Chiara's SL Photo Tips - .01

Even though I am a graphic designer and photographer in RL, I never really got into SL photography until four years ago, at the encouragement of a very good friend (Thank you, Angie Tsunenaga!). I just didn’t really know what to do, and it seemed complicated and tedious (which it is, lol). But after she taught me a few things, I started to get a handle on it, and realized how much potential there was for taking great images.

 

At a certain point, I wanted to dive deeper, so found blogs and videos online that taught me a ton (I watched an hour long video on Ambient Occlusion at one point, lol). There is a bit of a slippery slope here, because the more I learned, the more sliders I had to wrestle with, and the more tedious and time consuming taking photos became. But I also found myself taking much better photos, and having the tools to better realize my ideas and visions. I also, over time, saw the process become quicker, and more instinctive.

 

I know there are already a lot of very good articles, blogs and videos with SL photography. So, I’m not sure repeating this information is really necessary. Further, I only know the process that I’ve cobbled together. I only use Firestorm on a Mac, I don’t use any of the built-in filters, and I can’t try Black Dragon because it’s only for PC. My methods might be convoluted, someone else might have much better knowledge and process, and there are just going to be some things I don't know or use.

 

But, I also get asked questions often, and other times I see SL photographers that could be so much better if they just knew a few simple things. And I usually end up telling people those same things. I try to break it down into bite-sized pieces they can play around with, until they are ready to learn the next thing, and so on and so forth.

 

Thus, I’ve had the thought, for a while now, that if I made a series of postcards/slides, each describing one or two simple tips and techniques, that it could be quite helpful to a lot of people. I’m also sure SL photographers tend to get asked the same questions repeatedly, and having a simple card to point people to, could be helpful as well.

 

Again, I’m not claiming to be an expert, nor suggest I know everything and that I do it all the right way. But hopefully, as I (slowly, lol) flesh out a series of cards on different aspects of SL photography, it can help someone.

 

If you read a card and feel I left something out that’s important, or know a better way, or just have something to add, please feel free to comment, and even start a discussion. Lastly, if you have thoughts on a card I should create, let me know. I’ll be putting this and all future cards into a Flickr album, so they are all in one place.

 

Let me know what you think of this idea, and the first card!

 

Follow the album here.

 

Writing, design and photography

created by Chiara Baroni © 2023

 

Done