Take a picture…

I love taking raw shots in Second Life when the windlight and the sim actually works together. It’s amazing what our own little virtual world can accomplish in such a color spectrum. What I have found about taking raw shots is that you have to have the right type of sim – meaning quality items, prims and a decent set up – plus the right type of windlight to enhance the mood. Some sims have a surround around them, encasing them in a bubble that might hinder the lighting. These sims you do have to take some time with, but I highly recommend going to sims where there is NOT a surround. Open air is needed so you can get the world light.

If you’re looking for an assortment of sims, different windlights and how to work your windlights using tutorials, please check out the [SL] Blogger Support blog for more details. Also, on Flickr there is a ton of groups you can add your raw shots to. Here are two: Raw Shots in Second Life and Unedited: A blogger/photographer challenge

Dress: ::(u.f.o):: you and me – navy (bird collar) (s) / Charming Meiler
Tights: JANE – lil piggies tights – fuzzy fawn / Janie Marlowe
Boots: [HANDverk] Western Ankle Boots – Ostrich/Tan / Daphne Klossovsky *FaMESHed*
Camera: Tee*fy Vintage Brownie Camera – Red / Azure Electricteeth *ARCADE*
Skin: Izzie’s – Elena Skin – Natural – RB / Izzie Button
Shape: My own
Hair: “”D!va”" Hair – Tomoko2 – TypeA Garnet / Marisa Kira
Eyes: .ID. Reflections / Mesh Eyes / Blue / Audrey Lamede
Eyelashes: .ploom. lashes 06 / Helyanwe Vindaloo
Eyelashes: Maitreya Mesh Eyelashes / Onyx LeShelle
Freckles: Izzie’s – Elena Freckles Natural (body & face) / Izzie Button
Eyeliner: Izzie’s – Elena Eyeliner / Izzie Button
Nails: Izzie’s – French Nails / Izzie Button
Pose: (marukin) / Valencia Southard
Location: Cherry Blossom

What every blogger must be part of…

A few months ago I was in Plurk talking with a bunch of other bloggers and designers about blogging and the lot. Of course many ideas were tossed around, but one of them was something that Magenta DeVinna brought up that stuck with me because I had felt it as well: There was a loss of inspiration. Where was it? What had happened to blogging, except it becoming this monotinous movement of post after post of just…items? What happened to the feeling within the blog? Finally, someone (I believe it was Prad) who asked “Do the bloggers have support?”

And right then and there it clicked. We didn’t – or wait…we did, and I know there are other groups within Second Life for bloggers, but I hadn’t really ‘heard’ about them. They weren’t talked about. So, myself and a few other bloggers decided to join some heads. We founded the [SL] Blogger Support Group in world. A place where bloggers could get together and discuss everything under the sun relating to what we do best – BLOG! I’m not just talking just fashion blogging (although a big majority of it is thus) – I’m talking about all types of Second Life blogging. From Tipsy Cerulean’s  “SLA Review” to Whiskey Monday’s “Whiskey Shots” to Maribel Button’s “So Buttons”.

With a little help from people on Plurk, a nice little push on Flickr – the group took off in-world, making it so that another step had to come into play: The blog. Setting up the blog took some time, but since it will always be a work in progress, it will become (I hope) a great asset to all bloggers within the grid. What makes, in my mind, a big success about the whole idea is the people who are embracing it and I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone that is involved in the blog, the group and to each and every single one of you. Logging in each day, hopping in the chat and getting support is amazing!

Changes will be coming to the blog within time. I commissioned LiquidHell Carter for our new logo. Eventually the blog will be a little more revamped and eventually go to it’s own domain (my hopes for 2013).

If you have any questions in regards to the group in-world or about the blog, please ask! Thank you to the Support Staff and Contributors! You guys rock!

To Join the Group In-World: HERE
To Follow Our Blog: HERE
To Join Our Flickr Groups: [SL] BS ~ Sim Wide Locations