Heart of the Storm

The F12 Goblin Era I'm the kind of person who happily spends half their life in the character creator, so it was only a matter of time before I started capturing absolutely everything my characters did. (Oh, no! I made them too pretty! Now I must stare at them from every angle.) At the time, I had absolutely no technical knowledge, so "documenting" was actually just hitting the screenshot button like a madman. I wouldn't call it virtual photography yet, but it was the beginning of the obsession and the reason I wanted to learn more. Fun fact: I've just checked and apparently I have more than 3000 screenshots from this period.

New addiction Era With Patch 8 Photo Mode came, and my screenshot-addicted self obviously had to give it a try. I won't lie, my first shots were pretty rough. Even with some experience in traditional photography, I couldn't quite figure out what all the sliders did. But there's this thing that happens when you pick up a new hobby: when you're starting from zero, it's easy to improve fast. That quick progress is addictive, and it makes you want to keep going. Maybe I finally found something I'm actually good at?

"New Screen, who this?" Era One thing I haven't mentioned yet: I'm broke. Like, "my gaming setup is a laptop that crashes if you breath the wrong way" broke. And as you may have guessed from the previous screenshots that tiny laptop came with an equally tiny screen. Then my partner noticed my completely reasonable and definitely not concerning Virtual Photography obsession, and he was like, "Why not push her even deeper?" So in October, for my birthday, he bought me a proper monitor.

I still love it to this day… but the moment I turned it on, I realized everything I'd made before looked like absolute garbage. The colors were off, the quality was off, everything looked awful. So this was also the Great Remake Era. Luckily, I have the terrible habit of letting my shots rot in drafts for months before posting them. So I convinced myself I had to recreate most of them (and also some already posted works) with my now better setup for the perfect quality.

Around that time, I also started using watermark too! Not because I needed one, but because it just seemed like a very artist thing to do. It somehow tricked my brain into thinking I could actually make something out of this.

I also started using Lighty Lights! I had been against it for the longest time, because to be honest, I’ve got the soul and brain of a boomer when it comes to learning new things. I tried it a few times, got overwhelmed, quit, and then immediately tried again the next day. It was a long process, but now I can hardly imagine taking screenshots without them. The secret, though, is that I still only know how to use the basic functions. Haha.

This era lasted quite a while, and it's the one where I finally started creating shots that I proudly called VPs, and I still do. Something else changed during this time, too. You might've noticed the beginning of it at the end of the previous era: I finally let my muse go. It happened after a disappointing experience with some people in the fandom, but looking back, it was probably for the best. It pushed me to start photographing other characters instead, and I'm really happy with how diverse my portfolio has become.

Paint it Black Era

This isn’t exactly an era that’s over, in fact, it’s still very much ongoing. But around this time, I accidentally discovered that I’m kinda good at making black and white shots. They’ve basically become my go-to whenever I don’t really have inspiration… to, well, inspire myself. If they turn out good, it usually does the trick and makes me want to create even more.

Current Era I count this era from this February, when I was asked to take shots for an upcoming pose pack. That was when I really wanted to learn hotsampling, mostly out of laziness, if I’m honest. The shots had to be vertical, and I couldn’t be bothered to rotate my screen every time. So I figured, if the source image is big enough, I can just crop out what I don’t need, and still have the right quality.

Not exactly the most professional approach, but at least it made me learn something new and useful.

Current+ Not sure if it should call it a new period, because it's not my accomplishment that Bone Zone exists. But I started to use it and build poses for my shots!

As I sat across from the duo in a private little corner of Reithwin's local tavern, the Rising Sun (known long ago as the Waning Moon, to any long-lived readers here today,) I artfully began with a simple, innocuous little question, designed to entice their trust and lower their guard. "Introducing Zaline has always been a challenge. She's a good many things to me," Halsin smiled, the expression radiant on his wise, yet deliciously chiseled face. "She began as my savior, in the depths of a goblin camp. But after all we've been through together, I've since had the honor of calling her my friend and confidante. I could never have anticipated what joy I would find in calling her my lover, but I wouldn't trade that joy for the world." Zaline spent a full three seconds struck dumb by his earnest praise, warmth tinging her freckled cheeks. She then scoffed, unable to hide the smile in her lips. "A damn old softy, you are. How's a woman s'posed to follow that?" Halsin chuckled, leaning in to press an astonishingly chaste kiss to her cheek. A subtle peek under the table revealed that Zaline's arrow-point tail had coiled around his shin. Naughty! Nonetheless, she continued, "I only ever call 'im Halsin. Everyone in Reithwin knows him anyways, but I'm proud to say he's my lover, too."

2. What’s their celebrity couple/ship name?

The pair of them blinked owlishly whilst I explained this one. They had a little laugh between themselves, rolling their eyes fondly over the antics and trends of today's youth. Readers, I took that as an invitation. After all, there's quite a bit to work with off of their names alone! Haline or Zalsin, for a more traditional formatting, but given their natures, options such as Balladbear or Oakfiddle could work? Ah, there are so many Elfling possibilities!*

3. Night out or night in?

"Hah! When we've got a night to ourselves? Out and about, with nary a doubt." Zaline finished her statement with a firm nod, picking up her flagon of ale. "Good rhyme, lass. Perhaps we'll hear it in your next song," Halsin mused. "But, yes. Between our roles here in Reithwin and my duty to the land, it's rather rare for us to find each other alone without some other responsibility to tend to. Fortunately, patrolling the wilds around the village is a practical enough use of our time together." A slight smile toyed at the corners of Halsin's rosy lips, while Zaline snorted into her drink. You'll find it rather wise of me to remain masked during my interviews, dear reader, for while they shared cheeky, conspiratorial glances, a wicked grin spread across my hidden face. I waved down the barmaid for a round of something stronger, hoping to loosen those tongues of theirs...

4. Sleep in, or up-and-at-’em?

"The second one, though not without great reluctance." Halsin's brawny chest pulsed with a gentle laugh. "Our needs are quite different. I don't require true sleep as she does, but it's comforting to share a bed nonetheless." The barmaid set three goblets of wine on our table. Zaline thanked her by blowing a kiss, a gesture to which the barmaid giggled merrily in return. Halsin hadn't yet drank a drop that eve- nor had I. I was much too eager to see these two shed their inhibitions. If I weren't such an insightful strategist, dear readers, I would've missed the knowing glint in Halsin's eye... perhaps a trick of the light, perhaps a sign that he'd caught onto my intent!

5. Who hogs the blankets?

"Ah, fuck, that was some good wine. I'll be back, aye? Sit tight, you two!" Ignoring the inquiry, Zaline giggled and pressed a kiss to Halsin's cheek, flittering off to the center of the tavern, where the rest of the townsfolk were alight with song and laughter. Perhaps the drinks I called for were a tad too strong... Shaking his head fondly, Halsin answered my question with ease. "She does, when she isn't clung to my side like a creeping vine. Her usual excuse is a strong insistence that tieflings don't do well in the cold, as if either of us needs a justification."

6. Who snores?

I noticed Halsin worrying the inside of his cheek with his teeth as this particular question was raised. There was something he was considering saying aloud, I just knew it- but getting him to say it would be a challenge. "Well?" I urged him. "Neither of us, really. Wintertime is when I truly slumber, usually in a far-off cave or some other refuge. My old comrades of the Emerald Grove oft joked that they could hear my snoring echoing from leagues away," Halsin chuckled. Trying to change the subject, Sir Silverbough? Well, two can play at that game, and one certainly did! I smiled serenely. "Does Zaline ever snore?" He remained silent for a moment, ruminating, before answering. "Sleep-talking is... a common occurrence." His answer was vague, but intrigued me deeply. Hoping to wring some more out of him, I cooed, "How adorable! What sort of things does she say? Has she ever spoken about you? Perhaps she's had an interesting dream or two?" Halsin shook his head grimly. "Let's move on."

7. Who gets them both in trouble? What for?

"Some arsehole vomited on the dance floor," Zaline grumbled, plopping back into her seat. Halsin's dour expression softened when he laid eyes on her. "What're we asking, now?" Halsin filled her in, and she laughed dryly. "Oh, that's an easy 'un! Ask those Selûnite missionaries here in town. They'll say I don't cause trouble- I am trouble," Zaline leaned back, hands tucked behind her head. With a weary sigh, Halsin explained, "The missionaries have been here since we began rebuilding. Reithwin was once a very religious town, with Moonrise Towers as its place of worship. Nowadays, there's a much larger variety of faiths besides the Selûnites, and the two of us use the Towers to house children and families displaced by the forces of the so-called Absolute. They've been helpful, no doubt, but some of the missionaries in particular are..." "Bastards. You can say it, darlin'. Who else would be so keen to shove orphans out o' their own home?" Zaline spat. "Got nothin' against the Moonmaiden, me. They've been a big help, these missionaries, but some of 'em are damn awful, tryin' to push us an' the littl'uns out just to reclaim the Towers. I don't care if they call me unreasonable, or heartless, or say I'm a greedy, sacrilegious foulblood, I'll tell 'em to piss off as many times as they need." Halsin frowned deeply. I could've looked deeper into this particular mote of gossip, but frankly, the poor druid looked exhausted, so I chose to move to a lighter topic...

8. What do they do for date night?

An easy smile slowly returned to Halsin's face. "The tavern is one of Zaline's favorite haunts. She's very fond of being at the center of everyone's attention... including mine." "Damn straight!" Zaline nodded proudly. "But other times, we'll go out to the wilds instead, explorin'-like, see? It's... peaceful. Intimate. If my head weren't feelin' wobbly, I'd wax fierce poetic about it, heh." "It sounds wonderful," I crooned. My clever mind was already cooking up all sorts of ways those moonlit explorations of theirs could be as 'intimate' as she said, but no journalist worth her salt would leave it to the imagination. I needed confirmation straight from the source, gods damn it! "When you say that it's, ah... intimate...?" "I was wondering when this would come up," Halsin chuckled, allowing Zaline to toy clumsily with his hand. "Your other interviews delved into the subjects' sex lives much sooner. Had you much trouble holding your tongue until now?" Clever old druid. I met his penetrating gaze with cool elegance. "Believe me, Halsin, dear, it's not my tongue I'm here to discuss. But we'll cover that later, shall we?"

9. What do they do for their anniversary?

Both the bard and the druid fell into a contemplative silence. Halsin drummed his fingers on the table, whilst Zaline pursed her lips, her brow furrowing in inhibited remembrance. "Anniversary...? Pish, forgot abou' that. We've only had each other a mite o'er a year-ish." "We could celebrate, if you're truly keen on it," Halsin offered, his voice lilting with endearing awkwardness. "I must admit, it's not something I paid mind to in the past. But even after choosing their mates, many birds will continue to perform courtship rituals for their other half for years to come. Our hearts may be more open to others, but if commemorating our bond is important to you, then it's important to me." "Pft... it ain't an issue, but with all that bird talk, I could ask you to do a saucy little dance for me," Zaline teased. "G'won, then, that's my anniversary gift: watchin' ya shake your tailfeathers like the cock of the walk!" So endeared was I by the fond rolling of Halsin's hazel eyes, that I nearly missed the movement of his lips afterwards. Readers, I assure you that it was not my imagination, when I heard him mumble under his breath that he'd -ahem!- show Zaline a cock of the walk later. How deliciously cheeky! But not nearly to my tastes just yet.

10. Any hobbies in common? What do they like to do together?

This one was a particularly juicy tidbit. After all, the two of them seem so different, do they not? Halsin is a man of the wilds through and through, whilst Zaline is allegedly a city woman, born and bred- though it's nigh impossible to find any records on her past. "All sorts o' things!" Zaline declared proudly. "Whittlin', foragin', hells, I've finally convinced Halsin to let me give him music lessons. Oh, almost forgot- bakin'! You ever tried bakin', Miss De Nym?" "That's Lady De Nym, darling," I corrected her. Rest assured, readers, I was not bothered by her little slip of the tongue, for I know that both this tabloid and my little pseudonym aren't at the top of the public's mind... yet. How charmingly humble of me! "And why is it that you ask?" A grin flickered across Halsin's lips. "She might be hoping for a pointer or two." "Oh, please! I ain't ashamed to say I'm arse at it." With a playful scoff, Zaline gave his bicep a light smack. I ogled the way that tree-trunk arm of his rippled. She continued, "I could get better on me own, but if I knew you'd be so good at makin' those sticky honey buns the kiddos like, I woulda let you take charge from the very start. Now, our little boy Kicker starts cryin' whenever I go into the kitchen without ye!"

Special thanks to @scoldingdarjeeling for both the ask and the patience behind it! There are so many cool people on this side of the fandom, and I overthink my responses for literal weeks -sometimes months- before responding, LMAO. I did really enjoy writing this, and part 2 is definitely in the works, but sometimes I let my anxiety take the wheel a little too much. We're all only human, and frankly, I don't think I'll be crucified in the desert if I scribble out a little ficcy bit where Halsin BG3 is a little OOC 😂 Peace and love to all!

Ok, I never thought I'd be making VPs. My niche was always gifs (many of which are also not great, womp womp). VPs have always intimidated me, even now. So I never intended to make virtual photography and mainly took pictures to show progress and stuff.

Like with my first photos, it was literally the day photo mode came out, and I wanted to show Rolan as a bladesinger. :3

April 16, 2025

After, I returned to gifs, but I tried shooting occasionally, I especially liked "in-action" shots:

May 16, 2025

This one is so fucking rough, buddy. UGH. June 26, 2025

THEN I GOT OTIS CAM :3

I believe this is the first shot with OTIS cam. July 12, 2025

FIRST TIME WITH RESHADE

Disregarding the quality, this is a very cool shot. No idea how I captured it tho. But again, as you can see from ALL of these, this is literally me pausing the game mid-action and mindlessly rotating the OTIS cam. xD July 23, 2025

FIRST TIME POSING CHARACTERS

As you can see, it was.... UGH x 20. August 19, 2025

FIRST ONE WHERE I THOUGHT I ATE

NO IDEA how it turned out so well. Lucky angle + good water. 👍 September 22, 2025

FIRST USE OF LIGHTY LIGHTS

This is almost cheating, as it is a screeshot of the gif. I couldn't post the gif itself back then, because Tumblr destroyed its quality. But as you can see, the LL falls onto the left side of her face. October 24, 2025

FIRST PHOTO TAKEN AFTER NYXIE EXPLAINED THE BASICS TO ME

Not bad... But the posing is not "tight". December 16, 2025

FIRST PHOTO OF MINE I CALLED A VP

Honestly? Got very lucky with location, nothing too special. His face card saved me. January 30, 2026

FIRST TIME I SET UP A SCENE, NOT JUST THE CHARACTER

I thought I ate so hard with this one. Now, I'll be so for real, I don't like it anymore. 🙃 February 12, 2026

FIRST POSE WITH HOLDING A WEAPON (NOT IN AN ACTION PAUSED SHOT)

This one. GOD. I am so happy with this one. It was always my dream to learn how to give characters weapons in photo mode. And this is my first successful attempt. Now I give them weapons to hold quite often :3 God job with this one, Sam. February 18, 2026

HONESTLY, IT WENT UPHILL FROM HERE

I still release photos I end up disliking later, but generally, the quality of my shots has started improving since mid-February. I still have A LOT OF THINGS TO LEARN. I want to achieve so much. So I just hope I can, and in a year, I can show better progress.

I need to work on: better lighting and shadows combo, more interesting angles, more dynamic shots, learn Lightroom, work on more creative texture layering, and pose more characters together. And, most importantly, not taking hours and hours on it. And fucking start shooting smut already.

My strong sides are: bonezoning - some poses I already make from scratch. And facial expressions, I guess, I love them. Also, it helps that I draw over the eyes in PS to make them more striking. xD

Compilation of favorite shots since February:

My sweet, underappreciated child of a photo. It took me a total of 20+ hours just to pose and shoot it, without editing. It was the first time I posed 4 characters. And this is where I picked some of my PM “traits”: weapon holding, spell casting, specific flicks of light, and background lighting. I love it a lot, and it still hurts :))

The iconic red grass photo I wanted to make for months and months, until I was finally capable enough.

This is just really cool, NGL. Didn't expect I could manage with hair manipulation.

It might look simple, but it was really hard to do to get the right angle. And everything is posed from scratch (from T-pose, both of them). If you know about fingers in bone zone, you will understand.

Another really cool one. I want to learn how to make reflective surfaces in PS and make the metal reflection.