Photospot: Alenquer Gateway

   

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.

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Sometimes, you just need a castle! Bring out your knights and ladys-in-waiting, or don your tinkers, tailors or thieves. Today's Photospot is taking you to Alenquer Manor, a land with its own castle, its own market, its own chapel, its own tranquility, its own time.

While there is much to see in this mainland kingdom, our Spot is right here, on a curve of the cobblestone gatehouse pathway.  Whether you face yourself as entering the courtyard or exiting, or even just tarrying, there are plentiful nearby props and relevant backgrounds to provide excellent portrait support. (But you'll have to bring your own unicorn.) ;)

Shadows, yes. Windlight, yes. Depth, yes. You can use all your visual tools here. The stonework is highly accommodating. The sharp edges and the large chains make interesting shadowing.

If you are lucky enough, you might encounter King Tristan, the ruler of Alenquer. His Majesty welcomed me to the kingdom and encouraged me to visit often, explore the castle and grounds, emphasizing that it is open to one and all, inviting many visitors. With such an excellent royal welcome, let's not disappoint him. *smile*

Style card: dragonslayer outfit by Mystic Hope, unicorn by Dragonsfyre

 

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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!

Photospot: Whimsical Embryo

   

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.

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Seems like just about everyone these days is coming out with fully-mesh avatars that are smaller than typical and lean to the cute and whimsical end of the spectrum. An avatar like that calls for a special place to photograph it. So, bring out your Petites, Dolls, Littles and everything darling. Today's Photospot is a lovely little parcel packed with plenty of flowers, colorful sprites and gentle rain to support and handle all the cute and whimsical you can give it.

You might recall the (now-defunct) Embryo sim. Today's spot is also made by Siestabril Nitely, one of the Embryo creators. This mini-Embryo, labeled as home to the Un Jour shop, somehow manages to contain much of the charm and whimsy of the full sim original. Toss a little Windlight around to alter the sun's direction or color, and there's plenty to keep you busy for a time as you photograph your own little fairy tale. 

The SLurl will give you a beacon toward one end of the building, but this is a small parcel with something like fifteen hundred million great photo angles, so definitely wander around and keep your camera on the move. Also, note that this area is solidly stuffed with prims, most of which are alpha and packing glow, so it might be a kindness to your computer to reduce your Draw distance for the duration you are here. You can always turn it up again when you leave...if you ever want to leave.

Style notes: mesh avatar "Dorothy" by Doll Coco.

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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!

Photospot: Darkly Luminous

   

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.

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Today's Photospot takes you inside one of those great Grey Kurka builds you see here and there around the grid, and it's just as visually delicious indoors as out. The "Cleopatra Brimstone" welcomes visitors by describing herself as "a darkly luminous Gothic build for your inner vampire, goblin and ghoul.  No blood splatters here,  Just elegance, beauty and mystery." The description also adds, "And do speak to the resident...Santiago."

Taking the stair/rampway to your left, follow the beacon to the second story of this palace and get yourself comfortable in the open air parlor. You don't need to bring any poses with you. There are pillows, blankets, chairs, divans and more, all equipped with pose settings. But if you do need that special poseball, you'll be happy to note that Build is enabled, with a 1 minute autoreturn; time enough to rez a poseball and jump onto it.

You also won't need to turn on shadows (unless you want to). The palace is brimming with its own shadows and special shadings. (I had shadows turned on for only one of the images I'm showing here.) Treasures abound everywhere you look. The textures are deep and rich. You're forgiven if you reach your hand against the screen while trying to touch things. Too, everything seems to have a tale to tell; extra points for you if you're able to capture the tales with your camera.

I know, I know, it's just too tempting to restrict your view to this one parlor area. So go ahead, explore the rest of Cleopatra Brimstone. You might want to play the harpsichord in the main living room, or admire the Ariel Brearly art on display on the lower level. And, oh yes...don't forget to say hello to Santiago - when you find him...her...it...!

Style notes: suit by Avatar Bizarre, hair by EMO-tions, skin by Egoisme.

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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!

Photospot: Ethereal Caverns

   

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.

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Sometimes you need an area where you can feature your not-so-human avatars. Today's Photospot is such a place, deep in the Ethereal Slate caverns. This area is built by the TeaLink group and welcomes visitors. Perhaps you've been here before; it's been in place since 2008 and much (possibly all) of the work is by Jopsy Pendragon. (Yes, he of Particle Laboratory fame.) Although it will also do fine for human avatars, this is a particularly excellent place for your wild animals or or perhaps even aliens. Merfolk might find it pleasing as well. I chose to don a faerie dragon (a nearly-freebie made by Grendel's Children).

The SLurl sets you gently down on an elevated rail track which you can follow further into the cavern. When you reach its end, step out on a ledge and you might discover the spiral ramp that will lead you down to the waters. Deep in the center, you'll behold the magic tree and be beguiled by the colorful lights of the Dark Crystal. If you have the ability to fly like my dragon, it's even more fun, I must say.

The cavern also holds curious buildings of the ancients and a mysterious dark orb which really comes to life under certain Windlight settings. Speaking of which, Windlight loves this place, and you can seriously get some fun going with a bit of color and glowing fog. As an added bonus for me, my dragon has black stripes over white, and the white picked up and flaunted every color Windlight offered. So sometimes my dragon was blue or yellow or even purple. It only added to the fun.

If you wander too far, you'll end up in the Teal sim, but the caverns continue there, too, so go ahead and enjoy the wander. For an extra treat, indulge in the magic by using the crystal platform transport to visit the Crystal Palace and maybe take a hot air balloon ride. Really, Jopsy's work here could keep you occupied for days, and you're sure to find a lot more photo opportunities. Make time for it!

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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!

Photospot: Columns and Filigree

   

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.

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With its black and white marble-tiled flooring, red columns with gold trim, the delicate curlicued wall panels and hanging ivy, today's Photospot could be a good location for flaunting anything from elegant tuxedos and ballgowns to posing deranged dollies.

Shadows are especially interesting here. The tiled flooring receives shadows poorly or not at all (perhaps it just didn't like the Windlight settings I tried), but on other things - including your star model - the shadows are a delight. Help the sun shine through those filigree panels, and you'll see instantly what I mean.

Beyond being a "figurehead" for Domus Land Rentals, the pavilion appears to serve no other purpose except to excite the imagination. What better reason does something need in Second Life? Mix in a little Windlight, and it's a winning combination.

Style notes: The lovely gown is by F.I.S.L, skin is Ramya (Yasum) with layered lipsticks from Amacci and Mock. Hair is LeLutka, jewelry and gloves (tinted) are from Curious Kitties.

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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!

Photospot: Medieval Kismet

   

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.

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Sometimes you just need a place that takes you back in time to the days of old when knights were bold, when chivalry was standard fare. Today's Photospot will take you there. The term "kismet" refers to one's fate or destiny, and today your destiny is in the Kismet sim, home of the Kismet housing/furnishings store.

The Kismet shop covers the space of five sims, with the mainstore showroom located on one, and much or all of the goods spread out among the others. Everything is photogenic. I expect you'll find yourself wandering around quite a bit. You might not even get any photos taken since nearly everything here is for sale, which may be a bit distracting since it all looks stunning. But, try to focus - pun intended. *wink*

Today's Photospot SLurl lands you in a kind of intersection of the walkway. To one direction, the arched entry to a courtyard. To another, a stone belltower with elegant detailing. Pointing other directions, there are aesthetically pleasing pathways, vegetation, period buildings. While there are a couple visible shop signs you might not want in your shots, the surroundings are full and rich enough to engage yourself with interesting backgrounds in all the directions.

The area is especially evocative at this time of year while it is sporting a blanket of snow. Several trees appear to have caught twinkling stars among their branches. There are some great effects to be had with a little tweaking of Windlight and Depth settings. What a great place to flaunt this amazing medieval warrior outfit from Mystic Hope, paired with the Egoisme skin. Your inventory probably has something suited to this ambiance, so put it on and see what pictorial fate you can discover in Kismet.

  

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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!