How the Virtual Photography Awards celebrate digital artistry

Beginning in 2020, with COVID-19 raging in the real world, the UK’s Mik Bromley started the Virtual Photography Awards, a safer space to churn out artistic visuals without needing to mingle with real people. Using in-game photo modes, users could capture images (calibrated with various editing tools depending on the game) of landscapes, characters, or anything else in the digital world. Since the competition’s first year, the Virtual Photography Awards have become an annual event with a judging panel of game developers, community leaders, and real-world photographers.

While games about photography date back decades (1985’s Nessie was all about snapping a picture of the legendary cryptid, and the Nintendo 64’s Pokemon Snap became a cult classic), in 2004, Gran Turismo 4 became the first game to feature a detailed photo mode with lens filters, color grading, lighting, and other adjustments available for players to experiment with. Since then, these modes have become a nearly ubiquitous feature in many games—of which Bromley took notice.

Starting with the Amiga and continuing to play video games ever since, Bromley shared a secondary passion to his gaming life. “I first got to grips with real cameras while studying crime scene photography some 19 years ago. That led to a fascination with capturing details and compelling images that might have a wider narrative,” Bromley explained. “Fast forward some years, and video game photo modes started to offer the same functions as real cameras. Suddenly I was able to combine the two and capture unique shots in-game that hopefully tell stories of their own.”

That fascination led to the creation of his website, The Fourth Focus, and the awards themselves. In 2023, there were seven winners in a variety of categories such as action shots, abstract work, creativity, and others. All of these winning photos were taken using in-game tools, whether that’s focus, color correction, depth of field, or other tricks to make these shots winners.

It’s not just whether the image stands out; there’s more to consider for the judges, explained Bromley. “It might have an interesting composition or an original take on a theme, great use of light, or pick up on things that are easily missed and overlooked.”

The winning virtual photographers all come from different backgrounds. The winner of 2023’s action award, with a wide angle picture from Assassin’s Creed Unity, had no photography experience at all and began tinkering with virtual photography in Grand Theft Auto V. Preferring to go by the online handle astrayn, they said: “It is really exciting to be part of this emerging art form of virtual photography. It provides a unique avenue for self-expression and the possibility to narrate a story through a single photo.”

Scotland’s Michelle Neumann, winner of this year’s detail award, is a real-world photographer who also started virtually in Grand Theft Auto V. “When I explain to some non-gamer friends or family members that I take pictures in video games, they always look at me funny,” said Neumann. “For me, it’s the opportunity to explore worlds unknown. To capture the beauty of someone else’s fantasy. It’s like you’re able to present sights and experiences, flora and fauna, weather and atmosphere in your own unique way.”

Only playing Forza Horizon 5 and going by Yi, the abstract photo winner had little real-world experience and fell into virtual photography as a hobby. “While not really doing anything other than working, I started a hobby that’s given me so many opportunities,” Yi said. 

Japan’s Ludovic Helme, environment winner, had the longest lead time of the winners. “I was playing a lot of MMORPGs such as Guild Wars 2, Aion, Tera, or Black Desert Online. Once my character would have grinded enough XP and I’d start to get bored, I’d do ‘screenshots’ with them and would create edits for nice looking pictures,” explained Helme, with those games dating back to the late 2000s and early 2010s. 

Virtual photography is a unique, contemporary art form that might confuse some; after all, video games exist to play and have fun, but interactivity has a number of possible definitions. For most of these winners, it’s a chance to explore these worlds in a completely different way and find a new artistic venue that’s wholly freeing. “On an artistic level, it’s the tremendous pleasure of expressing your creativity in an environment free of the usual limitations of traditional photography. You can fly, slow down the world, etc. ... It’s an extraordinary playground,” Helme said. 

“The idea of capturing something that has never been captured before is a major driving factor for me,” said astrayn.

“For me, it’s to capture the moments in games or to show others the way you see the game,” Yi added.

For those looking to get started, Bromley said that knowledge of how physical photography works is a major asset. While games offer infinite lighting possibilities, using the same three-point lighting system in studio photography (a backlight, key light, and what’s called a fill light) is key. “The equipment may be different, but both mediums ultimately share a common goal of capturing engaging images, and that means that the artistic language is the same,” Bromley said. (He’s also written a guide on how to get started on the Epic Games Store.)

However, the opposite can also be true, as in Yi’s case. “Three years of doing virtual photography, and my friend told me I should do actual photography. So I can say editing and composing shots from virtual photography to real-life photography translates really well,” Yi explained.

by Nemanja aka @NattyDread011

As a movie maker and painter, Helme emphasized that the skills all translate the same to a virtual space. “At the end of the day, understanding composition rules is the only thing that matters to do good virtual photography.”

Looking to win in 2024? Bromley offered this concise advice: “Take advantage of the unlimited roll of virtual film and play around with different styles and compositions until you find something that suits you. Art is an expression after all.”

In addition to simply playing with the buttons and learning their effects, astrayn offered additional tips. “Try to re-create other’s pictures or the game cover art; that will teach you a lot and you will get better. Experiment around, try different styles, don’t confine yourself to some hard and fast rules. Just enjoy the process and don’t take it too seriously. It’s a hobby at the end of the day so have fun.” They also noted, “All my technical know-how came from various sites and YouTube.”

While the community is large and growing, which can be helpful when you’re just starting out, Neumann stressed that it’s easy to find yourself immediately caught up in competition or become dejected when your photos don’t come out as perfect as others. 

“It is important not to get lost within all those virtual photography accounts,” began Neumann, stressing her point not to be intimidated at the start. “There’s massive talent out there. So you might see pics you like or even styles you like, but ultimately you gotta figure out your own personal ways.” Consider listening to music to get the creative juices flowing too. Neumann puts on movie soundtracks while she edits, but the music from whatever game you’re playing could offer more inspiration in the moment.

There’s no harm in reaching out to groups on Reddit, X, or other social media platforms, but there’s also a simple tip from Yi: “Just start.” How does one do that? “Look for a game you actually love that has a photo mode, even if it's not the best,” Helme said, expanding on that simple notion of just getting started.

Given the proliferation of photo modes, the resulting images, and these awards, it seems like a competitive landscape. Helme acknowledged this feeling, yet says not to focus too much of your attention there—especially when you’re just starting out. “The only goal you should go after is your own enjoyment, obviously, but also, if you engage yourself in the community, try to bring something to the table instead of just focusing on your own growth. That way only you'll feel satiated,” Helme explained.

Not every game’s photography mode is the best. Helme actually helped design some photo modes, specifically for Deathloop and Mortal Shell. “But with an unbiased eye, I have a soft spot for [Star Wars] Jedi Survivor and Shadow of the Colossus despite its infernal camera movements,” Helme said.

Neumann’s choice for best photo mode was Cyberpunk 2077 (although to note, her winning entry came from Alan Wake 2). For astrayn, their game choice was Sony’s Kena: Bridge of Spirits thanks to its nonrestrictive camera range. Bromley recommended Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Given that this year's winning photos came from Lies of P, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and the Assassin’s Creed series, it’s clear the game itself doesn’t matter. Photo modes all provide a creative outlet with similar potential.

Also consider just how weird one can get when video games are the medium. Aliens, monsters, heroes, their worlds, their details—it’s all a wild, weird canvas. “In games, I can take pictures I will never be able to take in real life. A shooting in the destroyed NASA building on Earth in Starfield or some zombie shots in Dying Light 2,” Neumann said. “Highly unlikely I’ll get those snaps in real life."

Featured image by Yi