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This time, I wanted to explore Alyonushka, a character associated with the Russian fairy tale Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka.
Initially, I planned to recreate the mood of Viktor Vasnetsov's famous painting Alyonushka: a lonely girl sitting by dark water, surrounded by a quiet, melancholic landscape. I wanted the photos to feel gloomy, dreamy, and a little unsettling.
But while collecting references, I realized I didn't want to limit the project to just one fairy tale. Instead, I decided to create a whole dark folklore-inspired photoshoot, incorporating elements of traditional fortune-telling, folk rituals, old beliefs, and eerie fairy-tale imagery.
We shot everything outdoors in September, on the banks of the Belaya River. It was around 16°C (61°F), and the overcast weather turned out to be perfect for the atmosphere I had in mind. The dark water and muted colors made everything feel almost otherworldly.
I also made some of the props myself, including the little straw dolls. We actually learned how to make these at school during craft lessons when I was a child, so it was nice to bring back that old skill for this project.
One of the last shots was supposed to look like I was becoming a mermaid, with me lying in the water. I eventually went in up to my waist instead. It started raining, and we had to wrap up the shoot earlier than planned. Thankfully, we saved the water shots for the very end, so we had already captured everything else. I didn't get sick, and I'm really happy with how the photos turned out!
For me, cosplay is about more than just a costume. I love creating a believable character, finding the right location, making props, and telling a little story through the final images.
I create new looks and organize photoshoots every month, so if you enjoy my approach to cosplay and my interpretations of different characters, feel free to follow me. I'd love to have you along for the next project!
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<!-- SC_OFF -->This time, I wanted to explore Alyonushka, a character associated with the Russian fairy tale Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka.
Initially, I planned to recreate the mood of Viktor Vasnetsov's famous painting Alyonushka: a lonely girl sitting by dark water, surrounded by a quiet, melancholic landscape. I wanted the photos to feel gloomy, dreamy, and a little unsettling.
But while collecting references, I realized I didn't want to limit the project to just one fairy tale. Instead, I decided to create a whole dark folklore-inspired photoshoot, incorporating elements of traditional fortune-telling, folk rituals, old beliefs, and eerie fairy-tale imagery.
We shot everything outdoors in September, on the banks of the Belaya River. It was around 16°C (61°F), and the overcast weather turned out to be perfect for the atmosphere I had in mind. The dark water and muted colors made everything feel almost otherworldly.
I also made some of the props myself, including the little straw dolls. We actually learned how to make these at school during craft lessons when I was a child, so it was nice to bring back that old skill for this project.
One of the last shots was supposed to look like I was becoming a mermaid, with me lying in the water. I eventually went in up to my waist instead. It started raining, and we had to wrap up the shoot earlier than planned. Thankfully, we saved the water shots for the very end, so we had already captured everything else. I didn't get sick, and I'm really happy with how the photos turned out!
For me, cosplay is about more than just a costume. I love creating a believable character, finding the right location, making props, and telling a little story through the final images.
I create new looks and organize photoshoots every month, so if you enjoy my approach to cosplay and my interpretations of different characters, feel free to follow me. I'd love to have you along for the next project!
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