Category: Exploring Second Life

Toru. A land devastated by a major earthquake and underwater volcanic eruption hundreds of years ago, a cataclysmic event so devastating it split the land apart and left it barren for hundreds of years … But all is not lost as this land was rediscovered by an intrepid photographer who stumbled upon it, and its tragic history…

So reads the greeting, at least in part, when you arrive on Toru, a homestead region designed by Waynenz. Openly drawing inspiration from Hazardous, the region is dedicated to Wendy Xeno’s and Mandingo Quan’s work there, and to “all the designers and developers of SL who create content for us to fill this land and allowing us to share this space with residents and visitors of SL.”  It’s a beautiful place, one I knew I had to see for myself  after coming across it on Ziki’s blog.

There is a windlight preset for the region, but it’s really worthwhile taking the time to play with options and see what works for you – the layout from the cliff tops down to the lower-lying valley floor offers itself to a range of lighting options, and everything is perfectly positioned to offer the SL photographer a huge amount of choice and opportunity for framing many, many shots.

The cliff top area of the island is split into two, a single stone bridge spanning the narrow but deep gorge which separates them. On once side of the divide are signs of life returning to the island; a cafe has been built, as has a store (selling Wayne’s mesh creations), and other wooden building appear to be under construction. How well things are going for the inhabitants is hard to say, however; the cafe looks to be somewhat dilapidated, and there are a couple of rusting hulks of vehicles to be found – including one which looks like it might have been shaken from its parking spot by a more recent earth tremor…

Across the bridge there is the ruin of a stone-built structure, possibly a fortified house of some description given the remnants of two towers. There are signs of recovery here as well, with a stage set having been built, which suggests live gigs might be a thing of the future.

Follow the track away from the wooden buildings and you’ll find a set of stone steps leading you down to a smaller open space with a small cabin and outhouse, with further steps leading the way down to the photographer’s ultra-modern studio / home, which visitors appear to be invited to explore as well.

When adjusting windlight, make sure you give dusk / night settings a go; the island is prone to aurora displays just off the coast, possibly the result of underwater volcanic activity, which give rise to shimmering curtains just above the waves which look like a localised version of the aurora australis.

A fabulous region, beautifully conceived and put together and more than worth a visit. If you do, please considering dropping a contribution or two into the gratuities signs scattered around the buildings.

 Related Links

• Toru SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

Ah, the fun fair! The Ferris wheel, carousels,  and rocket rides; the roller coaster; the zombies, malevolent-looking giant clowns and staccato gunfire; the ….

Hang on…

…”The zombies, malevolent-looking giant clowns and staccato gunfire” …?

No, I haven’t taken leave of my senses. I’ve decided to drop-in on DeadPool, currently in the Editor’s Picks in the Destination Guide.   It’s an amusement park where time seems to have been frozen in the 1970s, or as the Destination Guide description puts it:

Aged elegance is re-animated in DeadPool, a new experience ripe for exploration. Watch as the bygone disco days rise again! Zombies roam the overgrown and wistful spaces of a forgotten amusement park, see the old roller-disco flash and strobe while amazing DJ’s pump dance-worthy beats.

Thematically, this is the place which sort-of picks-up where MadPea’s magnificent Carneval left off, although it is of a different colour and experience, and so shouldn’t be written-off as a variation on the theme; it is as unique as Carneval ever was, and comes with very different risks. At Carneval, for example, the roller coaster was actually ride-worthy (I use “worthy” here in the sense of the ride being in one piece); however, the roller coaster at DeadPool takes the warning, “Patrons ride at their own risk” to a whole new level – and it has some interesting pose positions hidden within it! :).

The amusement park covers the entire region and offers a lot to see; in this I do recommend fiddling with windlight, as while the default is very atmospheric, it does mean you risk missing the smaller details if you’re not careful. There are a lot of opportunities here for the SL photographer to enjoy; although you may need to keep one eye on your surroundings. The aforementioned zombies can be a bit of a pain in the neck … or wherever else they opt to bite you when they find you :).

Which leads me to the gunfire. Some of the zombies are evidently “shootable”, and during my visit several people were availing themselves of this fact …

For my part, I kept myself occupied by dodging the zombies and playing around with windlight to grab shots. I was actually unable to make up my mind as to whether I should keep it light and airy in order to catch the details, or dark and atmospheric, to match the environment; hence the reason some shots may appear to be somewhat removed from my usual fare.

There are some safe areas if you want to avoid the zombies. Standing under the two giant clowns at the entrance to the park is one of them. OK, so some with a specific phobia of clowns might find the definition of “safe” somewhat lacking in this context, admittedly. If this is the case, try the decrepit theatre across the region, up on the hill. It’s also zombie-free and offers something of a place to rest a while, and even to have a sit-down…

The park is the work of the region’s owner, Xjetx Chrome, together with Megan Prumier. It’s an altogether different destination, and one worth checking out if you’re into clubs, photography, amusement parks, a ride on the wild side – oh, and zombies, of course! Now, where exactly did I put my shotgun … ? 🙂

Related Links

• DeadPool SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

I’ve been flying out of Hollywood Airport on-and-off for a good while now, and frequently putting down at Honah Lee field as well, so you’d think I’d be familiar with the majority of Blake Sea and the vicinity. But it wasn’t until a recent flight that I spotted the huge dome of Palomar Observatory on the horizon (how I’d missed it before is probably down to having draw distance turned down to assist flying – or that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!). It immediately went down on my list of places to visit as and when time allowed.

However, plans changed when I received an IM from MarkTwain White extending an invitation for me to pay a visit to the observatory, based on our common interest in astronomy. So I took advantage of another lull in real life and dropped-in on the Honah Lee group of islands (specifically Honah Lee Point), to the south of Blake Sea and had a little bit of an explore.

Now, it has to be said that these islands are steeped in legend, so when you visit, it’s really worthwhile taking time to follow the trails on foot or horseback – you can obtain a horse at the start of the trails – and avail yourself of the signs along the way; they’ll tell you a lot of about the legend, which may well have been handed down over the years until it reached the ears of Peter, Paul and Mary…

The trail leads around the main island, made up of six regions, taking you first south along one side of the central mountain ridge, offering a chance for the traveller to visit a number of famous and sometimes mysterious landmarks along the way.

The first of these is Puff’s Lagoon, where it is thought that large land and sea creatures may once have been seen, far back in ancient times, giving rise to the legend of the magic dragon referred to in song.  Just off the coast of the lagoon is a strange artefact, apparently millenia old, carved in stone, yet strangle unaltered or weathered in the passage of time. Facing out to sea, the Dragon Mother has no identifying tale associated with it and its purpose remains as much a mystery now, as when first discovered; and no-one knows whether it is somehow tied to the legends of the ancient creature said to have once roamed here, or something else entirely…

Further to the south of the island sits the Honah Lee Marine Nursery. Once a major tourist attraction and centre for marine studies, it has over the years become a much smaller facility than in its heyday, and marked by a small church and a wooden pier. Between it and Puff’s Lagoon are a number of places where tourists can rest awhile and watch the boats out on the water – but do be aware that there is also a private house sitting between the lagoon and the nursery.

The nursery is also where the trail divides – you can carry on around the island, or climb up to the plateau above and ride to the observatory. Taking the former option will bring you around to the east side of the island, past a couple more private residences and to Puff’s Meadow, an upland area of long grass again immortalised in song. A gazebo at the headland of the meadow offers a view out over the broad ocean.

Continue reading “Frolics in an autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee” →

Binemist is a homestead region developed by Bine Rodenberger which has been designed to give something of a Nordic coastal feel for visitors: high cliffs, a narrow beach, windswept grasslands, and more. There’s a lot to see and do here, and the entire layout of the island makes it a photographer’s delight.

From the arrival point on the west of the island, visitors can wander the beach  (or grab a bike and take ride), crossing a wooden bridge onto grasslands where sits the ruin of an old industrial-looking building. A track lead on around the east side of the island, where sits a small farm in the south-east corner. If you prefer to stay on the beach, there are views out over the sea, past the tall finger of a light house standing just off the coast, or there is the long climb up the wooden spiral steps to the hill tops, and the single stone church sitting high overhead.

Art plays a prominent, if subtle role here, with a piece by Chica Ghost down at the base of the cliffs on the beach, another by Bryn Oh close to the top of the spiral stairway, and other scattered around and waiting to be found.

There’s a teleport system available as well, cunningly disguised as innocent rocks, flower pots, tree stumps and so on. This can be used to get you around the island, out to the light house (or you can grab a rowing boat for this :)) and up to a couple of sky platforms. One of these is a small skybox, the other a garden with a small cabin to one side, both of which are open to the public as well.

One of the things I love about the island is that there is a juxtaposition of elements which offers up a unique look to the island. The beach and grassland, for example present a modern look and feel – the tall light house, the steel-and-concrete ruins, and so one, while up on the hill stands an old stone church speaking of bygone times. Down on the east side of the island is a comfortable-looking farm with electric lights, while just off the coast from it lies the wreck of an ancient Viking longship, its overall condition suggesting that perhaps it hasn’t been there that long at all, but which clearly speaks of an era long past when compared to the electrical conveniences of the farm. It’s an intriguing, almost eclectic mix, and it works really well.

The 30-minute auto return means that those wanting a location for a photo shoot are well served here when it comes to rezzing accessories. In fact, the entire region is a photographer’s dream; views and angles appear wherever one cams, and the island really does offer itself to extensive playing with windlight and camera options.

For those wanting an intimate setting, the region offers plenty of opportunities for sitting and cuddling, with the skybox and sky garden offering a little more privacy than on the ground. Do keep in mind when visiting that the region is Adult rated, however, and some of the pose system do reflect this!

Binemist is definitely one of those places which has to go on any SL’s explorer’s list of destinations. Whatever you’re looking for when exploring Second Life, you’ll find something here that will more than please your eye, and more than likely bring out the creative urges within the SL  photographer, as there really is a lot worth capturing on film here. For those who like a little romance, or who want to simply sit and let the world go by, you find plenty of opportunities for that as well – and to perhaps have a dance or two.

All-in-all, highly recommended.

Related Links

• Binemist SLurl (Rated: Adult)

I was drawn to take a look at Calico after seeing shots of the place on the LivingSL feed which had been taken by Goizane Serenity. This isn’t my usual haunt in terms of SL explorations, but something in Goizane’s images caught my eye, and I had to go take a look.

This is a dark urban region – with the emphasis very much on the “dark” – I couldn’t see a blessed thing with the local windlight! :). Having read the introductory notes, I opted to switch over to something which would keep up the dark/dramatic feel of the place, but which would also let me take a few snaps.

That you’re in a place overtaken by some local calamity is clear to see when you arrive (when you can see, that is :)); car wrecks litter the road, as do trash, various belongings and, strangely, comic books… Buildings have broken windows; overhead the street lamps glow weakly, and everywhere is a sense of panic. But … where is everybody?

The clues are few and far between. It’s clear that something had caused the people on this strange, forgotten corner of the world to try to leave – and leave in a hurry. It also seems that the authorities tried to stop them. The one road out of town is blocked with heavy concrete blocks and police and military vehicles are much in evidence – including the hulk of a tank, its long barrel pointing ominously back into town.

But of the people who once lived here, the police, the servicemen, the civilians – not a sign. And what happened to the bridge beyond the road block? Ripped asunder, it offers no route to safety; but how did it come to be like this? No storm would cause such damage.

Elsewhere things are equally as strange; there is an odd air of decay about the place, some of it out-of-keeping with things like the modern makes of vehicle found scattered and broken through the town. The buildings are more decrepit than one might expect, and wooden piers seem to be rotting where they stand; even some of the trees look stark and diseased…

Clearly, there are questions to be answered here – and not just with what has happened. Visiting the region, I wasn’t actually sure whether it is intended for future role-play or whether it is meant for photography / machinima. In the end, and having read the About Land notes, I opted for the former, but the place perhaps isn’t ready to go just yet. The notes read:

A long forgotten town on an island, recently discovered after having been abandoned many years ago.  No one knows how the inhabitants vanished or why, only clues that an evacuation gone horribly wrong remain.

The one thing the place is, is very atmospheric; and if you explore it carefully, you’ll realise that everything that is presented here seems to all focus on the church sitting in what amounts to the dead centre of the town… Could this also be a clue….?

For those looking for an alternative venue to explore – and allowing for the fact that it may well become a role-play centre at some point – The Town of Calico is an interesting and dark diversion, which lends itself to the imagination and the creation of backstories.

Footnote: Pey’s Law is a wonderful thing. I IM’d the owner of A town called Calico about the purpose of the region. RL being what it is, our messages passed each other by, and his arrived just after I published this piece. Here’s what he said:

“At the current time it’s more geared towards photography and machinima.  We’re currently in the process of making it into a fully interactive game with roleplay and combat and survival elements. But as of now, it’s roleplay, photography and whatever else your heart desires. The sim itself is still under heavy construction.  It most likely won’t be actually open to the public for another month or two.”

Related Links

• The Town of Calico SLurl (Rated: Adult)
• Calico Game wiki (under construction)
• The Town of Calico on Tumblr
• SL Destinations in this blog