[Arknights Surtr Cosplay] Coral Coast Swimsuit Studio Records

This set of Coral Coast Vivid Summer CW03 swimsuit photos was shot back in the summer of 2023, and it hadn't been formally organized until now. Taking advantage of browsing my hard drive today, I decided to document some details from back then, serving as a complete recap of that shooting experience.

Regarding the core styling of this cosplay, the first things to solve were Surtr's iconic red hair and black horns. The red hair is extremely vibrant. To fit the light and shadow texture of the original setting and illustration as closely as possible, we put a lot of work into the wig trimming. The length of the bangs and the curvature of both sides were adjusted multiple times to maintain a natural and not overly thick layered feel in front of the lens. The black horns were specially custom-made with a lightweight material, secured inside the wig with hairpins during wear. Combined with the red-brownish eyeshadow and dark red colored contacts in the makeup, it blends the character's cool-dashing and charming sides together.

The costume is the main highlight of this shoot. This white off-shoulder bubble-sleeved top has many versions on the market; I chose a style where the fabric texture is relatively structured and wrinkle-resistant, and the lace trim details are exquisitely handled. To make it fit perfectly, the black criss-cross thin straps inside and the structure of the swimsuit needed to be adjusted very carefully to prevent awkward shifts or wrinkles during the shoot. The bottom features a lace-up design, paired with the black ring-shaped thigh straps on both sides of the thighs and the metallic anklet on the ankle. Although these accessories look minimalistic, they segment the visual proportions beautifully in the frame. Paired with the projection of light, the elongation of the leg lines becomes highly clear. Although this look seems to have little fabric, putting it on, taking it off, and making adjustments are exceptionally time-consuming. This is probably the test of a summer swimsuit cosplay for a cosplayer.

Moving on to the studio set for this shoot. The photographer @北方抹茶芝麻糊 was really creative with the scene setup. We selected a light blue backdrop cloth paired with a white semi-translucent sheer curtain, simulating an outdoor seaside atmosphere to the greatest extent while being much more controllable than outdoor natural light. The floor and air were decorated with sunflowers, fluffy reeds, and large faux greenery, fostering a very vibrant summer jungle feel. The wooden-panel patchwork swing and the wooden box branded with the words \"WOODENBOX\" were the core props. During the shoot, I sat or leaned sideways on the swing, sometimes needing to lift a leg, sometimes needing to hold the swing's ropes, assuming a comfortable pose within the limited space while coordinating with the floating white particle effects in the frame to create a dreamlike feel.

Speaking of these photos, Photo 3 is actually a shot I personally love. The composition is highly balanced, with the subject comfortably at the center of the frame instead of being at the edge and risking getting cropped. Leaning slightly backward with my hand resting on the side of my knee, the visual focus lands right on the waist and thigh ring positions. The light beams down from the top-diagonal angle, showcasing the fair skin and the layers of the costume to their absolute fullest. This slightly lazy sitting posture actually heavily tests the core control of the body—both appearing relaxed and ensuring the posture doesn't look sloppy, with the barefoot adornment perfectly matching the effortless ease of a summer vacation.

Looking back at these pieces, although nearly two years have passed, I can still clearly recall my state on the day of the shoot. The high temperatures of summer, the stuffiness of the wig, and restarting countless times just to fine-tune a single strand of hair or a skirt hem angle—all of these turn into worth it the moment the final photos come out. For the offline recreation of 2D characters, I always hope to inject some aesthetics fitting portrait photography while preserving the original setting's atmosphere, allowing the audience to feel that \"if this character existed here, she would probably have this kind of charm.\" This time, the light blue tones paired with warm-colored flowers achieved a blend of hot and cold, completely free of abrupt stiffness.

This set was shot from several different camera angles, and the ones shared with you today are my personal favorites. Thank you to the photographer's patient guidance and the meticulous post-processing. For cosplay enthusiasts who love an outdoor feel or forest style combined with swimsuit elements, this scene setup serves as an excellent refreshing summer reference.