Eorzea's Next Top Model Cycle 4 - Round 1

[Koriander]

I started to vote, but decided that makes me too uncomfortable to vote this way. I dislike having to put anyone at “weakest”. As the person who was dead last for the YouTube edition on fan votes, there is a big difference between not being in the top four choices and being the last on the list. I just can't do that to anyone.

There are some very wonderful photos. You all did a great job.

[Wings]

I'm not really happy about putting someone last either, but I want to vote, so... Also, wish I could give feedback on all the images - there's so much I could say - but the cost in energy is more than I'm willing to pay at the moment. Again, better to actually take part and vote!

Beautiful screenshots ♥

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

[Tinsley]

I started to vote, but decided that makes me too uncomfortable to vote this way. I dislike having to put anyone at “weakest”. As the person who was dead last for the YouTube edition on fan votes, there is a big difference between not being in the top four choices and being the last on the list. I just can't do that to anyone.

There are some very wonderful photos. You all did a great job.

Koriander, i totally understand where you are coming from as i had some rough rounds as well in cycle 2 and it can be daunting and intimidating to be in the bottom half. But, as a model, instead of voting an order why not post your thoughts, helpful suggestions and words of encouragement on the screenshots. Im sure this would be appreciated by all the models to get more insight/praise on their shots something to think about

[Calami]

Sorry for the lack of feedback to go with my list, but I'm pretty busy getting ready to move. Still, these shots look promising, so I'm interested to see what you guys bring to your first elimination round!

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

[Tyriont]

Judge Feedback and Rankings:

Adam's Feedback and Rankings:


Tinsley Tr'uhart

This shot is just phenomenal! I'm highly impressed with the framework, and how you managed to seize the shot - keeping yourself the center of attention, as well as kept the effects subtle, yet making the shot more poppin'. The thing I like most about this shot is not only your pose, but also your expression (which some of the other models opted to show), and the coordination with your clothes. The background also supports your choice of theme very well; showing contrast between the dark and the light. Very well done! You'll be one tough Ginger Cookie in this cycle, and you can be sure of that!

Epsil Ion

This shot just screams amazing! The effects are a very nice touch, but I think it is slightly overpowering and the background is a little dull. Nonetheless, your choice of pose is amazing and I have to give you props as well for opting to include an expression! It tells a lovely story even without reading the text. Your clothes coordination is spot on too! Keep it up! I'm quite curious as to what you'll bring to this cycle being that you too are a veteran.

Katarh Mest

I'm a sucker for these kinds of shots.. hehe. You manage to pull focus onto you even though it's well zoomed out! The background is very vibrant, but is not overpowering you - the main focus of the shot. I do have one pet peeve; and that would be the glow and the graphic effect by the book. It isn't very noticable from afar, but it's there when zoomed in. Still, great work! I can't wait to see more from you!

Brun Hilda

Honestly, I love your shot. It depicts the loneliness you were aiming for - and it is very well done! Your expression as well as your choice of background also enforces this feeling of loneliness to the point where you can actually feel it. Your pose, expression, and clothes are amazing, but I was kind of hoping to see this 'lovely treasure' you mentioned in the text that I can't seem to find. I can't help but feel like you missed something there. Nonetheless, great shot! I have high expectations from you after seeing your amazing shots in the YouTube cycle!

Sunny Day

I just have to get this out; YES. This shot is just great and pretty strong for your first shot. The angling is juuuuuust right, and your costume screams out that you are going out of the main town on an expedition for research purposes. You reinforce this quite well! Following that, you also have managed to pull focus onto yourself which is a big plus! However, I have to deduct a few points (figuratively speaking) for the negative space on the right. Other than that, this shot is very well done! Though, it would have been helpful if you included what the shot was about in the short text.

Kaya Solimar

I like how you managed to make the table all messy. The expression on your face and your pose also reinforces towards an unwanted mess, and you pulled it off very nicely! The background, however, is kind of 'meh' in comparison to the main focus. Maybe you could have placed a bookshelf or two? I guess that's the only thing I feel is missing. You managed to pull the shot very well and I applaud you for that, but please be mindful of the area behind you too!

Hopelle Losstoam

You silly goose! Taking risks at the start of the cycle.. tsk tsk. Like I said earlier, I'm a sucker for these kinds of shots. The risk you took seems to have payed off somewhat, and I've placed you higher on my list. Your pose, choice of clothing, and the scene are just perfectly blended together that your face doesn't even need to be shown to know your expression! Still, there is tad a bit too much negative space on the edges of the shot. Maybe you should have zoomed in a little more?

Stephen Fairbrook

I'll start this off by saying that you did an excellent job with the framing. You managed to pull focus onto you even though you are off to the side, which is awesome! Choice of clothing is spot on, and the background is lovely. However, I'm not too much of a fan of expressionless faces staring right at the camera cliché. Might I suggest you face to the left and look upwards with eyes closed? It would have reinforced the whole R&R a little better. Great shot nonetheless!

Arrelaine Fashonti

The backgound is very lovely, but I think you could have framed it a little better had you panned the camera more to the right. Your expression and pose are pretty bland, in my opinion. Try to include them to give your picture a story to tell! I'm also very picky when it comes to what you are wearing - from your boots to your acessories. So I have to point out that the choker you have equipped does not mesh well with the rest of your clothes. Be very careful with that! Other than that, I think you pulled off the serene and cold frigid temperatures very well in this shot!

Alexion Skylark

Your choice of theme is pretty funny and you kinf of managed to capture what you were after. Don't let this put you down though! Your choice of clothes, and pose is great! The main problem I have with this shot is the NPC in the background. I find myself looking more at her than you - of whom should be the main focus of the shot! Don't worry, working with NPCs is very difficult in of itself (and also very risky if I may add), so I applaud you for taking the risk!

Aeon Rakshasa

Your expression and pose are great, but then everything else starts to seem like a huge mess! The lamp right next to you - for starters, pulls attention from you which isn't good! Your minion (although he is cute), seems to be floating in mid air to the point where he looks like a giant lizard standing in the background! It just bothers me that I find myself looking at the minion and lamp more than you yourself. Clothing choices could have been better, but is overall decent. There is a lot of negative space on the left as well. I think you probably overthunk the freedom of the Freestyle Shot. It could have been better, honestly, because the theme you chose is pretty great. However, the execution is pretty subpar. Keep trying! I've seen your audition shots! I know you can do better that that!

Nozomi Kei

I'm not too sure about this one. It just feels very empty and strange. It would have been better, in my option, if you used the Akh Afah Ampitheathre as your shot location to best fit what you were aiming for.. probably? This, however, is confusing. The lighting is very bright and washes out all the colour of your clothes and yourself which isn't very good. Your pose is also awkward and your choice of clothing is also pretty strange considering what you were trying to accomplish. I personally don't think it does what you were aiming for any justice. Though, I do recall you auditioned wearing the same articles?



Adeline's Feedback and Rankings:



Epsil Ion – Ah the ever so stylish Epsil, gettin’ all crazy with your shots again! I really love that you are off centered, the spell effect, lighting, and pose. All so very exquisite! A lot of my people may not like your glasses, but I love them~ I think they really add personality. Heh, I challenge you to wear them everyone round if you want xD! You make them look good~

Nozomi Kei – I’m actually quite fond of this shot, I think it matches the description you gave us quite well. You’re off centered, and I love the color hue you have going on. The background is a nice touch too~I guess the weakest thing about this shot would have to be the outfit, but I’m a sucker for exposed man chest, so you’re safe for now xD Just be careful with outfit usage in the future~ always try to make sure your outfits aren’t too wonky and match the theme/background~

Katarh Mest- I really love this shot, and I feel you stand out a bit more than other contestants since you went with a wider angle. The scenary is beautiful, and I feel you and your pose accent it very well. My only advice is to try and zoom in as much as you can while still capturing your background~ as with shot you may seem a bit too far away, and you always want to make sure you yourself are the focus.

Stephen Fairbrook- I love the tranquility of this shot, and the angling of you character is awesome. Your color matching of your outfit and the background is amazing too! I think this shot is a great start for you~ just make sure to always practice around with facial emotes, as you seem a tad unfriendly with your expression :< Otherwise, great job.

Tinsley Tr’uhart- Ah the ever great Tinsley steps into the ring! This is a visually stunning shot, and deserves its place among the top 5 for sure. I love the spell detail you have going on, and I’m gonna have to ask what one it is :O I don’t recognize it! I really like the lightning too. I guess the thing I don’t like about it is that I wish I could maybe see the angle of this shot more toward your front side (if that makes sense?) Great job none-the-less!

Brun Hilda- This is a great shot! I find your description so sad, and I think your facial expression really tells the story you’re trying to portray. I find the weakest things about this shot is that your outfit significantly out contrasts your background. I think if you wanted to give off a feeling of dreariness, it might of helped to have colored the gear a bit different. Great job though, keep up the good work!

Hopelle Losstoam (AKA MY BOSS GULP) – This is quite indeed a risky shot to take, and it’s a breath of fresh air and so very different than what a lot of the models did, so I give you super props for attempting it. The window lighting is amazing, and I feel as though with your outfit you might be about to get married :O! I do find the picture to be very zoomed out, and I’m sad that I can’t see you more, even if it’s just your backside :<

Kaya Solimar – Another shot that I feel is very different compared to what everyone else did. good job for stepping out and trying something different! I like the thought behind the story here, It’s very cute, and how you look like you’re upset at the books themselves. I find the lighting very dull in the picture though, and I think maybe looking at the camera and zooming in could of helped this shot a lot.

Aeon Rakshasa – Exposed half-naked man cat alert` my weakness…next to naked Au ra/Elezens-stop teasing me xD! I really like the lighting of this, and how you’re attempting to compensate the Gold saucer outfit with a male version! With that, I think the execution of this shot could use some improving. You’re very centered, and I’m not sure who you’re gesturing to. Are you gesturing to me? Or to someone off camera :O? I think either adding in some extras to show who you’re gesturing if you’re going to angle yourself that way, or gesture toward the camera so that whoever is looking at the picture feels the ‘welcome’ you’re trying to pull off.

Alexion Skylark – I like the effort put forth here. Getting a cool coil shot can be very difficult, or any battle shot for that matter. My biggest gripe with this shot is that I’m just not a huge fan of Holy anymore. I feel it’s a highly overused spell, and I’ve seen a bazillion shot use it. (it ranks upon my top overused list of emotes used in this game, along with the female Miqo’te shy stance >_>). Now with that, I understand that a whm skill set is very limited, so with the concept you’re trying to portray you were lacking in options. I think it would of also helped to see if you could move close to the camera, so that Nael doesn’t seem like the focus of your shot (you always want to make sure you are~). Your angling is also a tad awkward, and would of make more sense if you had shifted yourself more to your right, to look as if maybe you were summoning Nael.

Sunny Day- This is a clean shot, and I really like the lighting, I just have no idea what you’re trying to tell me. With the other shots, models described what they were doing, so it helped, but you didn’t and with just looking I have no idea what you’re trying to say :O. I’m assuming you’re trying to look cool (which you do), but your angling is quite odd to me. While you’re not centered, which is good, you are looking off to someone else, and I’m left with “Why isn’t he looking at me?! ; ;”. This shot just doesn’t stand out much compared to others~

Arrelaine Fashonti – While I like the attempt here to tell a story, the lighting here just doesn’t flatter you that well. I think perhaps waiting for a certain time of day, or certain weather would of helped this shot a lot. Also this is another picture of awkward angling, where the model is looking off at someone else, but not conveying that to the audience. Also I had to dock you down for the overused miqo’te pose sorry :<



Flare's Feedback and Rankings:



Tinsley - The over all composition is nicely done! The night shot helps the spell effect stand out, which looks stunning being around you. I thought the lighting was to bright for how dark the background is, but I feel like it balances well with the shot.

Epsil - This is beautiful! I love how the water effect isn't distorting your face, which I'm drawn to first by that GAWJUS lighting! The bubbles around you adds a soft touch to the picture. The glasses seem out of place.

Brun - Your expression sells this picture for me. It's like your reflecting on life and current events. This background takes it ever further. Best background out of the whole bunch. My only issue is your outfit could be less matchy.

Hopelle - Someone having second thoughts on getting married? This is another shot that shows a powerful reflection shot that can tell a couple of stories. The framing is beautiful, and I love how your character is in the dead middle. The camera could have been just a bit closer for me.

Aeon - The Gold Saucer needs to employ you ASAP! Outfit goes great with the theme you were going for. I noticed in a post you forgot the dragon was out, but it works well with the shot. My only complaint is that lamp steals your thunder a little.

Stephen - This whole shot is super warm and inviting. Makes me want to be there with you! The whole photo is simple and subtle which can go a long way. One this I will say, Lalas have some of the best expressions in the game. In further rounds, don't be afraid to use them!

Katarh - This definitely reminds me of a warm Sunday afternoon. The background is very vibrant and I love that pose with the book! For me however, you just seem like your a part of the background and you don't stand out as much. That jacket would have looked fabulous as a little blue or pink to make you stand out more.

Sunny - Nailed the background, and the outfit fits perfect. That visor is very alluring and could have made this shot for you if you would have had your character stare at the camera.

Nozomi - You really can't go wrong with any of the coil backgrounds. Your gaze tells a story, maybe your becoming impatient waiting for your fellow adventures to join you. I understand your concept, but felt like it wasn't fully executed. This would have had a better effect if you had friends around you and less of the blue hue.

Arrelaine - The mountains and hills background is stunning! How you captured your breath like that adds to the picture. While your avatar is beautiful, I wanted to see a pose that looked like you were enjoying the scenery more.

Alexion - Don't look now, but there's a demon....lady....thing thats about to sit on you! I absolutely get what you were trying to do with this picture. And I enjoy the humor. But Nael looks like shes about to use your head as a chair! Also if we could have got a small glimpse of your friends running away, that would have be great!

Kaya - I think its safe to say that I enjoy humor more than anyone in this contest, and while I do love what you were trying to do, the photo itself is just bland to me.



Sakuraya's Feedback and Rankings:



Tinsley Tr'uhart
This is lovely - the way you're using the effect makes the eye come to you but doesn't overwhelm. The lighting is very nice, and it makes you pop without making you look overly lit. Your staff does look a bit over exposed, but I noted this as an afterthought when examining the image closer, and it didn't take away from my focus on you. You are truly the light in that darkness surounding you. Good job and my favorite this week!

Brun Hilda
Yay a fisher, and boy do you pop with that purple/pink outfit! You are defiantly a 'lovely treasure' in this image, a gem in the stormy unforgiving landscape. Overall I like this image, and I can't tell if you used something you help light you, or if you just depending on natural light and the bright colors of the outfit, but you pop against the darker terrain behind you. It's a simplistic beauty and I like it.

Epsil Ion
This is amazing - I don't know how you did that effect but you did and wow does it look remarkable. But as you see, that's what I was focused on - I feel it over comes you and becomes the focal point. I literally spent a few minutes looking at the picture trying to figure out what it was and how you did it before I really looked at you. Make sure the effect doesn't out do you because honestly once I got past my awe of the effect you're awesome in this image!

Hopelle Losstoam
Took a risk with a back shot, and it paid off in my eyes... this reminds me of a scene in a romance where the loving wife is waiting for the return of their beloved partner. The light coming though the windows and creating this almost halo effect around you is really lovely - I wish you were a bit closer so we could see the motion and dress in a bit more detail but overall well done!

Sunny Day
At first when I opened it I was worried about the dark on dark, and while I do feel that you do seem to blend slightly, the lighter trim around the outfit really helps you out with this picture. You're slightly off to the side, allowing that gate in the background to give an interesting touch to the overall picture, without the background being overwhelming. Also, for a night shot, you did a good job with the lighting - enough that you pop but not so much you look overly exposed. Just keep making sure you stand out in the image!

Stephen Fairbrook
I like this pic, you have really made yourself the focus of the image all about you and you've done a good job of lighting yourself - almost as if there is a fire just off to the side. But I will say you're skirting that border of - a bit more and I would feel like you might be over lighting yourself, so be careful of that! The background is simple, but interesting as you scan across and there is a little subtle differences though out.

Arrelaine Fashonti
This is a pretty shot, with the darker skin that you have I'm so glad that you went with the lighter clothes and lighter background. In my option, it makes your lovely Miqo'te really pop - just wish that little puff of breath wasn't there since it obscures half of your face. I also wish that maybe you had a bit of a smile or something, since you're mentioning about how lovely Coerthas is but you look a bit bored. Over all you're lovely, light tones make you pop and the scenery is lovely without overwhelming you.

Alexion Skylark
Kudos on a battle pic, I know these are hard to do! I like the contrast of colors with this image, it was smart to go with the while/black theme with your clothing and styling contrasting against the darker pallet of the mob above you. I feel it makes you stand out from a lot of the dark tones within the image - but that said, I can't help but be distracted seeing that the mob looks like it's about to overwhelm you and take over the shot.

Kaya Solimar
With all of the wood tones around you, it was very smart to go with a color that honestly really pops in this image. Even with the messy desk, the eye is drawn to you. I do wish it was lit just a bit more - it does fall on the muddy/darker side - but nice job.

Nozomi Kei
I love the set up of the shot, and how you're glowing - it's almost like you're becoming one with the area around you. The blue almost making you look like this 'ice' you reference. That said, the light does over expose you and makes me wonder- is it a cool effect that would have benefited from being dialed back just a bit seeing that it almost washes you out.

Katarh Mest
This is a nice pic, and the scenery is charming. Everything is well lit for the most part, but your face almost seems like it's in shadows. That said, the outfit color makes you pop against all of the vibrant colors that are around you, though I'm not sure the body piece fits the nature theme I feel in this image. I will also admit that the huge potted plant beside you was a bit distracting to me given its size - but you have a lovely eye for scenery.

Aeon Rakshasa
I like the concept of the image, and think you did a good job. Only thing I would say is you are a very handsome darker skinned Miqo'te, but there are so many bright flashy colors in the picture that I feel the scenery is pulling my attention from you. Make yourself the focus, cuz you would make anyone's stay there delightful~!


_______________________________________

THE SCORES:

810 Epsil Ion
810 Tinsley Tr'uhart
696 Brun Hilda
565 Hopelle Losstoam
531 Stephen Fairbrook
496 Katarh Mest
454 Sunny Day
343 Nozomi Kei
318 Kaya Solimar
297 Aeon Rakshasa
278 Alexion Skylark
252 Arrelaine Fashonti

[Tinsley]

awesome feedback judges! I think all the shots this round were great and can't wait to see what happens in round 2.

for those that asked, the spell effect i used was Quickcast.

[Epsil]

@_@ *holds hands with Tinsley* Math work *dies*