THROUGH THE PORTER'S LENS

One of the things we know our community loves is how much DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT makes you pay attention to the world around you.

DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT's photo mode gives our Porters a reason to slow down during their deliveries. Finding the right composition, deciding what should be in focus, playing with exposure, or simply waiting for the right conditions can turn a moment on the journey into something worth capturing.

(Credit: @Lisa_West_Pix)

But those ideas don’t only work in a virtual world. The skills virtual photographers acquire on their adventures can be transferred to the real world, as we recently found out for ourselves.

Armed with a camera, a raincoat, our Bridges boots and a generous amount of Welsh rain (thankfully no Timefall), we recently went hiking in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park to put our own skills into practice and get a better understanding of what it might feel like to be Sam Bridges, traversing challenging terrain with the elements working against you.

Whether you’re framing your next shot in DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT or heading outside with a camera of your own, here are a few simple things worth keeping in mind when you next get the opportunity to snap some photos.

FIND YOUR SUBJECT

Pointing a camera at a beautiful landscape doesn’t necessarily result in an interesting photograph. One of the simplest things you can do is ask yourself... what am I actually taking a picture of?

It could be a structure in the distance, a piece of cargo, or a feature in the landscape. Once you know what your subject is, you can start thinking about how everything else in the frame leads the viewer towards it.

On Snowdon, we found a simple example in a rocky path leading uphill towards a small building. The path naturally guides your eye through the foreground, while the walkers ahead provide a sense of scale.

CREATE DEPTH

Whenever you're setting up your camera, think about giving your shot a foreground, middle ground and background. Take a moment to stop and look for something close to you. Focus and depth of field can really help to separate things. Experiment with focusing on different parts of the scene and see how it changes where your eye is drawn.

During our adventure, we stopped to capture some of the nature around us, from colourful berries to plants and foliage, giving us plenty of opportunities to experiment with focus and depth of field.

WORK WITH THE WEATHER

Bad weather doesn't mean bad photographs! Look at the weather around you, whether it be in the real world or in-game, and think about how you can make it work to your advantage. Clouds change the light, rain (or Timefall) can add atmosphere, and the sun can bring warmth to a shot. Work with the weather, not against it.

Also, consider the time of day when taking your photos. Morning shots can look very different from those captured in the evening, so perhaps consider going back to certain locations at various times of the day to capture a shot that tells a very different story from one taken hours previously.

STAY IN THE MOMENT

Pay attention to the moments that won't last. Whether it’s a passing butterfly or a Cryptobiote in-game, or an animal in real life, capture the moment before worrying about perfection. The joy of modern-day photography (in the real world or in-game) is that you can refine your shots in post-production.

During our hike up, this moment came when we stumbled across some wild sheep sitting under a beautifully formed rainbow. We only had a couple of minutes to capture a shot before the rainbow disappeared.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO EXPERIMENT

There isn't just one way to photograph a scene and there's no such thing as a perfect photograph. The joy of modern-day photography is that there are so many options at your disposal. Play around with your camera's focal length, aperture, filters, exposure, etc.

TOMORROW IS IN YOUR HANDS

Photography has become more accessible than ever, and, thanks to modern day technology, it has also become incredibly easy to experiment with.

Wherever your next journey takes you, whether you're out exploring or delivering cargo across the UCA, put these tips into practice and see what catches your eye. Oh, and don't forget to slow down and take in the world around you.

(Credit: yanis)

Now we’ve given you some of our advice, we'd love to see your captures! Link us in the comments below, or take part in our latest "From a Porter's Perspective" event for a chance to be featured!

- Antonela, Global Director of Digital Content and Engagement, 505 Games.

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