Scanning ahead…
Jon Devo finds out how computer games are taking aim at photographers
The exploding craze of virtual photography is something I’ve discussed here in the past, but this is a slightly different look at a rising digital pastime that’s capturing the imagination of photographers around the world.
Photography in computer games is by no means a new thing. Series such as Fatal Frame, Dead Rising, Gran Turismo and Zelda have all found clever ways to incorporate the art of capturing pictures into their titles.
The first FatalFrame game is perhaps one of my favourite examples of virtual photography being deployed in a game. The protagonist, Miku, sets off to find her missing brother. She winds up at an abandoned mansion (obviously), where she’s confronted by ghosts and ghouls . Her only weapon is a camera, which she uses to scare off the spirits, as well as conduct her investigation. The dark corridors and camera flash weaponry make for an intense gaming experience.
Most games that include photography do so as part of a side quest or a fun thing to do within the game environment. Few games are created for the purpose of exploring a virtual world with a virtual camera. But things are starting to change.
Thanks to the hyper-realistic graphics and real-time environment processing that can be produced with tools like Unreal Engine 5, game designers are exploring the idea of creating virtual worlds simply for the
sake of exploration. And some of these environments are based on real-world locations, like the ones created by 3D environment artist and game developer Matt Newel. Under his designer name CavesRD, Matt has faithfully recreated some of the most idyllic locations on the planet, and made them available to download via the Lushfoil_Photography_Sim page on Steam. The locations include Lago di Braies in the Italian Alps and the iconic Fushimi Inari-taisha beauty spot in Kyoto, Japan.
Within these environments, CavesRD places objectives, collectible items, tools and key photo locations around the map that you can capture once you find your camera, which is also hidden within the map. There are no antagonists to defeat, no levels or missions. Rather, you’re rewarded for thoroughly exploring the environment and capturing its beauty.
Games like these are taken to a whole other level with a VR headset, which allows you to become immersed in the sights and sounds of an entirely new place; yet you’re armed with a tool that’s familiar. There’s the potential for teaching photography through experiences like this, but also the possibility of liberating people who are vulnerable or less mobile, and unable to travel to these locations in real life.
Now that 3D mapping technology is now available via apps on our smartphones, you could even see a future where you could scan your own camera and lenses, and upload them into a game environment. Then you could explore any location with all of your favourite focal lengths at your disposal.
Since the launch in late 2013 of the Alpha 7, a pioneering full-frame mirrorless camera, Sony has expanded the line-up to appeal to different types of photographer. The Alpha 7R series offers higher resolutions; the Alpha 7S series offers higher sensitivities; and the Alpha 7C offers full-frame performance in a more compact body. Which begs the question: where does the Alpha 7 itself fit in?
The Alpha 7 IV is Sony’s response to that poser. It’s packed with new technology while remaining affordable to non-professionals, with a next-generation Exmor sensor and a high-powered Bionz XR processor yielding all sorts of surprising capabilities. And just wait until you find out the A7 IV’s buffering capacity for burst shots! Check out our early hands-on impressions of Sony’s latest mirrorless body over the page.
Meanwhile, autumn means updates to the big-brand smartphones – and that means upgrades to the cameras you can slip in your pocket. On page 126, we test-drive the three-camera array on the iPhone 13 Pro Max, and explain which cameras feature on each of the new Apple models. Rod Lawton