New World Notes

Fantastic Photographs Featuring Second Life's Dark Fantasy, Cyberpunk, and Weird West Roleplay Communities

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

HotDog has a photostream full of ghoulish fun. I love his macabre pictures. Most of his work is for vendor pics for his eponymous store, but he also includes a few wonderful story-telling scenes. For example, “This way or that way?” suggests the meeting of two opposites on a road. He is an extreme ectomorph and she is an endomorph, he is formally dressed and she is anything but formal, a regular Jack Sprat and partner, but a picture that seems to be taken by someone who likes them both. There is a fondness for the people that comes through. 

For more, click here:

Today's SL Flickr Pick: Fashion & Flights of Fancy from Anja Mexicola

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

Anja Mexicola’s “Bouquet” is a lovely romantic picture. The background is one at the Backdrop Photo Dome, a place often used by bloggers who can use the backgrounds rezzed there but she did a great job using a filter to give the entire picture the feeling of being hand-painted. I love that she was not tempted to be too symmetrical placing the flowers and birds. She is not symmetrical either, her left arm and hand are visible with a billowing eyelet lace sleeve. One the one hand, it is exuberant with so many flowers and the birds, but then there is restraint in her colors. She’s smart in her choices. 

If you want to know why you should never have a mermaid roommate, click here:

Vivien DeLancoure's Vivid Goth / Dark Fantasy Avatar Portraits

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

Vivien DeLancoure’s “Sometimes time doesn’t heal wounds” brings together two very different aesthetics into a glorious union. On the one hand there is the baroque delicacy of the filigreed bird cages. Then there is the Steampunk/Goth fight-ready toughness of her boots and gloves, but she is not without her own baroque ornamentation as you can see in her corset. The contrasts are balanced and work so well. The birdcages are all empty suggesting several wounds that are still unhealed. I love the careful balance between the industrial elements and the baroque elements. It’s beautiful and her cast-down eyes create the emotional effect she intends. She also blogs and these items were the Engine Room event that ends October 20th.

To see extraordinary Dark Fantasy pics, click here:

Marvel at These Maximalist Second Life Images by Ella Pavlona

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

Ella Pavlova is a maximalist. While many artists strive for minimalism or realism, a maximalist goes for excess. “More is more” might be the catch-phrase that defines maximalism, but that does not mean undisciplined or chaotic. Yes, she and the bluebird are surrounded by flowers but they curve around her, encircling her. They do not obscure her, though perhaps the bluebird is hard to see at first glance, but then, it is King Charmant visiting the imprisoned Princess Florine, who is, it seems, in a prison of flowers. Elle links to the exquisite Bluebird pas de deux from Sleeping Beauty. 

For more maximalist Ella, click here:

Riowyn Magwell's Stylishly Badass Female Avatar Images -- Including Classic-Era Lara Croft Cosplay in Second Life!

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

Riowyn Magwell’s “Break Time” is not typical of her photostream. It is a rare moment that catches her at rest. So savor the opportunity. It doesn’t happen often. I like the wash of light from blue to gold. The interior of the club is the cool blue while you can see through the windows the golden heat of the outdoors.  

Now for the action shots, including some excellent Lara Croft cosplay in Second Life -- click here:

These Amazing Action Images Look Like AAA Videogame Screenshots But Were Actually Made in Second Life

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

Ethan Lane’s “The Heist” is an action shot of a thief jumping off a balcony to escape the three-headed guard dog Cerberus. That he is robbing the joint reminds me of my own personal catnip, the caper story.. I love the cleverness of the caper undiscovered until the crew is safely in another country as the credits roll. Add an element of camp and you have the perfect caper whether it’s “Ocean’s Eleven,” “The Italian Job,” or the original “Mission Impossible” series. I wonder. Does Cerberus make this camp? 

If you like story-telling pics, click here:

Fun SL Fashion Blog With a Fun Post About Blogging SL Fashion

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

Roberta’s blog Dear Star had a recent post that cracked me up. This post from September 11th has a backdrop to die for if you’re a blogger. I love that she used green throughout, even coordinating her lingerie. A lot of women like to choose lingerie to match their outfit, but matching walls is less common. 

• Backdrop - NinaX: Eat Sleep Blog Repeat - MP
• Lingerie -LeiMotiv Grecia Lingerie

For a post featuring a great pose, click here:

Perfectly Posed Avatars Help This Artist Tell Stories With SL Screenshots

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

Brad Zeura’s “Help Me!” is a pic that made me stop and just say “Wow!” That green is just so bold and perfect in this picture of two long-deceased avatars waiting by a vehicle that has likewise seen better days. And of course I wonder if they ran out of gas and why didn’t they walk to the next station. Is that fog some version of ectoplasm? These are the things that make me wonder. Brad’s stream is full of pictures that prompt your imagination. 

For more inventive story-telling pictures, click here:

Incredible Avatar Pics Shot With the Black Dragon Viewer & Pose System

Thyme Carter is fascinated by water. If I were into astrology, I would assume she is a water sign. This fascination is deeply explored in her photostream. She named this “You had me at a point where I would have left the entire world behind for you.” When I think about this picture and the text, I think of a woman who has wised up. She’s over her head and treading water, but she’s no longer swept away by a rip tide. She looks tired, but not exhausted. She will garner her strength and swim back to safety. Her musical inspiration of Billie Eilish’s "Happier Than Ever" reinforces that message. 

For more great pictures, click here:

Virtual World Landscape Pics Elevated by Unique Angles & Framing

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

Burleh Leonard takes fabulous landscape shots of his travels in Second Life. This is a great example of his style, shooting from a low angle that adds a fresh perspective. I love the angle. He adds an aged look with an overlay that frames the picture. It’s gorgeous. You can see this site from any angle by visiting the Whispering Winds sim, click here. 

For more SL travels, click here: