This photoshoot features the swimsuit outfit of Surtr from Arknights, set by the poolside of a resort. The shoot was scheduled for the half-hour right before sunset, when the lighting boasts wonderful layered depth. Because it was backlit, to preserve the translucency of the red wig while ensuring even lighting across the face, I set up a reflector slightly off to the front-side. The raw shots came out warm-toned, perfectly matching the summer evening ambiance; post-processing only involved subtle fine-tuning without heavy color repainting. The wig was chosen in a matte finish to prevent excessive shine under natural sunlight, lending a more textured look on camera. The black horn props tended to reflect side lighting easily, so I treated their surfaces beforehand with a sponge for a matte finish to look more realistic. The white cover-up is made of sheer, translucent fabric layered over the black swimsuit—this black-and-white contrast under backlighting enhances the silhouette's contours.
For posing, I drew inspiration from the poolside lounging theme. Photo 1 shows me prone on the artificial beach, bracing on the sand with both hands and bending my legs upward—a pose that elongates leg lines while capturing the relaxed state of a vacation. Photo 2 is a side-lying pose resting body weight on one arm, which demands clean abdominal lines, requiring tightening the core while keeping the shoulders and neck relaxed. Because the artificial sand was fine and soft, lying on it was comfortable, allowing me to adjust poses with ease. A major focus during shooting was communicating through eye contact; due to the angles, without precise eye gaze control, the frame could easily look vacant.
The set arrangement on site was minimalist without cluttered props, primarily blurring the background palm trees and pool to keep the focus firmly on the character. Post-processing mainly smoothed skin textures to emulate a clear, luminous 2D complexion. With substantial backlighting across the frame, suppressing blown-out highlights was necessary to prevent overexposure while selectively boosting brightness to elevate contrast between the white sheer fabric and the sand. The final photos preserved the natural transition of twilight sunlight while showcasing the compelling contrast between the character's cool allure and the leisurely summer vibe. I hesitated slightly when picking the cover: Photo 1 felt more expansive and aligned with holiday ease, so I chose it as the cover, whereas Photo 2 appeared more focused. Significant effort was invested from pre-production to post-retouching, allowing me to accumulate valuable experience in natural light photography. Hope this photo set delivers a satisfying visual experience for this Summer Film.