[Takanashi Rikka cosplay] Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions: Tyrant's Eye On-Location Photoset

Coming to the Putian Lianchuang Overpass today was mainly to shoot this on-location photoset for Takanashi Rikka. Fortunately, the sunlight was fantastic, and the metal railings and chain-link fences of the overpass offered a distinctly modern urban backdrop, creating a wonderful contrast with the character's persona.

A lot of thought went into early preparations to faithfully recreate this character. The wig was cut with defined layers, and the ahoge at the crown was specially styled with hairspray to ensure it stood firm even against the outdoor wind. For makeup, I chose blue contact lenses, while the eye patch—representing the Tyrant's Eye—was manually adjusted in size beforehand; the fine string along the edges had to be tightened slightly to anchor firmly outside the wig so it wouldn't shift when lowering or turning my head during poses. In terms of costume, I selected a lilac long-sleeved shirt with meticulously ironed lace and pleats at the cuffs, topped with a dark blue short cape. The skirt featured layered panels of black and pale purple, creating a lovely drape as I moved. It was paired with black knee-high socks, where the lace trim at the cuffs added an extra touch of delicate detail.

The sunlight was particularly intense during the shoot. To accentuate a soft, gentle aura, we found great angles in the shadowed spots of the overpass and around the soft reflections of the railings. Although the character carries a chunibyo streak, she is fundamentally an adorable middle school girl; therefore, I avoided overly exaggerated postures and focused instead on conveying emotions through subtle gestures. Examples include leaning on the railing with both hands cradling my cheeks, or slightly bending my knees with hands clasped under my chin to emulate a prayerful yet expectant expression.

One candid capture featured me glancing back before the chain-link fence. As I walked sideways along the overpass pathway, the photographer called for me to look back. I lightly swished the cape and gazed at the lens with a relaxed expression. This shot beautifully documented the purple short hair, facial profile, as well as the sleek lines of the black stockings and knee-high socks. The urban high-rises and azure sky in the background were softly blurred, resulting in an exceptionally clean and luminous composition.

In truth, on-location photosets are quite a test of stamina and endurance. Repeating steps and resetting expressions under the sun on the bridge while wearing a cape and long sleeves inevitably felt warm and stuffy. Yet for the sake of the overall visual quality, I touched up the wig and adjusted the hem of the outfit before every take to ensure the lace and ribbons remained in their proper places. This photoshoot also required high body awareness; for instance, cradling my cheeks without obstructing the eye patch, while leaning slightly forward to better present my silhouette and the flared arc of the skirt.

This set represents one of our most satisfying recent collaborative shoots—from initial styling and on-set synergy to the final color grading, every effort aimed to stay close to that sweet, lovely girl who possesses the Tyrant's Eye. Rather than choosing complex or flashy scenes, using an everyday urban pedestrian overpass framed this distinctive costume and character trait naturally. Dressing and tidying up for an outdoor set like this requires a substantial amount of time, especially aligning the skirt layers and ribbon bows, as any minor wrinkle could look untidy on camera. Every few poses, I would have my friend double-check whether the cape and waist ties had slipped. The wind on the overpass could also get gusty, blowing the ahoge and skirt out of place and demanding frequent adjustments to keep the styling immaculate across every shot. While the process was intricate, seeing the interplay of light and shadow alongside the character accuracy in the final photos made every refined detail feel worthwhile. In the future, I plan to bring these props into more everyday locations to see what unique visuals we can create.