New World Notes

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: The Amazingly Posed Screenshots of Shoko Tachikawa

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

Shoko.Tachikawa is a pose-maker who creates photos to illustrate the poses. They are full of action and movement. I like the “blue period” aesthetic in this photo. Poses are such an integral part of the best SL photography, and I love photos that show them off to their best advantage.

Cajsa’s SL Flickr Pick: The Song-Inspired Screenshots of Cecilia Nansen

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

I love “Leaving New York” by Cecilia Nansen. The light leak overlaid over the black and white photo adds so much light and ambiance to this winter photo. With the trees, the sidewalk, and the buildings, we have three leading lines converging on a point in the distance. I love how the snowflakes are so much like the tree lights, it seems as though light is falling from the sky.

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Nath Baxton Brings Pop Art Sensibility to Virtual Fashion Photos

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

Nath Baxton brings Pop Art to fashion blogging and it’s pure genius. His “125” cracks me up. After all, how do people put those pants on? You get a clear photo of the avatar combined with Pop Art sensibility and even a big can of laughter. Note, too, how each panel reflects the other, with the same colors and circles, but presented differently.

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Loegan Magic Makes Marvelous Experimental Images

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

“Graze” by Loegan Magic is a kind of magical photo. I love how the house almost disappears into the rocks, nearly hidden. I love the light on the water. The overlay gives it the feeling of an Impressionist painting, reminding me a bit of Seurat’s brush strokes.

Cajsa's Flickr Pick: The Stunning SL Action Scenes of Marino Sandalwood

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

Marino Sandalwood loves the action shot and does them well. In “Death Target” she got together with two friends. It is always fun to see how two people shoot the same scene. Here is the same scene taken by Eripom Moonwall. By shooting from below, she increases the power and menace of the women charging forward. 

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Portilly Takes Dramatically Dark Screenshots

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

Portilly is not afraid of the dark. This untitled photo shows an embrace of the darkness. Notice that even with the dim lighting, we can see details, the shades in the shadows. I love her willingness to demand something of viewers, to look deeply into the picture to see the window frame, the posts, and other details are there, hidden in the shadows. Good photos are ones that make us stop and look more closely. She is demanding we work at it.

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Milena Carbone Makes Gorgeous Virtual Photos to Illustrate Provocative Essays

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

Milena Carbone is an amazing find. Not just wonderful pictures, but many of her photos include interesting narratives and essays, sometimes on her Medium, sometimes attached to the image itself. I love this picture above where the people disappear into the background. It is such a striking photo that I would feature it on its own, but then I read her essay attached to this image (read it here) about how the axioms that rule our lives must be questioned if they keep us from love. Maybe we should divide by zero.

Cajsa's SL Flick Pick: Evie Heights Makes Masterpiece Pics in Black & White

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

“Mamma Mia” is a fabulous photo from Evie Heights. The bit of blur makes it feel so real. It certainly is effective even though it violates one of the “rules” of composition that says the subject should always look into the frame. Maybe it’s the signal, the “ssh” that asks to keep it a secret. If it’s secret, maybe you look out, not in.

Cajsa's Flickr Pick: Tamary Takes Beautiful, Whimsical Slice of Virtual Life Pics

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

I thought I found a new slice of SLife artist in 3*3, but then I checked the blog link and discovered she is Tamary9, whom I featured in an interview in January 2018. However, it’s been almost two years, so why not a visit again this incomparably gifted Slicer of SLife. In 19112, we catch our subject heading out for the day. I imagine her off to school. It’s sunny now, but the forecast is for rain. She plans ahead! The use of sunlight is beautiful.

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Insociable Shoots Stylish & Insouciant Screenshots

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

Insociable’s photostream is fun and humorous with playful photos such as this one. He has more than one photo with a dog. This one brought to mind the phrase “a boy and his dog” with their mutual grins. I just love the grin and the insouciance of it all.