Lina photoshoot update!

Hello my Sweethearts!

Today I want to share with fresh update from our Lina Dota 2 photoshoot. And, also, tell few facts from the set. )
But before, I want to congratulate you with the first day of May. As usual in Siberia, if April was warm in general, high chances May will be chill month. How is it at your place?
I’m still waiting for nature to change in green “clothes”. Can’t wait to enjoy smell of fresh leaves/grass!

 What do you think of this image? Our character looks “posh” in this shot, to the point that it makes me happy while watching. This is the same model we chose for Aerith/Nezuko, and I’m happy we managed to make her look completely different. More confident, but also playful. Exactly what this character needs. At least this kind of impression I got after played her in game and read her “huge” backstory. Ok, it sounds like I’m pampering us too much right now, I didn’t intend it be so.
Yes, I tried to play Dota and had the impression, that it might be better as PvE game. I’m too slow to react to what’s happening on the screen, and not used to play against children, who naturally have faster reaction. And want to become your new dad, or in some cases already had rendezvous with your mom. You know, trash talk classics. )
There is nothing like this in Final Fantasy 14, where everyone help each other to improve. But it’s also entirely different genre of game.  

Here come some onset facts.
First.
The hardest part shooting Lina was to gather enough poses. Armor parts are made from EVA. Almost all cosplay armor you saw on internet is probably made from it. Only role-players use different more durable materials, like, for example, duralumin. EVA (after heating) gets any desirable form, but also easily breakable, if your second name is clumsy. )
Armor is uncomfortable to lay or lean on. Also it makes it hard to put hands in certain way/position. So for some shots we took of parts, that won’t be seen to the viewer.
Second.
One thing that made me curious is what underwear Lina wore. The way her design was created, makes me feel like there is none at all. Or with very high waist, in ultimate form closer to V-shaped Borat’s swimsuit, haha. )
We decided not to choose any and go without them. So technically, all our photos in this project can be marked as erotic. NIIIICE!
Third.
As you know we prefer to use very few special effects or not use at all on our projects later on post-production. Only practical effects. I have huge respect to VFX and 3D artists, who can seamlessly blend cosplay character in any scene. But I believe in that case there is a little left in terms of photography and cosplay. It feels like watching superhero movies, where almost everything done digitally. To the point when you can’t answer why production crew are even using live actors or shooting anything by hand. Overall big VFX flex.
Since both of us not experienced enough in that department, we are doing all to pull everything from photography alone. It would be strange to call ourselves photographers, if it wasn’t like that. )
Ok, I finished with boasting and, now, finally comes another fact. More like advice. Ok, ”advice” is the big of a word too.
If you want to imitate different futuristic terrain use crumpled, hmmm, anything? Any material of your choice ­– paper, plastic, foil. Crumpled material, when it’s lit properly, looks exactly like rock. Or any surface you like it to be (it’ll depend on how you crumpled it).
Slightly folded foil can look like water surface (OXYGEN). Folded plastic gives of the feel of goo (Death Stranding tribute).
To make it work better I recommend not to use matte materials, due to their light and color absorbing characteristic.
For example, we used old black paper backdrop for this purpose. Its original super characteristic is beautiful clean color reflection. And it works even better on folded surface.  
As interesting fact – that same backdrop helped us to shoot most of our photoshoots, the latest is Wonder woman. Technically, all Erotic Superhero projects.

Somehow I found it difficult to write this post. It took me more than 3 hours to finish and almost drained all my strength. Usually it takes a little less… There is a good joke about it, but it’s hard to correctly translate in English. Rough translation will be: “Good ideas chased his head, but he was faster”.
I hope, this post is actually readable. I did my best. )

We finished half of the rewards, and moving forward to finish with them a lot earlier than it was in April. I hope, finished images you see will make your faith in us strong.
Have a great day! Please, stay healthy and happy!