[Dorothy cosplay] A Clear and Translucent Moment by the Summer Pool | Goddess of Victory: NIKKE

The process of shooting Dorothy's swimsuit look was more challenging than imagined. This outfit with vast areas of white transparent sheer swimsuit, though looking light and flowing, requires quite a bit of care during the actual shoot. In particular, the complex ruffled neckline and the sheer tulle cape at the back tend to absorb water and become heavy once in the water, or stick to the skin and lose their original fluffiness. Therefore, after every angle shot, it was necessary to quickly rearrange the garments to ensure the pleats and layers remained intact.

The location was selected at Tusca Photo Studio, where the environmental color palette is exceptionally clean. Pure white architectural walls paired with the deep blue pool surface form an excellent color contrast, echo, and combination with the bright pink wig and white swimsuit. The utilization of light is the core of this photo set; the abundant sunlight gives the whole composition a Japanese-style clear, translucent atmosphere. Backlighting and side lighting beautifully outline the texture of the semi-transparent sheer fabric, showing a glimpse of skin underneath and creating a refreshing look as if filled with vapor.

Some inflatable props were used this time to enrich the frame. The pink transparent inflatable toys and heart-shaped swim ring are highly eye-catching in the light blue water, which not only added fun to the composition but also helped me execute more natural poses without my hands being empty. The presence of the props provided a support for hand placement; whether gripping the edges or leaning against the side, it allowed my body lines to present a more relaxed state. However, inflatable props are not easily fixed in water, requiring an assistant nearby to help stabilize the center of gravity to pin down the precise pose.

In terms of managing expressions and gaze, I tried a layered style leaning toward sweetness mixed with a touch of coolness, which fits the character's innate temperament setting while appropriately integrating some relaxation of summer leisure. The white swimsuit itself is light; if the demeanor is too tense, it appears stiff. Therefore, even if the sunlight is piercing, I tried my best to maintain a smile or keep a level gaze, embodying that lazy yet ready-to-immerse-in-character feeling.

Shooting in the water heavily tests physical stamina and sharpness toward the lens because the ripples and reflections on the water surface constantly shift, requiring a reconfirmation of whether the composition is stable before every single shutter snap. The light-colored straps tied around my feet are actually a highlight, but since they are only partially exposed, I paid special attention to the extension of my legs when adjusting my sitting pose to keep the lines as smooth as possible.

Unlike conventional studio shoots, an outdoor pool has high requirements for the use and angles of reflectors; a slight misstep can cause the water surface to overexpose or cast heavy shadows on the face. Fortunately, the on-site light was universally translucent, and combined with high-key lighting processing techniques, the final presented effect achieved the expected clarity. Overall, the atmosphere of this photo set is the clear, translucent style I love so much. Although the shooting time spent by the pool was busy, reasonable early preparations and coordination from the live team made the process smooth. Without needing overly complex post-processing, controlling the light, shadow, and portrait upfront can maximally preserve the natural canvas of these anime summer elements.