"Yes," Ahmad Hosho writes of this image from his Koinup profile, as if already anticipating disbelief from viewers (including me), "it is a Second Life-based photo." Of course much was done after-image, a complex process Ahmad explains in great detail here. He describes this screenshot of an avatar as a self-portrait, and as it turns out, that's true on many levels-- in real life, Ahmad tells me, he lives in Egypt.
"May be first Egyptian/North African in Second Life," he muses. He became a Resident two years ago, but, he says, "I had hard times in 2006 to make people believe I am from Egypt." Instead, they insisted thinking he was European.
"My avatar is Nubian, by the way," he tells me later. "I think Nubian culture is one of most interesting ones out of Egypt." I tell him that I admire how he merged Nubian imagery to steampunk elements in his work.
"Well," Ahmad Hosho corrects me, smiling, "I combine: Nubian, steampunk, cyberpunk, 70s retro stuff with some hip hop."
"Awesome," I say, for how else could one reply.
See more of Ahmad's equally spectacular work on his Koinup profile, view the entire Tableau album here, and read on for guidelines to submitting one of your own.
Submitting to New World Tableau:
New World Tableau is an ongoing album featuring Residents who've turned SL screenshots into a new art form, vividly conveying emotions, stories, and entire cultures in a single image.
- If you come across a picture or image stream that deserves a place
here, please IM (Hamlet Au) or e-mail ([email protected]) me the
link. Please e-mail me the image as a file link, or attached as an .jpeg or .gif, as long as it's under a meg in size.
- Submission tip: I regularly check the SL screenshot stream of New World Notes partner Koinup, an MMO social network-- consider creating an account there.
- Submitting as an in-world texture not recommended, as they often come out distorted and not high res.
- Feel free to describe what the image says to you, or if you're the creator, what inspired you to make it.
- Whenever possible, name the Residents pictured, and include a SLURL to the location (when appropriate.)
-
Moderately Photoshopped images are OK, just mention if this is the
case, and what effects were added. (On rare occasions when the
post-production adds a special element, heavily Photoshopped images are
also appropriate.)
- If you submit an image to NWT, it's assumed I
have permission to run it, either as the owner, or because it's been
appropriately CC licensed. The original creator retains all their
rights to it, in any case.
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