Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 22nd to 10th October

Welcome to the monthly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program.

Every four weeks we will be picking our top five favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community.

This theme has been run by the @ACFirstCiv Virtual Photography team. We wanted to celebrate the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji DLC, with a selection of photos from the community. We hope you all have enjoyed venturing back into Japan with this DLC and of course snapping some photos.

Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured.

Theme: Claws of Awaji

A Stillness

Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows

VP Artist: Hotkey2435

The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Theme

Judge: @Falconswift87

Aaron

Assassin’s Creed Shadows already possessed a vast array of environments, all unique and beautifully crafted. So, I became quite intrigued by a darker tone heading into the Claws of Awaji DLC. Afterall, Ubisoft Bordeaux did produce very creepy sections in the Wrath of the Druids expansion. It’s always important to have a balance though and that is where this elegant capture comes in. The composition is exquisite and the colours dreamy. The Autumnal trees look very impressive with their red hue. I love the addition of fog in the distance to add mystery to Naoe’s path. For me the white outfit complements the capture so well, drawing the eye into the centre. This shot has been executed brilliantly, bringing a calmness to proceedings. A worthy winner of the theme.

Defensive Stance

Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows

VP Artist: OpticsShatter

Naoe is such an independent character and one that harbours a lot more under the surface. Her passion and determination drive her to be better. She makes for quite a compelling lead character due to her vengeance not being so clear cut as someone like Bayek. In the Claws of Awaji DLC Naoe will have to adapt to being the hunted one but judging by this capture she is more than ready. I am very impressed with the use of black and white, along with the cool defensive pose. I like how we can see Naoe emerging from the foliage, posed to strike. Her attire really leans into the assassin/ninja ethos. A striking portrait that is compositional interesting but also acing the lighting to bring the vibes of the DLC.

Surveying the Area

Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows

VP Artist: @XSpartanAimeeX

I think one of the reasons fans longed so much for a Japanese Assassin’s Creed is the world it has to offer. Japan with its rich history and bountiful landscapes, coupled with the spectacular buildings makes for the perfect playground for players. This capture is really selling that theory with a stunning photo of Naoe surveying a stronghold from the hillside. The colours are so pleasing on the eye, and the superb white of the structure marries nicely with Naoe’s outfit. The foggy background adds to the atmosphere and serves to further highlight the strong autumnal colours. The layout of the shot is akin to the promotional material produced by Ubisoft themselves. It really is a beautiful capture that makes me want to jump back into the game.

Bo Master

Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows

VP Artist: @TakaSanGames

Over the years I have played many games and for the most part enjoyed taking photos in them. I've always had a soft spot for portraits and I think Assassin’s Creed lends itself so well to capturing them. With Shadows implementing the pose option within the photo mode, a whole host of opportunities have now opened up for us VP artists. Taka, known for producing impressive portraits has once again delivered with this captivating shot of Naoe. There is so much to appreciate here from the shadow work to the soft colour tones. It’s impressive how you cannot see Naoe’s eyes shrouding the picture in mystery. I love how realistic this capture looks, almost as if it is a professional shoot. I know Taka mentioned going for a magazine cover style, I think that has been impeccably achieved.

The Many Faces

Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows

VP Artist: @marcromanbravo

Ubisoft Bordeaux have consistently delivered this generation. They have produced a fan favourite in Mirage alongside too very impressive DLC’s. Both of which have balanced story with a side of horror. I felt the Druid approach worked really well in Valhalla, creating a very different feel from the main game. The Awaji DLC has worked in a similar way. I can’t quite believe this capture is from an Assassin’s Creed game. At first glance you would think it’s a horror title. The focus on Naoe is so unnerving, coupled with one of the many poses you can use in the game. The lighting on her face and the highlights of gold and red make this extremely terrifying. The atmosphere is heighten by the pouring rain and the creepy figure appearing behind Naoe. I am really enjoying the mask just out of focus, adding layers to this frightfully good capture.  

And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list!

Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in!