Grounded Mode in The Last of Us Part 2

For many purists and the more hardcore gamers, The Last of Us' Grounded Mode was seen as the way the game should be played. No Hud, no listen mode, the most brutal combat and scarce resources it tested even the most patient of survivors. 

Many fans were upset at the lack of a Grounded Mode in the sequel. Perhaps Naughty Dog left it out as they wanted to attach a prestigious trophy to it and not perturb those after an easier platinum trophy. 

Never fear as Naughty Dog have now announced that it is coming to The Last of Us Part 2, along with a permadeath mode... yay.

In what form Grounded Mode will take we do not know but it will be a treat I am sure.

The Last of Us Part 2: Lunargames

The Last of Us Part 2 has moved many. Most seem to adore it, some hate it but I think anything creative that causes a mix of opinion is good. It means boundaries are being pushed and perhaps expectations changed. 

The beauty of art and creativity is it is a different experience for everyone. Despite seeing many showcases of The Last of Us, here Lunargames shows us the game through her own eyes. 

Lunar's use of colour and setting is consistent across all of her virtual photography. Bold and beautiful, her work pops and is pleasing to the eye.She has a wonderful range of games across her profile and will try her hand shooting any game with or without a photo mode. Like all true creatives this challenge promotes growth in her skill set and she is flourishing.

For more of Lunargames' work check out her profile here.

The Last of Us: Captured Games

Rounding up the end of The Last of Us showcase, we have the work of Captured Games.  

As these shots show, they are well adapted to portrait photography. Across their profile you can see portraits of the protagonists from a variety of photo mode games. 

Well shot, emotive and dramatic, each shot tells a story and often reveals a lot about a character just at a glance. While a lot of virtual photographers shoot exclusively portraits, Captured Games keeps it varied and fresh, mixing up the game, angle and setting of each shot.

Captured Games is well worth a follow, especially if you are into the beauty of PS4 exclusives. Check out their page here.

Last of Us Part 2: Visualcam9

This weeks showcase series starts off with the last features of the Last of Us Showcase. Today we have the work of Visualcam9. 

Their ability to create breathtaking set pieces across all of the games they play is simply amazing. The combination of environment and protagonist combines to create dramatic and captivating photography.

These The Last of Us Part 2 shots are no different. Each of the four present very different emotions from each other, and capture a completely different perspective of Ellie.

To see more of their wonderful work check out their page here.

Art Feature: Eugene Dorofeev

Continuing with the art features and The Last of Us Showcasing, here is the work of Eugene Dorofeev. A Russian based character artist. 

The majority of his work is not fan art but his own. Like all creatives he is inspired by his interests and that shows in his gritty, comic book style. 

For more of his work check out his art station here.

Art Feature: Hour of Dawn

Starting today I am venturing into slightly new territory for interest and variation. I have seen many virtual photographer commission artists to draw game characters or their original Characters (OC). Therefore in order to show appreciation to these fine creatives I will be doing the occasional art feature. 

My first is Hour of Dawn. 

Svetlana the Russian watercolour artist paints portraits of various figures from TV, music and with the Last of Us Part 2, now games. 

Very reasonably priced for such fine work, Svetlana offers commission work as well as a large catalogue of completed designs. 

To see her on social media and her storefront check out her Link Tree here.

The Last of Us Part 2: Gr8gamingshots

As The Last of Us showcases continue today we have the shots of Gr8gamingshots. Thrilled to have him on board with the showcase, he has always been an inspiration to me. From the first day I made my account I followed him and I have been an avid support of his work ever since.

Today in this host of early The Last of Us Part 2 content we see Ellie at the start of the new road ahead. Being a virtual photographer that spends his time exclusively shooting from PS4 games with a decent photo mode, he has honed his skills and knows how to find and capture set pieces. This is especially relevant in his pursuit of Spider-Man and the effective use of locations and remote areas to get exactly what he desires.

Many virtual photographers shy away from backgrounds when it comes to portraiture, but Gr8gamingshots always takes in into consideration to tell the story within the shots. 

Since he sent me these pictures Gr8gamingshots has uploaded more. To see those and plenty of other games check out his page here.

The Last of Us: Bombeardcaps

The Last of Us by Bombeardcaps

Today we have a showcase from Bombeardcaps. Virtual photography aside, one thing I adore about their profile is the organisation. Playing one game and posting their last played, allows us to have a visual journey of not only a single game but also their experience with it. 

The Last of Us by Bombeardcaps

The majority of good virtual photography, much like real world photography tells a story, and it is here on Bombeard's profile we see it. Each shot in its own right is full of emotion and depth, but side by side with the others it allows the viewer to see the photographers progression throughout the game's journey.

The Last of Us by Bombeardcaps

Currently they are uploading Assassin's Creed Origins, but the The Last of Us Part 2 is being played. I implore you to check out more of their work here and in time, there will be much more of The Last of Us 2 to follow on from these wonderful shots. 

The Last of Us by Bombeardcaps

The Last of Us Part 2 by Leonardoxangel

The Last of Us Part 2 by Leonardoxangel

Leo has been featured on this blog prior to this showcase and was interviewed about his virtual photography a few months ago. Now he is back with his Last of Us 2 photography.

The Last of Us Part 2 by Leonardoxangel

Having fallen for the framing and cinematic option in Deathstranding, Leonardoxangel showcases his new found passion with these shots from the Last of Us 2.

The Last of Us Part 2 by Leonardoxangel

I think you will agree that he has come on leaps and bounds from his older work. Like any good creative he has proven that with a constant pursuit of his hobby and being adventurous, improvement comes naturally. 

The Last of Us Part 2 by Leonardoxangel

What started out as a page mainly of elegant portrait pictures has now developed into a far more ambitious and cinematic spectacle. I love seeing creativity develop and the creatives go into new territories that they previously did not explore. For more of his fantastic work check out his profile here.

 

The Last of Us: Gamevnom

The Last of Us by Gamevnom

Despite being a relatively new account on Instagram, Gamevnom aka Sebastian pulls no punches. His shots are vivid, bright and full of impact. Even in a dark and sinister game like The Last of Us, he injects with life and colour, capturing the vibrancy of the game and yet retaining the gritty drama.

The Last of Us by Gamevnom

I recommend Sebastian's work for anyone who is into decent and diverse virtual photography. Having only started his account in May he is one to watch as I am sure we have plenty more beauty to come. Click here to see more on his account.

The Last of Us by Gamevnom

The Last of Us: Wolfwithashield

The Last of Us by Wolfwithashield

Known for her soft and dreamlike focus, Wolfwithashield's work is always distinguishable in the steady stream of virtual photography. 

The Last of Us by Wolfwithashield

No matter the game, setting or situation, her shots always have the atmosphere of a classical painting.  The softness, bold colours and often glassy eyed portraits create a homage to modern gaming and traditional art.

The Last of Us by Wolfwithashield

While these shots all focus on The Last of Us, her profile here, shows a wide range of games and genres, which I implore you to check out.

The Last of Us by Wolfwithashield

The Last of Us Showcase Month

The Last of Us shot by Wolfwithashield

After a bit of feedback from people I decided to hold off a little longer on the Last of Us Showcase Week. I have a host of content scheduled to upload, but people requested a little more time to get their shots in. 

Not wanting to make people feel pressured I have delayed the posts. Instead of an intensive week it will be stretched over the month. A Last of Us Showcase Month. 

If you have any content you would like to share. Please get in touch.

The Last of Us: Ben Croft Gaming

The Last of Us by Bencroftgaming

I can recall the first time I saw Bencroftgaming's work, it was as the name would suggest, some shots of Lara coated heavily in action and emotion. From that moment I have been a follower of their content. 

The Last of Us by Bencroftgaming

No matter what game they turn their attention to the shots continue to be an emotive journey and one that I am pleased to observe. 

The Last of Us by Bencroftgaming

These shots of The Last of Us are no exception. Each captures that moment in time, the lighting adding to the depth and tension. To see more of Bencroftgaming's work, check out their Twitter here and Instagram here.

 

The Last of Us by Bencroftgaming

The Last of Us: Photomode_On

The Last of Us by Photomode_on

Today for the third showcase feature for The Last of Us week, we have the work of Erika aka Photomode_on. 

The Last of Us by Photomode_on

Whichever game Erika shoots from she leaves an almost dream like quality to the final image.  The angles and choice of subject complement the lighting and composition of the photo. 

The Last of Us by Photomode_on

Both the landscapes and portraits tell a story. Her portraits are never "just a face" or lacking in emotion, each tells a story. The shots above and below are great examples of how so little in terms of the image can say so much. 

The Last of Us by Photomode_on

For more of Erika's work, check out here Instagram page here.