Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Photospot: Glowing Glen

   
Photospot on SL Unearthed is a semi-regular feature that highlights a Second Life spot that is a cool place at which to take portrait photos inworld. Not an entire sim, not even a complete parcel, but just a single specific location - a spot - with portrait opportunity.

One of the aspects of Second Life that I wish I could bring into meatspace is the use of glow and fullbright on mixed layers of fantastical vegetation. I just love the stuff. While I wouldn't want *all* physical trees and plants to be brightly shining, a few places here or there could be nice. Or perhaps just in special areas that are surely magical to begin with, such as today's Photospot on New Atoll.


SLU Photospot Glowing Glen movement

This glowing glen is said to be a retreat for elven and fairyfolk "with a part of dark creatures" as well, but the use of weapons or unsolicited biting is prohibited, so there's nothing to fear. Today's SLurl will place you in the glen, not so far from the welcome platform, and you will be surrounded by what appears to be a nearly endless copse of glowing vegetation.


SLU Photospot Glowing Glen colors

What sort of avatar fits best in such a place? Any, surely, but I aimed toward the magical end of the spectrum with this gentle spring fairy. Rather than working with static poses, I set her to dance, and there, in the magical, glowing glen, as I fiddled with Windlight settings and camera angles, she danced and danced.

Because she was in continuous motion, the challenge arose to snap a desired pose *before* seeing it in the frame. Also because she was in continuous motion, I snapped a great deal more shots than I usually would. It becomes a fun game that pays off in the end, as the captured positions are fresh and unexpected. 


SLU Photospot Glowing Glen

In a location filled with so much alpha, it's generally a good idea to avoid alpha on your model when possible. My fairy's dress was mesh, and her hair mostly sculpts. Her very alpha wings, however, held their own surprisingly well, being completely visible in every shot that was taken. Perhaps that was due to a little bit of the magic that can be found in this glowing glen.


Style card: Skin by Curious Kitties, dress by Vero Modero, hair by point-b (Analog Dog), wings by Wishbox. Accessories include choker by Snowbound, eyes and manicure by Sterling Artistry, bangles by Curious Kitties and lipgloss by Mock.


Flickr members: you're invited to join the SL Unearthed Photospot group and add your pictures taken at Photospot locations to the group pool.
   
Take note that very little in SL stays the same for very long. After even a short while, Photospot locations may be gone or changed in a significant way that renders their SLurls ineffective as originally intended, so be sure to grab these opportunities as they come!

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