Mariko Nightfire: A Virtual Life

Monday, May 17, 2010

Walking with Windlight

Damani Art Exposition Center

I was doing some random exploring and looking for interesting backgrounds for future Mariko Magic fashion posts. In my wanderings, I happened upon a hauntingly lovely, but bewildering, landscape at the Damani Art Exposition Center in Elonia. Bewildering because of contradictions like jungle growth covered in ice and snow and giant zooplankton, diaphanous and obviously carnivorous, out of their element, being terrestrial and not aquatic. This landscape is definitely not the here and now. Perhaps, it's an alien world or a vision of our own planet trapped in an ice age of a distant future.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing.

Frozen Jungle

A small collection of dynamic art objects are exhibited in the center. The building is an assembly of clear plastic chambers connected by large plastic tubes which you use to get from chamber to chamber. Somehow, it all seemed vaguely familar. OMG ... its a giant hamster cage, a much larger version of the one I had for my pet hamster when I was in the third grade. I made a hasty exit least I run into an 800 pound rodent.

Experimenting with Windlight Settings

But what I found fascinating were the grounds surrounding the center. And I identified a number of locations that might do for a fashion shoot. I took some trial photos of the locations and experimented with some angles and windlight settings. The above pictures were all captured using windlight (by windlight I'm referring to atmospheric shaders). I usually do not use windlight in my second life photography. Much of my photography is 'photo journalism' rather than art as I capture moments that record my sojourn in Second Life. And I want to capture Second Life as I experience it - windlight free.

One More Windlight Sunset Over Water Picture

Windlight is a wonderful tool for Second Life photography. With windlight, one can create sumptuous effects, especially water and atmospheric effects. We've all seen those ubiquitious photos of SL sunsets over water, haven't we? The primary reason I don't use windlight much in my photography is that its light is very harsh on avatars. A common complaint about windlight is that 'It makes my avatar look crappy'. Yes, it does. Of course, there are masterful SL photographers who create exceptional windlight pictures of avatars with their skillful use of lighting and windlight settings, along with some photoshopping. But, I am not one of them.

Default Windlight Setting

Windlight is marvelous for photography; but, what I don't understand is why some people walk and interact with others in Second Life with windlight always set. Of course, if your SL graphics is set on High or Very High, windlight is automatically set. To turn it off, you would have to edit your Preferences, go into the Graphics tab, and uncheck Atmospheric Shaders. The above picture demonstrates the default windlight setting that most people walking with windlight use. I look like a plastic mannequin with a flashlight in my face (I'm not wearing a facelight in the picture). Windlight's harsh light can remove up to 50% of the details of a finely crafted skin. That is why many avatars look like cartoons or plastic dolls in windlight. Moreover, setting windlight does not necessarily result in more detained terrains. In fact, the default windlight setting is performing very poorly in Elonia's icy landscape at midday. The glare from windlight's light is effacing much of the detail in the snow covered ground.

Windlight with Suggested Setting for Avatars

Recently, windlight settings are being circulated that purport to 'Optimize your Windlight' to improve the appearance of our avatars. These are windlight settings that deal with windlight's harsh lighting and its effects on avatar appearance. In other words, they are windlight settings that remove windlight. The advertised benefit of these settings is that you can look beautiful without using a facelight. As all women in Second Life know, a facelight is essential for looking your best. Of course, there are issues with facelights, and it would be great to look fabulous without resorting to a facelight. But the problem with these 'optimized' windlight settings is that windlight is view-side only, which means that only you see the results of your windlight setting. Unless we are totally self-absorbed, we care about how others see us. To those of you who are using these 'optimized' settings and walk with windlight, try turning it off to see yourselves as others see you. Now you know why you haven't been asked out on dates.

In the picture above, I reshot the scene using a popular 'Optimize your Windlight' setting. The plastic-mannequin-flashlight-in-your-face appearance is gone; but, I was shocked at how poorly this setting performed. The performance of windlight settings can be very sensitive to the time-of-day, and some are specific to a particular time-of-day. This 'optimize' setting effaced even more of the detail of Elonia's snowscape at midday then did the default setting.

No Windlight

Lastly, I reshot the scene without windlight and wearing a soft facelight. It may surprise many people, especially those who walk with windlight, to see that the scene that is visually richer is the one without windlight, at least in this case. One detail in my appearance that comes out in the absence of windlight is my light Hawaiian tan. This detail, which is a statement about my origins and personality, never comes through in windlight. And there are many other delicate and subtle details in a finely crafted skin that can be short shrifted by windlight. While windlight is a creative boon for artists, walking with windlight is not necessarily a positive addition to one's inworld experience. And there are social consequences, two of which are:

Point of Reference: Most of us are very selective and creative with our avatars. We craft our appearances by our choice of shapes and skins, of hair styles and clothing, and of accessories. Our choices are reflections of ourselves that will be projected to others. And our crafted appearance provide visual cues in Second Life social interactions. My problem with walking with windlight is that it robs us of a common reference point. If we are walking with windlight, as windlight is view-side only and given our individualized settings, my view of you may be significantly different from the view of yourself that you intended, and the same for your view of me.

Facelight Gestopo: The introduction of windlight gave rise to a phenomena called Facelight Derangement Syndrome also called FDS. Suffers of FDS go ballistic whenever a person wearing a facelight enters the area. They believe that facelights and their wearers are an evil that must be snuffed out. When a group of FDS suffers gather, they become a Facelight Gestopo. Admittedly, windlight can intensify the brightness of a facelight and light up the wearer so that, to the windlight walker, she looks like the second coming of the Sun Goddess. Of course, facelights must be worn responsibly. A soft facelight with a narrow range should not be much of an issue. And, as they dramatically improve appearance, facelights are social assets. So if you are a windlight walker who is sensitive to facelights, in a social gathering don't go ballistic, just turn off your atmospheric shaders.

By all means, express your artistry and creativity with windlight. Enhance your enjoyment of an amazing Second Life view by experiencing it under different windlight settings. But, given the current state of windlight development, little is gained when you walk with windlight and somethings may be lost. So windlight walkers, see your Second Life friends in a whole new light by unchecking your atmospheric shaders. Well enough of my windlight diatribe. Let me close this post with some pictures that show how I'm experiencing this virtual world being windlight free.

Damani Art Exposition Center in Elonia

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Elonia/201/182/25

Related Posts:

For a more extensive examination of windlight and avatar appearance, see my post Walking with Windlight Again - Windlight is Not Avatar Friendly

http://mariko-nightfire.blogspot.com/2011/01/walking-with-windlight-again-windlight.html

Fashion Blog Pics, A Diatribe Against Windlight, and This Week's Photo Mariko (October 3, 2009)
http://mariko-nightfire.blogspot.com/2009/10/photo-mariko-fashion-blog-pics-and-this.html

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Bumble Cafe, Hallelujah's New Meeting Place

The new Bumble Cafe at Hallelujah Azul

Gwen is making Hallelujah her own with some wonderful personal touches. When ownership of Hallelujah passed from PT and Owly to Gwen, she took on the role of caretaker, preserving much of what we love about our community. In some hands, caretaking can descend to a attempt to stop time, achieving only an enervating staleness. But, change is the means of our conservation, of conserving that which we cherish (to paraphrase the great conservative, Edmund Burke). Good caretaking contemplates change that is not only consistent with the community's vision, but renews it. So I am loudly cheering Gwenolyn's moves to put her own stamp on Hallelujah.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing.

Enough social commentary, let me tell ya about Bumble. In an audacious move, Gwen replaced the Jittery Junco Coffee Shop, the social center of our community, with her own Bumble Cafe. As much as I loved Junco, I just adore the new Bumble. It has a lower profile and a more open floor plan than its predecessor. And its weathered exterior bestows character. Although so new, Bumble has a homey inviting allure that somehow feels so familiar, like a long time favorite haunt. Perhaps, we've found a place much like Bumble sometime in our lives. And so Bumble feels so right.

The interior is decorated with cheerful pastel colors. Gwen designed and made the furnishings. It's cozy and informal; yet very smart and tasteful. A real delight.

The Cafe's pastry counter is filled with yummy cupcakes, pies, donuts, breads, chocolate souffles and orange mousse cups.

Samantha Kazakov behind the pastry counter.

The Bumble Cafe has certainly renewed this community with a fresh jolt of energy. Traffic is up in Hallelujah. And every night a friendly crowd gathers on Bumble's back deck. I'm cheered to see so many old friends are dropping by. Regulars are known as Bumblers. I had proposed 'Get Stung at Bumble' as a slogan for the cafe. Rowan said that it sounds like a come on for a bordello. I see her point.
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mmmm ... ice cream out on the deck

Courtship and Romance at Bumble Cafe

Gwenolyn Bieler chatting with Bumblers out on the deck

Former Mill Pondies are addicted to sitting on walls and fences.

From left to right: Rowan, me, Tamara, and Syd.

Rowan Masala adding her colorful personality to Bumble's colorful ambiance.

There is this wildly colorful tree beside the Bumble Cafe that perfectly matches its personality. I love camming its details from the deck.

I've said this many times; but, it's true. Hallelujah Azul is a special place. Drop by and see for yourself. Perhaps join us. We would love to add you as a fellow Bumbler at the Bumble Cafe.

Hallelujah Azul:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hallelujah%20Azul/149/242/24

Gwen's post about Bumble on The Hallelujahs blog:

http://thehallelujahs.blogspot.com/2010/05/all-about-bumble.html

Related Posts:

Oscar Night at Hallelujah Azul (May 8, 2010)

http://mariko-nightfire.blogspot.com/2010/03/oscar-night-at-hallelujah-azul.html

Hallelujah Azul Art Walk (November 15, 2009)

http://mariko-nightfire.blogspot.com/2009/11/hallelujah-azul-art-walk-november-14-to.html

Monday, April 26, 2010

Mariko Magic: Out of Africa

Africa by Jador Fashion

I dropped in at Mimi's Choice to see Mimi's selections from the recently released Spring Collection of designer ziamela Loon, owner of Jador Fashion. The collection is a delightful ensemble of fashion magic. I put a number of its sexy formals and colorful casuals on my 'Gotta Have It' list. I only wish my linden dollars were as vast as my fashion wants. But, I had enough lindens in my account to come away with at least one fabulous outfit. And I was particularly intrigued by the possibilities of an outfit from the collection called Africa.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing.

Indigo cloth has a long history in sub-saharan Africa dating back to 1200 BC with the Phoenician and Arab trade along the continent's east coast. But it came into its own in the 18th and 19th centuries when European textile manufacturers developed a block and discharge print style on indigo cotton fabric. The discharge printed cloth with its blue hue became an important trade good throughout Africa. In South Africa, this cotton cloth is called shweshwe for the swishing sound it makes when one walks dressed in it. Ladies, our curves will certainly shweshwe dressed in Jador Fashion's delightful Africa.

An intricate traditional African print adorns Africa. Such prints are designed for ceremonies and special occasions such as royal weddings. Africa also comes with lovely ethnic beaded accessories which include a necklace, earrings, bracelets, arm bands, and a belt. The details are exquisite. Africa sells for $450L.

Taking Africa to The Nubian Empire

I knew the look that I wanted to create with Africa - dark toned skin, flashing steely eyes, wild, but gorgeous, hair. I liked the result. And now that I had the look I was after, I searched for an exotic Africa inspired location to photograph the outfit and the look. I choose a fantastic role play sim called The Nubian Empire.

Ancient Nubia was the first great black African kingdom, a civilization as old as Egypt, its neighbor to the north. The histories of Nubia and Egypt are deeply intertwined as are their cultures. Egypt conquered and assimilated Nubian territory in various eras, Egypt’s New Kingdom (1500 BC) in particular. The Nubians in turn conquered Egypt in the 8th century BC and established a dynasty of Nubian pharaohs. Nubians and Egyptians were often so closely related, as the two cultures melded and mixed together, as to be virtually indistinguishable. The Nubian Empire in Second Life showcases this cultural melding and the dominance of Nubia during the rule of the black pharaohs. I had a wonderful time photographing Africa against The Nubian Empire’s monumental builds. It's a great sim to explore, and I highy recommend it.

This skin is from DrLife and is the dark version of Liu. Liu is designed by my dear friend Leena Ying. The All Makeup line of skins by DrLife are priced at $2200L.

The hair is from Bish Wear and is called Toss Me Around. It sells for $375L which gets you a package of 6 hair colors (auburn, black, brown, blonde, red, and wine). I am wearing brown. The hair is designed by ShyOne Lehane. My eyes are from TULI and are called luminous eyes - steel. They are designed by Tuli Asturias.

I hope that you enjoyed this look at Africa and found the photos intriguing and exotic. And do drop by Mimi's Choice and see her very choice selections from Jador Fashion's Spring Collection.

Mimi's Choice Mainstore:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Deep%20House%20Island/208/10/23

Jador Fashion:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jador%20Fashion/9/164/25

BishWear:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/BishWear%20Island/176/182/24

T U L I Mainstore:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Journey/47/95/301

DrLife Skins and Hair are available at Mariko in Mont Saint Michel

Mariko

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mont%20Saint%20Michel/228/117/31

Photos were taken at The Nubian Empire:

The Nubian Empire

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Karinya/100/83/502

Other posts for Jador Fashon:

Apala by Jador Fashions (July 14, 2009)

http://mariko-nightfire.blogspot.com/2009/07/apala-by-jador-fashions.html

Related posts:

Enlightening, Exhilarating, Extraordinary (March 30, 2009)

http://mariko-nightfire.blogspot.com/2009/03/mariko-magic-enlightening-exhilarating.html

Friday, April 16, 2010

Cheesecake Mariko - Key Lime Pie

I have a hankering for a nice piece of Key Lime Pie. I love the taste of limes, don't you? This pie has a sweet Graham-cracker crust and a meringue topping. Key Lime Pie is best served with a glass of milk. Pour a tall glass and enjoy.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Svarga - Second Life's Virtual Ecosystem Experiment

Svarga, a preserved relic from Second Life's past

There is alot of buzz recently about a place called Svarga. I first read about Svarga a few days ago on Ziki Questi's blog (great blog), and later learned, from an article in New World Notes, that Linden Lab had purchased the sim from its creator. This is a sim that has been essentially frozen in time as of 2006 and had suddenly disappeared from the grid last summer. The buzz is about Svarga's restoration to Second Life, and how Linden Lab deemed its legacy so important that it purchased the sim and brought it back from limbo. Svarga was once selected as one of the Seven Wonders of the Digital World by the Second Life Project. And Philip Linden describes Svarga as coming close to his original vision for Second Life. Now that really peaked my interest. I teleported myself to Svarga.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them to their original size for better viewing.

Taking the tour of Svarga conducted by a waspish tour guide

Svarga was build by Laukosargas Svarog, a former game designer living in the United Kingdom. In mythology, Svarga is the heavenly abode of the Slavic god Svarog, the supreme god of the Slavic pantheon and the god of fire and blacksmithing. This is very fitting as Laukosargas is a master builder who has been described as playing god in this virtual world. Work began on Svarga in 2004 and nothing was added since 2006. That was the old stone age in Second Life time - a time before sculpted and flexible prims. When you visit Svarga, keep in mind that all the contents of the sim were built with basic SL primitives.

The Landscape on Svarga
(Note the red/yellow/orange plant on my right)

Teleporting to Svarga lands you on a welcoming pavillion on a small island outside the gate of the main entrance. At the pavillion, I was confronted by a giant wasp with a wicked stinger. The creature turned out to be a harmless tour guide; so, I jumped on its back and took the tour. It was great fun swooping high and low over the island. And the tour narrative offered interesting information about Svarga and its history. The story goes that this island utopia was formed by the collapsed caldera of a very old volcano, and, here, Laukosargas Svarog conducted her experiments in artificial life. More on that later.

Giant Twirlyshrooms

The landscape has a delightful nostalgic look about it. My friend Jaysun describes it as 'flintstone', meaning cartoony. Certainly, landscaping in Second Life has evolved far beyond what we see here; but I believe that this look is definitely planned ... it's artistically surreal. And there is detail and complexity here that is amazing given the building material available at the time. It's a quality build that stands up well even today.

The Castle Tower with its spires, bridges, and pavillions

The focal point of the island is the castle tower with its spires and sweeping complex of bridges and pavillions. The tower rises out of the soil of Svarga and spreads like a giant flowering plant. Indeed, the tower is an architectural expression of the plant that I drew your attention to earlier. A Gaian worship of nature permeates the sim. There are nice views of the island from the bridges and the pavillions. Note the little back smudges in the pictures above the tower. Those are rain clouds that form and travel on SL winds dropping precipitation on all areas of Svarga.

Svarga's Collection of Elven Musical Instruments

The SL Hamsa (protecting hand) decorating the castle

Jaysun and I found a great photo opportunity

In the top chamber of the tower are books on Second Life

What is so special about Svarga?

I had a very enjoyable time exploring Svarga. It is definitely worth the visit. The sim has many delightful attractions. However, I was expecting to visually experience one of the seven wonders of the virtual world. By that standard, I was somewhat underwhelmed. In its time, Svarga may have been at the pinnacle of sim design; but, I have seen many sims that have since far surpassed it visually and artistically. I had many questions.

What was it about this sim that drew so much praise and acclaim for its creator and her creation? Why was this sim deemed so important that it must be preserved? What did Philip Linden mean when he said that Svarga comes close to his original vision for Second Life? He couldn't have wanted this 'flintstone' look to be the standard in Second Life, could he?

Laukosargas Svarog's Experiment in Artificial Life

There is more here than meets the eye. While strolling around Svarga, Jaysun and I met a charming SL old timer and Svarga enthusiast named Clinton Oddfellow who filled us in on the real significance of Svarga. He explained that Svarga is a self-contained fully functioning ecosystem. I found a detailed description of this highly complex ecosystem with its interrelationships and interdependencies and its self-replicating artificial life forms in an article by Wagner James Au appearing in New Word Notes that began with this wonderful introduction:

"In the beginning, Linden Lab created the heavens and the earth, but the sky was empty and the land was barren. The trees were green but did not grow, the sun and wind passed overhead but did not affect them.

Then Laukosargas Svarog came upon this and said, Come, let us make clouds so that they can be borne upon the wind. She did, and it was good. Then Laukosargas said, Let these clouds cast rain upon the ground, and where the land is marshy, let marshy flowers bloom, and where the land is open, let open flowers bloom. And let the sun shine upon these, and where the sun shines brightest, let them grow more, and where it shines least, let them lay fallow. This she also did, and it was good. Seeing this, Laukosargas said, Let bees fly amongst these flowers to pass their seed between each other, and thus be fruitful and multiply. Then she said, Let there be birds to feast upon the seeds, lest these flowers be too fruitful and multiplicitous. This she did as well, and it was likewise good."

God Game (New World Notes May 31, 2006)http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2006/05/god_game.html

This New World Notes article is a must read for any visitor to Svarga. The ecosystem of Svarga is a fascinating and important experiment that establishes the reputation of Svarga as one of the wonders of the virtual world. Clinton Oddfellow informs me that, when the ecosystem of the restored Svarga is fully operational and after a passage of time, the sim will be filled with life. I hope you plan a visit to Svarga to see this piece of Second Life history and perhaps to also get a glimpse at the future of virtual worlds.