface, the glossy lacquer finish of the prop scabbard and the texture of the clothing fabric were captured very clearly.

For this trip, I brought the Sony A7R5. The camera body's high dynamic range played a huge role when dealing with this high-contrast environment. It was paired with the Sigma 24-70mm DG DN II to capture wide panoramic views integrating the environment, and then swapped for the 85mm GM2 to emphasize close-up details. For instance, that final sitting pose with a raised leg is full of dynamic energy, frozen in the lens perfectly fitting Ch'en's sharp yet composed swordsman posture.

In such an open outdoor scene, maintaining the extension of movements and a sense of interaction with the props is very important. Even the detail of the sword reflecting light can make the 2D character look more full of vitality. Although lugging heavy gear and props around the rocky beach to find camera angles really tested my physical stamina, the moment the sunlight spilled onto the blade truly interpreted the unique composure and calmness of this character.