[Astesia Cosplay] Astesia in Arknights, Happy Birthday to the Waterfowl in the Hall

Today is a special day, not only because the shooting schedule was completed as planned, but also because it happens to be the birthday of the character Astesia. Just as written in the post, I have brought the complete cosplay photoshoot for Astesia's "Waterfowl in the Hall" outfit from Arknights this time.

I initially chose to shoot this set because the character Astesia has always enjoyed high popularity among the player community; she is elegant, mysterious, and possesses a unique temperament of being both a scholar and a combatant. Her "Waterfowl in the Hall" skin pushes this sense of gorgeousness to the absolute limit. Paired with scenes featuring stained glass windows, vintage birdcages, and candles, it feels as if I am truly stepping into that fantasy-colored hall within the game.

To present the best possible result, I spent a lot of thought on the makeup and hair styling. The dark blue curly hair was quite challenging, requiring the layers to be smoothed out and the exquisite headpiece to be properly secured. The costume is the highlight of this look; the blue-and-white gradient skirt hem is not only lightweight but also carries a strong sense of layering. The upper body is an interwoven mix of fine white tulle and lace, combined with black sheer half-sleeves, subtly revealing a dreamlike quality. Of course, my favorite part of the entire costume is still that pair of white over-the-knee socks that highly match the character, along with the footwear featuring dark blue elements, which beautifully elongates the leg lines visually and presents an elegant extension of the limbs. To fit the character's setting more closely, I also wore white gloves as required, holding that specially made prop sword with a star-shaped handguard.

The lighting on the shooting day heavily tested the photographer's skills. Because the background consisted of blue-and-yellow stained glass windows, front fill light was required to balance the contrast between the face and the background. The photographer utilized different camera positions to capture various feelings. We tried low-angle shots to express the tension when she swings her sword, used eye-level perspectives to showcase the complete design of the entire costume, and even climbed to a high place for a bird's-eye view to create a serene atmosphere as if she were peacefully resting in the hall. The cover image I selected is a full-body shot from an eye-level perspective, which I absolutely love because it most completely displays the details of this costume—from the overall blue tone to the white over-the-knee socks, and then to the heavily metallic-textured long sword in hand. The character's stance is also just right, looking un-stiff while embodying her combat capabilities and nobility as an operator. This is what makes high-quality cosplay photography so rewarding.

During the shooting process, we actually encountered quite a few challenges. For example, the church-style floor was relatively slippery, so wearing high heels meant having to maintain my center of gravity at all times while keeping up with expression management. Shooting through it was definitely a test of physical stamina. But as a coser, being able to restore the classic image of a beloved character as much as possible in a real venue, and using such a set of works to celebrate her birthday on this very day, leaves my heart filled with immense satisfaction and emotion during this roleplay.

The props on set this time were also very rich, with exquisite birdcages and faux flowers building an excellent narrative feel. To echo some elements from her original setting, the white feather props we specially prepared served as a focal point in another image's shoot; combined with the bird's-eye perspective, it felt exactly like an elegant waterfowl resting in the hall.

Regarding the post-processing color grading, we primarily focused on color restoration for the background stained glass, making the blue and yellow more translucent, while adjusting the figure's skin tone to be fairer and clearer to fit the exquisite and slightly cool art style consistent with the game Arknights. I didn't want excessive skin smoothing in post-processing, retaining some authentic textures so that it wouldn't look "like a mannequin."

Finaly, on this birthday celebration day, I simply want to purely express my love for this character. Behind every set of works lies the hard work of the team members—from trimming the wig and mending the costume to adjusting the lighting on-site and arranging the props, it is all the result of everyone's combined efforts. Although the process was arduous, the moment I saw the final product, I felt everything was completely worth it. I hope this photoshoot can bring everyone a visual experience of different facets of the character Astesia. May this Waterfowl in the Hall continue to shine brightly in her own story. For me, this is also another important attempt and record along my long cosplay journey.