[Zhen Hai cosplay] Azur Lane: Ripple Waters

This time I tried cosplaying Zhen Hai from Azur Lane in her "Ripple Waters" skin. This outfit has an abundance of design details; ever since I received the costume, I've been studying how to wear it to restore that elegant yet slightly lazy atmosphere from the original artwork. Since the poses and expressions in the original artwork are very distinctive, I practiced my gaze and posture in front of the mirror for a long time before the shoot, especially how to naturally coordinate body movements with the folding fan.

In terms of clothing, the white halter innerwear and black criss-cross straps are the key points; the lace edging of the innerwear not only increases the exquisiteness but also wonderfully flatters the neckline. To increase layering, the lower body is paired with a high-slit black long-train skirt, and the transparent tulle and golden chain ornaments at the waist create a shimmering, semi-revealed effect when walking or sitting down. What took the most thought was that pair of black semi-transparent tulle long sleeve covers; the bell-sleeve design not only flatters the arm lines but also makes movements appear gentler when holding the folding fan. The golden bow and chains on the headpiece need to be fixed to the wig, and the wig was also intentionally trimmed with blunt bangs to better fit the 2D anime feel of the original design.

The shooting scene was chosen indoors with marble stairs and European-style iron railings; this retro, gorgeous background matches this classically-charming styling very well. The overall lighting arrangement also leans towards being soft, with highlights hitting the white clothes and skin, presenting a rather delicate texture. For props, a folding fan with colorful flowers on a black background was prepared, paired with red-toned contact lenses, hoping to express that dark yet gorgeous feeling.

During the shooting process, standing and sitting poses were tried, especially in the photo sitting on the yellow floral armchair—in order to showcase that lazy feeling of slightly lifting a leg, the angle was adjusted for a long time. The black stockings chose a slightly sheer style, paired with glossy pointed-toe high heels, which not only elongated the leg lines, but the gloss on the surface of the black stockings under light reflection also made the texture stand out more. Although the shooting environment had air conditioning, the clothing was relatively thin, so sitting or lying on the stairs was still a bit chilly, but to present a good visual effect, it was all within an acceptable range. The material of the clothing has slight elasticity, which fits the body shape very well. For that single-leg lifted photo, to maintain balance while taking care of expression management, my leg muscles were actually a bit tensed.

Every time I cosplay, I try my best to restore the charm of the character. Zhen Hai's own personality traits combined with the design of this skin gave me a lot of room for expression. From preliminary preparation to on-site shooting for this photo set, my teammates were amazing; everyone discussed light, shadow, and composition together to create these final images. Whether it's the action of lifting the skirt hem or the posture of playing with the folding fan, it's all an attempt to capture that fleeting moment of the character.