Taking advantage of the recent weather, I'd like to share this off-season seaside photoshoot. This time I shot Surtr cosplay from Arknights, wearing that white gauze Beach swimwear set. Although the photos look warm under the setting sun, the sea breeze was howling and the temperature was freezing during the actual shoot, giving me a true taste of being an 'off-season warrior.'
During pre-production, I brought Surtr's red wig and her iconic curved black horns. The outfit itself is extremely lightweight; to capture the airy feel of 2D Beach swimwear, the fabric uses semi-sheer white gauze. Wearing this kind of clothing by the seaside in low temperatures was a serious test of endurance. Because the sea breeze was so fierce, securing the wig to keep it from blowing wild took substantial effort, and the black horns required constant angle adjustments to avoid exposing the base mounts.
Choosing to shoot in the evening was mainly to use the warm sunset light to neutralize the cold tones of off-season shooting, even though the temperature had dropped significantly by then. Photo 1 features a composition leaning against a wooden piling, using backlighting across the hair and body contours to bring out a languid glow; big thanks to the photographer for the delicate handling of light and shadow in post-processing. Photo 2 shows a reclining pose on a hammock; with the strong wind, blowing hair actually added natural dynamism without deliberate posing—the wind became an organic dynamic prop.
Throughout the shoot, I also had to watch my barefoot stance on the sand; being barefoot on cold, hard sand meant rushing to slip into a coat whenever the photographer adjusted camera settings. When sitting on the sand, extending the leg lines was essential to merge the Beach swimwear's silhouette with the character's relaxed, languid aura. Despite the grueling process, seeing the RAW captures made everything feel worthwhile. This costume has many subtle details—the translucency of the sheer gauze and the tension of the straps directly affect the perceived texture, so almost the entire session was spent fine-tuning details.
Maintaining sharp eye gaze control was crucial during shooting; strong sea winds easily make you squint, so disciplined facial expression management was necessary to project that cool, serene, yet relaxed mood.
This photo series primarily aimed to highlight Surtr's cool, alluring, yet powerful aura. Though dressed in Beach swimwear, the icy off-season breeze actually amplified that innate chill to another level. Combined with wooden pilings and hammock props, it felt like an intimate coastal vacation space with great Atmosphere.
Finally, heartfelt thanks to the photographer for their dedication—not only scouting camera angles in the bitter cold wind, but also continuously helping me manage lighting angles. The warmth emanating from the photos was entirely sustained by the light, color, and Atmosphere. Hope everyone enjoys this Surtr winter beach journal—it was truly an unforgettable shooting experience.