What does it mean to have been gaming since the 90s?!
I’ll tell you… it’s years’ worth of experience in the gaming world! Add virtual photography to that and you’ll see that our spotlighted virtual photographer is no ordinary gamer! We chatted with Rykaine and we got insights into her journey so far!
She also shared bits about the people who inspire her art and the ways she finds virtual photography challenging! Let me give you a fact we adore about Rykaine — She’s also one of our amazing supporters on BuyMeACoffee. Her support means the world to us!
Well, I’ll let you know read now but just know, this conversation is one we loved having!
Enjoy!
What’s your earliest memory of gaming and virtual photography?
I have been gaming on and off ever since the NES first launched. I had a brief hiatus in the mid-2000s, but games have always been a part of my life in some form or another.
Virtual photography, on the other hand, I got into in 2018, with Shadow of the Tomb Raider. I found the whole VP community after I started playing around with SOTTR’s photo mode and went searching for places I could share my photos. From there I started photographing other games.
Tell us the story behind your username, Rykaine. What does it mean?
It doesn’t have any real meaning. Way back in the day (1998/99, I think), I was drafting a Gundam Wing fanfic, and “Rykaine” was a name I was going to use for an OC (original character), but I never wound up finishing–or even posting–the fic.
In 2003, I went abroad as part of my major program, and I set up a LiveJournal account so I could catalog my time there, and I just decided to repurpose the name “Rykaine” for that account.
Do you play games on PC, or Console?
I primarily play on console. Mostly PS5, but I also have a Switch.
Do you have a favorite game to play? If yes, why is it your favorite game?
In the current gaming era, I always wind up going back to Rise of the Tomb Raider at some point. I don’t think it’s a secret that I love Lara Croft, and ROTTR. I, especially love the environment and the lore.
In the classic/retro gaming era, it’s a toss-up: Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, it’s my favorite of the franchise, the story has always struck a chord with me; Chrono Trigger, just a classic JRPG, and one of the first games I ever had any sort of emotional connection to; Legend of Dragoon, an underrated classic, loved the combat system, good story, great characters.
Do you have a set photography style? If you do, what is the inspiration behind it?
Before I paused for a mental health break, I was focusing on photos of characters in motion (walking, running, etc). They feel more candid to me, in as much as virtual photos can be candid, and I personally have always felt that I struggled with motion in my photos, so I wanted to study and explore that more.
Do you have any favorite photos that you've taken? If so, what makes them special to you?
I have a whole set that I took in this one section because there’s a strong wind effect that Lara’s forced to brace against and try to maintain her balance while traversing. This photo was among the last I took after about an hour in that area, and I personally just love how it turned out–the lighting, the pose, Lara’s expression.
This was an accidentally good shot, and I have the cats to thank for that. It was where I paused when they interrupted me. So good job, cats!
I didn’t expect the light rays to show up so prominently after I adjusted the brightness & contrast settings.The resulting contrast of the light on one side and dark on the other created a dynamic that I just really love.
Do you edit your photos after capturing them, and if so, what software or tools do you use?
If the game has a built-in photo mode, no. The only edits I make are to add in my watermark, and occasionally to crop or rotate a photo.
If the game does not have a photo mode, I will use a combination of Photoshop and Lightroom.
Can you share any tips or tricks you use for capturing stunning photos?
Don’t be afraid to experiment with settings/effects and try something new. I have taken some absolutely terrible photos this way, but I’ve learned from those misadventures and captured photos that I absolutely love. A lot of my catalog from The Callisto Protocol is experimental.
Are there any game developers or virtual photographers who inspire your art?
Sucker Punch–I haven’t shared any of my Ghost of Tsushima photos on Picashot, but the characters and environment are so vibrant, and combined with its comprehensive photo mode, it’s honestly hard not to be inspired.
Can I just say I’m also inspired by the Tomb Raider/Lara Croft community at large? Lara Croft expands across different eras/generations, and they each resonate with different people for different reasons. I love all the ways people engage with the character, and what they create as a result.
Your photos mostly contain game characters. Is there a reason behind this?
I think I just get more inspiration from capturing the characters. I’ve taken environmental shots, but even the ones I like enough to share always feel sort of hollow to me.
Has virtual photography affected or enhanced your gaming experience in any way? How?
When I’m streaming, if I’m playing a game that I have photographed before, I’ll find myself kind of being a tour guide of sorts? Where I’ll say things like “oh, I took a really nice photo here”. And if it’s a game I haven’t photographed before it’ll be things like “I’ll bet you could get some awesome shots here.”
One way or another, I inevitably find a way to bring photography into the conversation.
What is the most challenging aspect of virtual photography for you?
The lack of universal settings. I’ve messed up several shots because I forget which commands perform which function in which game.
More seriously, lighting is probably my weakness—more even than action/motion. Sometimes it is an absolute struggle to get the lighting right, and I’ve just had to throw in the towel on a shot as a result.
We have five questions, ready to answer?
If you were to be a game character, who would you be?
Lara Croft is probably the most obvious answer. But I’d also say Aloy, Jill Warrick, or Kate Laswell.
You can only play one forever. Which one will it be between — Gotham Knights, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, or The Callisto Protocol?
Shadow of the Tomb Raider, definitely.
Tell us three games you would recommend to someone new to gaming and virtual photography and why.
Horizon Zero Dawn/Forbidden West – it’s another one with a fairly comprehensive photo mode, and I’ve also found it to be one of the easier ones to navigate.
Ghost of Tsushima – as mentioned before, this game is incredibly photogenic, and as with Horizon, I found the photo mode easy to navigate. It also has some great environmental effects.
The Callisto Protocol – compared to most, the photo mode for Callisto is fairly simple and not nearly as detailed, but you can still do a lot with it and turn out some fantastic photos.
Can you share a gaming/virtual photography experience that had an emotional impact on you?
One of my most recent experiences would have to be the DLC chapter of The Callisto Protocol. I was putting the pieces together as I was playing, so I kind of had an idea of what to expect, but when I reached the end it still hit me pretty hard.
What’s your favorite thing to do apart from gaming?
Well, my sister is an author, and I have a side hustle as her editor. Aside from that, I’ve been learning Scottish Gaelic and practicing standard photography. And if I’m not doing any of those things, I’m probably reading.
Thank you Rykaine for the insightful conversation. We wish you a wonderful mental health break!
Follow Rykaine on Picashot!
