[Venti cosplay] The Wind Brings Seeds of Stories, Taking Root in Homeland Mondstadt

Heading back to my hometown for Lunar New Year, I brought my Venti gear along—the local windmills and ponds were truly a natural match for Mondstadt, and it would have been a waste not to shoot here. Taking advantage of the holiday leisure, I scouted the area and found that the dry grass combined with the diffused lighting of an overcast sky felt exceptionally soft. Without direct sunlight, there were no harsh shadows, making the green-and-white color palette look wonderfully clean.

First, about the makeup and styling: Venti's wig features two long braids, and this time I intentionally braided them tightly so they wouldn't unravel when crouching. The white flower and green leaves on the hat were sourced separately and were very lightweight, so I didn't have to worry about the hat drooping. The outfit has multiple layered tiers; the lace and gold trim at the collar required the most meticulous care, while the corset had to be cinched just right to keep my posture upright. On my legs were white stockings paired with short boots, maintaining balanced, sleek lines when crouching. Before heading out, I carefully checked the sound holes on the prop lyre for any scratches or dents, as taking wooden props out for outdoor cosplay photography always carries some risk.

We spent a long time exploring poses before settling on a crouch. The core of this crouching posture is weight control: placing my left hand on the ground and leaning forward slightly to the left not only makes the body look lighter, but also clearly outlines the side profile so it doesn't look like a hunched ball. Cradling the lyre in my right arm and posing as if plucking strings, combined with facial expressions, immediately brought the vibe to life. Relaxing the shoulders was essential to prevent stiffness. The photographer guided my head angles throughout, ensuring the leaves and floral accents on the hat had a strong presence in the frame, while the windmill in the background stayed out of focus, creating a gorgeous blurred background with rich depth.

Shooting in the chilly wind took about an hour. Though I was shivering, the final results were ideal. Venti is an itinerant bard who wanders across the world, and this casual moment of crouching alone amidst the wild meadow perfectly captures his breezy narrative aura. Post-processing mainly focused on color grading without drastically altering the natural environment or lighting, preserving the authentic mood. During the shoot, noticing subtle morning dew and moisture on the grass, I naturally touched my fingers to the tips of grass near the water. The texture of the prop lyre combined with the grayish-white diffuse overcast light maximized the atmospheric charm.

This photoshoot was largely an expression of self-enjoyment. I'm delighted to have interpreted this character in my own way in my hometown over the holidays—bringing the character into a real-life environment was a fascinating experience and an unforgettable, relaxing trip. The low temperatures made the costume fabric stiffen up, requiring sheer willpower to finish, but capturing highly satisfying shots beneath the windmill gave an incredible sense of achievement. Looking back at these photos, the synergy between light, shadow, and costume far exceeded expectations. Lastly, a quick safety note on outdoor shoots: damp, muddy lawns require care to keep wigs and hems clean—especially white stockings, which benefit from keeping a bottle of water handy to wipe off dirt. Also, warm up before winter outdoor shoots, as this outfit offers zero protection against freezing winds. While it took quite an effort, the overall experience left me deeply satisfied, serving as a unique record of my hometown's scenery.