SX Magazine Awards - Tatiana Easterwood ( Photography Categories )

Hello dear readers,

it's a special pleasure to complete this series of interviews to the Judges for the Photography categories of the SX Magazine Awards with Tatiana Easterwood, that after being on the first cover page, we consider like the Godmother of SX Magazine. Combing her outstanding graphic skills with her amazing creativity, Tatiana is undeniably one of the greatest photographers whose works you can admire, and her art goes way beyond the boundaries of Second Life. If you wish to improve your skills at photography, Tatiana's works are the examples to look at. Read Tatiana's tips in this interview by Monique LeFry

After a few boring years in SL playing the good wife or the nasty bitch, I decided to spend my time taking snapshots. When I improved a bit my computer drawing skills I started a flickr stream and from this time taking pictures was my main activity in SL.

The perfect photo is....
Tatiana: a photo with a lot of imperfections

A successful model is...
Tatiana: someone who IM photographers and producers several time a day

A successful photographer is...
Tatiana: someone who loves capturing a unique instant of (second) life and who gives sense to it with a touch of aestheticism.

Unedited or heavily post-processed images (or somewhere in between)?)
Tatiana: heavily post-processed images

What's the most compelling component of a picture?
Tatiana: The meaning

What makes you want to work with a model again ?
Tatiana: Appearance of course but it's not the main criteria... It's easy to buy mesh bodies, faces, clothes but the personality can't be bought and it's definitely what makes me want to work with someone or not.

What can a new model benefit most from?
Tatiana: Try to find something unique in your appearance.

What can a new photographer benefit most from?
Tatiana:  Don't be shy and show your feelings through your pictures, no matter what your post editing skills are, just try to be original.

I love taking photos because...
Tatiana:  in SL, you can play easily with the world, the characters, the situations... so a picture is a way to capture a thought, an emotion or a fantasy... like a snapshot of what you have inside your brain

Full in-world scenery or green screen?
Tatiana: 1st step : Green screen with models
               2nd step : full-in-world scenery as background

Single model or group shots?
Tatiana: both but one topic or one idea but must be (as much as possible) a single picture

SX Magazine Awards - Arnno Planer ( Photography Categories )

Hello dear readers,

it's time for Monique's interview with Arnno Planer, the one and original Paparazzi of SL, as well as the fourth judge for the SX Magazine Awards for the Photography Categories. Arnno has a special eye for the most original and detailed individuals of SL, so be sure to read this interview to catch his attention

Arnno Planer has been part of the SL community since 2007. He joined Flickr in 2012, He claims he is not an artist or a photographer, just a photography addict in SecondLife. He is one of the founders of Snapaholic Group in SL. He also says, he is too lazy to learn Photoshop or Gimp, too lazy to work with poses... Most of His pictures are  candid captures, not organized planned "shoots". His technique of photographing avatars without their knowledge, allows him to work at his own pace, without pressure and to take natural shots. It also earned him the nickname, 'Paparazzo' on Flickr and Second Life.

The perfect photo is....
Arnno: It's a photo not always technically perfect, but with a movement, an emotion that gives something true

A successful model is...
Arnno: a realistic model

A successful photographer is...
Arnno: a photographer who finds truth in small details

Unedited or heavily post-processed images (or somewhere in between)?
Arnno: For me a great pic unedited is better than a great pic with an heavily post-processed

What's the most compelling component of a picture?
Arnno: a style, details and an, aesthetics

What makes you want to work with a model again ?
Arnno: I never know in advance :P

What can a new model benefit most from?
Arnno: I prefer models that bring a natural and honest quality to their look. Something real rather than an overdone image of an ideal.

What can a new photographer benefit most from? 
Arnno: Find something that inspires you. Something that when you see or experience it, pops into your mind as an image that you would be proud of.

I love taking photos because....
Arnno: this is the best way to chat up girls on sl :-) I don't know because in SL it's very easy to test a lot of things in photography. Easier than RL. Very interesting.

Full in-world scenery or green screen?
Arnno: Always full in-world scenery.

Single model or group shots?
Arnno: Both

SX Magazine Awards - Katina Cazalet-Blaisdale ( Photography Categories )

Hello dear readers,

After Spirit and Linc, here we offer you Monique's full interview to Kat, the third judge for the Photography Categories of the SX Magazine Awards. Kat is one of the most active models and actresses in the business, and in this interview she shares her experience with us, offering some interesting tips to anybody who dreams a successful career into the business.

"It was a dark and stormy night of 2012 when Katina Cazalet joined The Sexiest Pornstars group, and the world of porn has not been the same ever since! " Thanks to her exquisite poseball sitting skills and ability to walk from point A to point B, she won right away the Best Newcomer Award. After that, she mostly slacked off dealing with bloggy things for The Sexiest Pornstars group, and being the editor of the Avi Choice Awards nominated magazine founded by her partner. To keep those 'stand around and look cute' skills sharp, she appeared meanwhile on a few dozens movies and photoshoots, which ultimately earned her the Best Female Model of 2014 award at the Black Tie Affair and 4 nominations at the 2016 Second Life Porn Star Awards. She proudly displays those awards in her trailer, next to the bowl of brown M&Ms.

The perfect photo is....
Katina: A myth.

A successful model is...
Katina: A model who gets to work with the photographers she is interested in, with mutual satisfaction.

 A successful photographer is... 
Katina: Nothing more than a photographer who is happy with their work.

Unedited or heavily post-processed images (or somewhere in between)?
Katina: In medio stat virtus. If you can see flaws and glitches probably those should have been edited out. If your exquisite editing skills ended up painting the model in a way that doesn't resemble SL anymore, it's entirely a matter of taste. Some love it, and the price list for professional photographers who deal primarily with that style is there to show it. I prefer a well polished photo look without a 'handpainted' feel to it.

What's the most compelling component of a picture?
Katina: Anything that makes you stop browsing the recent photos feed of Flickr and has you click to see. Can be literally anything. If you want me to tell you what I am looking for in a picture, I certainly am looking for the 'xxx' factor in it. By 'xxx' I don't mean anything pornographic, that's just me being punny and avoiding copyright infringement.  What I will take into consideration and find compelling is, how uniquely erotic and alluring the picture is.

What makes you want to work with a photographer again?
Katina: Modeling for someone is a privilege to me. The more I can feel that they enjoyed working with me and that my choices or ability to comply with their requests helped bring them out their ideas, the more keen we both will be to work together again.

What can a new model benefit most from?
Katina: Again, something that can make her stand out. Make your look 'your own'. If you are already confident in your looks, just be aware that it is only a small, although essential, part of it. Be proactive contacting photographers, and keep your expectations low and your patience high.

What can a new photographer benefit most from?
Katina: The world is your oyster. If you are new to photography as a whole, just practice, follow tutorials about both postprocessing and in-world photography, such as posemaking and the way Advanced lighting works. You will choose later what area interests you most, getting results as good as you can in-world or have full control with postprocessing. If you already have experience in picture editing, you have your work cut out for you. Focus first and foremost on being satisfied with the results of your own work and explore the possibilities of SL.

I love being in photos because....
Katina: I am a psychopath!

Full in-world scenery or green screen?
Katina: As in question n°4, I am a SL person, I like to see Second Life in a picture. 'Prop' work and set building are underrated skills sometimes.

Single model or group shots? 
Katina: I love group shots! For a photographer eventually having more than one model at the same time is needed to bring out certain ideas, and I personally enjoy being instrumental in that. And on the set they can lead to fun and memorable moments.
.....Yeah ok, that being said, I am not a hypocrite: every model loves to have the spotlight to herself, so OF COURSE I say single model shot, thank you!!

SX Magazine Awards - Lincoln Garnet ( Photography Categories )

Hello dear readers,

here's the full interview to Linc from our lovely Monique. Linc is a very well known and respected photographer, who puts a big effort in the 'inworld' construction of the photos. If you want to impress the judges of the SX Magazine Awards, or you just want to learn how to take a great photo, be sure to read this interview carefully

Lincoln Garnet is an Second Life based photographer & designer specializing in exotic and erotic works.  A longstanding practitioner of light and shadow work, Mr. Garnet prefers to shoot in world using constructed sets and natural locales as opposed to adding backgrounds post processing.

Unless specially requested, all of the lighting and shadow you see in his work was obtained in world.

Mr. Garnet has had the good fortune to work with many of Second Life's top designers (fashion, furniture, architecture), models, and prominent figures, partnering to create erotic works that are more sensual than sexual.  While he has been known to create graphic depictions of sexuality at a client's request, he endeavours to produce works that are tasteful and arousing rather than just explicit and shocking.

Along with his partner, Sydney Bonde, he produces work on behalf of IMPACT PhotoWORX, Impact PoseWORX, and  Deep Impact Designs. 

The perfect photo is...
Lincoln: ...one that arouses the viewer regardless of the subject matter.  The type of photo that stimulates you and forces you to question your limits and preconceived notions.

A successful model is...
Lincoln: ...one that is distinctive and individual.  One willing to create a look and an image that is wholly his or her own, rather than simply following the current trend.

A successful photographer is...
Lincoln: ...one with vision.  The world is littered with me too practitioners that simply try to emulate a particular style or technique.  A successful photographer is immediately recognizable by quality of their work and the unique interpretation he or she brings to a job.

Unedited or heavily post-processed images (or somewhere in between)?
Lincoln: Neither.  It is certainly possible to create stunning works of art with no processing, but unfortunately processing has a bad rap.  Even the greatest film photographers used processing - they mixed and applied chemicals a variety of ways and they adjusted exposure times, drying methods, and a host of other activities to create works of art.  Processing should enhance the image, not be relied on to create it.

What's the most compelling component of a picture?
Lincoln:  No such animal.  Every photo has a focus - and can only have one focus - but that focus changes based on the intent.  Sometimes it is the lighting; other times its the setting; and yet other times, it is the subject.  Composition is simply how you choose to highlight one of those aspects.

What makes you want to work with a model again ?
Lincoln: Attitude.  I dislike working with models that believe their own PR, or believe they are bigger than the concept.  I like working with models that are down to earth, fun, and want to be part of a vision - not just recreate something that has already been done.

What can a new model benefit most from? 
Lincoln: Be adventurous.  And be willing not to follow the crowd.

What can a new photographer benefit most from? 
Lincoln: Don't know it all.  Be willing to take risks.  And try to do something first on your own before asking for help or just copying someone else's style.  Anybody can be a photographer; it takes skill, luck and a lot of hard work to be an artist.

I love taking photos because...
Lincoln: I get to show people the world that I see.  For a long time, I never showed anyone my work because I thought everyone saw the world the way I do - I didn't know my vision was different.

Full in-world scenery or green screen?
Lincoln: Full in-world scenery.  Not even a discussion.

Single model or group shots?
Lincoln: Depends on what I am trying to show.  Group shots are fun if you are clear what you are trying to show.  But without focus, its just a circle jerk.  And usually a pretty bad one.  Single shots can be powerful with the right lighting and composition - or powerfully boring.  At least once a week I look back at something I did and think, "What the hell was I thinking?"

SX Magazine Awards - Mrs Spirit Demure-Rust ( Photography Categories )

Hello dear readers,

we decided to show you the full interviews with the judges of the SX Magazine Awards, from which Monique created the articles you can read in the June issue of SX Magazine. Like in the magazine, this series begins with the interview to the wonderful Mrs Spirit Demure-Rust. If you want to know how to impress her, don't miss this interview ;)

Spirit joined SL about six years ago. Of course she was introduced to the world of the seedy and depraved right away, and found a home in Hard Alley.  This is where she met Hard Rust, an icon of depravity in the grand world of SL adult entertainment.  While in SL, she developed a love of creating interesting pictures, as SL offers endless opportunities for creativity.  She is a multiple "Sexiest Awards" winner for photography as well as movie script writing.  She helped to build a beautiful 1950s themed sim with Hard Rust (her partner in crime as well as many other things) and has published a vintage style magazine called "The Living End." She has been a regular contributor to various magazines in SL over the past few years as well. She has also been fortunate to appear as a model for others in a few.  She continues to push her creative boundaries in photography.


The perfect photo is....
Spirit:....something that is meaningful to the person taking the picture. That will be translated into the image, and then will mean something to those who are looking at it.  The viewer ends up being a participant in the experience of the photo, not just a viewer

A successful model is....
Spirit:....willing to take risks, and is flexible. Listens to constructive criticism openly and without bitterness. I feel they also have to have a vision of what they want out of experiences, and what THEY want to communicate to others.

A successful photographer is....
Spirit:....open to ideas. Is willing to learn from others.  Pushes their "comfort zone."

Unedited or heavily post-processed images (or somewhere in between)? 
Spirit: I am somewhere in between.  I feel that polishing photos is a given. Imperfections that are purposeful are different from cleaning up seams of head/feet/hands. I am all for imperfections....but technical glitches I feel should be cleaned up. I look for those little things. Otherwise, the art is yours to do with what you like, what you're willing to have represent you as an artist. I like to play with editing on my photos.

What's the most compelling component of a picture?
Spirit: The most compelling part of a picture is how ALL components are put together.  For me, there really isn't one thing, it is the impact it makes (or doesn't make) with all things working together. You could have a great subject, but the composition and lighting sabotage it. Or great lighting, but an uninteresting subject. It is important to think of what you want the impact of the whole picture to be, not pieces.

What makes you want to work with a model again ?
Spirit: For me, a model's personality makes me want to work with them again. Being friendly and open, and respectful.

What can a new model benefit most from?
Spirit: A new model can benefit just by talking to people, and being friendly. Get yourself out there. Take some pictures, get them on flickr.

What can a new photographer benefit most from?
Spirit: Same as above! :D  And not being afraid to experiment.

I love taking photos because....
Spirit:....it is an endless source of creativity.  I can make whatever I can think of.  It is a therapy.

Full in-world scenery or green screen? 
Spirit: Mostly full inworld scenery that I put together on my platform.  But, for my own growth I have been dabbling in some green screen.  It is fun to use a green screen, it opens up possibilities, but I like creating physical scenes more.

Single model or group shots? 
Spirit: Single model shoots are easier to coordinate, but I like shooting both.