With nighttime neon signs interweaving with cool blue streetlights, we stepped onto the mottled red-brick pavement to complete this outdoor shoot for the Lungmen Guard Department duo. This time, we portrayed Hoshiguma cosplay and Ch'en cosplay from Arknights. To faithfully recreate that cold, austere atmosphere from the canon lore, we dedicated considerable effort to location scouting and lighting design.
First, let's talk about the hair, makeup, and styling. My wig was styled in a teal-green shade, and the single horn on the headpiece was carefully adjusted so it wouldn't look awkward during low-angle upward shots. For the costume, I chose a combat uniform made of spliced black leather with a matte finish. Since cool-toned nighttime light sources can easily create harsh glare on glossy leather, the photography team and we deliberately avoided heavy direct fill lighting, relying instead on streetlights and neon signs to create vibrant color contrasts, achieving a cyberpunk-style lighting effect. The triangular shield in my hand was genuinely heavy; the silver beast-head relief at the center had real heft, and holding it steady in one hand while maintaining my pose was a true test of arm and core strength.
Ch'en's styling next to me looked equally sharp—straight deep blue-purple long hair crowned with dragon horns, paired with red contact lenses and a striking contrast of a white inner shirt with an orange necktie, making her look exceptionally eye-catching. The red sword in her hand formed a wonderful visual dialogue with my silver blade. Because Ch'en's outfit features more strap elements and knee-high black boots, low-angle shots elongated her leg lines and overall body proportions beautifully, lending her combat stance an elongated, high-tension silhouette.
This shoot truly tested our chemistry as a duo, as the characters of the Lungmen Guard Department are designed as battle-hardened partners bound by mutual trust. To achieve the diagonal composition in Photo 4—where I semi-crouched on the left lowering my center of gravity on defense while she raised one leg, brandishing her weapon with both hands ready to strike—we ran through multiple takes. We needed to ensure the props didn't obscure our faces while catching the cool sheen of light glinting off the blade. Moss growing between the cracks in the pavement pavers under the cool filter maximized the scene's oppressive tension.
The storefront signs and traffic lights in the background were all captured on location without digital compositing, and this authentic street-level realism resonated even more naturally with the concept of a Nomadic City. Even though the shoot was long, walking back and forth in leather boots and heavy gear until our feet went numb, seeing the final images made it completely worthwhile. Special thanks to photographers @叙拉古黑帮尚雪兔 and @SEN for their stellar teamwork in controlling on-set lighting and angles, as well as the support crew who helped hold reflectors and carry props. Experiencing an authentic night shoot with dynamic duo interaction was fantastic, and through this cosplay journey, I gained a deeper appreciation for the character's steadfast reliability. Roaming the streets in full gear and wigs is no easy feat, but every detail was well worth our dedication to the craft.