The entire shooting process was actually far more complex than anticipated; calibrating the luminous greatsword alone took two full days of preparation. To recreate the character's heavy armor texture, I commissioned a prop-making friend to custom-build this set of mechanical armor arm gauntlets. Painting and weathering the metal wasn't just simple coloring—it involved layering primer, silver, gold, and black shading to achieve this matte yet cold, industrial visual texture. Wearing this armor was physically exhausting, especially around the arms; to ensure mobility, the internal structural components had to be tight, fitting snugly against my arms. This meant I had to stay constantly mindful of muscle tension when posing, or the arm lines would look awkward on camera.
A lot of thought went into the wig and animal ears as well. To match the character design, the light golden long hair was given a gradient treatment by the stylist, avoiding an unnatural white look under lighting and instead showing a silky soft sheen. I inserted shaping wire inside the white animal ears on top, allowing them to remain naturally upright from all angles without collapsing—a detail often overlooked in animal ear cosplay. For makeup, I chose a cooler, sharper palette with winged eyeliner and metallic eyeshadow to convey her resolute, fearless demeanor. To withstand the harsh studio lighting, the highlights and contouring were dialed up slightly heavier than usual, which made the facial contours appear even sharper and more three-dimensional on camera.
When it came to shooting, the studio lighting setup was the true core of this set. Wanting to create the feeling of "light tearing through darkness," the key light was positioned quite low, placed slightly in front and below me. Although the external "light sword" prop was crafted from acrylic and LED strips—further enhanced in post with 3D software for highlights and bloom—its real orange-yellow reflections cast onto my visor and chin in the studio provided a wonderful cool-warm contrast. We also used a fog machine to simulate the smoky atmosphere of ruins or a battlefield. Capturing shots right as the smoke billowed produced dynamic visuals with suspended particles full of emotional tension. In truth, the smoke had my eyes watering red, but for the sake of the overall special effects photography, I pushed through.
Regarding the character's core essence, I've always found her unyielding, steadfast knightly spirit—guarding her comrades like an immovable mountain—deeply captivating. Through this styling and photoshoot, I wanted to deliver that sense of raw power rather than just looking "pretty." During the shoot, I deliberately held back my smiles, focusing on intense gazes into the lens or looking down at the blade in a vigilant stance, ready to parry or draw at any moment. This focus was not only a tribute to the character herself, but also a visual resonance with the heavy sense of destiny throughout the Arknights universe.
Finally, in post-retouching, rather than chasing porcelain, over-smoothed skin, I preserved authentic skin texture—after all, a character forged through endless battles wouldn't have flawless, delicate skin. By enhancing fragmented light particles, sharp metallic edges, and ambient contrast through post-effects, the image immediately took on a grounded, cinematic weight. Even though my undershirt was soaked with sweat and the acrylic hilt felt heavy in hand, seeing the final photos made the struggle of hauling over ten kilograms of props upstairs completely worthwhile. Cosplaying Nearl the Radiant Knight was truly a hardcore experience, and I hope the final work directly conveys the sheer strength carried by this character.