Eorzea's Next Top Model Cycle 4 - Round 4

[Tyriont]

Since your beloved Cap'n has a three day weekend this week, you can have this week's round early! I am a benevolent, incredibly handsome overlord.

We had a trip out to the Beast Tribes last week, which resulted in some fantastic shots but also the loss of two of our models - Alexion and Epsil. We hope you'll both show us the rest of the shots you have!

For this week, we continued the exploration of Eorzea by sending the models off to visit the threat that continues to hang over us all - the Garleans!

The models had to take their shot within one of the overworld Castrums. Other than that, they had free rein! Let's see what they came up with...

ENTM Cycle 4 Round 4 - The Garleans

Voting is the same - order the shots according to your favourites! Judging will end at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday when we will lose another two models.

Best of luck!

[Oce]

This one was really hard wow they're all really great!! Gosh, I don't even know how to score them but I'm gonna try my best.

Sunny Day // I think this shot is, objectively, the best. It has a great framework and angle, the effects are really nice, and you can tell it's Garlean! The contrasting colours work well, whether or not that was intentional! I really have nothing to add that would have made this shot better, which is why it gets my first place vote this round.
Brun Hilda // I really like the composition of this, The magitek in the back mid-shot (I assume??) was a great touch, it looks like a spotlight and works really well for this! My only complaint would be that the sky feels a bit empty, and would have worked better with the moon, or one of those bright purple stars, in between yourself and the building in order to draw the eye around in a nice circle.
Nozomi Kei // The concept for this was probably my favourite of the bunch! Really interesting idea, and the outfit works great! I never would have thought of using that dragon helm with the dreadwyrm set, I might have to steal that for a glamour one day ;> In the mean time, my main critique is that the composition is lop-sided. This sort of frontal picture I think would have really benefited from a perfectly straight-on approach, with even spacing on either side of you with the camera. I also want to say that it might have looked better at sunrise/sunset, with some light beams to really bring the attention of the viewer to the center, but that's just me.
Hopelle Losstoam // I'm not a big fan of the backshot here, and I really wish there was something else making you stand out, but I love the effects you chose and the location has a really nice composition for your shot!
Katahr Mest // The lighting in this is lovely, and so's your composition! I think a different effect other than the A marker, though, would have worked better. The red kind of clashes and brings down the shot, in my opinion. Probably my favourite from you so far, though!
Tinsley Tr'uhart // This is such a great pose, and really nicely posed! Maybe it's just me but, I feel like it could have been "any shoot", it just doesn't feel particularly castrum or garlean to me. A different location in the castrum, maybe with the sky visible, or something to really sell that "angel of vengeance" look I think you were going for, something to make it "pop".. Overall it really is a nice shot, but I think the others took the concept and did something more unique with it.
Stephen Fairbrook // Aaaghhh someone had to be last and I really wish it wasn't you, because I DO really like your shot! It's got such a nice concept and mood to it, but it feels so bland and plain compared to the others. :< Some lighting, maybe, to your far right, or an action that put you in a more "ready to pounce" pose would have really sold this shot to me.

[Spy]

1. Sunny Day - I love the colors! Works so good with the concept! The pose is very dynamic and he's got a very nice expression for the situation. He really looks like he's hell bent and determined to show those Garlean's who's the boss kitty around here! It's also quite a dynamic shot making this one my favorite.

2. Brun Hilda - It was so hard to put this in second because it's really really good (I'm just a sucker for color) however don't let that dissuade you. This is also an amazing shot, and if you had used color like his, it would have put off the shot and ruined the concept which I think you did wonderfully! I love how you're looking at the camera just as the Magitek is about to go off, watching the viewer just as they're about to be killed, in amusement. Just like a Garlean!

3. Katarh Mest - The use of the place marker to make your kitty pop was a very smart idea. I love the off balances position of your character as she's just about to execute her plot to assassinate her enemies. I only kindof wish she had been slightly closer to her enemies.

4. Hopelle Losstoam - I love the poses in this. The background, as well as the overall balanced shot! This would have ranked a lot higher if it just hadn't been for the battle effect. m(_ _)m The red portion of it is pretty cool, and might have worked, but that flash of white on your character is a bit distracting. That, also paired with the sun light's ray is a teeny bit clashy and pulls the attention away from the models of the shot and more on the effects. Though it is still a great shot.

5. Nozomi Kei - You have a very fun concept! It is pretty cool you had friends who would help you out like that! You really look like a man in power! The Violet Dragon, Legatus Telis Van Nebris eh? That's pretty awesome! XD I only wish the background had been different and the shot more balanced.

6. Stephen Fairbrook - Another one with a pretty cool concept! Scouting out the area of the Garleans. The shot is dynamic, and I love the model's positioning. But there's something about the background that just makes it kind of...lifeless...even with the two Garleans. I dunno...it's not a bad shot. It's just not a strong shot.

7. Tinsley Tr'uhart - You have a beautiful pose and the use of wings was cool....but kind of like Ebsil's fall in the last round, I just don't understand the concept of this shot without reading the description. It could have been an amazing shot with a different background, or perhaps some Garlean's fighting you...but you're just kind of....there.

I'm sorry *scratches head* I hope I don't seem too harsh on a few of you. Just giving my honest opinion.

The shots were all amazing though! You all did such a good job!

[Rikkustrife]

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

[boredomisboring]

This week was especially difficult for me to rank--wonderful job, everyone! I really liked the concepts for all of them--though I thought some were executed better than others. Thanks for all of your hard work this cycle, it's proving to be a really tough competition. My ranking:

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

[Maleha]

Hehe, youtube models, assemble! I had to actively avoid my skype group from the start this round was up because discussion exploded of course and I don’t want to be biased at all. Cept maybe via my bf, but I just brush off his opinion when he doesn’t agree with me. Huehuehue. You all had great shots but there has to be an order, so we'll have to put you in one... T_T


Brun Hilda - Put your blurb up in the sky in the center and you have yourself a recruitment poster for the Garleans. XD I love the idea, and the lighting in this shot is very exiting and in my opinion the best in this round. It goes from the warm, bright yellow/orange to the cool greenish blue of the Castrum. Awesome costume and extra coordination as well! (I spy a Rhaya!) You’re really getting out the big guns for this cycle (haha cause the magitek! *nugde nudge*) and I’d put gil down that we will see you in the finals!

Hopelle Losstoam - I LOVE the sun in this one (I am a sucker for these pretty sunbeams), as well as the effect. The framing is great and as battleshot it really fulfills all one would like to see in one. It’s a backshot - the dreaded “risky” shot - but at least to a degree it pays off in here. Not to mention it is tricky to pull off non-backshot battleshots in the first place.

Nozomi Kei - Haha! I love this idea! My bf finds it a bit weird, but it’s so cool in my opinion! The framing is, okay, it could have been a biiiit more symmetrical though. Good use of extras and their costumes as well! Your own outfit is put together very creatively with that hat… though I still dislike buttwings… hrm. The lighting here intrigues me, the slight reddish tint does indeed give you that “evil flair” every overlord should aim for.

Stephen Fairbrook - Not sure if someone has said this (I try to avoid other people’s critiques this cycle because I want to judge with my opinion, not others), but with your pictures I cannot help but sometimes feel everything is a bit squished. XD I know this is due to the size of your picture compared to the others, but I cannot help that feeling developing on its own occaisionally.
That said, you do have nice framing and your picture tells a story that can stand on its own, even without the blurb - which nicely complements it. What I would have liked seeing here is a bit of outfit coordination. I think most of your outfit is Ironworks, which i think fits well into the setting, but the mixed colours throw me off, as well as the glow of the bow. Lightingwise the bow is great to draw the eye to you, but with the story you want to tell it’s a touch illogical. Who carries a huge glowy bow with them on a sneaky mission? ^^;

Tinsely Tr’uhart - Those wings~ I love them. So much that I still ahve 98 of them XD It’s a visually striking picture, if only for the effect and you, all white against a darker background. I just wish we could actually see what you are striking down. As is, it has the great lighting effect… but not much more.

Katarh Mest - Another of you saved the garlean armour! XD (and so did I and I will keep saving it now in case a round like this ever pops up in a future cycle) I like what you are going for here, outfit and pose are great, and the use of the ground target is unique, though the purplish shine seems to clash a bit. What I could have liked more in this shot is the enemy much much closer to you. like on the conspicuously empty grass patch behind you. Would sell this picture so much better!

Sunny Day - A great battleshot, for sure. Good pose and the effect from greased lighting is not too obscuring. A few things put this shot lower than what it could have been though. I love outfit coordination, even for battleshots, and while last round you put yourself together so well this seems a bit… random. Then the background. The gloom wetaher is not helping but because you are positioned where you are, there is a really strange schism going on. To our right we have the magitek and metal buildings and they seem to be on your level, to the left stone, and it seems it is a lower plane as well. All in all my eyes are just very confused. It might have helped to be a touch more zoomed out, so we could see where and what you’re standing on exactly.

[Katella_Avenlea]

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

[Pooky_Bear]

Lets see here. Every one was pretty nice ^^

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

[Ganglyzilla]

Love the different vibes I'm getting from each picture! My order for this round:

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

[Yamimarik]

Welp it's that time again! Round 4, so exciting!! I'm loving EVERYONES shot this week! It was really a toughie for me, but I'll admit after spending enough time looking them over, a few did stand out a lil' more than the others... but like I said I loved them all. Great work everyone, really great work! So many dynamic shots... well, as always I'll provide a lil' critique, I'm not an expert or anything and these are clearly my personal opinions, but here goes:

1. Stephen Fairbrook - This is one of my favorite shots of all this cycle! It's so dynamic, so much depth to it! It's so beautiful, I'm just so happy and amazed to see your progress in this competition! You've really shown some amazing strides! I love your glamors, they match up with Castrum's to a T! Using Cid's knowledge of Magitek against the Garleans!!! So much inspiration! Keep up the amazing work Stephen, I will note that you don't really seem to have a light source on you, but the glowing on your gear and weapon really bring the full attention to yourself, and since you're being all stealthy it works! Only thing I'd have to nitpick is there is a lil open space between the mobs and the left side, but it really isn't too bad, and considering you got that Castrum tower in the background! It really helps it bring the shot together as a whole!
2. Brun Hilda - O..M...Brun! You have been doing so fabulously well in this contest! I'm so glad to see more of you finally! It's such a treat to see how your mind works and how well you can but a screenshot together! This was so beautifully well done! Again another really dynamic shot, so much going on, yet you're still the focal point of the shot itself. I'm just so amazed! Your glamors is on point, your extras are well placed and do not upstage you in the least bit! And that Magitek armor as lighting and effect! I thought at first it was just a street lamp and was like "That is a cool lamp! How come I've never... WAIT A MIN! THAT'S AWESOME-SAUCESOME!!!" Just so pleased with your shot this week. My only thing to I guess nitpick is the effect does draw some attention away from you, but it wasn't enough that I didn't notice you as a model first. So really well done, just careful on them effects though, it worked this time quite beautifully ^.^
3. Hopelle Lostoam - Wow! This is a really beautiful and again dynamic shot! I'm so impressed with this shot! I love the Garleans actively attacking you, and you fighting back for your home nation of Ul'dah! Great job getting Ul'dah in the background of the shot as well, that is what makes this such a dynamic shot!!!! I love that this back shot is really working for you, such a risk.. TWO so far in the competition, and I think they've very well paid off for you! Your effect is a lot to take in, but it doesn't overpower you in the least bit... it really just compliments you as a model. It doesn't obstruct your body so much that I'm like "Where is the beef.. I mean the model?!" lol Very well done this week. My small nitpick for this shot is, I'm not entirely sold on your glamor choice, it's a good set of glamors, but something just seems just a smidge off to me. The blue color though really makes you pop and stand out against your background and effect so good job on that ^.^
4. Katarh Mest - /clap I must applaud you, you've really shown some nice improvement since you came here to this competition. I'm thoroughly impressed with this shot! The background, the foreground, this shot is really on that dynamic point and I'm in love with it so much! I love you're playing a Ninja assassin ready to show up them Garleans and send them packing back to Garlemald! You go girl! Kick some butt! My only thing I'm not 100% sold on is your waymark effect. Those waymarks can be used to do some amazing things with shots, and it does indeed help point you into the focal point of the shot, but honestly? I do not think you need it, I think you would have been just fine w/o it and might have even placed higher with me if it had not been there. Just be careful when using effects on your characters, make sure they're working with you or for you, not against you. But otherwise this is such a beautiful shot, it really is amazing! Excellent job!
5. Nozomi Kei - I must say, I really like the general idea behind this shot. It's really well thought out with the placing and location. It's a bit enclosed, but for what you were going for it works well enough. I love how you coordinated your extras with each other, well done. Your glamors how ever, I'm not really sure about that. I love the look and feel of it, but to obscure your face completely... I'm not sure if it entirely works. It's not bad, and it was a nice risky shot. I think it paid well off enough, but something just seems slightly off to me. I wish there had been more in the background, but like I said it worked for what you were going for well enough.
6. Tinsley Tr'uhart - First off let me say, it was a beautiful pose and such a beautiful set of glamors! It really all works together so well! But, you seem to be going for what looks like a battle shot, and I don't see any kind of strife at all going on with any kind of enemy really... I'm not sure that really works too well with your idea. I love me some wings! And angels! The concept was on point, and the glamors was spot on, but your lack of a good background and no strife for what seems to be a fight scene, I'm just not sure it 100% works. It's a really beautiful shot, it really is!
7. Sunny Day - I'm loving the effects going on and the weather. It meshes well together enough. Your background is rather good, has some dynamic pieces going on. But I'm just not sold on your glamors at all. It really looks like a mash-up of a few different pieces that really do not go well together in my opinion. And I didn't even realize you were fighting an enemy till I read your description. Make sure you place NPC's as well as you can. I honestly thought it was part of your background, till I realized I was supposed to be looking for an enemy. I know those can be had to work with, really really hard!! It's a nice shot, I love your posing and your effect going on, just your glamors, extra, just really weren't working for me this week though.

Again DISCLAIMER as always, if I offend ANYONE please let me know and I'll amend my statements. Great work this round guys! /cheer! It's getting so heated and GOOD!!!