BONUS 1: Game Photography

Pre-production

Game of Choice: Genshin Impact

Platform: ASUS TUF Gaming A15

Processor AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS with Radeon Graphics | 3.20 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.2 GB usable)
Laptop GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
Variable Refresh Rate Supported (64 Hz - 144 Hz)
Resolution 1920 x 1080 (Recommended)

Game Photography

Game photography is the practice of taking and sharing images from virtual game worlds, using them as a form of artistic expression. Players utilize built-in photo modes or in-game camera tools that simulate real-life photography techniques to compose and capture visually striking screenshots.

Reference: How to master the art of in-game photography. (n.d.). Epic Games. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/how-to-master-the-art-of-in-game-photography

Game of Choice

I have been playing Genshin Impact for about four years. I’ve spent a lot of time completing quests, engaging with the community, and making gaming friends because of it. It’s one of the few games I’ve been playing consistently over the past few years, along with Honkai: Star Rail and Wuthering Waves. Ever since the pandemic, I’ve longed to go out and visit new places, but these open-world games helped me a lot during those difficult times. I fell in love with the places I explored, so the main reason I chose this game is that I want to revisit those locations, relive the experience, and cherish the memories I made there.

Evaluation of Virtual Camera:

How comprehensive or lacking are the feature sets?

The camera features in the game are limited but functional. The F1 settings include adjustments for the camera, such as background blur, with options to control the intensity of the blur and its distance to suit your preference. Other features allow you to make the character look directly at the camera, make them disappear to capture scenic photos, or hide your game information, like your UID.

The F2 settings provide pose options for your character when taking pictures. For instance, I acquired the battle pose of Raiden Shogun, which looks very cool and stylish. However, the F3 settings only offer facial expression options, which I found underwhelming since they don't change much or are barely noticeable. This could be because they didn't focus much on creating various facial expressions in 3D.

How intuitive and responsive are the controls?

When it comes to controlling and finding the right angle, the options are limited, which restricts how I can take photos. Moving and panning the camera feels a bit challenging. However, the zoom adjustments work well and are helpful when taking photos, as they allow me to limit the objects and subjects within the frame. With their help, I can include the elements I want to focus on and exclude those that aren't necessary. The blur adjustments also assist in bringing attention to the main subject.

How close is the photo mode to the process of using a real camera and editing software?

Comparing the camera feature in the game to a real camera, I think it's somewhat similar. However, I can only compare it to digital cameras and phone cameras since I have never used or even held professional cameras. Unlike the game's photo mode, where the camera angle is somewhat restricted, real cameras allow us to freely adjust the angle without limitations. The photo mode doesn't have the grid that real cameras have, which makes it difficult to take pictures. The blur adjustments in photo mode are similar to a real camera's aperture or shutter speed. As for enhancing photos, like using editing software, the game's photo mode doesn't offer much, so the results often feel underwhelming when left in their raw state.

Shooting Plans:

What in-game locations do you plan to perform your shoots? Why did you choose them?

I plan to take photos in Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, and Fontaine because I find the sceneries and architecture appealing and otherworldly. I chose Liyue first because I love how peaceful yet thriving the place feels. Since Genshin is a Chinese game, they truly put effort into its lore and worldbuilding, which I have grown fond of. The contrast between the vibrant, bustling city and the calm, tranquil town is captivating.

As for Inazuma and Fontaine, they're inspired by Japan and France—two countries I want to travel to someday. I admire their culture and traditions, as well as the stories behind the places there. Lastly, there's Sumeru, a nation inspired by various Middle Eastern countries. I love capturing the beauty of nature, and Sumeru is the nation of Dendro, an element associated with plants. However, the rainforest in Sumeru is a bit small compared to its desert regions. Regardless, it still looks majestic.

What kind of photography are you planning to do (landscape, architecture, portraiture, etc.)?

I plan to take photos of landscapes and architecture because I want to capture the beauty of the fantasy world inspired by various countries in the real world. Despite the criticisms of Genshin Impact regarding the cultural appropriation of characters meant to represent different nations, I can't deny that most places in Teyvat are breathtaking.

Photoset

Northland Bank (Liyue Harbor)

Concept/Idea:

It may not look like it, but that building over there is actually a bank. Liyue Harbor is a city of commerce and prosperity, so a bank naturally symbolizes its wealth. Along with that, the presence of people is essential because, in the business world, they are the driving force behind economic success. The concept is simple, but beyond that, I also want to appreciate the beauty of ancient Chinese architecture. Taking this picture at night makes it even more special—the lights from various buildings highlight how lively and prosperous the city truly is.

Composition/Principles:

Contrast: The colors blue and yellow create a striking contrast.
Overlapping: Although the building and the two people were quite far apart, the photo makes it look as if they are in contact, creating a sense of togetherness.
Rule of Thirds: The four intersecting lines of the imagined grid align with the subjects and the movement of lines in the photo.

Virtual Camera Settings:

Background Blur (Adjusted the blur distance and radius)
Hide Character (To remove them on the frame)
Hide Personal Info (To hide UID)

Post Processing:

The volumetric fog in the game's graphics affected how the photo looked, so I adjusted the shadows and colors to remove the foggy parts and made the bank and lights glow vibrantly, contrasting with the cold blue color of the night. I also sharpened the image to give the building some texture and make the details more apparent to the eye.

Screenshots (Northland Bank, Liyue Harbor)

Mt. Xuanlian (Chenyu Vale, Liyue)

Concept/Idea:

This place is significant for the adepti (illuminated beasts), as it is where they spent and enjoyed their time together. The idea behind this photo is the blend of fantasy and reality, and perhaps the past and present. The wooden bridge and lamp posts, built by humans, contrast with the majestic mountain and the glowing, floating lotuses—elements that seem straight out of a magical world. I like how these subjects subtly hint at the coexistence of humans and adepti/gods. Considering the lore behind Liyue, the adepti and their god have allowed humans to govern themselves, believing that their time as protectors has come to an end. Instead, they now strive to live alongside humans and lead normal lives.

Composition/Principles:

Harmony/Unity: The elements in this photo—such as color, texture, and form—work well together, creating a harmonious composition with no distractions that distract from the subject's movement.
Diagonal: The photo guides the viewer's eyes from the lamp post on the left to the wooden bridge in the middle and right, and finally back to the mountain in the center.

Virtual Camera Settings:

Hide Character (To remove them on the frame)
Hide Personal Info (To hide UID)

Post Processing:

I sharpened the image to make the wooden bridge look more realistic and to bring out its rough texture. I also adjusted the shadows and colors of the photo to eliminate the foggy appearance that covered the mountain itself. I wanted to make the photo look as real as possible and bring out the vibrant colors that make the path to the mountain look majestic.

Screenshots (Mt. Xuanlian, Chenyu Vale, Liyue)

Chinju Forest (Narukami Island, Inazuma)

Concept/Idea:

This forest is one of the most captivating places in Inazuma for me. The first time I visited, I was in awe of its beauty and elegance. I also love how, while exploring this place, it gives off a mysterious and slightly eerie vibe. The torii gates enhance its mystical atmosphere, almost like a path guiding us forward. In Japan (Inazuma is inspired from this country), torii gates are considered sacred, symbolizing the boundary between the human world and the divine realm.

Japanese architecture often incorporates natural materials like wood, paper, and bamboo, giving it a minimalist yet aesthetically pleasing look. I admire how their architectural style seamlessly blends with nature, as the materials come directly from the natural world.

Composition/Principles:

Emphasis: The foreground and background in the photo are out of focus, while the torii gates and the trees beside them fall within the depth of field, making them the focal point. The background most likely became the negative space due to the blueish tone that covers the area.
Contrast: The contrast between the cool blue tones of the surroundings and the warm hues of the red torii gates and lights is pleasing to the eyes.

Virtual Camera Settings:

Background Blur (Adjusted the blur distance and radius)
Hide Character (To remove them on the frame)
Hide Personal Info (To hide UID)

Post Processing:

The forest was a bit foggy, and the game's volumetric fog added to the grayish color, blending with the forest's colors. So, I decided to sharpen the image and maximize the shadows and contrast to make the torii gates and their surroundings stand out, as this photo is meant to capture their beauty. It also made the path through the gates look more magical and sacred.

Screenshots (Chinju Forest, Narukami Island, Inazuma)

Vanarana (Sumeru)

Concept/Idea:

This is one of my favorite places in the game. I love nature and themes related to it, so one of the main reasons I took this photo was to showcase how much I admire this place. It is also home to the adorable, mushroom-like creatures called "Aranara." You can see some of them in the frame—the small red and orange ones. Their singing voices are soothing and calming to listen to, yet they also evoke a bit of melancholy, especially when you consider the stories behind the Aranara.

I also love how their house looks—it kind of reminds me of a pineapple because of its shape and the leaves on top that serve as the roof. The fact that they use materials from nature to build their homes is amazing. This frame gives off the feeling of a warm and welcoming place to live in.

Composition/Principles:

Harmony/Unity: The elements—such as shape, texture, and color—work well together and complement each other, creating a serene ambiance in the photo.
Letterbox: I cropped the original photo because it felt too spacious, which could distract viewers or make it seem bland. I wanted to direct the focus to the main subject—the house in the middle. The surrounding vegetation enhances the forest-like theme.

Virtual Camera Settings:

Hide Character (To remove them on the frame)
Hide Personal Info (To hide UID)

Post Processing:

I cropped the raw photo since the lower part was mostly filled with empty space, which looked uninteresting and distracting, so I decided to include only the subject I intended viewers to focus on. I also adjusted the colors slightly to remove the foggy part of the photo and make the colors more vibrant and strong, making it more eye-catching.

Screenshots (Vanarana, Sumeru)

Fontaine Research Institute of Kinetic Energy Engineering (Fontaine)

Concept/Idea:

Fontaine is a nation with advanced technology and a steampunk theme. Of course, in a fantasy world, the use of technology comes at a price, as it can harm the environment if not managed properly. Fontaine is also well-known for its artistic scene and sense of fashion, which evoke a sophisticated and elite lifestyle. I captured this photo because I wanted to show that even in a nation like Fontaine, there is beauty in simplicity. I wanted to capture how peaceful it can be, as well as how vibrant and full of natural life it is.

Composition/Principles:

Diagonal: The photo guides the viewer’s eye from the right side, where the sunflowers are, toward the center, where the house stands. The ground also contributes to this movement within the frame, as it naturally leads toward the house.
Emphasis: The sky and parts of the ground serve as negative space around the subject, which is the house, along with the flowers beside it.

Virtual Camera Settings:

Background Blur (Adjusted the blur distance and radius)
Hide Character (To remove them on the frame)
Hide Personal Info (To hide UID)

Post Processing:

I sharpened the photo and adjusted its shadows and contrast to make the picture more vibrant and lively. Comparing the post-processed photo to the raw one, the latter feels a bit bland to look at. Since the subject and its surroundings were filled with life, I thought I might as well help make them more apparent to the viewer's eyes.

Screenshots (Fontaine Research Institute of Kinetic Energy Engineering, Fontaine)

Self-reflection

How enjoyable or boring is it?

It was enjoyable but it was also difficult because finding the perfect spot to take photos took a lot of time. I like how it feels as if I am traveling over the world and taking photos of such beautiful scenery. It was fortunate that Genshin is an open-world game which means I can go anywhere and explore various locations. While taking photos, I felt a bit nostalgic about the first time I played the game where I enjoyed it so much that I completely missed a class back then (It's my fault and I will not be doing that again, I promise).

What were the challenges faced during the activity?

The most challenging part was choosing a location to capture, as there were so many places I liked, making it difficult to decide. Another challenge was figuring out how to convey the beauty of a place in a single shot, how to capture the way I perceive it and what composition or techniques to use to make the shot stand out. Additionally, the lack of a grid in the in-game photo mode made framing more difficult, and some camera functions weren’t available in photo mode. Because of this, I decided to do some post-processing to enhance the images, especially since the game’s graphics settings affect how the photos appear. Adjusting them in-game was tricky, so I opted to refine them afterward instead.

How does the photo mode compare to your actual camera?

Taking pictures without a grid is quite challenging. Since the photo mode doesn’t have one, it’s entirely up to me to frame my shots properly. Another limitation is the lack of camera settings in photo mode, it only offers a blur adjustment, which functions similarly to the aperture of a real camera. Additionally, the ability to adjust how far, wide, or tall the camera captures an image is restricted in-game, unlike a real-life camera, where you can freely hold and position it at different angles and placements.

What were the things you were able to do which would have otherwise been more difficult or complicated with a real camera or when shooting in the real world?

I would say that finding the right spot and angle to take the photo is important. From my experience in photojournalism back then, it was quite exhausting and could be a bit dangerous. I remember a time when my fellow photojournalists and I climbed a tree just to take pictures, or when it was raining hard, and our cameras might get wet, so we brought an umbrella, which made taking pictures a hassle. It wasn't just the camera but also the environment that affected how we took pictures. Being able to adjust the time in-game made things easier, as some places look better at night or when the sun is just starting to rise. This is something that would be much more difficult in the real world, where you would have to wait for the right moment.

What were the things that the photo mode made more difficult compared to a real camera in the real world?

The limited ability to adjust angles and camera placement while shooting made it difficult to remove distracting objects from the frame. The lack of camera settings was also an issue, sometimes making the saved photo look bland compared to how it appeared in-game. Additionally, the absence of a grid made framing more challenging, as I often rely on grids to adjust the camera angle for better composition. It helps create a sense of balance, especially when capturing scenic shots.

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