Taking advantage of the great weather today, I headed out to shoot a preview of Exusiai the New Covenant from Arknights. The red wig was meticulously trimmed and styled, while for makeup, I specifically chose red contacts with subtle orange highlights, paired with eye makeup to accentuate my eyes. For the outfit, the white embroidered top features crisp textures spliced with a black leather cropped jacket, and the flared cuffs closely mirror the original art. The silver chest emblem and red cords are the focal points of the ensemble. On the bottom, white stockings are combined with tactical straps and chunky black Martin boots, fitting the post-apocalyptic ruin style perfectly.
The prop team crafted that massive black weapon with a metallic finish and weathered weathering, giving it serious heft in hand. The shoot was located in an abandoned industrial zone, backed by massive iron scaffolding and the distant city skyline. Catching sunset just in time, the sun sat directly behind me to create powerful backlighting. In my right hand, I held a glowing prop to carve out sharp silhouettes in the backlight, while steadying the greatsword with my left hand. To nail this backlit setup, we tested multiple angles on site, using reflectors and flashlights to fill in facial shadows. Illuminated by the rim lighting, the glowing edges of the red hair had a breathtaking translucence.
Throughout the session, the wind tousled my red hair and the ribbons on the garment hemline, creating vivid dynamic movement. This blend of industrial ruins and sunset resonated perfectly with Exusiai the New Covenant's concept. Shot with a wide aperture, the distant structures and steel girders blurred softly into the background, making the subject pop. The white stockings caught a warm gleam in the fading sunlight, unifying the overall palette. Until the earth turns into an apple, this preview set captured that exact coexistence of desolation and vital spark in my heart. In color grading, we slightly enhanced the orange-red twilight and boosted contrast to add dimensional richness to the frames.
To prevent underexposing my face during shooting, we positioned a warm fill light in front of the camera. The outfit had countless intricate details that took considerable time to put on and adjust, and the greatsword prop was quite heavy. Yet seeing the final frames made every effort worthwhile. I hope this showcases another dimension of Exusiai the New Covenant; the full photos are currently undergoing retouching and will be ready soon. The location scouting was truly incredible—sunset lasts only a brief window, so we raced against the clock and caught the golden light at its peak, leaving me with a deep sense of accomplishment. I strove to faithfully recreate every detail of Exusiai, from the curve of the wig to the garment textures. I hope everyone can feel that dedication.
The shoot lasted from afternoon into the dusk hours; with the sun's angle shifting rapidly, we continually adjusted our positions. The sheer weight of the greatsword required solid core strength to wield one-handed, but the resulting posture looked undeniably fierce. The white stockings also required frequent adjustments when crouching and standing to prevent slipping—small details that mattered during shooting. Ultimately, the evocative atmosphere woven between the ruin style landscape and the setting sun made those hours of hard work entirely worthwhile. I hope this preview gives everyone an early taste of the upcoming full set's atmosphere.