As the clock struck 5.4, Nightingale's birthday merged with the celebratory atmosphere of Arknights' 7th anniversary. Putting on the full look for this "Elegy skin," a quiet and slightly distant aura instantly wrapped around me. A lot of effort went into preparing the outfit and props, especially the long staff carrying a glowing lantern—though it looked light, using it as a support point during shooting heavily tested arm stability. The black curved horns paired with the lace veil created a strong visual contrast. To match this dark yet holy style, the eye makeup emphasized reddish smudging around the eyes, which paired with the heterochromatic blue eyes to faithfully restore the character's slightly lost yet resolute expression.
Regarding today's location, we opted for a retro American dark-toned interior. The wooden staircase corner, solid wood cabinet, and vintage fan became natural backdrops. Sitting on the sofa with that exquisite small teacup in hand, I felt a long-lost tranquility, as if entering an old time isolated from the outside world. The highlights on the long white hair and the puffy black-and-white skirt hem showed rich textures under the dark lighting. The black straps printed with "FOLLOWERS" added layers to the costume and presented a beautiful sense of flow during candid dynamic shots.
Shooting this style actually required the most effort in light and shadow scheduling. We had to let the lantern emit a warm glow to accentuate the character while ensuring the overall dark ambient atmosphere wasn't ruined. The photographer and I went through reference shots many times before settling on this clear-subject warm yellow effect. The outfit itself features a patchwork of lace and chiffon; walking around created a fluttering feel, so even though these photos are static freeze-frames, every skirt fold stacking and placement was repeatedly adjusted.
I'm thrilled to present this special look under the "Critical Phase Transition" theme through the lens on the occasion of the 7th anniversary and her birthday. The deadwood and branch elements on the props paired with the lantern symbolize both a withered tranquility and a firefly-like guidance for the road ahead. Whether sitting gracefully on the stairs or standing frozen with the staff, every pose attempted to capture the unique aura of this character before the lens. Looking through the behind-the-scenes raw photos, every image seems to hold commemorative significance for this special milestone.
Regarding the design of this "Elegy skin," I was deeply touched by the black-and-white interwoven dark fairytale feel when receiving the physical costume and props. The hollow lace texture and lace edge embroidery added physical refinement while faithfully restoring the in-game art. Especially the small black bow tie at the collar paired with gold buttons served as a bright visual highlight against the black-and-white palette.
Since the character requires black horns and a white wig, framing and angles posed a small challenge. The horns needed to show naturally without the wig overly piling up and hiding facial contours. Thus, I tried many hair arrangements before deciding on the current layered curl at the hair ends, which preserved wig weight while letting strands fall naturally on both shoulders, perfectly matching the fluttering feel in the original illustration. My favorite is the close-up set on the chair—that small teacup with vintage floral patterns was truly a finishing touch. Holding it felt magical, as if transforming into the owner of an ancient castle sipping afternoon tea under dim candlelight. Appropriately, the name "Elegy" itself carries meanings of life, remembrance, and guardianship, unexpectedly coinciding with my emotion. Under the lantern's glow, light and shadow intersected on the skirt and cuffs; the white chiffon fabric appeared exceptionally soft, while the black underskirt and leather belt added a sense of restraint—this contrast between softness and firmness is precisely what attracts me most about this character.
Finally, I must marvel at Arknights reaching its 7th anniversary. Participating in this event full of creator passion and interpreting my favorite character in my own way is a truly blissful experience. During pre-shoot preparations, I referenced many works with similar settings, hoping to create our own visual style while restoring the original art feel. The prop maker was meticulous; whether it was the metallic handle of the lantern or the star pendant wrapped around the staff's end, every detail brought surprises during the shoot. Every shutter click felt like a brief dialogue with the character. After such long preparation, seeing the final photos made everything worth it. I hope these photos convey that quiet yet resolute strength.