Cajsa's Choices: Amazing High Contrast Second Life Avatar Screenshots Modeled After Real Life Black & White Portraits

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

So I was browsing Flickr the other day and saw Panteleimon’s “Rising Son” with a hashtag that said #PryceBodyLanguageChallenge. I clicked and did not come up for hours. It is, I think, the finest collection of Second Life photos I have ever found in one spot. It all came about when Lawrence D. Pryce, who deserves his own profile one of these days, invited several people to participate in a challenge back in February -- create Second Life photos modeled after stylized RL black and white portraits.  This is what he wrote to them:

I will provide you with an image. You may use it for reference or deviate a bit from it. The image will be tasteful and must be in black and white. However,  if you want to use an accent color to highlight the body, please feel free to do so. Just be sure to keep the integrity of the body with no weird skin color. I want you to capture the contours of the body. Lure the viewer in but leave much to the imagination. You have 10 days!!! Once you have completed the image please tag me on Flickr and Facebook. Place the #Pryce Body Language Challenge. I can't wait to see your image! As always, be expressive and have fun.

Pryce sent everyone a different image from this collection, but they were united by their stark black and white emotional power, the light traversing body contours, the shadows evoking mystery, every photo telling a story. Here's some of my very favorites from the challenge:

“Silhouette” from Callie Hamelin is kind of emblematic of the collection, sensual exaltation of the human form in chiaroscuro–using light and shadow to outline the curves and lines of the body, setting a mood of contemplative reverie. The little trail of smoke is a great detail. The striking boldly diagonal line of her leg is amazing.

Angelika Corral’s submission is a beautiful example of how Second Life photos can come to the uncanny valley and rush across into that place where virtuality and reality coalesce.

“Solitude” from ChimKami Resident is in sepia rather than black and white and is just stunning. The sepia gives the sense of history like a Victorian cameo.

Many more below!

“Latex” from Vaness Ulderport also creates a mood with the juxtaposition of her bold clothing and her defensive pose, an inner conflict that suggests a story she may be aching to tell.

This untitled photo from | Lan | makes me think of those “big-shouldered broads” Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, women of wit, courage, and beauty.

The vulnerability and emotional resonance in this photo from Mich Michabo is breathtaking. It shows how varied and powerful the photos from the challenge can be.

I love the sense of mystery in LeaOh’s untitled photo.

You can see the photos by checking out Pryce’s three galleries below. There are 130 photos. You will be hard-pressed to pick a favorite. Picking pictures for this article was arbitrary and based mainly on who let me embed their pictures.

• Pryce Body Language Challenge #1
• Pryce Body Language Challenge #2
• Pryce Body Language Challenge #3

Pryce emphasized that this challenge is not about competition. “This is not a contest, it’s a challenge to inspire good photography by someone who loves to experiment with his own work and is happy to challenge others to do the same.” As Pryce put it, these challenges are “a way for me to show my appreciation for the blogger community and provide something fun to do. No pressure nor competition. From these challenges many have learned of new artists, completed collaborations and most of all, the way everyone supports and cheers one another along.”

He’s inviting people to his newest challenge which will be public in May. I can’t wait to see the results.

After all, looking at ARnnO PLAneR’s submission, what is there to say, except I can’t wait for May.  

Cajsa Lilliehook joined Second Life in 2007 and has been enjoying the art of SL ever since. Disliking the common practice of critiquing poor photos, she decided to highlight good ones and explain why they work in hopes of inspiring with praise instead of criticism. Follow Cajsa on Flickr, on Twitter or on her blog.

Comments

[Lawrence Pryce]

Thank you New World Notes, Wagner James Au & Cajsa Lilliehook for featuring the Body Language Challenge. All credit and appreciation goes to each artist that participated because they all did an outstanding job. I love the article! My sincere gratitude for the feature and sharing the photo gallery with your readers.

[NBGlineux]

Wow! Avis sure have improved since I signed up, especially for skin and hair.

I think some of these, such as Lan and LeahOh, fail with their eyes. The others have climbed to the other side of the Uncanny Valley.

Can I assume that looking this good only works in a pose in a studio, and if I tried to walk around in a regular sim looking like this, I would drag it to a halt?