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.
The Onigashima sim is the home of several stores that feature traditional Japanese items. It is also the location of our 'Spot for today. The greeting you receive invites you to enjoy the stores and the scenery. The first thing you'll notice upon arrival is the automatic change of lighting to the sim's special Windlight settings, bathing the sim in a rich magenta-brown, illuminated by a golden, setting sun. The next thing you'll notice is that you're going to need to hike a little to reach today's Photospot, high atop one of several arched bridges that connect these shop islands together.
Of *course* you'll be exploring the entire sim. How could you resist it? But for now, make your way to the spot in the middle of the bridge - I'm assuming you'll have a nice, red beacon to follow! Once there, start snapping. Be sure to check yourself from all directions. The bridges feature a multitude of torii, creating countless natural-found frames to work within.
Although shadows don't deliver much impact in such diffused light, you might want to turn them on anyway, to take advantage of depth of field. This spot is especially accommodating for Depth. And if you get tired of the sim's lighting? Change it! Yes, modifying your Windlight settings here works just as well as elsewhere. And when you're in a setting less diffused, the shadows will come to life. With all the railwork and foliage, the shadows are simply beautiful.
Other than some simple camera nudges to hide a shop sign here and there, there are no bad angles to avoid. Zoom in tightly using Ctrl (Cmd) + 0. Zoom out widely using Ctrl (Cmd) + 8. (Ctrl/Cmd + 9 will return your view to the normal zoom.) Close up or wide lens, you're going to find something quite pleasant for your camera to grab.
Now that you've explored this spot from all its many angles, it's time to go ahead and examine the rest of the sim. Try a variety of times of day, various camera angles and a selection of Windlights. You won't be disappointed.
Style card: Skin by SeraKorea, hair by Black Maria, zen robes from Ryushosha Temple, glasses by KTG.
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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