This photoshoot was set in the forest. To complement the styling of Arknights Exusiai the New Covenant cosplay and the Song of Seeking Wings theme, I specifically chose a natural woodland with complex lighting conditions. The red hair and black pointed hat created a vivid contrast against the lush green background. The outfit—predominantly black, accented with white serrated edges and golden geometric patterns, combined with the large red cape on my back—offered rich visual layering. The wig styling was also given textured layering to keep it from looking stiff under natural sunlight, while wisps of hair on my forehead needed constant tidying to prevent blocking my line of sight. The cape fabric has great drape, but when caught by the wind, it easily tangled with tree branches; after wrapping up, I noticed the cape edges had picked up quite a bit of plant sap, which I could only clean off slowly back home. To better portray the Tone-Deaf Bard persona, I also brought along a wooden plucked string instrument and a few apples as props. The golden metal bracers on my forearms were quite hefty, somewhat restricting movement once worn, especially when holding the instrument or raising my arms. The brown over-the-knee leather boots on the lower half closely hugged my leg lines, but walking in the woods, though the sturdy boots looked undeniably dashing, stepping over soft layers of fallen leaves required extra care to avoid missteps, and the boot surface easily collected dirt and leaf debris.
During the shoot, photographer FloFlo was adept at finding angles. When sitting on a fallen log strumming the instrument, maintaining balance while projecting the character's carefree aura of gazing into the distance actually required constant, subtle exertion from my core and legs. Furthermore, the ground at the shooting location was uneven; that posture in Photo 1 sitting beneath massive tree roots actually had my back resting against hard bark, requiring several adjustments before finding an angle that looked natural while allowing the cape to drape completely. The scene of holding an apple and looking toward the camera was an impromptu idea: using the fruit's vivid color to inject a touch of everyday life into the shot, where reflections on the fruit's skin became a bright, eye-catching accent. The axe and scattered apples nearby enriched the storytelling of the frame.
Speaking of the photos, I truly have to thank my besties. P1 was retouched by my genius friend Hanbao, who added cute little sun and butterfly effects, lending a touch of playfulness to the otherwise tranquil forest. P2 and P3 were processed in relay by Yaozenyang, who tuned the tones and lighting to capture the breathing ambiance of the forest, beautifully recreating the textures of the red cape and hair strands in the light. I believe the completion of a cosplay piece is truly the result of everyone's joint efforts. The details of this outfit genuinely test how fluidly you can extend your poses—especially during broad movements, where garment creases and the flutter of the cape must align with the wind. Although we faced minor hiccups like mosquito bites in the woods, seeing the final outcome made all the effort feel worthwhile. The entire shoot felt more like an authentic forest hike—not just embodying the character, but also savoring the natural ambiance. Putting on this costume, holding the lute, you can genuinely feel that traveling bard's free-spirited wandering heart in this forest-style cosplay.