[Seele cosplay] Honkai Impact 3rd Herrscher of Rebirth: Butterfly of shadow upon the frozen throne

The preparation cycle for this Herrscher of Rebirth shoot was indeed quite extensive. Before finalizing the studio plan, the photographer and I studied the character's reference sheets for a long time. That chilly temperament laden with mysterious imposing presence was the core of this shoot. To restore that intertwined ice-and-snow ambiance within the frame as much as possible, we constructed a special effects studio set indoors. A great deal of thought went into staging the studio: abundant reflective tin foil and blue plastic sheeting were spliced together to simulate the refractive textures of ice walls and snowfields. Added with white branch props along the edges and cloud bases, combined with overhead lighting, that scattered lighting atmosphere of fractured ice gradually emerged.

The garment details were another key focus of this shoot. The top of this costume features an off-the-shoulder strappy design; combined with separate white sleeve covers and a choker, it had to be adjusted to a perfectly snug fit, ensuring it wouldn't slip during posing while maintaining an airy lightness. The skirt hem is composed of multiple tiers of petal-shaped fabrics layered together, with edges bearing blue-to-black gradient blocks. Because the fabric is relatively stiff, posing had its limitations, but this coincidentally restricted movement amplitude, making the overall posture align better with the character's detached, calm, and stoic demeanor.

Styling and trimming the wig took considerable time. The gradient transition from dark blue to light blue needed to be combed out very evenly, and the white hair accessories on top were secured firmly with hairspray and bobby pins. The colored contact lenses were chosen in a cool-toned blue, paired with a clean yet contoured eye makeup look to approach the character's unearthly, ethereal state as closely as possible.

The prop lance was remarkably heavy. The texture of the long shaft and the blade details at the top looked fantastic under the lights. Lifting it with one hand or both during shooting demanded core strength for stability while keeping facial expressions controlled. The pose in Photo 2—crossing one leg and taking off shoes to go barefoot—was a spontaneous decision during shooting. That semi-sheer tulle stocking with white patterns on the legs beautifully complemented the leg lines against the ice-reflective setting, softening the image while adding a touch of effortless ease.

Lighting control on set also put coordination to the test. We utilized strong rim backlight filtering through the window as the key light source, constantly tweaking body orientation during shooting to keep facial contours crisp. The low-angle perspective in Photo 3 is one of my favorite angles: using lens distortion to lengthen the visual extension of the lance, paired with a slightly reclining posture, the aura projected outward much more powerfully; meanwhile, fully spreading the skirt hem across the base resonated with the ice crystal decor, making the composition exceptionally full.

Although the temperature inside the studio wasn't low, wearing this costume, holding props, and repeatedly adjusting postures was quite physically demanding. Yet seeing how seamlessly that cold ice-and-snow mood in the final shots harmonized with the character setting made all the effort feel worthwhile. Being able to showcase the Herrscher of Rebirth Seele's serene yet powerfully potent state in my own way was a thoroughly enjoyable creative journey.