Vlad Sharktooth is not a man who is afraid of
embracing a creative challenge. Over his eight years in Second Life, it’s fair
to say that Vlad has gone from being a relatively low key photographer to an
exceptionally creative force. A quick look through his flickr
account rapidly tells you that this a man with a
sharp eye for artistic detail; a creative soul with a penchant for
perfectionism and a slightly edgy, self-assured and sensual style. But perhaps
Vlad’s most impressive attributes are his less visual aspects, because his
phenomenal personality, constant desire to hone his craft and genuine
willingness to support other SL Photographers make him one of the most likeable
characters in the SL photography community.
So how did Vlad start his photographic
journey in Second Life? “Someone I knew a long time ago was starting to take
pictures and when I told her I knew some photoshop from work, she asked me if I
could help her,” remembers Vlad. “I then realized - when I tried SL photography
- that it was a completely different thing, and it was extremely exciting to
learn more about it at first…and after that, I discovered that it also allowed
me to express myself in ways that I otherwise couldn't.”
That personal creative discovery has since
set Vlad on the path of most artistic people: one of constantly trying out
ideas, honing technique and developing a unique style - but it hasn’t always
been easy for him, as he admits, “I remember starting out in flickr and
Photoshop with SL photos and I remember how frustrating it can be at times -
that never goes away! - and how clueless I was to some things. I also remember
being a bit annoyed at times when I thought that maybe I had reached my peak
and that's as good as I would get!”
Vlad’s understanding of the often painful
creative process means that he is always responsive to others that are learning
the SL photographic ropes. “I've had flickr mail from people that have felt
similarly, so I'll always, always, do whatever I can to support people in
whatever way I can,” he says generously, so what advice can he give to any
fledging SL photographers – or those stuck firmly in a creative funk? “The best
artists draw from their own experiences and if you think you just don't have
anything exceptional to tell, you're probably wrong! Everyone has things that
make them unique, things they have lived, things that they struggle with, maybe
even by themselves.”
All artists – whatever their genre – will
recognize that sense of struggle, but finding the inspiration for his photos
doesn’t appear to be something that Vlad has to fight with. He regularly posts
photos to his flickr account and his images always prove popular with his
myriad of followers. Other things that make Vlad’s work stand out is the witty
and insightful text he produces to accompany each photo (by his own admission –
he enjoys a good rant), as well as a ‘soundtrack’ in the form of a YouTube song
that he feels best illustrates each photograph.
“Usually I either have Spotify on shuffle
all, YouTube on auto run, or one specific song on a loop,” he says, explaining
how music motivates his work. “The first lands me on songs I know, which helps
mix things up, the second... sometimes gets me to songs I hate or that make me
cringe for one reason or another - not that they're bad - so it's always like a
little Pandora’s box and the last one is when I’m set on a mood or specific
song for a picture.”
As for the future, Vlad intends on creating
more of his photos and is enjoying experimenting with creating different photo
sets using items found in Second Life rather than created in Photoshop – even
if it does cost him a small fortune playing the gacha machines in the hope of
winning a specific piece. “If I see some set or furniture in SL that I like
that has a theme, and I go and try to build something around it, granted, this
method sometimes ends up with me spending a lot to get the set and then never
using it because I forgot about it or procrastinated about it!” he says
laughing.
None of us can create in isolation, so I ask
Vlad if there is anyone he would like to thank for helping him – as he helps
others. He thinks for a moment before replying: “I'd thank everyone that I have
ever interacted with: from simple conversations, to all that believe in me, to
those who trust me, to the people that help me when I need their opinion, to
those that have inspired me, to the ones that are always there when I've needed
someone, of course, to every victim that has ever had to endure the hardships
of posing for and with me, to every person who I owe a
picture, and lastly, to everyone that reads my writing or likes my
pictures. A tiny little piece of my
heart belongs to each one of you.” And that is the essence of Vlad Sharktooth:
creative, generous – but always grateful. Long may he continue.
Want to get started in SL photography or improve what you
do? Here are Vlad’s top tips:
1: Watch, a lot, be it tutorial videos or SL
tuition videos.Check out videos by SL photographers DaeberethwenArbenlow and
Katey Coppola and others on YouTube. Also check out tutorials on sl
photography, meaning windlights, projector lights, settings for DoF, shadows.
2: Don't compare your work to others,
especially don't compare your work to people who have had years of practice,
even if they don't keep their old pictures, or if they seemed to be that good
from the start, always remember you are only seeing what they are comfortable
with sharing, you don't see their failures or struggles, you only see the work
they deem 'good enough'.
3: Don't be afraid to reach out if you need
help, some will provide it, some won't. I’m always up for helping, but I know
others might be less inclined to do so, don't let it phase you, it's not
personal.
4: As Carrie Fisher once said: "Take
your broken heart, make it into art." This goes for happy feelings as
well, take your joy, sorrow, lust, convictions, etc., and explore them in
pictures, don't just be someone who takes a random picture of the latest event,
there are hundreds of those, and sooner or later, it gets old.
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