Curse

Chicken of the Seas · Oct 21, 2007, 10:01 PM // 22:01

Great shots guys

I don't have that many outtakes this time...

There were basically 2 problems with my assignment:
1, Sue got a little distracted by her extra.

Can you blame her? He's a cutie

2nd, angles were a bit difficult since the frog can't move, and the fact that there was a hill on one side, and that it kept licking sue!

Morag D · Oct 27, 2007, 07:41 AM // 07:41

hi everyone!

I so loved this week's assignment, it was real fun to do. I think I'd love it if we had to write up a story each time

I couldn't help myself and fell back on my usual genre, which is dark fantasy.

the poisonous outcrops are just such a lovely place to be, the landscape is just amazing

but then, you need a bunch of henchies to get anywhere, and as soon as you leave them alone for a second, jora goes off to pick a fight >.<

sooooo looking forward to what everyone else did!
good luck

Queen Kitiara · Oct 27, 2007, 03:54 PM // 15:54

Wow Eryn!!! Such neat outtakes with cool lighting and I love your armor color! I too had fun with the writing, tried super hard to be entertaining while being descriptive...hope the judges don't kill me for all the writing :P I'd really love to do well, even hope for immunity

but thanks for the wishes of good luck, after seeing your outtakes I'm going to need it!

Good Luck to all!

I don't really have any outtakes this week, except for this almost fatal accident courtesy of Prince Rurik...I had to do a mission over and over again to get my shot...I think he was getting annoyed with me :P

edit/ --> LAWL - I just realized where my axe was lined up too ha haha ha ha...maybe he thought he was returning the favor o.O

Stalker Haras · Oct 27, 2007, 04:40 PM // 16:40

I ask that you guys hold off from posting images until this weeks assignment is done, so judges can't see where your shot was taken, and so on and so forth.

Thanks.

Queen Kitiara · Oct 28, 2007, 05:07 AM // 05:07

WOW GUYS!!!! Man tough round :S
Wonder how its going to turn out this week... /bites nails

I agonized over which pic to put up, what to keep or not in my story :S (obviously i chose NOT to cut - heh heh)
I chose my other pic because you could see more of Kitiara's face and chin rather than neck though i love the rain in this pic and the crop more...but I have a habit of choosing busy backgrounds and chickened out of going with this pic which honestly i liked the "feel" of it more but thought the other had less "technical" flaws ....ahh well :P wonder if this would have faired better...

Perynne · Oct 28, 2007, 06:47 AM // 06:47

Kit, I thought your shot was gorgeous this round.

However, you've almost always had very close-cropped images, and while this time it was a good thing, sometimes you can add just a little extra spice to your picture by showing more of the background. It's good to take the same picture (the one you're satisfied with) and play around with the cropping, even making some rather extreme ones. That way, you can see what would work and what doesn't.
For example, usually wide cropping makes the picture look more dreamy, calm or all-encompassing. It gives the character meaning, by showing where she is and how she fits into it. However, it doesn't suit pictures where the character's actions are the main point, because those actions tend to disappear into the background. Close cropping helps to create claustrophobia and uneasiness, as well as letting you focus more on your subject rather than her surroundings.
I like the shot you posted here better than the one you had for the contest. :3 Sure, the background has a lot of small things in it, but in this assignment it doesn't matter that much. The important thing was to show your favourite location and yourself.

During TNTM cycle 1, when I was competing, my primary problems were poor cropping and bland poses. However, even bland poses can be made a touch better if you're not afraid to experiment with cropping.
My shots in this assignment were very wide on purpose. It clearly showed the surroundings, bringing more importance to the character and the area she was in. She looked less out of place because the background was visible enough to back her up.

Bland standing pose, but I like how it looks like her armor is moving in the breeze and the background really supports her role:

Apparently, the bridge moves in the breeze too:

She's checking out the location for the story with a critical eye, while holding her text on her hand:

tasha · Oct 28, 2007, 01:08 PM // 13:08

Right so after the near miss this week, here's the story and shot that ended up on the cutting room floor. While I prefer this to the one I submitted, there are too many "pictures" in this story which is why it was reworked.

She was tired, she ached and she was running out of arrows. Tasha paused for a minute to scour the grassy, fertile hills below, looking for the road and the Charr. The beauty of the waterfall and river nearby, along with the hazy red afternoon sun and the trees in their Autumn colours, reminded her of Ascalon before the Searing. Her thoughts flew back to her childhood – her mother’s screams as the Charr rampaged through their home, her father telling her to hide as he grabbed his bow. A shout from behind her brought her back to the present day and the task ahead. She looked at the source of the voice and sighed – Mhenlo, Cynn and Devona were helping the villagers along the path from the pine and snow covered mountains to where she stood. Not all of them would make it to the next outpost, she knew that. She’d told them that and yet they still came. All she’d wanted to do was to find her lover, and that had turned in to a fight for her life.

Her grey eyes returned to a point in the horizon amongst the trees, before tracing the dirt road back toward her. There was a group of Charr approaching them fast up the hill. Tasha shouted to the others as she picked up her bow, chose a broad headed arrow and aimed at the Shaman. She thought of everything she’d lost and everything she still had to lose – the fight, her lover and her life. As Devona drew level on her race into battle, Tasha closed her eyes, thought of home and fired…

Queen Kitiara · Oct 28, 2007, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Thank you Rosemary! That was so insightful and generous of you to share with all of us! I have to say, you are a class-act all around

I forgot that you were in TNTM! I stumbled across the threads all at once for the first time when I found Stalker's posting so I kinda forgot who has or has not done this type of thing before...all I know is I was the noob coming in lol...and I totally learned a lot from your post! TY <3

I had so much fun hanging out with you in LA!!! Here are only a couple of my fav's of the pics we took

wonder if all the squash serum gave us alcohol points.../ponder Nevertheless, how fun it was to share the excitement the results with you! I appreciate u putting up with my hyperness lol.

Perynne · Oct 28, 2007, 04:05 PM // 16:05

Haha, I had fun hanging out in LA too, Kitiara!

Here's hoping our Halloween party will be as much fun! I like being hyper too (one of my vices is that I tend to enjoy blabbing too much) and I'm just really glad I got to know another contestant.

You were great company, and I really love seeing your submissions in the contest!
I really started missing the parties and interactivity between contestants in the previous contests, because one of the best parts has always been meeting new people.

Tasha, hmm... I think I like this version of your text better. The beginning part goes with your shot quite well, letting us see her surroundings and a more peaceful mood in both text and picture. Gotta say that your picture this round was absolutely gorgeous in colours and location. <3

Queen Kitiara · Oct 30, 2007, 10:28 PM // 22:28

Heya Tasha!
I liked this version too

It seems to draw the reader in more...and yet seems more accurate to your picture.

The only thing that I might have expected would be your bow since it is mentioned a couple times (which I know we couldn't have one in pic) so it maybe would've caused an issue...I thought your picture was stunning too...I really loved the one you submitted, color was just wonderful - i must say your eye for color is your trademark & strength (listen to the noob ramble lol - like I'm so pro ha ha)

I look forward to what you do in the upcoming assignment! It's gonna be screen shot heaven lol

Unlucky Slayer · Nov 01, 2007, 01:58 AM // 01:58

So when do we find out who won that costume contest. =P

Stalker Haras · Nov 01, 2007, 03:43 AM // 03:43

Patience is a virtue.

First off images are to be posted, then everyone who attended gets to vote who had the best.

Perynne · Nov 01, 2007, 07:22 AM // 07:22

Sorry, I needed to get some sleep before putting up the photos.

Anyway, here it is!

For a larger picture of the entries, along with who dressed up as what, please click here. A great big thank you to everyone who participated! With your help, the costume contest is a success!

Everyone is allowed one vote per person. You are not allowed to vote for yourself. Because this is an open contest (where the organizers are also participating

) I hope that everyone will post their vote to this thread instead of through PM. Please no hard feelings about publicly showing your vote, this is just for fun and not very serious! However, if there is a problem with posting votes here, then I will get us a judge.

Voting ends on SUNDAY, 6 pm GMT. Ample time to get those votes in, and it will go nicely with the results from the main contest.

Prizes:
1st place - 2 ectos and random Halloween items.
2nd place - 1 diamond and random Halloween items.
3rd place - Halloween items.

Thank you again to all the participants, and looking forward to seeing the results!

Morag D · Nov 01, 2007, 07:45 AM // 07:45

wheeee! posh halloween costumes! (the green dragon thingy is my nec, btw

)

Me votes for .... ROSE!! (Rosemary Marron) - because I love that scarecrow costume

Carinae · Nov 01, 2007, 08:09 AM // 08:09

Awww, I missed the costume contest. I have hot little number going on and I didn't get to show her off

Happy Halloween though

Somesone should start a seperate Halloween Costume thread.

Perynne · Nov 01, 2007, 12:25 PM // 12:25

I think you can post your Halloween costumes in the Halloween screenshot thread, since it's not exactly being swamped with posts right now.

And, after some careful thought, I vote for Lokii! That mask of hers made her look quite... robotic. And somehow the idea of a robotic monk amuses me.

tidus yumemiru · Nov 01, 2007, 01:14 PM // 13:14

i missed the costume comp but never mind here was how Tidus faired out after a visit from the mad king

Geishe · Nov 01, 2007, 01:36 PM // 13:36

Wow, i love Rose's! And Ashlings! Aw damn, Im so biased with Ritualists! My votes on Rose for this one though, that scarecrow costume is great.

Queen Kitiara · Nov 01, 2007, 02:05 PM // 14:05

Tidus I love it! What a fun shot!

I had expected (hoped really) we'd have a Halloween assignment, yours could have been a great submission ha ha!

The party was super fun you guys!!! We had a great turn out and actually there were more people that attended that didn't do the costume contest. I was glad we had a so many show up. I had lots of fun with our little party contest (Gratz again to Tender Wolf for finding my hidden guild hall pet - a turtle) and sync dancing... and to our beloved Australians, had I known you even considered attending we would have been glad to adjust cuz we <3 U!

Hey if anyone took SS at the party will you guys post your best group shots? Or any fav shots really. I was too busy shooting off all the fireworks, champagne, ghosts-in-a box, blah, blah etc. Most of the time my char was a giant candy corn but if you see Kitiara in human form please pass it on to me

thx!

Last but not least, I just have to give my vote to Ashling cuz she looks like that armor was made for that mummy mask ha ha! It's amazing to me that someone can wear such an ugly mask and make it look cute! There are definately a couple others that look great and I hope to see them get 2nd and 3rd Btw, I didn't really consider myself an entrant but wanted to get a shot with my little girl (her char is Pinkie Poo in the pic w me) This contest was her idea so I wanted her to get her pic in with us

Thanks for helping me throw the party Rosemary! It was a blast

Okay now back to work for me! /runs off to obsess over next audition...