Eorzea's Next Top Model Cycle 4 - Round 1

Alright everyone, it's that time! ROUND ONE GO!

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Yes, I know that this round is in alphabetical order. It's non-elimination, the next round will have the order swapped up.

So without further ado...

THE SHOTS!

The theme of this round was simply: Freestyle! I just told the models to have fun with it and did specify that dungeons were OK.

Judging is going to be done differently this time around. Specifically, it's going to be done the same way as it's been done in the YT Cycle, which is a system I feel works a bit better and makes my maths a little easier to adjust for the judging. Per the clear winner from the poll, judge votes will count for 75% of the overall score with the public vote making up the remaining 25. As with prior cycles, once voting ends I will release the judge critiques and scoring along with announcing the round results.

I have also decided to stick with forum voting for now. My reasoning behind doing this is simple - there's a lot of threads going right now in the run up to Heavensward and I'm afraid that if I go with a poll that the voting thread will quickly disappear under them. By using forum voting, we can keep it nearer the top and help people notice it.

So, how to vote:

Make a post in this thread, ranking the shots in order from strongest to weakest. That's it!

Good luck to all the models! And remember, this is a non-elimination round set up to help models get used to how the contest works and to get feedback from judges and the public before the next rounds.

Voting will close 11:59pm EST, Tuesday May 5th

Good luck everyone!

Cycle 4 begins! So excited, and best of luck to everyone - can't wait to see y'all from week to week~! <3

01) Epsil Ion
02) Tinsley Tru'hart
03) Brun Hilda
04) Stephen Fairbrook
05) Hopelle Losstoam
06) Sunny Day
07) Aeon Rakshasa
08) Nozomi Kei
09) Alexion Skylark
10) Kaya Solimar
11) Katarh Mest
12) Arrelaine Fashonti

First off WHOOHOOO Cycle 4, and what a way to start guys, wonderful shot seriously /clap. Starting off with a bang! I love it! Well I'm gonna leave just a lil' critique for all, DON'T PANIC, I'm not gonna be all harsh or anything. Just wish to give you a lil' perspective from a model as well.

1. Tinsley Tr'uhart - Lovely shot! I love night shots a lot, I think a lot of people don't utilize them often enough, I love the effect that is surrounding your character as well! It really draws the focus to you as a model. My only nitpick I'd honestly have to say is I wish you were turned slightly at a different angle to see more of your gorgeous glamors! Keep up the great work so far ^.^
2. Sunny Day - A man after my own frozen heart! I love snow shots soooo much! And you nailed it, props to another night shot! I really enjoyed your shot a lot, and I LOVE that outfit, really great with the black vs the white snow background! You're lighting is pretty well done as well. My only concern for you would be to maybe try a lil' more angled downward I think? Just to get a lil' more of that beautiful sky in the background! Otherwise great job so far!
3. Hopelle Losstoam - Hmm... very risque shot I must say.. very risque! But... it works and I adore it!! I LOVE THOSE WINDOWS TO DEATH! I've always wanted to do a shot with'em and you went and did it! Were you reading my mind at one point? lol I love the back shot too, those are hard to execute properly, and you did rather well on this one. I love the mystery of wondering, "What is she thinking? What's her emotion? Is she sad because she lost a lover? Is she in a daze waiting for that lover? Is she crying? Smiling?" Oooo I got goosebumps! My only thing I'd have to say critique-ish would have to be, I wish you were zoomed in just a smidge more... but I understand why you were zoomed out so far, so you could get those gorgeous windows all the way in the shot! I just feel I lose you just a bit with the windows being so big, either way it's still such a beautiful shot amazing job!
4. Epsil Ion - Mr. Perfect lighting as usual teehee. Seriously.. you just have a freaking amazing talent for lighting my friend! I love that you're coming back to the model business!! I love the gear set up you have going on too! You sure do love them spears, and I think they love you as well, they always look good when you do a shot! I really like your "wet effect" sexy! lol My only thing I'd have to say is, I feel the water effect on you is just a tad too much, because I feel you get somewhat lost inside the effect we don't get to see enough of Mr. Smexy Epsil! Also I'm not entirely sure if the glasses fit with your overall outfit. Otherwise GORGEOUS shot, as always! <3 Keep it up Epsil ^.^
5. Brun Hilda - Wow, this is an amazing shot! I love darker shots most of the time over lighter shots if they're done well, and this one is! I really love the contrast of your outfit against your background, it works well. Only thing I worry about is your dye choice, it's a lil' too much almost. It's a gorgeous color, but idk if metallic blue was the best choice, maybe something just a tad bit softer? You have a harsh dark background with a harsh bright blue on your glamors, I just feel the mix of soft/harsh together would have contrasted even better! It's still such an amazing shot! The blue was spot on, it really was! Just too shiny for my taste I suppose, though I do love that blue in the right setting! <3 Keep up the amazing work Brun good to see you back in the game! I hope and look forward to you making it far this time! <3
6. Stephen Fairbrook - For a new comer this is a stunning shot! I love how close you got, and the off-center (even though I actually prefer centered shots more most of the time) is just so well done! I really love the simplicity of it, it speaks great volumes of how humble and sweet you probably are! I really love your Lalafell to pieces! Most Lala's love to go all comedy with free-range shots, but you went in a much softer direction, and I absolutely love it! BEAUTIFUL background, simply wondrous! My only nitpick with your shot is, I feel your lighting is just a lil' too much on you, maybe back it up just a smidge next time? Sometimes you can have just a lil too much lighting, and I feel there was a tiny bit too much on you. Otherwise, keep up the great work! I have high hopes for you :3
7. Aeon Rakshasa - I think I see what kind of model you are, and I love it! Not afraid to show a lil' skin, especially when your down at the Golden Saucer! I think the GS will bring a new range of interesting shots in the future of ENTM, and it's nice to see you already utilizing it! I love your posing it's rather nice, your glamors is SO spot on for the GS as well. Only thing I'd have to say otherwise about this shot is, I'm not sure the minion you chose really fits your theme you were going for? And your natural light you're using (which I LOVE natural lighting) it's outshining you a lil' bit don't let your scenery pull more focus than yourself, it's not too bad. Just keep it in mind for future shots. Really nicely done.
8. Katarh Mest - What a very lovely shot! I really like the scenery, you're angle is killer (good way) and I love the female book /cpose! It's very pretty shot, and lighting is nice, the only problem I have is your glamors. I'm not sure if those glamors work well with what you were going for. I feel the hat and skirt are on point, but the dress up shirt seems a lil' too formal for such a beautifully greenery type shot. Just be weary of what you're wearing and what your background is going to be. Otherwise this is a very pretty and lovely shot! GJ!
9. Alexion Skylark - Wow.. just... wow! Not many people can execute battle shots properly, but I really am digging this one a lot! You have your Holy effect getting prepped, your mob right behind in full focus, and you about ready to do your own thing! It's really really well done! Only real thing I'd haveta nitpick honestly is maybe your glamor choice, with your white hair as well as the Holy effect going off, it almost washes you out just a tad bit. Nothing too horrible, just be careful about it in the future, you want to shine! Not let your shine wash you away though (ok, I suck at jokes lol). Keep up the nice work.
10. Nozomi Kei - I like where you were going with this. The pose is really nice, and I love you're in coils. Turn 4 correct? It's a nice shot. I understand where you wanted to go with your concept, I just feel your lighting source (natural lighting of course) just washes you out too much. Yes you're very blue, but you lose a lot of your handsome features inside the lighting as well. Also I'd love it if you were zoomed out just a lil' more to get a better look at your overall glamors and character! This was a really nice shot though, nice angle too, and I enjoyed your Elezen a lot! Elezen pride <3
11. Kaya Solimar - I really love the commical shot you were going for. Oh noes! She's got way too much work, how will she ever get it done in time D: Remember not to work too hard! My only thing I'd say is, I wish the angle was slightly more towards the right so we could see more of your character, and I wish you were zoomed out a smidge more. I understand though when sitting behind a desk, it's hard to get your character close up enough to get a good shot. I really enjoyed your concept a lot! Really fun, great way to start out. GL to ya ^.^
12. Arrelaine Fashonti - You have a very beautiful Miqo'te. I love that you chose Coerthas as your background! Again I love me some snow! I just wish you hadn't chose white, white on white can tend to blend together, and you can get a lil' lost. Also, smile! Do a lil' dance, being active in your shots can really help you out a lot! It gives your character a lot of personality, heart, and can entice the viewers. It's a very pretty shot, and I do love that set. GJ on your shot. GL as well!

Well I hope I wasn't harsh >.< I just wanted to provide some small insight from a former/still model and what judges might look for in the future! This is some really great work guys, I enjoyed your shots a lot and I can't wait to get more.... I NEED THEM!!!! MOAR SHOTS!! <3

Also if anything I've said upsets any of you in any way, please let me know and I'll gladly amend it. I do not wish to be the next Simon Cowell >.<

01) Epsil Ion
02) Tinsley Tru'hart
03) Stephen Fairbrook
04) Brun Hilda
05) Sunny Day
06) Katarh Mest
07) Aeon Rakshasa
08) Hopelle Losstoam
09) Alexion Skylark
10) Nozomi Kei
11) Kaya Solimar
12) Arrelaine Fashonti

Wonderful job, everyone. :) Best of luck to all involved--it's already looking like it's going to be a great cycle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yamimarik

Aeon Rakshasa - I think I see what kind of model you are, and I love it! Not afraid to show a lil' skin, especially when your down at the Golden Saucer! I think the GS will bring a new range of interesting shots in the future of ENTM, and it's nice to see you already utilizing it! I love your posing it's rather nice, your glamors is SO spot on for the GS as well. Only thing I'd have to say otherwise about this shot is, I'm not sure the minion you chose really fits your theme you were going for? And your natural light you're using (which I LOVE natural lighting) it's outshining you a lil' bit don't let your scenery pull more focus than yourself, it's not too bad. Just keep it in mind for future shots. Really nicely done.

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Thanks for the feedback. :)

Oh god at first I was like... "what minion" UGH MIDDY I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE YOU WERE OUT. Wow. I'm observant.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yamimarik

Katarh Mest - What a very lovely shot! I really like the scenery, you're angle is killer (good way) and I love the female book /cpose! It's very pretty shot, and lighting is nice, the only problem I have is your glamors. I'm not sure if those glamors work well with what you were going for. I feel the hat and skirt are on point, but the dress up shirt seems a lil' too formal for such a beautifully greenery type shot. Just be weary of what you're wearing and what your background is going to be. Otherwise this is a very pretty and lovely shot! GJ!

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Nope, not too harsh at all. That was a glamour that I'd assembled for someone's wedding once, and I didn't think about it being too formal for the setting until you mentioned it here. (I also noticed that the skirt is pure white and the coat is snow white; will need to fix that before the next wedding, hehe.)

Thanks for the insights! I'm generally much better at taking scenic shots than I am shots of myself, and I'm already learning a bunch based on what everyone else has posted.

1. Sunny Day
2. Tinsley Tr'uhart
3. Stephen Fairbrook
4. Arrelaine Fashonti
5. Katarh Mest
6. Alexion Skylark
7. Brun Hilda
8. Epsil Ion
9. Aeon Rakshasa
10. Hopelle Losstoam
11. Kaya Solimer
12. Nozomi Kei

The diversity of the shots is amazing! :D Here's my order:

1. Hopelle Losstoam
2. Tinsley Tr'uhart
3. Epsil Ion
4. Brun Hilda
5. Katarh Mest
6. Stephen Fairbrook
7. Alexion Skylark
8. Sunny Day
9. Aeon Rakshasa
10. Kaya Solimar
11. Nozomi Kei
12. Arrelaine Fashonti

I have no critiques to offer since I'm an amateur in this area, but if you are near the bottom of my list, do not be disheartened! There was some aspect in each shot that I enjoyed!