Second Life

Just Because

Image February 2, 2015PeepSideshow Darkward5 Comments

Sometimes when I’m blogging for several events or releases around the same time, I start to feel stressed about getting the posts done. While I love and appreciate the creators who are kind enough to provide me with their beautiful goods, I can begin to feel like I am not always doing my best for them (or me) when I am under pressure to publish while the event or release is new. I worry about every camera angle, have I set the scene or styled the outfit in the best way, have I chosen the right pose and lighting? Have I left anything out of the credits? Did I miss a group on Flickr or post in the wrong ones?

All of those things go through my mind as I am preparing my post.

So it is nice – and sometimes necessary for my sanity – to just take a photograph and blog something just because I want to. Sometimes it is an item that a creator has given me; but often it is just something that I see, buy and put on.

That’s what happened when I saw the Remedium Shawl by [glow] Studio at this round of The Dressing Room Fusion. I knew exactly the photograph I wanted to take – the lighting, the mood, the camera angle. And I wasted no time in doing it. Within an hour of seeing the ad, I had purchased it, found hair that worked (with minimal editing), hopped into a pose and completed shooting. I didn’t even have to take that many shots (for me, anyway). I kept the background plain white and adjusted the lighting using Windlight and my LUMIPro, then played about with it in Photoshop. I had recently downloaded several Actions, and I came up with three versions using various effects that I liked. This was the winner.

A different version is on display upstairs at my photo studio, if you want to pop over and take a look. You can find it from the glow that surrounds it; the same glow I feel when I have created a photo that I love…just because.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Scarf: [ glow ] studio Remedium Shawl (greenflow) by Linka Demina (available at The Dressing Room Fusion through Feb. 13 2015)
Hair: +LALA Moon+ Beagle [ Crimson Red ] by RuRu Nagy (edited)
Skin: -Glam Affair – Amberly II skin – America 14 D by aida Ewing
Eyes: IKON Promise Eyes – Maldives by Ikon Innovia
Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V1.0 by Onyx LeShelle
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: aDORKable Poses: Floored II 5m by Adorkable Peapod

Photo taken using the LumiPro HUD by Stefan Buscaylet

A Little Bit of Class

Image February 1, 2015PeepSideshow Darkward8 Comments

A little bit of class, a little bit of sass.

Forget about American Express; I try to never leave home without them.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

*Top: WTB RENEE’ DARK ROSES top by Zeta Untermeyer (available at Sneak Peek from Jan. 25 – Feb. 5)
*Pants: WTB MIA MAG pants by Zeta Untermeyer (available at Sneak Peek from Jan. 25 – Feb. 5)
*Shoes: Poute– Honey High Wedges- FATPACK by HauteCoutureDesign (available at Sneak Peek from Jan. 25 – Feb. 5)
Necklace & Earrings: Cae :: Entangled :: Ensemble by Caelan Hancroft
Hair: *ARGRACE* YUZU – Red by rika Oyen
Skin: -Glam Affair – Amberly II skin – America 15 D by aida Ewing
Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V1.0 by Onyx LeShelle
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual (L) & Splayed (R) by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) High by Siddean Munro
Hand & Feet appliers: -Glam Affair– Slink Hand & Feet Skin Appliers AD by aida Ewing
Eyes: [ MUDSKIN ]_Glass Eye_Blue3_w1 by Sopha Portal
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: Diesel Works SeptGift11 by Rogan Diesel

Photo taken using the LumiPro HUD by Stefan Buscaylet

Surf Watch

Image January 31, 2015PeepSideshow Darkward6 Comments

The February round of The Challenge features the theme of Community. Here on the east coast of Australia, a surf club is a fitting community theme. Almost every beachside suburb has its own surf club, where whole towns come together not just for the water sport, but for Surf Lifesaving, activities for the kids and fundraising for the community.

Since my home is currently beach-less, I hopped over to Purple Crayons to set up my very own surf club. Rwah’s second sim is now open, and anyone can rez there to take photographs. There is a generous 30-minute auto-return set, so you should have time to set up and shoot before stuff starts mysteriously reappearing in your inventory. Honestly, the sim is picturesque enough to not have to worry about setting up your own scene, but it’s wonderful to have the location available for those times when your home or platform just won’t do.

Grab your board and join me; I’m done watching and surf’s up.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

*Club: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] The Beach Hangout by Paco Pooley (available in store for The Challenge, February 2015)
*Sign: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Surfer Bar Sign by Paco Pooley (available in store for The Challenge, February 2015)
*Chairs: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Rattan Armchair by Paco Pooley (available in store for The Challenge, February 2015)
*Table: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Rattan Table by Paco Pooley (available in store for The Challenge, February 2015)
*Surfboards: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] vintage surfboard 1 and 22769 ~ [bauwerk] vintage surfboard 2 by Paco Pooley (available in store for The Challenge, February 2015)

Location: Purple Crayons