Eorzea's Next Top Model Cycle 4 - Round 4

[-Jono-]

1. Tinsley Tr'uhart
2. Brun Hilda
3. Hopelle Losstoam
4. Katarh Mest
5. Stephen Fairbrook
6. Nozomi Kei
7. Sunny Day

[Holy_Dragoon]

Another great batch this week I think.

Brun Hilda
Stephen Fairbrook
Katarh Mest
Sunny Day
Tinsley Tr'uhart
Nozomi Kei
Hopelle Losstoam

[Wings]

Before I give my feedback I'd like to say that NONE of the shots this week were weak - everyone outdid themselves! Ordering them was a gruelling task, and I don't envy the judges one bit. I had to nitpick so much - I hope it doesn't come off too harsh D:


1. Stephen Fairbrook: This is the kind of shot that proves that you don't always have to have action to create an amazing picture. The composition tells the whole story, and the stillness is like a breath held before a great roar. You've picked the perfect weather for creating an ominous mood. I'm impressed with how close you managed to get the camera without cutting yourself off anywhere - your placement and body language is spot on. The high-tech bow matches the sci-fi feel of the Garlean structure in the distance. All I could have wished for was the Garleans themselves placed a bit better as not to leave the left bottom quarter of the frame so empty, but that's something out of your control.

2. Brun Hilda: I love pictures that tell stories, and this one sure does that. There's no mistaking who the star in the shot is - not even the glare of Magitek fire outshines you! Looking down at the viewer contemptuously, unafraid of the deadly weapon going off right next to you, a confident smirk at the idea of resistance... Even without the caption, I could imagine my own story to fit that picture. The lighting is good without being overpowering for a night shot, and the sky in the background is beautiful. What could have enhanced the image even more would have been if the Castrum had taken up a bit more space on that side of the frame to balance the left side a little better.

3. Sunny Day: I love the riot of colours in this shot so much - reds, blues, greens, purples! I like how it's zoomed in, how clear the lighting is on you, that you're poised for action, how close the enemy sneaking up behind you is. It's not easy to do when using skills, but what could have elevated this shot even further is being off-center; you on the left half with your gaze the way it is now, and the looming machine on the right. It could have made the shot tell a story on its own, without even needing a caption, and the composition a little cleaner.

4. Hopelle Losstoam: It's a nice battle shot and you caught a couple of really good Garlean poses there. Makes me happy to see them up close! I can feel the heat of Thanalan in that shot, with the low sun, the lens flare, and the fiery battle effect - but those things also make the cool blue of your armour clash slightly, rather than stand out. The background shows the harsh beauty of the area so well, but with your back to the camera it threatens to steal your thunder! Perhaps a face-camera with your body still angled that way could have given us a glimpse of your profile without spoiling the action?

5. Katarh Mest: You've really stepped it up this week technically, and I congratulate you! The off-centering is really nice, and it's easy to tell you're in a Garlean base. You're very far away from the spy's target though, with that wide, empty expanse of grass on the left, so I'm not getting a sense of danger. Also, the arc of the waymark on the ground feels a little off - doesn't ninja have any skill that could simulate the sudden appearance better? Or use a skill cast on you by a friend? Positives for me besides your positioning in the frame are how well lit you are and how clear the colours look - you're really good at that!

6. Tinsley Tr'uhart: Ahhh, such a beautiful picture, but I just don't see the theme in it as well as the other screenshots. I like the mid-movement pose since it gives a sense of action in the image, and the well-composed outfit that's both angelic and battle-ready. The lines of the wings and dangly pieces of the top make diagonals pointing at you and add to the feeling of motion in a still frame. Slightly dark and empty on the right, but overall a lovely aesthetic shot.

7. Nozomi Kei: You're quite clearly in a Garlean base, and a leader of them no less! First I'd like to say that I know how difficult it is to coordinate several people, and synch them no less! Boy, do I know... It's one thing to have them static and just do the action part yourself, or have one person emote - but several? You really took on a challenge, and I commend you for it. The weakness in this shot, to me, is the angle. You take up a good amount of space in the picture yourself, but there's more of the sky than there is of those great extras of yours. Perhaps if you'd turned it all around to face the other way, have your character on the ground and the extras on the stairs behind you, you could still have had the camera angled that way to keep the haughty feeling, but get a more balanced composition. Also, that helmet is hiding even the slightest hint that it's you standing there!

[Tyriont]

Judge Feedback and Rankings:

Adam's Feedback and Rankings:


Brun Hilda

This is absolutely my favourite shot out of the bunch this week. Everything about this shot is amazing; Pose, expression, costume, background, and all the other stuff! Amazing stuff, Brun. Keep it up! I really don't know what else to say about this shot. Take my lack of words to indicate that I am speechless, haha.

Hopelle Losstoam

Risking yourself by attempting a back shot a second time this cycle! Gorgeous effects, breath-taking background, and great coordination with the NPCs! I know it's tough coordinating with them since I've been there during in Cycle 3. However, if you look past the effects, you can see that the background is quite bland. The right side of the shot faces a similar problem. Regardless, the risk you pulled was worth it!

Sunny Day

This is a pretty great action shot, and wonderfully framed too. Effects are there and they don't overpower you. Well-coordinated with the NPCs. My only pet peeve would be that one soldier at the bottom left of the shot that's just standing there. Still, I'm loving this shot! As always, you never fail to impress.

Nozomi Kei

I applaud you for attempting this shot. Your costume is excellent, and the lighting makes the shot even better! Though, your extras in the background are using the wrong costume set. Background is slightly underwhelming with the sky being quite empty. Maybe panning the camera down a little bit would have worked better? Nonetheless, great shot!

Stephen Fairbrook

This shot is pretty cool! Pose, expression, and your costume are great! Background is so-so for me seeing as there is some negative space to the bottom left of the shot. However, the rest of the background is amazing!

Katarh Mest

Expression, pose, and costume are all spot on. The shot it framed quite well, however, your background is tad a bit too empty. Maybe you should have played around with the NPCs a little more to fit your description? Execution could have been better, but overall pretty good. I know you can do it!

Tinsley Tr'uhart

Pose and costume are excellent. The wings kind of take away focus from you albeit slightly. However, your background is very empty and does not blend well with your costume. I guess I can see the idea of contrast, but a few NPCs included in the shot would have made this a lot better.


Adeline's Feedback and Rankings:



Nozomi Kei – You continue you bedazzle me with your ideas and angles Nozomi (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧! The effort here is amazing, and I love your use of the dreadwyrm gear to outline yourself an important figure of the Garleans. I also really like the outfits you used for your soliders, as that particular hunting chest piece not everyone is going to have. I think though it would have been better to just of gone with the garlean soldier outfit :S still very creative!

Hopelle Losstoam – I love your idea/theme as well, and the power struggle you’re trying to convey to us ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ. You’re always one to takes risks, but I think your use of a back shot really works here. I love your setting, and those battle effects are wonderful. I also like how you’re off-center, and you yourself are still very noticeable among your extras/effects. Great job!

Sunny Day – This shot being the first out of bunch, I loved it right away. I love the color scheme, and your effects/battle pose are crazy (I SEE A BELLY BUTTON SQUEE (づ￣ ³￣)づ). I guess what knocked this down from being top 2 was that I find it a little messy. I notice that there is a cord reaching out to you, and I’m not sure if you planned that (still looks cool though). Also I find your hands in the air to be a bit funny xD Good job though!

Brun Hilda – This is a well-constructed shot, and I love your use of extras, and you yourself are very cool looking with those glasses ♥‿♥ I also like how you’re off center. I guess the thing that threw me off this round was how every feels very…black I guess. Because of that, I find your background a bit boring I guess? Because of it, I feel like your one extra is even being faded out a bit cuz of it, and the garlean castle in the back. Otherwise I really like this shot! You guys are make it so hard to narrow this down :S

Stephen Fairbrook – I like that you zoomed in a lot more compared to your other shot, and find this concept a good one for a lalafell of such a short stature. Really, I love this shot~ even though it’s a bit grey, the foggy weather really gives the viewer pleasing and terrifying look into your struggle of trying to not be caught. I really wish I could of ranked you higher, this is so tough now! Mainly had to do since the 4 above used more difficult scenarios 〴⋋_⋌〵

Katarh Mest – Hmm this is a cool shot, and I like the story behind it, but I find the pose incredibly common these days since many ninjas use it for their screenies, and I find you being out in the open like you are a bit odd, especially if you’re supposed to be stealthy (∩︵∩). I think it would have been a better concept to have been a lot closer, and less suspicious. Also I’m not sure what’s up with the A sign :S you’re making yourself an even bigger target xD! I also find the npcs very awkward in the back with their motions…

Tinsley Tr’uhart - o(╥﹏╥)o Dammit this is a really cool shot, don’t get me wrong, but it’s just not Garlean at all. The wing effects are really cool, but it’s so hard to find anything Garlean about it, other than your description. I see no mobs, and the wings are so bright that they darken the background (also I’m guessing you took this shot at night as well…a super dark part of night.) While I like how you placed your wings as well, I’ve just seen a lot of blm casting in my days to not be amazed by it anymore. I really hate to place you down so low, but I need to give credit to others that followed the theme and did alot with extras. Sorry ._.




Flare's Feedback and Rankings:



Brun - The execution of this shot is spot on! I'm loving the subtle detail of the Magitek armor right beside you about to shot, your pose doesn't looked posey at all. You filled up the dead space with the building there. Pretty much my favorite shot this week! Awesome job!

Stephen - The simplicity of this shot makes me love it! Less is more makes this shot stand out more than the rest. We can focus on you and your actions but at the same time understand your story and enjoy that background.

Nozomi - It was a toss up between you and Katarh, but I enjoyed your concept a little bit more. You took a different approach then everyone else, I actually enjoy your outfit and think it fits well with your concept and overall photo. I like you created your own Garlean character as well. My only nit pick, the shot would have benefited greatly if it were centered more. Less of that ugly wall.

Katarh - I do love your concept! Using the marker to act like a teleport beam was brilliant. Your lighting for me makes the picture pop and your background vibrant. It would have been cool to see your target before you strike BUT leaves the mind wondering whats going to happen next.

Sunny - I enjoyed the background and the pose.This is a great shot with lots of vibrant colors and is the most colorful in the whole bunch. Its a great battle shot. Your glamour looks a bit out of place, like you threw something together last minute. Less puff pants and probably a basic MNK weapon would have worked better.

Hopelle - Another good battle shot. Concept wise, I felt others did better. If the whole picture was off centered more where we could see the fortress, this shot would have been higher up for me. I also feel like the effect consumes the picture a tad and takes away from the picture as a whole.

Tinsley - The wings are of course flawless. The outfit works well with it, and I like the dark background. What takes all that away from me is that pose. BLM has so awesome battle poses while casting but this one doesn't work for the intended concept. I think this shot would have benefited better as a WHM. The purple glow of the staff doesn't match well with the outfit or wings.


Sakuraya's Feedback and Rankings:



Stephen
I love this idea, and it's like you're a sniper ready to take your shot. Good lighting on you, and it was smart to wear a color that pops against the darkness of that wall - plus I know I can't see your whole face, but I can still read that scowl that you're wearing - someone isn't very happy at the moment. The background is interesting and you can tell you're in a Castrum, the part of it that might come of plain, you're occupying which totally voids that out. Seeing that you're an archer, it makes sense that they are father away - yet one is still close enough you can pretty much see their detail. The only critique that I have, which is more so just a nitpick is you might have poped a bit more without the hat or the hat a different color... but other than that I really don't have much to complain about. Great job!

Brun
Hey, you got me ready to join and get my free magiteck! This is a very nice picture, and your fair skin makes you stand out really nice in this - actually I kinda wish you didn't have the visor on so we could see more of your features in this picture. Great use of extras - and for a moment I was wondering if the magiteck mount has a spotlight, but no this is just really really good timing with the firing option, which is an awesome effect! The Castrum building on the right gives the eye something very nice to look at, but the sky does seem a little empty. But overall, great job!

Nozomi
What can I say - I really love this because you are one of (what two?) that went with something I did not expect! Forget the Warriors of Light, Join the Dark Side! This was a very clever use of gear to make you look like an up and coming Garlean Lord ready to be the next to take over and try to destroy all that would stand in your way! Do I, and maybe it's just me, even read a bit of a smirk there? Perfect for and evil genius, and a nice group of extras you got there! While it is a bit off center, I could almost let that slide because I love the theme so much - but I do think it would have read better centered for this idea. Other than that, great job!

Sunny
I actually like this picture, I like how you pop out from all the dark colors and crazy weather effect around it. You're the first thing I see. I also see your idea in your picture - you just finished beating up one, and here comes another machine from behind really to give you another good fight. Only critique would be: Maybe a little more light on you, it seem like the side away from the camera is better lit than your front. Also I wish the machine were a bit more in the picture, while I did notice it because I've been there a lot recently, it could blend into the background easily if one isn't really paying much mind to it. Good job!

Hopelle
I love the layout of this image and you really fill the whole frame very nicely. You have the interest of battle, combined with the setting sun and Ul'dah peaking out in the Horizon. I get the concept completely, and you did a good job of getting it across. My critique would be that the effect really distracts me, it cuts you off at the waist and everything above seems washed out - plus it distorts a lot of the battling going on. If the effect had been a bit less pronounced I would have liked it better but it's a nice battle shot!

Tinsley
This is a lovely concept and the all white outfit made you stand out, you look like a pure angel in battle ready to strike down any that would stand against you. But the background is very plain, there is really no interest and I can't really tell you're in a Castrum due to the wings obstructing the area that reads Castrum. The pose is very nice, and you get a very good view of your character - but as I said you look ready for a skirmish, but I see no danger around you. I wish there had been some enemies in the shot to give it danger - but even if the background seems non-existent, you fill it up well with your character. Lovely Shot!

Katarh
You did really good lighting in this picture I get the whole idea that you're dressed up like them to spy, and assassinate some of their followers. That said, I'm not sure about the light behind you - I get that it's supposed to be this flash of light (I hope I'm right -) but to me it really seems out of place - and as a spy I feel it would draw attention to you, which isn't what one would want to do. Also I understand you're going for the assassin look, but I wish there were some Garlean's closer to you. You're dressed like them, you should have taken a risk with the mobs because they would never know until the last minute, heehee! Though it does have a nice background everything is so far away that it just comes off feeling very empty. Nice shot!


_______________________________________

THE SCORES:

410 Brun Hilda
333 Nozomi Kei
329 Stephen Fairbrook
291 Hopelle Losstoam
277 Sunny Day
183 Katarh Mest
136 Tinsley Tr'uhart