Eorzea's Next Top Model - Cycle 3 Round 1

The round is officially closed!

Men's Contest Judge Scores and Feedback

Adam Fylrmyn

Judge A: "What GC are you from? I don't see a GC Banner anywhere, this looks like a plain shot of a merchant somewhere. Nothing to me stands out about this shot" Score: 1

Judge B: "I like the color coordination with the outfit, but as a whole nothing really screams the grand company theme to me. It's maybe just a touch too dark as well. " Score: 1

Judge C: "It's a pretty weak shot compared to those of the other contestants for this theme. Let's be honest here, it would've been a pretty good shot for another theme along the line of "Lost in Eorzea" or something like that, where he might just managed to get somewhere safe and is asking his way to get to the next city. For this Round 1 Theme though, I feel like it's entirely lacking the feeling of him, being in a Grand Company and I can't associate anything in this picture with a Grand Company. So, even though it's a good shot for something else, I'm giving him a 0 for missing the Theme." Score: 0

Judge D: "I like this shot overall. Your background and time of day come together nicely as well as your positioning with the guard. I don’t mind you being in the center as we can see your face and you are framed well. My only complaint about the shot itself is that the Aetheryte is a tad bright and I found my eyes glancing towards it, pulling focus off you. Now, that being said I don’t see anything in your shot that follows the theme. There’s no GC gear, colors or emblems to tell the viewer “hey! I’m Immortal Flames!” Had you shown your GC in the shot in some way, this shot could have been one of my favorites." Score: 1

Judge E: "I understand the story this shot is telling, which I like...but it feels to me like it's the story of a wily merchant, not a member of any Grand Company. Be careful to make sure you follow the theme of the round! Additionally, I feel as if the NPC you're talking to is dwarfing you somewhat and stealing some of the focus away." Score: 1

Aiden Weaver

Judge A: "On Guard for the Maelstrom, standing proud and tall. Lighting is good, background is decent. The shot overall is "acceptable" although it doesn't have any eye catching features." Score: 2

Judge B: "Interesting perspective to the shot. I like the way the background evokes distance and adds to your 'scouting'. I just wish I could see more of the cannon in the foreground as otherwise the coloring in the shot feels a bit bland. " Score: 2

Judge C: "Well, I was torn giving this a score of 1 or 2 but went for the 1 instead. Aleport ain't a place for pretty backgrounds, that's for damn sure. He made this background work somehow but I feel it's somewhat lacking. His idea behind this picture, which seemed to be him being on lookout duty(?), so like watching out for anything that could be dangerous or stuff along those lines is pretty nice. The attire he choose, shows that he's from the Maelstrom GC but the picture itself, seems to be pretty calm and pretty normal at the same time which doesn't make it a standout shot for me." Score: 1

Judge D: "Good job on representing Maelstrom by standing watch out in La Noscea. Your outfit, pose and position in the shot work well. My only issue here is I would have like to have seen more of your face and less of those ugly trees on the left. Had you swung the camera around to get more of the tower or turned your face towards the camera, it would have made a world of difference. In the future, try and remember this is as much about the entire pic as it is you. More tower, less trees could have made this shot go from good to great. " Score: 2

Judge E: "A solid shot, it definitely conveys the Grand Company feel - the NPC in the background is well positioned to give the feel of a guard posting without stealing focus away from you. It does bother me slightly though that the top of your weapon is cut off." Score: 2

Epsil Ion

Judge A: "Epsil what can we say? This shot is spectacular and really captures that moment. Coming out in round one with guns blazing, we're sure to be in for a wild ride and The Maelstrom is our first stop!" Score: 3

Judge B: "I like the battle pose, and I love the way the light is hitting your face. The stormy weather really makes it feel dynamic, but the fighting going on the background feels a bit odd. Maybe if it was against Kobolds or Sahagin it would add more your allegiance's theme! " Score: 2

Judge C: "What can I say, what can I say..... Having seen Epsil's pictures that he took during cycle 2 when he was a Judge I really didn't expect anything less from him. We already discussed this but here it is again: His pose is fantastic. He makes the attire from the Maelstrom literally stand out. You can't take your eyes off from him since he's literally the center of this picture. You get the fierce feeling the Maelstrom has, with the battle going on in the background and the storm raging on. Well, nuff said, he gets a 3 from me." Score: 3

Judge D: "The more I look at this shot the more I like it. It has so much depth and with everything that is going on from the gorgeous shadows on the ground, the fighting behind you, to the storm surrounding it all you are there standing tall, standing proud. Nothing is pulling focus from you. You are Maelstrong! The bar has been set." Score: 3

Judge E: "The lighting is absolutely superb on you for the most part, I love the image of you standing strong in a storm. There is, however, one thing that's preventing me from awarding it a 3...that Cactaur earring. It really drew my eye and just feels really out of place with the whole thing. Otherwise, an excellent shot! Can't wait to see more from you." Score: 2

Fate Lhas

Judge A: "The bright pink flowers distract away from the centerpiece of this shot, but not much of a centerpiece at that. Angle, background and lighting are all whacky in this." Score: 1

Judge B: " love the coordination between you and your choco and the mini salute, but on the whole, the light in your shot isn't hitting you. It's just a bit too dark otherwise, although the environment is a good choice. " Score: 1

Judge C: "Aiii, patrolling the area for his GC watching out for any danger it seems. Fate manged to create a really omnious and creepy atmosphere with the cloudy weather and the slight darkness you get in this. I also got the feeling from this picture and the way he looks away, that something dangerous might be lurking nearby. The attire he choose as well as the Chocobo Barding shows, that he's from them Adders. My only complaint with this screen would be, that because Fate has such a dark skin, he kind of blends into the scenery a bit." Score: 2

Judge D: "I like your concept. Out on patrol w/ your chocobo. I do like the plants on each side, framing you. Unfortunately they are really bright and thus push you back into the picture nearly getting lost. Proper placement of your sun minion so it lights up your face instead of your chocobo’s chest piece would have made a world of difference. With your darker complexion, you need to take measures to insure we see your face. Good start though!" Score: 1

Judge E: "You managed to nail the Grand Company theme well, though I feel the a better choice of location would have served you well. The luminous pink flowers don't do you any favours here, stealing attention from you. Be careful with lighting! Good use of emotes on the chocobo too." Score: 1

Flare Raulbel

Judge A: "This little Lala seems to know what this contest is all about, and that's capturing the audience. While I'll say that it's hard for me to tell that you're apart of the Immortal Flames at first glance, all the other things right with this shot make up for that minor downside. Great shot." Score: 3

Judge B: "This shot is super creative and funny, I love it! If I had to critique anything, it's just that the light washes your facial features out a bit, but overall it's a great shot. " Score: 3

Judge C: "The idea behind his picture is fantastic. It's really nice to look at and it also made me crack up a little on the inside. I really like that he made use of the All Saints Wake Event for his picture. The expression he used while getting that "kiss" is as if he can't believe this is happening or he finds this situation kind of weird? Well, it's a really funny picture and there are some elements that do scream Grand Company, even if they don't stand out as much. I just hope to see some more of these funny pictures from him or other contestants in the future~" Score: 2

Judge D: "This picture is adorably cute. I was hoping someone would utilize the Halloween illusions. Love the story you are telling. Your face as well as Raubahn’s bring it together. In the future, be careful about lighting as you are very pale and have light hair. You do not want to wash out your features. Also be aware of positioning; yours as well as anyone sharing the shot." Score: 2

Judge E: "I love it. I look at this picture and I see a hero of the Flames getting summoned for a reward and being intensely disappointed that it wasn't a massive pile of gil. I do wish that it were a little more obvious that you're a member of the GC at first glance, and you look a little washed out - especially odd given the shadow positions in the shot. Nevertheless, an excellent entry out the gate!" Score: 2

Jinx Fireboot

Judge A: "On night watch for the Twin Adders, I get it. While not spectacular it moderately gets the job done, but nothing entirely special about this piece. I feel as if you could've picked a better location with a better background to take this." Score: 2

Judge B: "I love the story behind this picture that goes super well the theme and I don't mind the dark sky as there's an interesting background perspective. I think what would have helped push this further though would have been having the fire-lighting effect on you and not the guard to make your pose more interesting. " Score: 2

Judge C: "Looks like we got out second guy on lookout duty. Again, not really a standout shot for me. Background used is ok. The idea behind the picture is fine but everything in this picture doesn't scream "Give me a high score!". The attire he has chosen is not the GC gear you can get from the GC but the Archer body you get for completing a quest, but it still works since it's yellow so he made good use of it. I'm wondering what we might see from him in the future." Score: 1

Judge D: "I like where you were going with this shot. You got the theme, I love your outfit and it’s obvious you are Twin Adder. I have two words for you: Sun minion. You are darker in complexion so you need to be aware of light sources, particularly at night. This brings me to your background. There is too much background, not enough Jinx. If this shot was in the daytime, turning it into a gorgeous scenic or if you pushed the camera in so you take up much more of the screen, you would have gone from a C to an A for me. " Score: 1

Judge E: "This is a good idea, marred in execution. The light from the fire steals focus from you, something that could have perhaps been fixed with use of the sun minion, or taking the shot at a different time of day. Nevertheless, I see potential here. The idea of a one-eyed archer, I find to be quite amusing." Score: 1

L'yhan Nunh

Judge A: "This shot doesn't excite me at all. I just feel like it's very bland and could just be completely scrapped and redone." Score: 1

Judge B: "This shot is perfect to me. Amazing background, amazing outfit with a strong focus on yourself at the same time. If I had to offer criticism, be cautious about angles when using the glasses as I'm getting some glare that's blocking your eyes." Score: 3

Judge C: "Duuh, I'd rather give him a 1.5 than a 1 or 2. My problem with this picture is basically, that it's too generic. That's something I've seen the other cycles from many contestants so it doesn't really impress me that much anymore. But damn, he definitely nailed the background and how he look in this screenshot. It doesn't really tell as much of a story but at least he's literally showing of, that he's a part of the Flames." Score: 2

Judge D: " Your background is out of this world beautiful. Love the moon, the city and even how the stairs cascade down the left side of your picture. Your outfit is spot on and your pose stands out. My only concern is that I can see the guard standing behind you. It looks as if you are trying to hide him in the shot and it didn’t work. In the future be aware of things like that guard that could pull the attention off you and onto them. Be proud of this shot" Score: 3

Judge E: "Now, this is how you do a background. Excellent perspective and your pose exudes confidence, as if to say "You mess with my city, you mess with me". If I have one criticism, it's that you could perhaps have used the guard behind you in the shot better, perhaps doing some kind of back-to-back pose instead of trying to mask him." Score: 3

Marik Destiel

Judge A: "What is going on here? Which one are you? Ok I had distract myself from the pic to discern that. I mean, the lighting is ok, it works with the background, but that's about it...? Not much else to say about this shot, I have a feeling you can do better than this." Score: 1

Judge B: "I like the coordination with others in shot for the story! I also like the bit of light you've given yourself at night which is great. The only issue is the background is almost pitch black, so there's not much depth in the picture for me." Score: 2

Judge C: "I seriously don't get what's supposed to be going on in this picture and when I took a closer look at this picture, Marik isn't the focus in this picture at all. It's a pretty shot, no denying that and it's nice to look at but I really don't know what to make out of this. Also, he doesn't seem to be the focus at all in the picture, like he's a NPC or something." Score: 1

Judge D: " One thing that impressed me in this shot is that even though there are three people here, you are the focus. The light on you is a good example of using the sun minion properly. I see the theme but, your story eludes me. I would like to say, in the future to be aware of what else your light source is catching (the plants are a bit bright) and make sure we do get to see your face. Good start for the competition" Score: 2

Judge E: "I love that you're showing a different side of your Grand Company here, one that fits perfectly with the Adders. It tells me a story of company members out replanting the Twelveswood - building instead of protecting, which is a very nice take on it. The lighting is well done, making you the source. I just take issue with the time of day here - I feel it would have worked better at dawn, or at least with some measure of daylight. But again, a very solid start and I look forwards to seeing more from you!" Score: 2

Rho Bhigs

Judge A: "Rho, great shot buddy, but just one minor thing. The spell effects. If there were no spell effects (you can turn them off btw) this shot would be A+ and possibly my favorite this round next to Epsil. That being said, I want to see more of this from you, the action and intensity of this shot is great, so kudos to you and bring more of this in the coming rounds! Just remember to turn down those flashy effects!" Score: 3

Judge B: "I love the action and the armor choice! Definitely adds to the sparring match feel. The aura blurs you out a bit though, be careful. " Score: 2

Judge C: "Damn, Rho looks so fierce while training new recruits. The idea he had and the execution of them are perfect. I really like the overall composition of this picture and hope that he'll keep up the good work. My only complaint here would be, that I can't really make out, which Grand Company he's part of. Since he's in Ul'dah, I'm assuming he's part of the Flames but his gear doesn't really scream "I'm part of the Flames!". Because of that, just a 2 from me :(" Score: 2

Judge D: "This picture is one of my favorites. I love your pose, your expression is insane and I really like the story. I didn’t give you a 3 for this round solely on the fact that this felt more “Ul’dah” than “Immortal Flames” to me. Just a note for you as well, the spell effects nearly overwhelm you here so in the future don’t be afraid to try these types of shots with effects turned off. Great job!" Score: 2

Judge E: "I'm very fond of this, it really gets across the veteran training the new recruits well. I can practically hear you scraming "COME AT ME, MAGGOTS!" I feel though, that it would have worked better without the ability effects. They feel somewhat out of place and detract from the image as a whole. Other than that, brilliant work!" Score: 2

Ronin Woofcub

Judge A: "While I'm not sure whats happening here at all, you're like some kind of special agent for the Flames?... IDK... but if I have to think too much than the screenshot isn't doing it's job." Score: 1

Judge B: "I appreciate the original color coordination with the armor as opposed to a straight uniform, but I think this kind of misses the theme as the only thing that screams 'Ul'Dah' is the bit of choco barding we can see. Love how your eyes pierce through, regardless." Score: 1

Judge C: "Sooo, Ronin is part of the Flames and he's showing that off, so I can give him credit for that. The background is meh and I really don't think, that the expression he used fits the background (especially not with that kind of weather). I mean, the background is dark, weather is cloudy and the atmosphere is kinda depressing because of that and then he's pointing somewhere and having a smirk on his face, being happy for what's about to happen? I can't really grasp the idea behind this picture and it doesn't really stand out because of some contradictions, so just a 1." Score: 1

Judge D: "You did well with the theme. I liked you using your chocobo and letting his barding showcase your GC. The out-on-patrol-in-Drybone idea works for me and I even dig that spash of color from the plant behind you. My only real issue is your weapon. Had you hidden it, it would have made a world of difference. It’s so big, dark and obnoxious that it makes seeing your face that much harder. Beware of that in the future, especially with your darker coloring you need to take extra care with things like that. " Score: 2

Judge E: "Other than the chocobo barding, I don't see much here to showcase you as a member of a Grand Company. Which is a shame, because you exude such a huge amount of confidence in this shot and I love how worked with your chocobo. The axe also takes a significant amount of focus from you - a smaller one might have worked better here." Score: 1

Sera Alaric

Judge A: "This shot is quite passable, it's on the better side from the others in this round. I just feel like there's something off about the whole thing, possibly the lighting. But nevertheless you get a passing grade from me." Score: 2

Judge B: "This pic would fit right in with the NPC-coordination round from the previous cycle, it's great! My only critique is that you don't necessarily stand out to me as the focus of the shot. Always make yourself the star! " Score: 2

Judge C: "Sera's picture was probably my favorite one for this Rounds Theme. There are so many thing in this picture showing off that he's part of the Maelstrom.. His attire, the NPC's and location he used for this picture are perfect. Even the sky is dyed in a slight red, which makes the picture give off a bit more of this Maelstrom feel. While the focus in this picture isn't as strong on Sera as other contestants managed in their pictures, I feel like he still gets enough focus, just because Sera is the only one sitting. I'm wondering what the idea behind this picture was, but it feels like a strategic meeting for me. I'm really hoping to see more of these pictures." Score: 3

Judge D: " Love this shot. You nailed the theme and I really like how you utilized the scenery to put yourself into the shot. Spot on first picture. My only issue is that light hitting the female guard. It’s too bright and very harsh. She stands out because of that and you never want anyone in the shot to take focus away from you. Just be aware of things like that in future pictures." Score: 3

Judge E: "At first glance it's almost hard to tell which one is you - which says to me that you absolutely nailed the part about fitting in with the Grand Company! I absolutely love this shot - you look like a Maelstrom Captain visiting the rank-and-file for an update. Your use of the NPCs is excellent, and making sure that you're centered means that the eye is naturally drawn to you. Very strong start." Score: 3

Sienna Moonlux

Judge A: "Lol, well it seems like Sienna know's how to make an eye capturing moment, but this pic is a little on the "cheesy" side. It reminds me of one of those cheesy vacation brochures: "Come visit and experience the thrill of Gridania!". It made me laugh though, so I'm giving it an above average score for that reason alone, lol." Score: 2

Judge B: "This is a very cute spirit shot! I love that you're off-centered in an area that would have just been negative-space otherwise. Keep up that eye for composition! " Score: 3

Judge C: "Damn man, this looks really shopped but god, after having the discussion with all the judges and that this could be like "Please come and stay in Gridania" kind of add (which totally cracked me up) I was sold. There is really nothing wrong with this picture, just that the pose makes this look totally shopped and as if Sienna is jumping directly into my face. But damn, the background is fantastic, the pose and expression is great and the attire used is also awesome. Can't complain and because it's really funny in many ways, 3 points :3" Score: 3

Judge D: "I love the playfulness you show in this screenshot. You showcased the theme, chose a great background, had a great outfit and your positioning worked well. I think the light effect on you works but the shadows it casts give it almost a postcard vibe. From now on, don’t be afraid to try shots with and without the minion. Your fair complexion and light hair might not need any extra brightness. Great first round shot though. " Score: 2

Judge E: "Come visit Sunny Gridania! I feel as if I've seen this on a postcard at the Gridanian airship docks. I love that you're embracing the background so much here. Excellent use of space, your choice of background works very well." Score: 3

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Women's Contest Judge Scores and Feedback

Adeline Urusa

Judge A: "Great outfit, great concept, the pose works (though it’s a little bit of an obvious choice, you could have done something riskier), and bonus points for including the chocobo! Really smart! The only complaint I have is the background. It’s incredibly dull. Those are PCs, not NPCs, so I think you guys could have shifted the entire scene to somewhere else in this zone to get a better background. This is a great shot, just watch your background choices in the future." Score: 2

Judge B: "Love the glamour and scene here. Good angle, I just it was zoomed in a little more. Now off to Eorzea to copy the glamour!!!" Score: 2

Judge C: " I like what you did here, the location is perfect! I love the colour of your chocobo, it suits your GC well. The barding is great to show off too. Your gear choice is fantastic. I really love all of the hunt gears. The setup and pose it also good, looks like you are back from a scout and are reporting to some officers. Or maybe you are the higher ranking officer and are inspecting the troops? Either way, ace shot! " Score: 3

Judge D: "The Gear Was very interesting a please to view but the shot is set up in an unappealing manner. Using the "rule of thirds" this shot could have been a lot more interesting just by slightly changing the positions of the camera angle." Score: 2

Judge E: "I love the concept here, though I feel it could have benefited from some different execution. Perhaps if it were angled so that the other characters' backs weren't to us, it might work better. However, you are clearly the focus and I love the presence of your chocobo combining with your gear to make it clear where your affiliation lies." Score: 2

Eirwen Mackenzie

Judge A: "I see a great concept here, but I think this shot would fit more with an NPC coordination shoot than a Grand Company shoot. I just don’t see GC affiliation in this picture. Other then that, the background choice is a little dull (if this was an NPC Coordination shot I’d ignore the background) and the NPC in the foreground is blocking the NPC behind him, making things awkward on the left side. I can already tell you take some strong pictures, but just try and focus on the theme of the shot a little bit more." Score: 1

Judge B: "I like the night vigil scenario, but I suggest finding more vibrant scenery. ^^ The colors are a little dull here." Score: 1

Judge C: "This one is subtle to me in terms of GC. That being said I still enjoy the shot. I like how you are posed, looks like you are relaxing among your colleagues and chatting about the days events. Looks like you used the sun minion too? Also quite a nice touch as it gives the illusion of a camp fire maybe, just out of shot. Lights up you and the Roegadyn nicely. I am a bit sad that it is not totally obvious that this is a GC shot though. But props for matching gear. " Score: 1

Judge D: "I was interested in your preliminary shots because they looked like they told a story, while this is touched upon little in this shot, the colors are bland and uninteresting." Score: 1

Judge E: "I like the idea of hanging out during downtime! The NPC position is just a little off, with the axe in the foreground blocking off the two on the right. You did a wonderful job of fitting into the scene, however." Score: 1

Ferah Isis

Judge A: "This is a simple scenic shot that could have worked much better in your favor if you had used the various tools at your disposal. Try off centering yourself by locking on to a target and twisting the camera, that way you are either to the left or right of the screen shot, allowing more of the scenery to really WOW the audience. Hit the pause button so that you are looking over your shoulder at the camera. And definitely go get the Sun Minion to give yourself a spot light, adding just a dash of flavor." Score: 1

Judge B: "The starry sky scene and the silhouette of the city are beautiful but the scenery is really dark, even for night time. I feel that a different pose would have greatly enhanced the shot. I was hoping for a little more Grand Company involvement." Score: 1

Judge C: "It is a pretty shot, so well done for that. Against the other shots though, it's another gear thing for me. The red does make it clear, as does the location, that you are a Maelstrom lass. However, the lack of comrades, and actual GC gear just make it seem like more of a random scenic image. It is lovely though don't get me wrong. The night sky is gorgeous, cloudy night weather is one of my favorites. I love lit up windows too. I suppose you could argue you were going for an off duty break shot though. :3" Score: 1

Judge D: "I love the night sky, I wish that there was less of the ground in the shot just so that the lighting on your character could really over power the dark background. I adore dark shots with a good splash of color beefing it up." Score: 2

Judge E: "A solid scenic shot, but if I didn't know this was a Grand Company round I would never have guessed it from this shot. The perspective is very well done and you really pop, but I don't feel it fits the theme of the round." Score: 1

Iris Dawnshade

Judge A: "You took into consideration the Beastmen that are a constant plague on your Grand Company, so bonus points for that. Unfortunately I think it’s a weak outfit, a weak background, and that diremite isn't needed. But this picture could easily be saved by using camera angles. Off center yourself to really give the photo some depth as you run from the Beastmen." Score: 1

Judge B: "Cute and amusing! Looks like the beastman changed his mind about having crab for lunch! I like the perspective and the hill rising behind you. Scenery and movement of the shot is nice! My only wish is that you had a different expression on your face." Score: 2

Judge C: "Ahhh a nice bright one. I love the action in this shot. Out scouting and ONOES run away! I'd like it more if you had a worried expression. :D Other than that, nice choice of gear. Makes you look like a lower ranking Twin Adder. I also like how you are turned to look at the impending danger. Location also reinforces the whole Twin Adder do-dah. Nice work." Score: 2

Judge D: "I dont mean to be tough,but this shot did not stand out much at all. I appreciate the use of npcs, it is not easy getting these kinds of shots to turn out right, but just by adding a hat could have made this more interesting." Score: 0

Judge E: "I like what you were going for here, but I feel it turned out a little too 'busy'. If you were positioned a little more to the right and only had the Ixal, I would have liked this one a lot more." Score: 1

Kaiyoko Star

Judge A: "This is one of the strongest photos this round, congratulations. I love the use of … everything! Great job putting the extras in the real GC Uniform to contrast yours. Great job making this a diagonal shot that leads to you in the corner – All focus comes to you. It’s just great. I do think you could have shifted the scene somewhere with a prettier background, and possibly used a different hat, but I love it." Score: 3

Judge B: "The most patriotic out of the round, I’d say! You aced it. " Score: 3

Judge C: "Now this is lovely. The perspective of the shot is lovely! Nice change of pace from dead center. The time of day and position of the sun gives a nice sunny filter. I love that Merlwyb is in this too. Salute for your boss gurl! Your gear is great, again, love that hunt gear. My only critique is that you are positioned slightly off to your comrades in the picture. I feel if you were turned just as tad to your characters right, and looking at Merlwyb, this would be perfection. Almost passes as a cutscene. " Score: 3

Judge D: "Interesting shot, I really like the set up and you really stand out. Good job." Score: 3

Judge E: "Utterly brilliant. Perfect use of the event we had going during this round, you've synced up the salute wonderfully. I just wish that you were turned slightly more towards Merlwyb! One thing that really stuck out for me here is your gear choice. It would have been easy to dress exactly like the other two, but instead you've made yourself look like their commanding officer - very well done!" Score: 3

Lowena Fae

Judge A: "This is very cool. I’m not crazy about the outfit, but I absolutely love the spell effect, and the beastmen behind you. You’re zoomed in just enough to where the background isn't important, which was very smart. I think the sun minion would have cast a really nice shine on your face that would have given you a nice POP against all the dark colors." Score: 2

Judge B: "I really admire this shot because it’s mystic yet combat-oriented with your respective beastmen. I feel there's enough contrast here, but just be careful in the future with super lens flares and spell filters flooding the shot." Score: 2

Judge C: "I love the effects in this shot. I'm just a bit disappointed in the gear. I also feel it could do better with an expression, like maybe an angry or worried? Other than that, I do like the enemy position, well done for trying an action shot. They can be hard! If I didn't know that this was part of a GC theme though, I probably wouldn't assume it was. Same as Eirwen's." Score: 1

Judge D: "I also enjoyed this, but just because of the use of light but the background monsters, they added to the exciting shot and created a story." Score: 3

Judge E: "This is an excellent shot. I don't know if this is what you intended, but to me it looks as if you're using your staff as a light source and only just noticed that you're surrounded by Sahagin. I want to see what happens next! Your choice of hat worked well too, combining with the setting to pull off the Maelstrom look." Score: 3

Miki Hoshi

Judge A: "I love the outfit, and the background is really nice. Love the sunset. This is a great Scenic shot that is implemented well. I can’t think of anything positive or negative to say. In the future, if you want to score a three with your scenic shots, you need to find a jaw droppingly beautiful background. This is definitely a step towards greatness!" Score: 2

Judge B: "Beautiful sunset, and I especially like the flowers and ships behind you. I feel there was something off about your facial expression though (you seem to be looking downward at cue cards?) and wish there was more of a Grand Company feel to it." Score: 1

Judge C: "This is such a pretty image, it's such a shame the compression has lost the quality. The time of day is simply gorgeous. I love your gear choice and setting. On a break in town? Showing your nation pride. I do prefer the images this round that include others but this is a nice scenic shot." Score: 2

Judge D: "This time of day is called "magic hour" the best to capture a great shot, but the pose did not do it for me. I'm not feeling any particular emotion. the body is cut off awkwardly. If the action was changed this could have turned out a lot better." Score: 1

Judge E: "I like this one a lot, comes across as a different take on the Grand Company. I imagine you showing off your glorious city to a group of newcomers. But when showing off a city, perhaps a different background would have been a better choice. Otherwise, a solid start and I look forwards to seeing what more you can do." Score: 2

Overlord Rikkustrife

Judge A: "Great concept! I love the outfit, minus the hat! I think if you had turned the camera to right, allowing the coach that is behind you (between your legs) to instead be between you and the middle Archer to your left, I think it would have given the picture more depth, but even like this it’s a very nice picture. Just lose that hat, haha." Score: 2

Judge B: "You really look like an NPC! I’m assuming you’re a new Twin Adder in training and haven’t quite received your mustard coat yet…. The only other thing that throws me off is the time of day this shot was taken." Score: 1

Judge C: "First of all, I know you were thrown in last minute so well done for getting a nice image in on time. Nice job matching the gear, I love your location choice. I also like how you did something different, posing with the new recruits doing target practice. Very nice, unique idea! The camera position lines you all up nicely too. Good job on short notice." Score: 2

Judge D: "Dark skin! Dark Background! NO! If you have to be extra careful use light sources to your advantage!! You can create them with the Sun minion. I highly suggest getting it for future shots." Score: 0

Judge E: "I enjoy the concept here, you positioned yourself with just the right spacing between you and the other recruits to look as if you're all lined up equally. This is another shot though that would have been very well served by being taken at a different time of day. You blend into the background too much here, if it were taken during the day you would pop a lot more!" Score: 2

Rhaya Relenah

Judge A: "One of the strongest shots of the bunch. You’re leading an army into battle! The background is nice, and its great you have so many people to come out and help you take such a great shot. None of them steal your thunder either! What did this picture look like when taken during the day? I think it would have looked great at either time of the day though. Great job." Score: 3

Judge B: "That pose and expression at the center of your entourage are what won me over. You definitely are the star of this night patrol. That large space of night sky kind of irks me though. We could have some fun with captioning this picture…….." Score: 3

Judge C: "Now this is another cutscene worthy image to me. While I am sad that your gear doesn't match aside the colour, your friends in shot make it clear who you are allied with. The different gear can also make it appear you are higher rank, which makes your pose all the more fitting. Commanding a charge! I love it. Great job. " Score: 3

Judge D: "Very cute set up. I love the organization, Again with the dark skin, be weary of dark settings." Score: 2

Judge E: "Absolutely fantastic. Very dynamic shot, and while I do wish it were taken at a different time of day you've used lighting well to make sure that you still 'pop' in the shot. Nobody could ever doubt that you're the center of attention here! I also particularly like that no weapon type is repeated. Very well done!" Score: 3

Sakuraya Kai

Judge A: "One of the strongest shots of the bunch. Great background, and great use of layering all of your friends. You’re all on duty to protect this old ancient temple. Great concept. These don’t affect your score in anyway, but to differentiate yourself from the random army men, I wonder what the picture would have looked like if you had on a different outfit from the rest. I also would be curious to see a version of this picture taken during the day." Score: 3

Judge B: "Everything is great about this picture, except I wish it was different weather/time of day." Score: 2

Judge C: "I love this location, such a beautiful place. Nice job getting your friends in there too, I like how they are spread and positioned, while not taking the focus from yourself. I love the mammets in the background too haha. Your pose is nice and it's refreshing that you are not looking directly at the camera or centered." Score: 2

Judge D: "Do I even...? Nice boots and body position I want more though. Give me a highlight or add an element to make the shot more appealing." Score: 1

Judge E: "Your background is beautiful, and I love that you co-ordinated weapon choice with the others - really creates the look of a cohesive unit. Once again, either a different time of day or use of the sun minion to cast light on you would have pushed this up to an amazing shot." Score: 2

Sangriah V'

Judge A: "I like the concept, and the outfit, but did you try posing between the two soldiers in training instead of directly behind one? (Dangerous! He is swinging a sword!) You could have used your body to hide the NPC on the right who is just sitting there if so! Plus, I think the two training soldiers would have framed you quite nicely. I realize this would have meant losing the Aetheryte as your backdrop, but honestly it isn’t that strong of a background to begin with. In the future just watch your positioning and try to find stronger backgrounds (Or zoom in enough where the background isn’t part of the overall shot)." Score: 2

Judge B: "You look like a strict yet respected Captain! The pose, glamour, and expression are great, but the scenery is a bit lacking." Score: 2

Judge C: "This is a nice boss overlooking the troops type image. Your pose is great in that same respect, hands on hips confident. I like how close you are to one of your men, looks like you are sizing up how he will tackle his training. I say training since it's a camp shot with someone sitting to the right. :3 Your face is lit up nicely, sun minion? Good use. Aetheryte glow adds some prettiness." Score: 2

Judge D: "I also enjoy a nice background. Nice use of npcs, good thinking but I feel you could have placed your self not so closely to him. We want to see all of your beautiful self." Score: 2

Judge E: "You really pulled off the Grand Company feel well, you look the perfect example of a military captain! Sadly the shot as a whole feels unbalanced, with you standing so close to the foreground NPC and a huge chunk of empty space to the right. If only there was another one there I wouldn't mind so much how close you are to the other." Score: 2

Xev Bellwyn

Judge A: "A nice, simple scenic shot. I think it would have looked better if you had off centered yourself and got more of the adventuring guild in the image, but this is great. Bright, cheerful, friendly. It’s exactly how I imagine the GC from Gridania greeting people who first walk into town. I was also happily confused for a second and thought you were somehow holding on to a lamp post! Haha. Very cool. " Score: 2

Judge B: "So sunny and radiant in that mustard coat! Loving the flowers and banners. A friendly, cute, and approachable guard in Gridania." Score: 3

Judge C: "While I do prefer this round to include others, this picture is lovely. It's so vibrant. You look really proud to be a Twin Adder, which is lovely! The gear is great of course. I like the yellow flowers keeping with the Adder colours. The background is also very scenic, you did well to capture a Twin Adder banner in the background too. Guarding Gridania, very nice. " Score: 2

Judge D: "I adore the colors!!! Perfect use of a dark building to really make your outfit pop. The flags in the background are very pleasingly composed. It is a nice shot set up. the draping flags in the background guide the viewers eye to your shoulder then your face, then other arm holding the staff then creates a pathway to the adder flag in the background it displays the company while also using light and color to bring out a warm friendly feeling. You might just be standing there but the setting is telling the story for you." Score: 3

Judge E: "So bright and vibrant! I can tell why you've been chosen to greet people as they enter the city. My only complaint is that it bugs me that the top of your weapon is cut off. I am extremely excited to see what more we can expect from you, this shot just oozes potential." Score: 2

With all the above scores combined with the public vote, the final tally is as follows:

Men's Contest Round 1
43 - Epsil Ion
39 - Sienna Moonlux
38 - Sera Alaric
36 - Flare Raulbel
35 - L'yhan Nunh
26 - Marik Destiel
22 - Rho Bhigs
21 - Fate Lhas
21 - Jinx Fireboot
19 - Aiden Weaver
17 - Ronin Woofcub
9 - Adam Fylrmyn

Women's Contest Round 1
48 - Rhaya Relenah
42 - Kaiyoko Star
31 - Sakuraya Kai
30 - Xev Bellwyn
28 - Adeline Urusa
25 - Miki Hoshi
25 - Sangriah V'
24 - Iris Dawnshade
22 - Lowena Fae
20 - Eirwen Mackenzie
17 - Overlord Rikkustrife
15 - Ferah Isis

In a new addition to ENTM, the judges from both sides have also cast our votes as to who we felt was the overall strongest shot - this round's "S-Rank Shot". Fittingly, this round goes to the person with the highest overall votes: Rhaya Relenah! Congratulations on being this round's S-Rank Shot!