[Xishi cosplay] Honor of Kings Mermaid's Song: An Encounter Between an Anti-Gravity Wig and Breathtaking Waterscapes

This photoshoot of Xishi's Mermaid's Song is finally ready to meet everyone! The creative concept behind this shoot primarily revolved around cool-toned chiaroscuro across waterscapes and glacial caverns.

Speaking of Mermaid's Song, the highlight everyone focuses on most is likely the hairstyle humorously dubbed the Anti-gravity wig. To physically achieve that exaggerated sense of weightless floating and enveloping volume seen in the photos, immense effort went into its structural styling. Beyond padding and lifting the roots, copious amounts of hairspray and sculpted locks were combined with environmental lighting to achieve that effortless, floating suspension as if submerged in water or drifting in zero gravity. The pair of translucent teal dragon horns atop the crown and the fin ornaments framing the ears were custom molded from scratch; wearing them demanded meticulous angular alignment to blend seamlessly into the real hairline, as the slightest tilt would compromise the entire visual balance.

Regarding garment nuances, the primary white palette is accented by a celestial-cyan gradient pleated skirt. The metallic avian totem emblazoned across the chest serves as the visual centerpiece, complemented by beige and pale blue streamers to enhance overall aerial lightness. White boots lined with golden accents along the legs contributed a sleek, tailored finish. During shooting, I held a luminous water orb and a translucent cyan dragon phantom prop. To simulate underwater refractions and the dynamic rhythm of a swimming dragon, we experimented endlessly with prop materials, ultimately unlocking that radiant, prismatic visual effect through precise lighting setups.

The set was adorned with abundant cellophane films and dark jagged boulders, with rippling water effects cast across the floor. Despite the freezing temperature, projecting Xishi's serene, aloof grace required expansive, graceful physical extensions: perching on an elevated ledge with one knee drawn up, or extending an arm sideways through the water. These poses demanded not only aesthetic composition, but rigorous facial composure so the biting cold wouldn't translate into stiff grimaces. Purple-pink contacts offered dramatic impact under cool lighting, yet dried out the eyes rapidly, essentially turning the session into cycles of applying eye drops after every few frames while checking garments and wig structure to ensure nothing warped upon touching water.

I also wanted to open up a bit about the personalized autographed prints (to-sign cards). Earlier, I hosted a massive signed-print giveaway, writing over three hundred cards in one breath. In the beginning, I was brimming with passion, wanting to connect more deeply with everyone by making every single message distinct and earnest. However, I later noticed many people quietly unfollowed right after receiving their cards. Honestly, seeing the back-end analytics was quite disheartening and drained much of my enthusiasm, leaving me without the heart to pick up the pen for quite a while.

This photoshoot spanned an extensive journey from initial conception to final cuts, serving as a comprehensive tribute to this design. Messages left before this milestone have virtually all been fulfilled; if I missed yours, please feel free to drop me a reminder. Looking back at these photos now—from the organized disarray of the wig to the mist-shrouded ambiance of the setting—every frame represents our collective dedication. I hope this shoot blending aquatic elements with frosty snowscapes delivers a truly wondrous visual experience to you all.