Photo mode has officially arrived in God of War Ragnaro and we've really enjoyed what the community has shared.
To help you create better in-game shots, we asked two of our active community photographers to share tips to help take your photography to the next level.
As hosts of the Photomode Unplugged podcast and active members of the God of War photography community, we asked TheFourthFocus and DotPone for some advice for those looking to photograph God of War Ragnar.
Introduction to Video Game Photography
Fourth focus
Virtual photography is a great way for players to get more involved in their favorite games, and with the recent God of War photo mode update, Ragnarok has joined the photo party.
By activating a number of in-game tools that simulate the use of a real camera, Photo Mode can be used to capture original and creative footage of Kratos and Atreus' journey through the nine worlds.
Photo mode, available from the options menu, pauses the game and allows players to move around the stage using a virtual camera. As with any other form of photography, composition and placement of elements in the frame is essential for a convincing image, so use the analog sticks to control the camera to find a good angle. Pay attention to the lighting and make sure you focus on your chosen subject while avoiding distractions - get it right and most of the work will get done.
Fourth focus
Go to settings
Fourth focus
For me, the most important Photo Mode settings are those that affect the actual composition of the shot and change how the camera captures the scene. Start adjusting the width of the frame view by directly setting the angle of view or changing the focal length to "Zoom in" or "Zoom in".
Remember that a longer focal length creates a narrower field of view, and vice versa, and both can greatly affect how you shoot.
In general, a long focal length is great for zooming in or out of the frame, while a short focal length creates a wide angle that adds perspective distortion and can make shots look more dynamic.
If you prefer portraits, 50-85mm is the way to go.
Fourth focus
Of course, there's no point in taking a well-framed shot if the subject is completely out of focus, so adjust the focal length to keep the focus point on the subject to make it look nice and clear.
The trick here is to aim for the eyes, as they make the strongest connection with the viewer.
Alongside this setting, you'll also find an aperture value that you can use to control depth of field - basically how much of the scene is in sharp focus. Increasing the aperture value puts more focus on the foreground and background, while decreasing it creates a shallow depth of field that can be used to separate the subject from the background and create a soft bokeh effect.
portrait
pointpon
pointpon
Portraits are popular for a reason. They represent the character we love (or hate) in the game. If, like me, you like black background portraits with good character lighting, you can't go wrong in the main arena. Muspelheim Crucible.
But today I'll tell you about another technique: framing.
You'll want to capture more than the physical representation of the character in your portrait to make them stand out. You want your portrait to evoke emotion in the viewer; Hence, the character must also display said emotions.
When it comes to photography, composition will ultimately make or break your image. A great way to approach good composition is to use something in the foreground to frame something in the background. God of War Ragnarok gives you the perfect equipment with Blades of Chaos and its fiery ballet.
Using Kratos' knife-throwing animation, I frame his face with chains and make sure the subject is facing the camera.
This choice gives the impression that they are looking directly at the audience, showing their emotions.
I then use one of the many facial expressions available in photo mode and use the options in the capture section to blur everything except Kratos, making sure the viewer notices the first thing when looking at my photo.
war pictures
Fourth focus
Capturing good shots in motion can be difficult, and it's all about getting a dynamic look that allows the image to tell the story of what's happening. Due to the camera's limited range, you often have to get close to the enemies you want to shoot, but sometimes it's worth shooting just to get a shot.
A wide field of view can help capture movement in the frame, and moving the camera slightly is a great way to create a sense of movement or even confusion, which works well in combat.
Fourth focus
As always, you also need to think about line of sight and find a position where characters and enemies are within line of sight of each other. This is a great way to make fight scenes more engaging and believable.
Landscape painting
pointpon
pointpon
God of War Ragnarok Customization Perfect Photo Mode Theme!
You'll find plenty of variety in this game, visiting all nine worlds, from the fiery lava fields of Muspelheim to the lush jungle paradise of Vanaheim.
However, these levels are created by talented developers from Santa Monica, and it's not enough to just point the camera and take a picture to set it up. If you want to differentiate your photos, you can look for a different angle or do something less obvious
I think landscape photography is the hardest because you want to draw the viewer's attention to the whole place, not just one element.
I decided to draw a simple scene that we take for granted during play - a boat parked on a lake in Svertalheim. I took a low angle shot of one of the less visible features of the lake and blurred the foreground vegetation to give the image a sense of depth.
Locations and filters
Fourth focus
God of War Ragnarok is full of amazing locations that make for great themes, but they can also be useful to create a different feel for your overall shots.
For example, many locations have their own distinct color palettes and different lighting sensibilities, which can completely change the portrait. Whether it's the rich warm tones of Ironwood or the cool blues of Niflheim, try exploring different worlds for more varied results.
The same goes for the color filters in Photo mode, and it's an obvious way to change the overall tones of an image anywhere.
Don't just rely on the default settings, lower the intensity for a more subtle effect and tweak the Brightness and Saturation options to control the brightness of the colors. These adjustments can make your shot stand out.
Fourth focus
How to Join VGP Community
pointpon
pointpon
The community of video game photographers continues to grow! Every time a new photo mode game is released, more and more people around the world join in the fun. It can seem quite scary and overwhelming and you can get lost.
Don't worry, we have the perfect guide to help you join the community.
The first step is to create an account on your favorite social network: Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, Discord, etc.
Then all you have to do is use the hashtag #VirtualPhotography and the name of the game, in this case #GodofWarRagnarok!
Don't forget to tag your favorite studio and publisher accounts, and your posts will be seen by interested members of the community! meet? simple
---
God of War Ragnarok is now available on PS5 and PS4.