Looking back at the photos of 2nd Ascension Summer Melt shot six years ago, although I was filled with love for this character back then, limited by early preparation and shooting conditions, looking at the finished photos today indeed leaves plenty of room for improvement. This year happens to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Fate/Grand Order, along with the opportunity of the Master Incentive Program, so I decided to pick up this classic look of summer Meltryllis cosplay again and do a comprehensive remake.
First, the most intuitive comparison lies in the shooting environment. Six years ago, it was shot in a home interior filled with natural light, featuring a white European-style sofa and sheer curtains; the overall lighting was bright but lacked depth, and the background was relatively simple, relying mostly on my own expressiveness to carry the frame. For this remake, however, we poured immense thought into the set design. To match Summer Melt's cool, mysterious, and dreamlike demeanor, we constructed an immersive scene dominated by ice-blue tones. Multi-layered dark blue and transparent-textured fabrics hung as background curtains, complemented by well-placed glowing white moon lamps, while blue artificial flower petals covered the floor. The highlight was stringing transparent pearl beads across space to create a staggered grid structure. These chains not only broke the monotony of the scene, but also refracted rich light and shadow effects under studio lights, instantly adding layering and spatial depth to the frame.
Regarding costume and props, besides the original's iconic purple hair and dark blue hair ribbon, there was a distinct upgrade in outfit texture this time. Six years ago, the white puff sleeves and blue base garment were standard fabrics, whereas in this remaked version, the sleeves utilized a stiffer fabric with a delicate sheen, which, combined with multi-layered ruffle designs, gives off a silk-like texture under lighting. The over-the-knee silver long boots were also replaced with a highly reflective material this time; although such materials place extreme demands on lighting angles and easily cause overexposure or color variance, with our professional lighting coordination, they wonderfully presented that metallic sheen and texture. The high-cut swimsuit design also better highlights the character's body proportions for this Silver tights cosplay style.
As for makeup and hair, for a cosplayer, six years of time brings not only proficiency in technique, but also a deeper understanding of character demeanor. Six years ago, the wig styling was basic, simply combed into place; this time, I re-trimmed the layers of the bangs and sideburns to bring the hairstyle closer to the fluffy feel of the official artwork. Eye makeup was also adjusted, no longer purely pursuing eye enlargement, but focusing more on eye shape and eyeshadow smudging to create Meltryllis's slightly cool yet alluring gaze. Body posture during shooting was different too—in the past, I might have tried my best to force poses identical to official art, whereas this year, I was much more relaxed and confident, knowing how to utilize the light-shadow boundary line to highlight strengths and mask flaws.
For cosplay, a six-year time span represents the gradual settling of one's mindset. I used to think putting on a costume and wig was all cosplay took, but now I understand better that scenes, props, lighting, expression, post-processing, and the harmony between every element are what construct the final work. I was also more restrained and precise in post-processing, preserving the raw atmospheric feel from lighting and delicate fabric textures without excessive skin smoothing or altering light structures, hoping that anyone seeing this photo feels immersed in this blue dreamland. Each outfit of a character carries its own unique design language; this remake was not merely completing a shoot, but felt like a progress report on my aesthetics and photography skills over the past six years. Seeing the finished photos, beyond the sense of achievement in recreating the character, I felt even more certain that love drives one to continuously refine oneself on this path of FGO cosplay.