SL Unearthed: shadows

Showing posts with label shadows. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Photospot: Bridging the Islands

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!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Photospot: Soho Studio Cafe

Did you know there are entire sections of New York City faithfully (in spirit at least) reproduced in several areas of Second life - including mainland? True, true. My avatar got to feeling a bit like a starving artist, putting all his monies into his wardrobe and art supplies; not a lot left for living quarters. I imagined him in some spartan Soho loft, with a bed in one corner, a small refrigerator nearby, a table surrounded by canvasses, an old cassette tape player for some ambiance while working. And of course, a gated freight elevator for access.

Alas, I didn't find the loft apartment of my vision. However, I did find today's Photospot: a Soho studio cafe of sorts, where down-and-out artists of the neighborhood can meet up to talk shop over a cup of the strange brew that the Tooter Claxon coffee machine on the premises offers. And I found it at the edge of New York City -- which is on the Heterocera Atoll, right where one would expect it, naturally. *grin*

"Spartan" accurately describes this space, but there are some hidden features. The straight-back chairs come equipped with several poses for both males and females. Also, Build is enabled (with a generous 10 minute autoreturn), so you can rez out your own poseballs here or even add your own furniture and other props for the time of your shoot.

Windlight works beautifully here, helping you change the time of day or to accentuate the New York weather. Fun with shadows can also be had; the flooring looks especially nice with a stream of sunlight dancing across its surface.

On the street side of this space, a couple busses and taxis can be seen. To the opposite, a railroad track passes close to the building. During the time I was there, two city transit trains and a locomotive passed by. If you hope to catch one in your shot, watch your mini-map for green dots moving along the tracks (or engage a friend to become an engineer for the time you're there). I had good luck shooting outward from within the studio cafe, although not very good results trying to shoot into it from outside. The windows are dirty in both directions, but on the exterior, they're nearly opaque.

I didn't rez any painting supplies, but I did take advantage of the enabled Build to rez a "keep your eyes on this" prim, shrunk it down to about 0.05, and made the texture transparent. I also turned off particles (under Advanced > Rendering Types). I thought maybe 10 minutes wouldn't be long enough for me, so I was keeping the prim selected and I didn't want my selection effects to show up in the shots. Why do I call it a "keep your eyes on this" prim? Because as long as I have it selected (or unselected, if it's Alt + Clicked), the avatar's eyes will look at it. When the focus prim is moved, the eyes move to follow it. Keeping a prim selected (or Alt + Clicked) while still lining up your shots can involve some tricky camera maneuvering, but if you've got the patience, it's worth it to avoid those times when the eyes insist on aiming toward the forehead or ears.

Gotta love a virtual world.

Style notes: Tweed suit by Gabriel, skin by Faces Studio, hair by A&A, eyes by Sterling Artistry.

Flickr members: you're invited to join the SL Unearthed Photospot group and add your pictures taken at Photospot locations to the group pool.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Photospot: Columns and Filigree

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.

Flickr members: you're invited to join the SL Unearthed Photospot group and add your pictures taken at Photospot locations to the group pool.