New World Notes

Cajsa's Flickr Pick: Artful Screen Captures Created in Assassin’s Creed Origins

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

Essovius captures lovely landscape and action photos from several games. I particularly like the photos from Assassin’s Creed Origins. This untitled capture is active and exciting with a lot of movement, particularly as the ground is at such a steep angle, making the horse’s ride feel much wilder.

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Evie Heights, Master of Angles & Intense Colors

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

I love “Big Picture” by Evie Heights. It is very representative of her entire photostream which is full of pictures that appear casually captured in the moment. There is an artful unstudied effect. The thing is, we know what it’s like taking a picture in Second Life. It takes a lot of work to make a picture look so spontaneous. But look how her body angle mirrors the angle of the flowers. I also love her use of color, of using the purple/yellow complementary colors. There are so many thoughtful choices made that mentioning she also centers the subject using the Rule of Thirds feels redundant.  

Cajsa's Flickr Pic: Metro Exodus' Broken World Made Into Art

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

I am not sure what happened to this overpass and on-ramp or to the rest of the freeway that must have once attached, but it must have been big. This photo has been desaturated until it seems black and white, but look closely, there are red railroad cars and blue water, they just have lost their color in a world gone grey. This sure creates the sense of dystopic destruction that makes a setting for gaming mayhem, but there is a stark beauty to this scene as well.

Cajsa's Choices: Flick's SL Community Creates "Bloom of Spring" Photo Series

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

Lawrence D. Pryce is back with another community project. This time it is called the “Bloom of Spring” campaign and is open to all who want to celebrate femininity and the blossoming of spring. He explains the inspiration for the photos here. There are two galleries of photos, The Cigar Room: Bloom of Spring Campaign and The Cigar Room: Bloom of Spring Campaign Vol. 2.  Among the many entries, a few really grabbed my attention like this one called “Cherry Blossom” from Rose Hanry. I love how bold it is and the repetition of arcs in the arrangement of the flowers.

Caja's SL Flickr Pick: Titus Palmira, Stylish Storyteller & Avatar Portrait Taker

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

Titus Palmira’s photostream is one giant “Wow!” from beginning to end. Every picture tells a story and most have a title that makes the story self-evident. His avatar subjects are more interesting than the often plasticine perfection of most of ours, including my own. “His chaos births a dancing star.” not only gives us a unique avatar, but the use of radial blur creates a sense of movement from a static image.

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Hitsu Ruby’s Gloriously Detailed Outdoors Photos

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

Hitsu Ruby’s Second Life photos are a mix of decor and relationship photos. However, I am obsessed with her streets and sidewalk photos. Something about the clutter of bikes, signage, and leaf shadows that lead off into the light in the distance just makes me happy. It’s a nice touch that she adds the SLurl so you too can enjoy the sunny day and bikes.

Cajsa’s Second Life Creator Flickr Pick of the Day: “@tomic Viper”

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

I admire people who use their photography to explore their obsessions and experiment. “@tomic Viper” is certainly one of those. His photostream is filled with superheroes and exploration of digital art processes. This picture “Shadow” is relatively simple, a black and white soldier in the rain. I appreciated the facial expression that captures the perseverance of a soldier at rest in the rain. Just taking it as long as need be.

Cajsa’s Flickr Pick: Artistic Screen Captures from Shadow of the Colossus

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

LaMaLaWa’s photostream is full of great photos. I love the drama of this picture, “Shadow of the Colossus” from the game of the same name. It is shot from below. Low-angle shots typically make the subject seem powerful and strong. It sure works in this picture. Parts of the horse, the rider, and the eagle have been cropped off the picture, suggesting urgency and movement. It’s all very kinetic and powerful.

Casja's Flickr Pick: Scott Silverdale's Stylish, Experimental Second Life Imagery

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

“Dune Bunny” is a bit different from the majority of Scott Silverdale’s photostream as its touch of whimsy and puntastic title stand out from his more serious landscape and fashion photos. This playful side is usually expressed just in the titles, though humorous photos are sprinkled here and there in his photostream to show he is someone who looks at life with a twinkle in his eye.  A surreal twinkle if you go by “Sing for Supper! Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite” Nonetheless, even in whimsy his penchant for finding beautiful places in Second Life is evident.

Cajsa’s SL Flickr Pick: Reesla Makes Great Use of Lighting & the Golden Ratio

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

Reesla’s photostream is exciting to browse, full of a variety of photos united by good composition and dynamic energy. “Way Back Home” is a beautiful example of using the Golden Ratio to situate the subject. I love the use of light, the sunlight casts the subject in shadow, a silhouette while picking out bright orange flowers in the field. Cropping the picture at an angle makes it seem more dynamic.