New World Notes

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Punkarella Resident's Stylish Fashion Photos

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

While reading up on the latest SL fashion drama, I wound up checking out Punkarella Resident’s photostream today. I noticed that she is an effective fashion blogger who does an excellent job of featuring design details and putting together stylish outfits that appeal to me. If you open Vogue, you will see a mix of editorial and commercial photos because fashion needs both. There is no better choice as they serve different needs. I like Punkarella’s ability to choose great poses that highlight features of the clothing she is blogging. (As to the drama, I’ll just note -- without saying who’s involved -- that people can have a bad day and act badly, but can apologize, move on, and do better. I’ll leave it at that.)

We’ve all been there. Even if our gaming lives began and ended with Pong, the dreaded “Game Over” is never welcome. Perhaps that is another way Second Life is not a traditional game. It’s never over. Even if you’re logged out, the world of SL keeps turning and things keep happening. Of course, you can die in SL. When I first joined, I could not walk a straight line and must have died a dozen times trying to cross a bridge over alligators. In “My Favorite Game,” I like how Punkarella captured that disgust with the gamer’s dilemma. I also see she is keeping up on what’s happening on Facebook and Discord. I confess I always find it slightly strange to see SL computer screens looking too much like my own. How do they know? 

Cajsa’s Flickr Pick: Tati Hara Takes Pics to Make You Love Second Life Again

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

Sometimes a person’s photo is so stunning, I just fall in love with Second Life all over again. “Killary” by Tati Hara is one of those photos. This photo is on Buttercup, a sim I am pretty sure I have explored. But did I see this possibility? No, I went back and found that poppy, a singleton just to prove to myself that photo was really SL. She obviously is using a texture overlay or two to create the watercolor effect and the aged aesthetic.

Cajsa's Flickr Pick: Oyo's Amazing Second Life Shots Without Post-Processing

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

Groovie Goolies! Fresh from Horrible Hall, oyo’s “Hotdog’s Passion” isn’t really an homage to the cartoon band, but it was the first thought that came to mind. When I read her “About” page on Flickr I discovered she does not use PhotoShop or GIMP. I know you can create WindLights to give a sketch-like look, though I can’t tell you how. There are also some presets in the browser. I don’t know how she did it, but this looks like a pencil sketch. It’s such a compelling photo of people who came together to celebrate a favorite creator.

What Great Second Life Artists on Flickr Should Cajsa Consider Choosing?

I love Cajsa's thrice-weekly column devoted to great Second Life-based artists on Flickr and hope you do too. It's amazing to see how massive and deep that community has become, and Cajsa tells me she'll accidentally discover new (to her) artists on a fairly regular basis.

Speaking of which, are there any she hasn't covered, but should? (Here's her complete collection thus far.) Please post their Flick account links in Comments and yes, that can include your own, too. 

Pictured above, some of my personal recent favorites (from left to right):

Cajsa’s Flickr Pick: Mind Carlberg Creates Fantastic Photos & Comics in SL

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

Mind Carlberg’s photostream is not for pixel prudes. It is possible he is simply allergic to clothing, but that does not keep him from presenting fantastic photos with a subversive wit that delights me. This photo is, of course, perfectly G-rated even though any honest assessment of human sexuality would acknowledge that the bits and bobs that shock are nothing without our minds, not to mention the senses of smell, taste, touch, hearing, and sight. Our faces and our brains, that’s where sex begins. 

I love this photo because of the beautiful contrasts of dark and light. It would be a stunning photo of any face, but this face! I love this face! The unapologetic nose, the ears that take no prisoners, and the rough-hewn angularity challenge the Ken-doll blandness of the ordinary avatar. Bravo!

Cajsa's Flickr Pick: Kat.E's Second Life Images Look Beautifully Real Life-Like

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

Kat.E’s “Listen” is extraordinary. It is such a lifelike photo with that water texture. The sea and sky horizon is subtle and the pier functions as its own horizon–and is appropriately placed according to the rule of thirds. There is a bit of whimsy in the bollards on the pier, it’s not often you see statuary put to this use.

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: The Supersaturated Color Shots of Ayako Silverfall

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

I love Ayako Silverfall’s use of color, particularly in “A Warrior of Love”, a vibrant exploration of the complementary red and green colors, opposites on the color wheel. I love the background, the diagonals coming together behind her avatar, the gradients of bold, supersaturated color. The repetition of green and red throughout is magnificent. 

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Laina's Lively and Sexy Mix of Virtual World Pop Art

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

Laina’s “Vee-See-Are” is such a witty photo. She uses the reel hub as eyes and then makes a clever play on words in the title. It tickles my funny bone and drew me to check out her stream. I am glad I did, encountering a mix of selfies, nudes, and fun pop art photos.

Cajsa's Flickr Pick: Ellapinellapin Gloriously Photographs Second Life Through the Black Dragon Viewer

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

This photo is not edited or processed outside of Second Life. This is essentially a WYSIWYG photo taken by ellapinellapin with the Black Dragon viewer, the one many SL photographers swear by (though since I have a Mac, I have never used it). But forget the viewer, it’s the photographer’s eye that matters and Ellapinellapin has a great eye. This beautiful photo focuses our attention on the beautiful geometry of the Ferris wheel. 

Cajsa’s Second Life Flickr Pick: The Moody, Cinematic Screenshots of RAI

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

I love this picture from RAI called “Lost in Translation.” There is something so comforting in the lighting, the guy sitting at the counter eating his meal, the cook/waiter/dishwasher watching over him and the eager rooster keeping an eye out for spillage. It feels like a scene from a novel, something is about to happen, but not yet.