This shoot was dedicated to Dusk from Arknights. To faithfully convey her cool, ethereal, and immortal aura, extensive effort was invested during early preparations. The wig featured long straight black hair accented with cyan streaks, complete with a delicate side braid styled to mirror the canon design. The custom-crafted cyan-green dragon horns were well-balanced in weight, requiring double-pinning to stay firmly anchored without shifting during movements. For jewelry, I chose earrings and a choker accented with pearls and red tassels—delicate nuances that added delightful visual depth in close-up portraits.
The costume was composed of multiple tiers: a white base layer underneath, an overcoat in cyan jacquard weave with subtle damask patterns, and an outermost layer of semi-sheer white tulle gauze. Because the fabric wrinkles easily, I took deliberate care whenever shifting seated poses to smooth out the skirt hem, ensuring the layers cascaded with an effortless drape. The arm accessories were long cyan-blue gloves accented with red patterns, complemented by a string of blue beads coiled around my right wrist. For the legs, White stockings were paired to harmonize with the overall cool-toned palette.
For props, I prepped a traditional calligraphy brush and a long sword. The brush featured a tactile wooden shaft; holding it while seated cross-legged across the tatami naturally grounded my center of gravity, where a gentle tilt of the head effortlessly evoked serene contemplation. In contrast, the long sword featured a black scabbard traced with gold filigree and a hilt wrapped in crimson cord, carrying far more heft than expected. When holding the hilt with both hands for display, firm wrist control was essential to deliver striking tension without disrupting the garment's clean silhouette.
The studio was styled with classical Chinese elements featuring tatami flooring. The backdrop incorporated wooden folding screens, a circular moon gate, and delicate branches of pink cherry blossoms. The key light was a warm golden hue; falling across the translucent gauze sleeves, it drew out a soft, lustrous sheen from the textiles. The photographer suggested utilizing the props to direct the viewer's gaze—raising the brush beside my cheek or holding the sword horizontally in front of my chest to introduce dynamic foreground lines that broke up flat planes.
Poses were divided into two main moods. When wielding the brush, I relaxed my shoulders, letting my gaze follow the brush tip or lock eyes directly with the camera. When drawing the sword, I kept my spine upright, engaged my wrists, and sharpened my gaze. Seated on the wooden floor with legs folded naturally, the White stockings layered beneath the cyan skirt hem added rich textural contrast to the lower half.
The entire shoot lasted over four hours, with two makeup touch-ups along the way to keep the red eye shadow and lip color vivid and fresh. I am thoroughly pleased with the final color grading: free of over-the-top digital effects, it beautifully preserves the tactile texture of the fabrics. Successfully capturing that poetic duality of scholar and swordsman unique to Dusk made every bit of effort worthwhile.