MotoGp 20: Enthusiast Gamer

Motorbike enthusiast, Platinum Hunter and virtual photographer Enthusiast Gamer is back. Last week I featured him for his Days Gone shots, today a week later, we have his new work with MotoGp 20 by Milestone. 

Many virtual photographers I see of late are complaining about a "lack of games to shoot", or that the community is "too samey". To them I say try something new. Maybe racing games aren't your thing, but why not try shooting something different. Kevin has shot these racers wonderfully and with such a vibrancy. 

I could not resist showcasing these shots as they are simply stunning. One of my greatest joys and inspirations is when people shoot things outside of the current flavours on Instagram. Kevin has done just that and once again inspired me to try something new. 

For more of his work check out his Instagram here. 

VP Interview: LunarVP

Today we have an interview with LunarVP a pillar of the virtual photography community, positive, outgoing and polite. Not only is she wonderfully supportive but also has a plethora of emotive and fantastic virtual photographs within her gallery. Through this interview LunarVP discusses her favourite games, her inspiration and gives a few tips to help out other VPs. 

I hope you find the interview as inspiring as I did. Happy reading.

Read Dead Redemption 2

What got you into the Virtual photography hobby and why is it special to you?

Well growing up I was never allowed to play video games, since my dad said they were for boys. Later in my life my parents divorced and my mom, brother and sister bought me a PS4 for Christmas that I had been asking for. The first game I ever played was GTA5 and I honestly fell in love with scenery. I took pictures on the game but I never posted them, which was the start of my obsession. In high school I took art classes and learned about composition and all the basic art principles. I feel like that was the big moment my gaming turned into more than just playing a "silly game". I made my photography account shortly after Red Dead Redemption 2 came out so i could post my photos since i loved doing it in other games like Skyrim.

Virtual photography is special to me because it game me the ability to see so many different things I could've never imagined myself. I get taken to a whole new world with new people and am able to meet friends along the way.

I've heard many sad stories but also good ones as well. I made tons of friends online and lost contact with some as well. But I wouldn't change my experience even if I could. Virtual photography is special to me because of the people I see with me today, and the people I will see in the future as well

You say that you have made many friends online. What would you say the community means to you and why would you encourage others to be part of it?

My favourite subject is body language. Its kind of hard to depict in my photos, but a lot of them have different subjects that are in a specific pose, some bodies display serenity, confidence, and playfulness, while others may portray vulnerability, fear, or even hostility. This subject is one way I can compare all my photos which are all different because each subject has a distinctive body language.

I think this subject is my favourite because I enjoy seeing the pose and emotions what the subject is feeling. I have a sense of the subject's emotion in the picture. I think pulling the viewer into the photo is really cool and can speak to so many people in different ways.

You mentioned your love of Red Dead Redemption 2 earlier. What is it that draws you to this western setting?
Honestly i just enjoy being someone different. I've never really liked how I looked in real life so I enjoy rpg's so I can be more immersive into the games I play. It is also a plus because I really love horses.

Are there any other games you look forward to taking photographs in, or any you have that you want to explore deeper?
A game I'm extremely excited for is the Last of Us 2. I think the scenery is going to be astonishing and I cant wait to see what other games have to offer... as long as they have a good photo mode!

Being an avid virtual photographer yourself, do you have any advice for those fresh into the hobby?

There are tons of ways to get your photos into a crisp condition, such as using certain photo apps to help take off any noise or pixelation on an image.
The apps I tend to use on my phone are Photoshop Express, Remini and Lightroom. If you're just starting out into the community I'd suggest taking photos of things you love in a game. Find a subject and try to look at it from all angles and see if the photo is interesting.

Although it may seem hard at first , if you continue to practice eventually you will get the hang of it.
The main things I always try to mess with are:

1. The angle
2. The cropping
3. The tints of color
4. Shadows and highlights
5. Noise reduction

If you pay attention to these things you can give more character and life to the image you have taken.

Fight Club Friday

On Instagram a lot of virtual photography groups run themes. Be it weekly or seasonal events, they encourage people to seek something specific for a shot. Inspired by these I have been running themes for a long time on Instagram in many forms, but for now I have decided to stick with rollover weekly themes.

MK 11 shot by Dragon78

Today's is Fight Club Friday. Having beaten down the week it is time to celebrate with anything combat related. Today I am showcasing one of the entries from everyone that participated in the recent weeks.

DOOM Eternal shot by Leonardxangel

If you wish to join in on a Friday, upload a shot to Instagram, use the tag #fightclubfridayvp and tag me in it @vpvibrancy I will feature you in my Story and give you a feature in the highlights of my page.

 WWE 2K18 shot by Aaantonisia     Control shot by Stellaocityvp

Star Wars: The Fallen Order shot by Wonkeegameshots

The Witcher 3 shot by Tonio Game Show

Devil May Cry 5 shot by Wolfwithashield

Horizon Zero Dawn by GamingTurtle

Tomb Raider by Threshold Kid

Dead or Alive 6 shot by AJ.gaming.captures

Gaming is Wonderful: Online Gaming Saved Me

Many of us in the modern day world struggle to find a purpose in life. With social media and news streams in our face most of our waking moments, it is hard to switch off. Many of us get lost and feel displaced in a society as we gradually feel less and less connected to the world around us. For some this is just an annoyance, perhaps a frequent disappointment and mild pain. For others it can lead to much darker roads, end in perpetual torment and even death.

The media is full of such stories, but as always it lacks the positive. Now, especially with all the social distancing measures going into place, it is important to reflect on the positive. Here is a gamer's story on how online gaming allowed them to cope in their times of hardship.

May it enlighten you and hopefully inspire you to focus on the good that you have going on in your own life, no matter how small it may seem.

Throughout the article the writer chose Luna.vp as their inspiration within the virtual photographer community. 

Most of my social life at school went from good to downhill as time went on. Too many turned away from me and only thought that my presence was never worth their time and effort. I figured that I needed to find something to make me happy at least just a little bit. I then discovered Video Games. All the homework, assignments and projects that needed to be worked on were always thoroughly done and completed at my earliest convenience, just so I could get to gaming. The good grades were a good thing, but when I was relaxed and gaming, that was truly me feeling okay emotionally. This was true even during my school days that always deterred me from wanting anymore social contact. The digital world behind the screen was there for me, always.

Horizon Zero Dawn by Luna.vp

Eventually, I randomly ventured into Instagram after graduating in 2016. An Xbox One was gifted to me by my Mother. I didn't expect much, I assumed I'd be doomed with no friends, but I did find a player as I played Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3 and we have remained in touch to this day. Some time after there was a new announcement for a game. It was a game changer in the online world. This caught my attention greatly. I can't remember how I stumbled upon the community following the game, but I ended up making more and more friends throughout my time in that community. I was finally experiencing what I missed out on for many years: friendships

Horizon Zero Dawn by Luna.vp

To be honest, video games saved my life. Even though I've still lost many online friends since 2017, I don't feel lonely. I'll never drop gaming, ever. Like I said... it saved me from what I could have gotten myself into and eased my depression and loneliness, which could have led me down a very dark path. Video games are indeed magical. The adventures you can embark on, the visuals you can enjoy. The friends you can meet through it all.

Red Dead Redemption 2 by Luna.vp

Feelings of happiness and contentment is what these digital worlds have given me and I am grateful for that.

Horizon Zero Dawn by Luna.vp

PS4 is Ahead of the Console Race

God of War by Atlantisframe

In October I turned away from the Xbox after nearly ten years of owning one. I wasn't keen on losing the few hundred games in my online library or starting a fresh but Playstation was just too tempting. Most people I was speaking to on Instagram played on the PS4 and also there was so many juicy exclusives with a photo mode. I traded in my console, a small collection of games and sold an old Pokemon game through my friend on ebay. 

That was the day I made the exchange for my PS4 Pro from CEX. It was also the day my gaming time doubled...

Spider-Man by Aj Gaming Captures

It was no surprise to me to learn that the new sales figures suggest that the PS4 is significantly widening the gap on the Xbox One. There are so many tantalising exclusives, four titles you will see represented in shots by two talented virtual photographers throughout this article. 

At a recent financial briefing, AMD said that their sales for both consoles was around 150 million units. By the end of 2019 it is estimated that 109 million PS4 units have been sold. Therefore it can be assumed that the sales for the Xbox would be around 41 million. Of course Microsoft have released no figures, but this is understandable when you are at such the tail end of the competition.

Uncharted 4 by Atlantisframe

Console sales are far from the only revenue the companies get but it is still a good indicator of how much both companies are achieving.

The future is bright for Sony. With titles like Last of Us 2, Godfall and Ghosts of Tsushima, it is no wonder the PS5 is looking so strong. 

Last of Us by Aj Gaming Captures

(Statistics sourced via Push Square)

What is Virtual Photography?

Assassins Creed Origins by Myself

Virtual Photography is a modern movement that has attracted both avid photographers, digital artists and gamers all over the globe. Seen by some as a casual hobby and others as an art form, the community has seen a huge increase of members within the year. 

With real photography, to become a pro you have to have money to buy the hardware, a decent camera, equipment and a photo editing suite with a computer good enough to run it. The photographer can then travel to destinations, work with models and wait for the perfect light level and weather condition to take the perfect shot. Of course this will not be the same for every photographer and like any art form, every photographer is different in their methods, aims, ideas and inspiration.  Virtual photography requires none of the above, a virtual photographer can start their journey with a games console or PC and one game that has a built-in photo mode. Most of these games have a few filters, photo editing options and the ability to freeze the game and travel around a scene. 

Star Wars: The Fallen Order by Leonardo Zuno

Personally I am an introvert, I dislike being around people and have a lot of issues being outdoors for long periods of time. For me, Virtual Photography has been a hobby for two solid years. Long have I dreamed that I could take photographs of rich landscapes, beautiful people and scenes of raw emotion. Now within a few seconds I can turn on my PS4 Pro or my PC and be away in a world playing God.  Time freezes at any moment I choose, I can pan around people without worrying about personal space and I can take as long as I like as I am not paying anyone by the hour to be there.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider by Juan Jose Barra

Many games such as Horizon Zero Dawn and many Ubisoft titles have the ability to also change the time of day and weather. This allows photographers, both novice and master, to get the perfect lighting that they desire for any given shot. Cutting down on waiting for the right time of day to pass in game and relying on that moment. Even without such modes people strive to attain the best shots they can. The Red Dead Redemption 2 online community is a fantastic example of this. With no online photo mode players have to rely on each other to work as in game photographers. Due to this the game has developed a huge community of photographers that have embraced not only the game and its mechanics but also the role play aspect of being in an expansive western world. 

Red Dead Redemption 2 by Ana Kandrose

Having been active in the community for a year I have met and communicated with many people across Instagram. I have met people from all walks of life from the ages of 17 all the way up to 63. The majority are kind-hearted and driven by what they do. Like anywhere on the internet there will be those that are not so positive. It is easily the most positive online community I have ever been a part of. One recurring theme is that I am not alone. Many, but not all of the virtual photography community have some barrier in life, be it social anxiety, a lack in self confidence or a more prominent physical or mental disability. Of course there are plenty of individuals that have none of the above, but for me knowing there are others out there that have found joy doing something I also love, makes the experience even more enriching. 

A shot from The Witcher 3 by Wolfwithashield. The game has no photomode on the PS4 or Xbox

Virtual photography is more than just a hobby for most of us, it is a way to express ourselves, like any artist. It is more than simply fan art of the games we love and enjoy, but a journey that we have been on. Anyone that spends even a few brief minutes looking at the collection of virtual photography images out there, will see that a lot of photographers have developed their own distinct style and have connected with a wide variety of games. Some stick to those titles that are beautiful, already have a great built in photo mode and are on a higher end console and PC, while others explore different titles, find PC modes or use software like Ansel, to allow non photo mode games to suddenly be explored in new ways.  A lot of virtual photographers pride themselves on their editing techniques. I personally use a handful of apps on my iPhone, whereas others use far more advanced software and dedicate a lot of time getting that perfectly tuned edit. 

The likelihood is that if you are reading this article, you are already a part of this amazing movement, but if by the off-chance you are not, I implore you to check out the amazing shift in gaming. Take some time out of your day to look at this passionate art form that draws so many into its vibrant waves and enjoy where the journey takes you.