[Yunli Cosplay] Tanghulu and Bookish Fragrance in the Summer of the Old Summer Palace

Matching the environment of the Old Summer Palace location shoot with this Yunli costume look, I had actually envisioned many possible pictures before the on-site shoot, but actually getting to the scene still brought many unexpected surprises. Especially when the sunlight poured into the flower clusters through the dense canopy, the entire frame presented a highly vivid and life-filled natural tone; this light source texture is significantly richer than the lighting of a pure studio shoot.

What impressed me most during this outdoor shoot was the sense of integration between the 2D character settings and the realistic natural environment. The wig underwent quite a bit of layered trimming; the blue-green tone paired with the golden hair crown and the unconventional hair ornaments beside it placed the overall visual focus on the upper section. The thin black choker on the neck and the black bead metallic decorations on the chest generated very unique highlight reflections under outdoor natural light. The off-the-shoulder and waist-baring top design placed high demands on my physique, but fortunately, I managed my form before the shoot, making the frame appear cleaner and crisper, while the tailoring of these garments could beautifully display the character's body lines. This is the beauty of Anime cosplay.

The props this time were mainly that bright red Tanghulu prop and that ancient book with a blue background and white characters. The Tanghulu was not only a vibrantly colored visual focal point but also the key for me to unlock movements and expressions. The action of eating Tanghulu amidst the flower clusters and lawn fits the character's energetic and lively personality traits perfectly. I personally love those pictures where I hold the Tanghulu resting on my shoulder; it feels like a casually struck pose could bring out an exceptionally relaxed state. The book presents a completely different temperament; the posture of sitting cross-legged on the lawn holding and browsing the book added a touch of summer afternoon laziness and bookish aura to the entire frame, as if this character were truly just strolling around and reading inside Honkai: Star Rail or exploring the real world.

The environment of the Old Summer Palace is indeed an excellent location. The first few photos were all shot among flower clusters and green plants, where those diverse wildflowers and the orange, white, cyan, and blue on the costume formed a highly coordinated summer color clash. Regarding being barefoot, just as that interesting jest in the post said, being barefoot is indeed a unique highlight of this styling. Stepping on the actual grass and stones, although I initially worried about hurting my feet, once I truly stepped onto them, that sensation of direct contact with nature instead allowed me to relax even more and enter the character's world. That red string bead bracelet on the ankle was a detail I intentionally added; when there is a large amount of visual negative space around the feet, this is an excellent embellishment that gives the entire outfit greater continuity. This made the Old Summer Palace location shoot a memorable experience.

The shooting rhythm of the entire set of works was well-mastered, especially in the frame where I pointed the Tanghulu towards the lens, which required maintaining wrist strength and eye contact, appearing both relaxed and making the prop interact with the frame. After repeatedly attempting several different angles, we finally captured that moment with the softest depth of field. That final photo of me sitting by the willow-lined water edge is a closing piece I love very much. The dark tones of the water surface and willow branches accentuated the character's bright-colored costume exceptionally well. There were numerous mosquitoes by the water during the shoot, and we completed that set of movements highly efficiently, essentially fighting off the harassment of the insects.

Generally speaking, the charm of an outdoor shoot lies precisely in the irreplaceable fleeting light. Compared to the precision of a studio shoot, this kind of frame carrying nature's imperfections and vitality makes cosplay easier to become warm. Every corner of the Old Summer Palace can unearth a different emotion; the grass, wildflowers, waterfront, and green trees take turns serving as backdrops, presenting completely distinct atmospheres for this costume. This Yunli cosplay styling has excellent texture under outdoor natural light, and the details and material light transmittance of the clothing were all beautifully displayed, making for a highly satisfying shoot experience.