Gadgets N’ Gear: Stage Performance and the Sphere of Influence
Posted on 03. Jul, 2009 by Raven Haalan in Announcements/Events, Digital Life, Fashion, Gadgets 'N Gear, Photography
It cost me 8,000L. I get updates for life. It’s gotta go.
I bought PhotoLife back when I didn’t really understand photography in SL. I was thinking like a RL photographer. I have umbrellas and soft boxes on my studio lights in RL. I should need them here, Right?
Wrong. I wish I had known:
- Light in SL punches though prims and it doesn’t bounce. Reflectors, soft boxes, barn doors and umbrellas just burn prims and get in the way to look “photographic.”
- Equipment stands get in the way both in RL and in SL. The difference is, you don’t need stands to hold up lights in SL.
- Less is more. Arrays of multiple lights, (often used for ambient and soft box simulation) are pretty iffy. You only get six local lights.
- The most important light is found in World / Environment Settings. You can move the sun here.
Long before the SL6B controversy drove the final nail into my PhotoLife coffin, I had decided I wanted a flexible, low prim, low clutter studio environment that delivered the cornerstones of SL studio photography: Backdrops, Poses and Lighting.
I found two. I bought two.
- PhotoSphere by Saeya Nyanda.
- PhotoStage by Ananke Media Systems.
The Sphere of Influence
I see the Photosphere everywhere, which is why I call it the “Sphere of Influence.” It’s straightforward, gets a good shot right out of the box and it is uniquely SL. Imagine draping a backdrop seamlessly around the inside of a sphere in RL. Yeah, right.
The “edge of the backdrop” is a huge problem, because when you decide to scoot to the side because the pose angle and light is perfect over there, you no longer have the backdrop in frame. Arrrgh.
RL photographers don’t get surround backdrops – but we’d kill to have ’em.
The PhotoSphere includes three independently adjustable lights in fixed positions (lower left, lower right and upper center), a basic hud for backdrop selection and a selection of backdrops loaded. Most things are adjusted via menu dialogs. (Backdrop selection, tint and repeat density, light color)
It’s worth mentioning that you need to add bits to the PhotoSphere to have a complete system, notably a pose stand, gazer and an extra independently moveable light or two would be handy.
You can make a gazer – any prim will do. You can make a light too – create a sphere and turn light on in the features tab.
Buying It
Saying the photosphere is cool is hardly news. What might be news to some is the extended delay Saeya has experienced re-opening her store. You can’t buy it now.
Ok, you can buy it, but you have to find the under-construction store, cam in and pay the vendors from afar. Thanks to Vivianne Draper for the assistance there 
The PhotoSphere is great for basic single and small group shots. It’s a fashion photographer’s dream – superb for shooting for blogs or in-store displays and basic portraiture.
Stage Performance
A circular backdrop surface doesn’t work so well for pictorial backgrounds, and some patterns (if you want straight lines on your plaid, for example). Fixed light positions are great if you like where they are.
If you’re pushing your photography further, and need a flat backdrop and/or a power performance platform, take a peek at PhotoStage. This is a lean, mean platform that has enormous flexiblity and convenience in adjusting lighting and gazers during a shoot.
It’s all in the Hud
The PhotoStage hud makes accessible pretty much every adjustment you want to make mid shoot. You can rez, turn on, position, adjust, hide and tint lights and gazers on the fly, and they’re all labeled with hover text.
The gazer adjustments from the hud are for me what a ball of string is for a kitten.
I should mention the problem of eyes. You probably know it. You’re constantly zooming in and out moving the gazer to try to get the eyes right for the pose. You’ve got the Ao twitching the eyes around and while you’re zoomed back, you can’t see the eyes up close to fine tune.
Ok, now imagine you can move the gazer around while staying zoomed in on your subject. Eureka.
It didn’t take me long to find the Position Editor either. This lovely innovation positions lights, gazers and effects units relative to the model’s position, and does the math to move the object “further or closer” to the model. I was lost in it for 20 minutes, and fell in love.
There’s also a configuration save/restore, so you can save off standard setups. There are some basic effects units as well.
This system also comes as PhotoLite which is everything but the backdrop for location shooting (if you can rez in the sim you’re shooting in). There’s a bundle called PhotoTools Pro that “fatpacks” them.
And philosophically, I love this system. It doesn’t have an extra prim in it. The studio set up above is 19 prims. (including the 3 pose stands off to the side).
The pose stand on this system is weak, but I’m spoiled. The poses loaded in the stand are pretty solid, so I’m moving them over to my usual stand.
Backdrops
It’s not easy to find great photo backdrops in SL. I end up making a lot of my own, google image hunting or repurposing traditional building textures. Viv also told me to stock up on the texture packs offered by Saeya. You said I wouldn’t be sorry Viv, and true enough, I’m not. Not one bit. We need more photo backdrop designers.
It’s also worth a mention that LeeZu Baxter created 15 textures specifically for the PhotoStage that are included, and truly rock (one of which is pictured above.)
Missing Stuff
I want one thing PhotoLife has, and neither of these systems has it. A page display of a selection of poses, similar to a texture organizer. Click one and it becomes the backdrop. It’s the one thing missing here, but that aside, I love these systems.
And both of them together, with the textures purchased, was waaay cheaper than my original studio system.
Aderyn Verwood
Jul 3rd, 2009
I owned the PhotoLite system (= PhotoStage minus the “stage” background) back when I first joined SL, and in my opinion it is an amazing tool. The eyeball-fixer is invaluable, you can perfecly light the avatars, and it’s fairly easy to understand – there never was a situation where the system could not reproduce what I had planned previously.
Unfortunately, I left SL and deleted my avatar, and with it my my PhotoLite, but it’s definitely on the list of things I’ll buy again.
Cajsa Lilliehook
Jul 3rd, 2009
My two favorites as well. I have made dozens of backdrops for my photosphere, IM me in world and I will drop them on you. Also, you can get more flexibility out of the photosphere than you think. Using edit linked items, you can move the lights. There is an extra light in the box as well and you can rez as many as you like. Additional, with edit linked parts, you can select the inside of the sphere and tint to the exact color you want. You can’t wreck it, as it famously says, “Reset is your friend.”
Gabby
Jul 3rd, 2009
I was addicted to my photosphere for the longest time, and i still rez it and use it on occasion. But once Codie introduced me to the PhotoStage…well, I spent so much time in her studio that she finally had to give me my own. Moving the lights is a snap, the HUD is intuitive and well-designed (though I will admit that I use the menu controls that come up when you click the orange box more often than the HUD these days). For as sophisticated as this system is, it is incredibly sophisticated. Both of these products, along with Tillie’s pose stand system have been invaluable to me.
Gabby
Jul 3rd, 2009
corrects herself…For as sophisticated as this system is, it is incredibly simple to use.
caLLie cLine
Jul 3rd, 2009
but dont forget my fotoflower! lol…
i am gonna sell it soon, made it oh… ya know… how i am… uh… 2 plus years ago, hahahaha…
caLLie cLine
Jul 3rd, 2009
btw, i think all of you above do great shots however you do them and locations too
Cajsa Lilliehook
Jul 3rd, 2009
I think the ideal set up is the PhotoLite hud with the PhotoSphere – then you have the bells and whistles and the wraparound background. For the blog, most of my photos are from the front, but when shooting portraits and such, I circle around to all sorts of angles and love having the wrap around background.
Shelby Rasmuson
Jul 3rd, 2009
You wouldn’t have the SLURL for the Photosphere store..would you? I’ve been trying to buy one for a while and can’t find it..(I know its not open yet..)
THx
Flix Saiman
Jul 3rd, 2009
A system I have developed for Photographers.. called -CLICK- props for photographers.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Quartz%20Isle/36/50/301
My flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flixsaiman/
Ran Garrigus
Jul 3rd, 2009
PhotoStage seems quite interesting, and I can’t say I’ve heard of it before. It seems to have most of the features of PhotoLife, except for the texture display you note and — by a glance at it — it doesn’t seem to have any of the mask options that can help personalize a backdrop on the fly. But that’s a fairly minor thing. The dedicaton to low prim count is very appealing — I know PhotoLife could easily drop 30-40 prims if it cut out the verisimilitude.
Shelby Rasmuson
Jul 3rd, 2009
Found it..it was just outside Silent….Yay !!!
Raven Haalan
Jul 3rd, 2009
Callie – fire me the user guide on fotoFlower – I so wanna see
Ty for the comments folks.
@Ran – yes the alpha layer is missing, as is the prop rezzer – but umm… I can rez props, and I can throw an alpha texture on a prim and put it behind if need be, for as often as I’ve used such things.
I like Cajsa’s idea too, I may have found a place for PhotoLite given I bought the Pro fatpack.
I got a couple of pointers to PhotoStage including Codie’s thumb’s up. Glad you’re a convert Gabby. I’m seriously thinking of offering to build the backdrop selector if they’d offer it as an add on
ty for the comments
admin
Jul 3rd, 2009
Ohai. Windlight settings and two plain white prims work fine for me.
Sileny
Jul 3rd, 2009
I’m not the best photog ever but Redgrave’s custom windlight settings and a plain white photosphere with a pose stand work just fine for me! Maybe someday I’ll be good enough to need all the gadgets but for now free works for me lol.
Saeya
Jul 3rd, 2009
Wow, great post! Was a nice surprise to find it and great encouragement for me to finish what I need to do to get the store open again. (So thanks for that)
Thought I’d add some info for those seeking Photosphere stuff…
Yes, the store *is* closed at the moment. It’s closed because I’m currently reworking/upgrading the Photosphere to make it better and have a few more bells and whistles, including updating the scripting.
I will also be adding more backdrop packs, lots of new styles.. all seamless so you won’t get that unruly seam line that is there in some of the older packs.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know what was up and say great post. I like the idea you gave about the pose viewer and as always, it’s nice to hear what people feel could be added to improve their experience with it.
Have a great weekend all.
Saeya
xo
Harper Beresford
Jul 3rd, 2009
I am so so glad you are doing these gadget reviews.
I agree with the admin and Sileny that prims work for me too, but if you want to feel like you have props, etc, the other ones are probably fun.
Thanks, Raven!
Isle Lunasea
Jul 3rd, 2009
Very well put together as always Raven. I know quite well the time you take on these posts, and how much you enjoy the products you use.
Nicely done. I know many will benefit from these details.
-Including me, pls don’t forget to get Casja’s backgrounds, ty.
Raven Haalan
Jul 3rd, 2009
Oh, and I should mention that the PhotoSphere’s baptism by fire was shooting for Isle’s blog earlier.
http://shoppingcartdisco.com/?p=2548
and it was lovely to work with, in production.
Siddean
Jul 3rd, 2009
I use the VR posestand, I love the HUD that it comes with, saving pose, backdrop and camera positions is great for vendors.
You can add your own backdrop to the sphere, it doesn’t come with a set of presets, only tints.
Serenity Mercier
Jul 4th, 2009
Raven, thanks for this great post! And thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback on PhotoStage and PhotoLite!
Saeya, I wanted to say, Photosphere was my inspiration for creating PhotoStage. Your studio revolutionized SL photography. And I totally love Casja’s idea of combining Photosphere with PhotoLite. Brilliant!
Of course, there’s times when you need a flat backdrop too, as Raven points out. For ease of camera movement and for group shots, it’s really the best option. PhotoStage comes with lots of great textures, and you can easily add your own, plus use the colour controls to achieve absolutely everything in the colour rainbow.
I’ve also just released a new pose stand, the PhotoStand II, which has some nifty features like continuous spin and a HUD for easy operation. And I’m always working on improvements, so yeah, Raven, let’s talk about your backdrop selector plugin.
Thanks everyone for the great comments, and kudos again Raven for such a thoughtful, well informed post.
Tyler
Jul 4th, 2009
I thought Saeya’s textures were stolen from stock photography sites? Wouldn’t it be more ethical to buy yours direct from one of them?
Miss Jay
Jul 4th, 2009
Is it just me or does 3 prims and Photoshop just sound more appealing?
kimberlymirabeau
Jul 4th, 2009
I have the photolife system… and I think I used it once. Its going to get deleted soon Im sure. It wasn’t very intuitive to me.. and I thought it had WAY too much going on. I like simple. I use a green screen (texture changing) cube and various pose stands. My studio is on my roof an as simple as you can get. I love it. I have the N30 studio, and a few others… and I never use them. Ive made a handful of lights that I made transparent and tweak the settings when I want. Much easier I think, and oooo Free!
Great article btw…!!! I love it when people do comparisons like this
Shopping Cart Disco · A Response to PhotoLife
Jul 4th, 2009
[...] they seriously think I’m going to pay attention to their fucking expensive and excessive Photo Studio after they artistically violated and emotionally abused one of their own [...]
CronoCloud Creeggan
Jul 4th, 2009
I continue to use Sabrina Doolittle’s Picture Perfect Studio. I rarely use the backgrounds though and leave it set at white. I’ve added a special script to the pose stand that let’s me rotate it in all three axis with chat commands.
I have my own chat controlled light, that was sold alongside the Picture Perfect. It’s crap, but I like it. The only reason it looks like a lamp is aesthetics, I rarely need it these days with windlight presets.
I am but a simple soul
Raven Haalan
Jul 4th, 2009
@Kim – ty – yes, PhotoLife comes with everything, I think maybe even a kitchen sink in the props rezzer. Too much, IMHO, but it was instructive. I was able to learn, having darned near everything, what I’d rarely/never use.
@Crono – ROFLMAO – yes, you do seem to be a simple soul
In light of all the controversy swirling around PhotoLife these days, I’ll indicate that this blog is about my replacements for PhotoLife, not PL itself.
Any comments regarding PL are simply contrasting these solutions with what I was previously using. Such remarks as I HAVE made in this regard represent my – umm – “fair perspective on what the studio actually does.”
JoriWatler
Jul 5th, 2009
Raven this post is amazing.. and sorry for the delay in commenting – I’ve been behind to say the least.
I too was all about the pL.. then the issues of customer service and the overall bulkiness of it.. just .. was more than I wanted to deal with.
I have had the photosphere for well over a year.. and used it for simple shots.. along with the Tilly posestand.. moreso using the Tilly stand-alone HUD for on location shots – which I LOVE.
VR Posestand is a great mix for me.. adding alot of functionality as well as the wrap-around that Cajsa mentioned, And the backgrounds are phenom!
Again, well written, and insightful –
<3
J
Vivianne Draper
Jul 5th, 2009
Gah I had a post written and then IE crashed. Dammit.
Raven great post as always! I am so running out and getting the photostage. Just as in a flat stage is not always the best solution, sometimes you need more than a sphere. I do luv my photosphere though. Wish I had more colors. It broke when I tried to add them.
I wonder if the photosphere backdrops will work with photostage…
Miss Jay
Jul 5th, 2009
Vivianne…firefox is your friend.
Raven Haalan
Jul 5th, 2009
Viv – will dial you up and help you with that broken thingy on the sphere. And yes, the textures work with photostage, but don’t add the script thing, just the textures.
I run both IE and Firefox – Firefox for all my SL self, IE for all my RL self. It keeps all my flickr and blog and other auto-logins nicely separate.
Vivianne Draper
Jul 5th, 2009
eh i have to use ie for work and i really don’t want to load two browsers and have to keep track of patches for two browsers.
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[...] also to Saeya for hooking me up with that Photosphere! My own hollowed-out sphere was getting to be a [...]
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