While I'm not ready to publish actual stories, and when I do I'll probably use a different platform, I thought I might instead use this canvas to showcase my current project: Teaching myself to take screenshots that don't suck. This might not seem like much, but a weak point of mine is visual skills. I struggle to describe what I've seen, and can't draw a picture to save my life. So much like fanfic is a gateway to writing, I thought screenshots might be a gateway to sharper visual artistry skills.
With that in mind, it began with this:
Yes, this is a Lalafel from Final Fantasy 14 fishing. And no, I don't have their permission to use their art for profit. All rights, art, et al, belong to them and they are awesome. So the second I cause a problem I'm unaware of, this all vanishes.
Still, humble beginnings, right? Simple, straight forward, taken head on during daylight. You know what's going on, but it's nothing exciting. And it continues like that for a bit. I wanted to take better screenshots, there is an awesome tool, but...
Super basic. In fact, I'd hazard to say the miqo'te (cat girl) in that picture is more interesting than the subject. At least she's /doing/ something, engaging somehow, in the world around her... even if it's to look at my lalafel like she's planning something inappropriate.
So, what is today's lesson in taking screenshots? Look like the subject is doing something. Literally anything. Even if all they are doing is looking at stuff, it's still a ton better than them just staring blankly at nothing. Fortunately, FF14's screenshot tool allows you to change how the character's head is facing. So even without adding any kind of motion, other characters, or depth, I went straight to:
Which I find immediately more appealing. By no means is it an epic for the ages, but it gave me a basis to begin a series of shots I called "Tiny Eva Looks at Things", which was good practice just for trying to get a sense of 'What Looks Neat.' Suffice to say, they weren't all successes, but I promised myself I would keep at least one screenshot from each series of attempts, since even in our failures we learn something.
I am by no means a master of this humble art. But who starts that way? So here's where I'm at. If you are on/want to experience a photo journey of an online adventure, it's just this easy. No time like now to get started!
