flickring again...

Inspired by the Neva River project (and feeling somewhat neglectful of my own home sims) I've been doing some sprucing up round Skye Neist Point. And of course when there's been some landscaping done, my other love kicks in - landscape photography - in this case of the virtual sort! I've always enjoyed flickr (although a bit absent over the last couple of years), it provides such a compelling focus when it come to sharing creative thoughts. So here's a little selection of images taken on Skye and shared on flickr.

Visit Skye Neist Point

and for a little fantasy AV fun:

Enchanted Forest Building Set

Oh, I do love a good wood. It's always been a challenge in Second Life to build a densely wooded area without burning up your prim allowance tree by tree. So, as I enjoy a challenge as much as the next tree hugger, I've been working on a new Enchanted Woods Building Set. More info here. Visit inworld here - there's plenty of woody wandering to be done.

And the winner is...

So the Neva River Photo Challenge is over and we have a decision on the entries. It's a truly humbling experience to have to choose a winner from so many truly creative images. I was simply blown away by the extremely high standard and picking a single image out of so many possible winners has pretty much fried my brain! The final results can be seen here.

Neva, Boo and I figured out the top 3 by pooling our faves and I very much wanted to share my own shortlist of favourites - all amazing images. Thanks to all who took part - watch this space for more fun comps (when those burnt out brain cells regrow).


In no particular order -  enjoy:

Trinetty Skytower

Amona Savira

Oh Sia!!!!

Baron Estate

Kean Kelly

Arora Zanzibar

Kaelyn Alecto

Betty Rogan

Mr Munro

Neva River Photo Challenge

I've been working with Neva Crystal on her new sim (see prev post) - now it's open we thought it would be fun to have a photography competition.
It's open to all - so feel free to visit and if you can create an image for the comp, all the better -  and 1st prize is L$10,000 cash!

More info here

Neva River Sim Opening Today

Lately I've been enjoying a 'from scratch' sim build, working with Neva Crystal on her sim, Neva River. It's given me a great opportunity to test out my landscaping products and of course creating with Neva is a pleasure as always :) More details on the sim opening here. It's well worth a visit!

Enchanted Tree Tunnel

For some time now I've been musing over making something like this for Second Life. Like many of my product ideas it floats around in the back of my head somewhere ready for the right moment to emerge. So I started this a couple of weeks ago, found it a challenge, let it for a bit and came back with a fresh eye. Now I'm happy with it.

The Enchanted Tree Tunnel is a detailed mesh landscaping piece with hi res ground textures. Dappled light plays on mossy, leafy path and the trees arch gracefully over your head as you walk through.

See it here: Skye Elgol

New Beach Building Kit

One thing I'm passionate about is subtle detail - the sort of detail that's often lost in the low poly environments of virtual worlds like Second Life.
So, for example, it's pretty easy to upload a sand texture through your Second Life sim terrain settings, throw some virtual waves and rocks around along with some wave sounds and get quite a pleasing beach.

For me however,  it's just not enough! I need more detail in my virtual world!

Beaches are a good example. I like to see sand darken and smooth out as it gets wet. I like to see pools form around rocks and ripples form in the sand where waves have lapped. If I have waves I would prefer that they wash up the contours of the beach. In short I want detail in my beach!

So guess what? I made a building set that give us detail. Yay!

It's a mesh set with a number of beach shapes you can res and fit together to create your virtual beach.  The waves are mapped to the beach shape and gentle washing wave sounds complete the atmosphere. All models and textures are set up and ready to go.

Now we can stroll the beach thinking "mmm, I have detail"

More info here.

On yon bonny banks...

Happy new year!

I'm getting my rear in gear for 2013 and getting some new products designed, built and launched. Yes I am!

My first of the new year is something I've been meaning to make since maybe the middle of last year! So I guess my resolution has some catching up to do! One of the things about Second Life that I've always felt is that the detail of landscape is just simply lost. For example, those simple curves and textures that make up a riverbank - impossible to achieve with standard landscaping tools of course. So here we go, Studio Skye to the rescue - presenting my new River Bank Building Set. Enjoy!

More details here.

Lincoln Garnet

It may of be of four years vintage now (eons in terms of Second Life) but I am pleased to see my Yasumidokoro House doesn't seem to have lost it's appeal. But then, thinking about it, why would a traditional Japanese house design (albeit an interpretation) date in just a few of our modern years!
Anyway, I really love what Lincoln Garnet has done with his image below, using the house as a backdrop for a poetic and evocative scene. It is inspirational in many ways. Have a look at his flickr stream here for more stunning images.

Neva Did It Again

I totally love what Neva Crystal does with my stuff! She sent me this image with the Beach Combers' Bar. Thanks Neva!