[Ellen Joe cosplay] The mechanical maid in Zenless Zone Zero, the scythe girl under Cyberpunk neon

For this shoot, based on Ellen Joe's setting in Zenless Zone Zero, I put a lot of thought into recreating those industrial vibes and mechanical details. The costume was made with a slightly shimmering black elastic fabric, with hand-pleated white lace at the neckline and cuffs. To contrast with the rugged weapon, the skirt hem was cut in multiple layers so that it doesn't look too rigid when walking. The silver metal fasteners on the belt were custom-made by a studio with a brushed finish, which, paired with the mechanical modules on the side of the waist, helps stabilize the overall visual center of gravity.

Actually, the most energy-consuming part was the large scythe. The entire frame used EVA foam and PVC pipes, and the blade part was sanded for a long time before being spray-painted with a matte black and silver-gray gradient. The red accent on the connecting joints is a finishing touch. To give it a realistic mechanical articulation feel, I specially installed movable swivel joints so that the angle could be adjusted with one hand while holding it. Holding it up with one hand during shooting was quite a test of arm strength, so the half-kneeling pose was actually more energy-saving and maxed out the visual tension of the weapon.

The scene setup this time also offered great immersion. The venue was piled with old CRT televisions, and when the screens lit up with blue light, that Cyberpunk ruin atmosphere was instantly created. The fluorescent tubes tangled on the ground and the neon warning signs in the background were all set up on the spot. The lighting technician specifically used a cool cyan main light source paired with blue ambient side lights, giving the reflective fabric on the black costume a rippling effect, and the stockings revealed a very fine matte texture under the cold light, which was an unexpected bonus.

In front of the lens, I mainly adjusted a few angles. The half-kneeling pose with a slight head tilt elongates the leg lines while letting the weapon cut across the frame to form a diagonal composition, creating an offensive yet elegant feel. To prevent the frame from looking too crowded, a folding ladder and some messy cables were placed behind me to add a lived-in clutter, which fits the character's lazy yet battle-ready state much better than a clean background.

There was also a small episode during the shoot: the tip of the scythe accidentally hit a television screen. There was a cracking sound at that moment, and everyone thought the screen had shattered. Fortunately, it only left a white scratch, which instead became a natural flaw in the background that didn't even need post-editing. I actually quite like this kind of unexpected realism.

The overall makeup went with a clear, light base plus cool-toned eyeshadow, with the eyeliner slightly elongated, which, combined with the red streaks on the temples of the wig, made the eyes look brighter under the neon lights. The geometric emblem on the headband was also hand-sewn, and because it had to fit the curve of the head, its position was readjusted several times.

Among this set of photos, I selected a few of my favorites. This half-kneeling composition has the highest overall completion; the contrast between the machine wasteland and the exquisite character styling is significant, and the combination of black stockings and mechanical gear turns out great in photos. Finally, huge thanks to the photographer for their patience. Because the ground was uneven, we reshot many times while adjusting leg positions, but the final result was totally worth it.