Greetings, everyone.

It's an incredible honor to be here among so many talented artists who inspired me in the first place.

Gaming became a part of my life in 2010, largely thanks to my dad, on whose PC I've been introduced to some unforgettable racing and shooter titles like Burnout Paradise, Split/Second, Battlefield 3&4 and Dead Space 1&2. (In the latter, I was more of a spectator than a player, often too scared of every screamer and the gloomy atmosphere - perhaps this is why I've never truly become a fan of the horror genre, unintentionally missing out on some incredible games).

For years, my screenshots were nothing more than precious or simply funny moments or match stats in online games. But after some time, I started taking screenshots of some scenes that caught my eye. My first steps into this were humble; I've been using the Rockstar Editor in GTA V to find a good angle before taking the shot. I had no knowledge of advanced tools or photo modes back then and had a lot of experimenting, so few of the screenshots created at that time have survived to this day.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1832703119

Everything changed in the second half of 2020 when I got my first gaming PC. Thousands of hours in online shooters had left me emotionally drained, so I turned to single-player games to find solace after some time. Around this time, I stumbled upon the community sections of various games and discovered many incredible shots made by screenshot enthusiasts. Their ability to transform in-game scenes into breathtaking illustrations left me in awe and sparked my desire to explore this art form.

Initially, I didn't use third-party tools, relying instead on the default photo modes in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Horizon Zero Dawn. My early efforts weren't polished or artistic but focused on capturing locations that I consider visually interesting. Yet, the pull of new games and the excitement of experiencing them all often kept me from fully committing to virtual photography.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2736648765

A year ago, everything shifted again. Wanting to step back from constant gaming, I found myself scrolling through an activity feed filled with stunning works from different artists. It's just like a couple of years ago—only this time, I decided to give it a serious shot. I started by creating panorama shots using Ansel in gorgeous The Witcher 3.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3108608050
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3175318071

When I started posting last December, many subsequent works were united by a winter theme—a reflection of my love for the snowy season and the magical atmosphere it brings.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3116246339
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3119985724
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3137645305

Gradually, I tried step by step to improve the quality of everything I've been posting (whether it worked out is not for me to decide)—I got acquainted with various editing programs and finally learned about the proper way of uploading edited screenshots and creating custom thumbnails for them. (A huge shout-out to the guide provided by Yonaga).

After some time, I turned my attention to Days Gone. In this game, I was flabbergasted by the in-game photo mode's opportunity of high-resolution rendering, which allowed me to create more detailed views using several manually created screenshots rather than press one button and let Nvidia's technology do the work.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3248396859
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3253408639

Looking back, all games were just about the gameplay and story, a chance to test everything they had to offer. The artistic elements were appreciated but never a focus. Over the past year, that perspective has shifted entirely. Now, it's no longer just about playing - every splendid view deserves to be captured.

If you've read it this far, I am grateful for the opportunity to share my small story with you. I'm genuinely delighted to be part of a community brimming with many talented people. To everyone who has given positive feedback through commenting and giving awards - your encouragement inspires me to create more content we would both like.


Creating with your heart - truly putting your passion into it - can lead to remarkable results, even if it doesn't seem that way at first. Don't let hesitation stop you from uncovering the beauty in what you can create.

gumaksov