This outdoor shoot was chosen at that popular fallen crooked tree in Wenjiang, located in the alley opposite the East Gate of Sichuan Agricultural University Chengdu Campus. Just find the tree numbered 007 and you're there. It's indeed a bit remote, so it's recommended to scout the location in advance if it's your first time.
Chengdu's weather is truly unpredictable. On the day of the shoot, the sun hid away completely, and the light was very flat. To give the character and background a bit of layering, I specifically brought a small light to cast a rim light from behind, barely outlining the silhouette.
Regarding equipment, I used a Sony A7M4 paired with a Sigma 85mm F1.4 lens. This combination is simply divine in cluttered environments like a forest. With the aperture wide open, those lush green leaves and branches instantly turned into a soft, beautiful expanse of large bokeh balls. The background blur is exceptionally clean, making the character pop out immediately. The 85mm focal length doesn't get too close to the model to cause perspective distortion, yet it compresses the background sufficiently, making it highly suitable for alternating between half-body and full-body shots.
Stylistically, I used light green slightly wavy long hair and elf ears props. The overall look follows a clean and light route. The white slip dress and barefoot design were meant to align with the natural, forest-like feel, and a few white faux butterflies were added to the head and hands to increase a touch of agility. During the shoot, I tried several poses: sitting on the fallen tree trunk, standing on branches, and lifting the skirt on the grass, including half-body close-up snapshots. I think the close-up shot (the one chosen for the cover) looks the most natural—holding the butterflies with both hands and having a highly relaxed gaze. The facial features' details were beautifully preserved under the 85mm lens for this elf cosplay.
However, the on-site environment was actually quite cluttered. Besides trees, there was grassland, green fences, and some debris. It relied entirely on the large aperture to blur out those distracting elements to present this final fairytale-like Wizard of Oz effect. In post-color grading, I tried my best to preserve the native greenery, slightly lowering the highlights to make the skin tone appear translucent and fair, with an overall cool and fresh color tone.
This shoot could also be counted as a hands-on experience with the equipment and a large aperture lens in a complex outdoor environment. The sharpness and bokeh transition of the Sigma 85 1.4 are indeed trustworthy. In the future, if the weather is good and sunlight pierces through the leaves, the light and shadow effects should be even more wonderful. If anyone else wants to fulfill a Chengdu photoshoot request at the same spot, remember to bring insect repellent, as there are many bugs in the wild.