An incident! A white fog incident. The inspiration for this shoot was actually simple: I wanted to recreate Cirno's lively state inside the fog-shrouded forest from Touhou Project. So early in the morning, I scheduled a time with photographer Fengzi Yun and brought our gear directly into a lush botanical garden with dense, untouched vegetation.
The premise for this output was focusing visual center on "environmental atmosphere." To achieve this Tyndall effect light beam look, we not only utilized natural morning sunlight filtering through trees, but also used heavy smoke machines to create thick white fog. Navigating through the fog, light scattered off droplets forming sharp light beams, instantly filling the scene with Gensokyo's magical vibe.
As for outfit adjustments: the water-blue and white color-blocked dress is a classic lore element, but to give it better three-dimensional presence on camera, we thickened the lining. The red bow tie at the collar serves as a finishing touch, adding a vibrant pop of color to the cold-toned surroundings. Pairing white over-the-knee silk stockings with brown chunky heels considers both classic character styling and elongating leg lines under the lens. Looking at the single-leg standing perspective in Photo 2, this combo looks particularly crisp yet detailed within light pillars.
You usually see me looking light and effortless, but during actual shooting, maintaining balance and floatation feel was hardest. Prismatic rainbow crystals in the photos aren't pure post-process special effects, but physical Ice crystal props combined with subtle post-lighting edits. Controlling crystal placements with a wand or holding them single-handedly in Photo 2 required constantly adjusting arm and body angles so crystal refraction caught reflector light just right. By the end, maintaining single-leg balance drained a lot of energy in a short time.
Looking closely at heavy costume details, you'll find many layers of white lace trimmings at the hem. To let the skirt spread naturally during jumps or turns, we built hidden supports underneath. Fluttering in forest breezes and artificial fog movement, the frilled skirt hem captured a vivid flowing motion. Additionally, light blue short hair paired with shell-arranged hair accessories highlighted the hair's cool tone under strong on-site lighting.
Finally, huge thanks to the photographer's quick snapping! Forest light changes every second and fog flows with wind; balancing light, dynamic poses, and keeping floating crystals at perfect reflective angles left very limited shutter opportunities. Thankfully we prepared multiple pose plans—from steady posed positions to lively, playful steps as in Photo 2. It captured optimal light moments while faithfully restoring Cirno's proud yet slightly dorky charm from Touhou Project.
For works like this, costume, makeup, and props are only the first step; making the character "come alive" in specific environments is the real challenge. Blending her lively energy and the Ice Fairy's unique lightness with natural light and shadow inside mysterious forest fog was a thoroughly satisfying creative experience.