This Arknights Iberian seaside-themed photoshoot, from pre-production to the actual shoot, was primarily concentrated within the 30-minute blue hour window, focusing on controlling surface water reflections and the cool-warm color contrast of the lantern.
Before stepping into the water, we tested the water depth, which reached around mid-thigh. The sandy mud underwater was soft, and the clothes grew heavy after soaking in water, making movement rather strenuous. Moving a long staff through water met strong resistance, requiring finding its center of gravity to hold it steady; otherwise, it would easily disturb the water's surface ripples. The first pure side-profile silhouette was shot while waiting for the water to calm, using the long staff cutting horizontally across the frame to extend visual lines. Photographer Ban Yue used a telephoto lens to compress space, bringing sharper focus to the ripples cast by the lantern's glow on the water.
The second photo is a dynamic turning snapshot. Because taking steps in the water was inconvenient, I leveraged waist strength to guide my upper body, letting the hem of the dress flare naturally with a slight curve while angling the long staff downward—using profile contour lines to enhance dynamic motion and avoid a stiff, static look.
The third photo serves as a frontal supplement. As the ambient light grew dimmer, we added a subtle frontal fill light to illuminate the wig and facial contours. The red dress appeared deep burgundy in low light, forming a complementary color relationship with the deep blue-purple water backdrop that made the subject pop. The wig had been styled in advance, but it still sagged slightly under the fine sea mist, so adjustments were made right before shooting.
Regarding gear choice, shutter speed couldn't be too slow when shooting water surfaces, otherwise the ripples would blur into a smear. To capture the texture of shimmering water, a moderate shutter speed was used to retain water textures while allowing natural reflections of the lantern's warm glow. White balance was continuously adjusted as the light shifted to preserve the purity of the blue tones.
Because coastal light changes rapidly, we had to race against time. The shoot was split across two days of wading into the water: the first day was primarily testing the light, discovering that the lantern glow against a deep blue Twilight portrait backdrop looked stunning. However, the heavy, waterlogged costume drained my stamina quickly. On the second day, I readjusted how I gripped the staff, probing footholds in shallow water with the long pole before shooting. This was physically taxing, but it deepened my connection to the character's environment in this Mage cosplay.
During post-processing, we avoided complex composite layering, mainly fine-tuning colors for the water surface and lantern to create a harmonious transition between the red garment edges and the blue-purple water. Since tiny ripples constantly disturbed the water, we took extra shots to select the calmest surface material. This photo set aimed for minimalist composition, using negative space on the water to accentuate props and silhouettes, faithfully recreating that tranquil and isolated ambiance.