Avantasia for THEMA Magazine

May 10, 2015 by Wicca Merlin

Avantasia

(some when in the future round about the year 2525 maybe….)

Be aware of the life on Avantasia before you venture into this world in the climax of war and anarchy, their enemies, the sirens of Venus who else. The Avantasians are a complex race but by no means should they be underestimated, from their flexibility to the swifness of their long sharp talons, their catlike movements ooze in deadly elegance and subtle seduction as they prowl their world in search for the ultimate in style to seduce their next victim…I mean mate.

Sometimes you just need 2 to 3 pictures and you end up with 9 and cannot decide which ones to use. That happened to me when I made my pictures for the actual THEMA Magazine (http://issuu.com/themapublications/docs/thema_terraefirma)

The theme was Terrae Firma, and we was asked to create pictures about a new race of the existing planets or a new planet. When Tayler told me, I was immediately sure I wanted to create a new planet with a new race.

I wanted to do something still fashion related and human but to the same time, futuristic and apocalyptic. I love apocalyptic movies and art and so I watched a few of my favourite movies while I was styling.

The first piece that came to my mind was the “Lucian Hat Nox” hat from Machoire. An incredible headpiece made of so many filigree parts and textured with such a great feeling for materials.

This amazing art piece is available in different colors, wich you all can see at the Machoire main store or at their website (http://machoire.blogspot.fr/)

Now I had to find something what kinda showed evolution for the future but still has a human aspect for the whole look.

The head-piece gave a rough idea for the general colors, back and some kind of metal should be the basic.

So started with a super old but still amazing top from Muhi. One of the brands I really miss in SL as they always were up to date and very fashion forward.

I know some people are against wearing old stuff and tell always to delete older things, but I am going more with my belly feeling and keep old things which I really like to combine them with new things. That sometimes can make a look very unique, as long as you keep the general style up to date and modern. Certainly some things are outdated some when, like the super old skins or hair, wich automatically let you look like 2007 :p , but for some clothing pieces and accessories that might not be the case 😉 . As well I would say there is a difference in wearing old things for a picture or on the runway as some of the older things just react weird with movement, especially if they have huge static prims or sculpties, wich can look better with a nowadays mesh prim that actually moves with your properly.

To add a modern touch I put on my “Lavinia Leggins” in anthracite, which I made for my store Wicca’s Wardrobe. With the leathern garter belt over the leggings – one piece to wear – it got a strong and powerful look but as well some sexy attitude.

To finish the basic human look I added hells from Death Row Designs with some heavy chains and a huge plateau heel.

Now the challenge started to develop the human race forward to fit in the futuristic and apocalyptic environment, that I had in my mind for the new planet and race.

The first idea was the “Demonhands” from Death Row Designs. The sharp claws are important to fight and survive on the new planets face.

I so many apocalyptic movies females wear corsets in some style and this made me add one corset of Trilobite over the “Asymetrical Bodysuit” from Muhi. And what should not miss? Some weapon looking accessories. Those I found as well at Death Row Designs.. I bet you can tell I love this store really a lot 😉 .

The finish was the “Centipede” spine attachment, that comes with a wonderful tattoo layer. The tattoo makes the spine look like, as it would grow out directly off your back.

All the poses used in this post are from Del May, one of my favourite pose makers beside PosESioN or Corpus to just name a few.

And like I said in the beginning, It was so hard to decide between all the pictures I made, that this post is a little bit picture heavy 😉

I would like to thank Taylor Wassep for this amazing opportunity and the great inspiration of her theme. The THEMA Magazine is for me really kinda an art exhibition with amazing stylists and photographers and I am feeling very honored that I was allowed to be part again 🙂

Details

Top: Muhi – “Asymetrical Bodysuit” (store not any longer existing)

Corset: Trilobite – “Latex Underbust – Coal” (store not any longer existing)

Pants: Wicca’s Wardrobe – “Lavinia Leggings” (for slink mesh high feet)

Shoes: DRD – “Whoreheels” (for slink mesh high feet)

Head Piece: Machoire – “Lusian Hat Nox”

Arms: DRD – “Demonhands”

Arm Accessories: DRD – “Armor Female”

Spine Attachment: DRD – “Centipede”

Hair: Baiastice – “Agnes”

Skin: [sys] – “Eva 02”

Makeup: Nuuna – “Zion 2 Black”

Lipstick: Oceane – “Jade Lips Black Silver Stripe”

Poses: Del May

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

Playing with Projectors and Lighs – Part I

February 24, 2015 by Wicca Merlin

A few days ago, I joined a class about blogging as I wanted to know if I can learn something new, as I am always looking for new thing I can discover and raise my horizon.

The class was amazing and at some point we came to the part of the pictures and how to take them and wich kind of pictures are for what situation. Usually you have more clean pics for blogging and castings and some more artistic pictures for a storytelling blog post or magazines.

We were talking about many of the very popular photographers in SL and as well about the difference of photographer and artists.

While a photographer usually just takes pics and does them tweak a little bit in one of the graphic programs, the artist takes a snapshot and you will not see the original snap anymore after the artist did the magic with the picture in his program by painting and editing a lot by hand. I would never go so far, to say one has less work or more work than the other, the amount of work might be the same, just it is in 2 totally different ways. While the artist has to be very familiar with his editing s program, his graphic tablet and his skills to paint and illustrate, the photographer needs to be familiar with the SL windlights, shadows, special angles and lights and maybe even with projectors or lighting tools. Both is a lot of work, I believe and it needs a lot of practice just it complete different ways.

I saw for a longer time , that many photographers work with a tool called lumipro. I remember great pics done with this special light tool and I always wanted one to try but, since it is not cheap and I work in so many different areas, I never got one.

But then… lately I was talking to a very long friend of mine a lot and helped her here and there if she wanted my opinion, as friends do usually. Out of the blue one day when I logged in I got a gift…

The crazy girl did know, that I was after the lumipro for quite some time and guess what… She gifted me a lumipro!!! I stormed her IMs telling her she would be crazy to make such expensive gifts and I was totally happy and crazy about. She was just calm, smiles and told me that would be her way to show me how much she appreciated my help. I told her, that I did not do that for any kind of gift, more just because of our friendship and that I never expected anything for that, but she insisted on that this would be her way and I better accept it.

OMG I have a lumipro!

The rest of the evening was just gone, with all the work I wanted to do and I totally lost myself in my new toy. I have to admit I have still no clue how it works properly and I will need to watch a lot of tutorials and ask around to really get used to this fantastic tool but I am more than willing to try!

For today I just played around with the presets and changed them lightly, to see what possibilities and features it has.

God this is a weapon if you know what you are doing with it!!!

I just placed myself in front of a white wall with my war turtle from [Swagga] and turned my windlight settings to midnight to see the full range of the light balls.

I was blown away what those 3 balls can do and I digged further into the user manual on the lumipro website to see what all those buttons of the HUD can do.

Then I found the projectors… holy cow! Now I know how some light settings were made on pictures that I loved so much!

The way to project lights behind you with different textures as filters, was something I totally had forgotten about since I started to play with windlights.

I do not know much at all yet to really use this fantastic photography tool properly, but I know that I will spend a lot of time in the future to be able to operate this HUD and bein able to use all its functions and features as this really is a lot of fun to play around with and that is the reason why I named this post ‘Part I’, because I am really sure about that this will not be the last post about my playing with lights and projectors 😉

But for now I have to finish as there is a lot of work left wich got delayed because of my new lumipro :p

Details

Top: PEQE – “Corsetted Top” – NEW (The Fantasy Collective February 2015)

Pants: Wicca’s Wardrobe – “Anakri [B&W Edition]”

Shoes: Wicca’s Wardrobe – “Raquel Heels” – NEW

Head Piece: Miamai – “Mia Madonna Chloe” – NEW (The Fantasy Collective February 2015)

Mask: ATTIC – “Leather Medusa Masquerade Mask” – NEW (The Fantasy Collective February 2015 Gacha)

Wings: [SWaGGa] – ” Eli Wings” – NEW (The Fantasy Collective February 2015)

Animal: [SWaGGa] – “War Turtle” (The Fantasy Collective Janurary 2015)

Poses: Del May

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

In Midian City with [sys]

October 24, 2014 by Wicca Merlin

If you blog or create looks and styles, I am sure you know the feeling…

You like something, buy it and it simply does not wanna talk to you in the first place. You get not the exact right idea or have no clue how to stage it right.

Then you put it aside for a few and all of a sudden afer some time you wear it again and immediately know what you wanna do with it, kinda as it would talk to you.

Exactly that happened to me with the “Biopunk” outfit from [sys]. I liked, it had a very cool attitude but when I was wearing the first time I was sure I wanted to blog it, but I had no idea for a scenery or background.

When I was putting it on yesterday again, I had immediately the idea how I wanted it to look like.

I wanted a cool tough environment for a futuristic, urban, swag look.

The “Biopunk” outfit contains a short with open zippers, leggings and the boots.

To pimp it even more towards my futuristic idea, I am wearing the “Inquisition” sunglasses, as well from [sys].

The hair is a wonderful picture hair from EMO-tions. The “Aquaria” hair probably was made for underwater shootings, but I loved how wild the whole look became with it.

Now I just had to find the right location. The best places for making pictures – if you do not wanna create your own set – for me are RP sims. Mostly they are created with so much love for the detail.

After looking around I found a place called Midian City. The place had so many amazing corners and hide outs to make pictures that I ended up having way more pictures than I could use 😉 .

The people were very nice and kind and I was told I can snap some pics as long as I do not disturb the people who wanna role play. I even got an invite to take part in that RP but I did not yet have time to think about to be honest. But after getting some information about the RP it is totally something I would look into if I would think about RPing again 🙂

Details

Outfit: [sys] – “Biopunk”

Glasses: [sys] – “Inquisition”

Hair: EMO-tions – “Aquaria”

Skin: [sys] – “Eva”

Nail Polish: Nailed It! – “Dark Set”

Lipstick – Launa Fauna – “Liptick Red3”

Poses: Del May

Location: Midian City

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

LOTD 10/06/2014 – Cool Look at the Dead End

October 7, 2014 by Wicca Merlin

Today I had a very lazy day and was looking around for new locations to do pictures.

Mostly roleplay sims are very well and detailed designed. So my ways lead me over several urban RP sims before I found the “Dead End”. At some RP sims you land first in a mall and have to find your way through a whole bunch of shops before you actually can enter the sim. These malls are usually not that great looking, so I was surprised when I landed at the “Dead End” that I landed right at the scenery. At the landing point I found the rules very easy and so I could make sure that I would not obtrude or disturb anyone by just looking around. I had not to go far until I found the right spot that matched my todays look 😉

Today I was running around in one of my latest creations, wich I made for the [Room 69] event. It is the first time that I am part of that and i have to tell that I was treated super kind and nice by the people who run it. They were very helpful and patient with me.

The “Nagini Top [B&W Edition]” that I am wearing, is a wonderful short top with chains hanging down over the belly and a huge and deep neckline wich gives a very sexy and modern look. The top comes with my new HUD wich is just one prim with one script what makes it a very low lag script. You can choose between 6 different options for the texture of the top.

You can choose between black and white and highlights in silver, white and black like yu can see on the picture above.

The pants as well you can find at the [Room 69] along with the “Nagini Top”. The “Anakri ‘Pants [B&W Edition]” are made to match the “Nagini Top” and have the same HUD options.

The shoes are one of my personal favourites and you will find the at my main store. The “Gambler Heels [Autumn Edition]” are made for the Slink Av. Enhancement mesh feet. They only will fit with the high version of the Slink feet and not for the regular Avatar feet.

The dieces wich make the heel and the letters at the platform are textured with metals. With the HUD that comes with it, they can be retextured in gold, silver and a black metal. For he shoe it self you have many different possibilities to customize them in texture and color. The palette goes over all the actual autumn colors. The HUD allows to recolor the whole shoe as well as in 3 different parts. The sole, the straps and the body can be changed separately.

To complete my look I used the “Creature Glasses” as well from Wicca’s Wardrobe.

For the hair I wanted to use something casual but still wild and modern from booN. For the lipstick I chose my favourite one from Launa Fauna. It is part of the “Halloween Set” and what I like so much is, that the black is not just deep opaque black with no structure. I always loved Launa Fauna for her high detailed makeups, lipsticks and skins.

The black nails with those sweet white spiders and webs are made by Nailed It! and they are part of the “Rock Set”.

I now will continue to explore the “Dead End” and see if I can find some more cool spots for my next pictures 😉

Details

Top: Wicca’s Wardrobe – “Nagini Top [B&W Edition]” – NEW

Bra: [AD] Creations – “Gothic Summer” (part of the outfit)

Pants: Wicca’s Wardrobe – “Anakri Pants [B&W Edition] – NEW

Shoes: Wicca’s Wardrobe – “Gambler Heels [Autumn Edition] – NEW

Glasses: Wicca’s Wardrobe – “Creature Glasses”

Skin: [sys] – “Eva”

Lipstick: Launa Fauna – “Halloween Set /black”

Hair: booN – “SEL 740”

Nails: Nailed It! – “Rock Set”

Location: Dead End

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

Wicca’s Wardrobe: How I put my looks together? Sometimes I do not even know by myself ;)

June 19, 2013 by Wicca Merlin

Sometimes I get asked how I start styling and if I could describe what I do. For the usual fashion stylings I can at least try to explain what I do one after another as you usually follow certain rules when you put a look together that you got asked for. Sometimes you follow the standard color schemes or you style after an RL look that you saw somewhere, or you use some other source of inspiration. But there is days, at least for me, where I do not have anything requested and start going through my inventory. Sometimes I get stuck with an item, an accessory, and wanna turn this in a whole look. But when I try to go by the first idea, that this detail gave me, I get stuck and do not really know what I can do to complete it, without looking boring or stereotype with so many others that were wearing that item before. And who wants to see the same item over and over again in the same way?

For today it ws the “Hunter Headdress” headpiece from XtraX, that caught my attention. I found it longer ago on the “I <3 RP” event. I was looking for horns as the “Hunters Headdress” fell into my hands. I could not resist to buy it, even if I had no idea yet what I am going to use it for. Sometimes things have to rest in your inventory for a while like a good bottle of red wine before you have the perfect idea how you wanna use it :p .

I was sorting my inventory as I came across the headpiece and I just put it on to see how it fits as it part wise mesh. Then I stood there at my studio – naked, only wearing that headpiece and tried to imagine a styling. If I would have used my first idea I would have tried some fantasy looking, but I kinda wanted to have something more realistic. The “Hunters Headdress” headpiece combines so many different fabrics and items, the leather, the suede parts, the horns and the little accessories on the horns. I remembered an old Benetton advertise campaign and this idea kinda got stuck in my head. United Colors of Benetton always had chic casual clothing. So I looked through a few of my last folders I got for blogging and found the “Brandy” mesh dress from PurpleMoon. The colors were perfect matching the headpiece.

Since I did not want to go too sexy, I added some leggings as I like the way how short dresses or hot-pants go together with leggings or tights. Maybe that’s something I still carry with me from the 80’s :p . For the shoes I had some boots in mind, that I had for a long time, a time where mesh was not yet on the grid and those sculpties was one of the first and best ones I saw, when it came to realistic looking shoes. I did know, that they were from Hoorenbeek, but I could not recall the name of them. Since I had an addiction to this brand for quiet some time, I do not have just one pair and so I started looking through my Hoorenbeek shoe folder. Finally I found the “Lucille” boots in the tan/beige color. The brown and creme tone was a wonderful match in my opinion. With the mask there is no need to look for hair, makeup or earrings so I just wanted to ad some bracelets and maybe a necklace. For the necklace I recalled the last releases from EMO-tions back to my mind. There was a new mesh necklace from Mirja Mills, owner and designer of EMO-tions, that should match the look. A not too elegant but excellent made long modern necklace called “Precious”, in the colors green, brown and silver parts in different shapes.

When I looked at the result I really was not sure what it should be and how I can orchestrate this for a picture. That does not mean I did not like it but with such a controverse look, I needed something strong, lightly dark and kinda grunge looking. I saw such a place not too long ago and looked through my ‘Photo Places’ folder, till I found it again – “Old New York“

For the right poses I first wanted to make some, but then I remebered some of my Del May poses that should be perfect for this. Powerful, different and expressive, so why make poses when you aready have wonderful ones that perfectly fit 🙂 ?

I hope you enjoyed my little styling journey 🙂

Stay styled,

Wicca

Details

Dress: PurpleMoon – “Brandy Dress” (mesh, Gypset Market)

Headpiece: XtraX – “Hunters Headdress” (part mesh, I <3 Roleplay)

Boots: Hoorenbeek – “Lucille Boots”

Leggings: LeeZu – “Cat Tights”

Bracelets: GizzA – “Asia Watch & Bracelet”

Necklace: EMO-tions – “Precious” (mesh)

Poses: Del May

Sim: Old New York

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

Gothic Lolita Feelings

June 17, 2013 by Wicca Merlin

Sometimes I get my dark fantasay and emo mood and this time I found the perfect outfit to express it 😉 The wonderful “Murk” dress from [AD] Creations.

The incredible textured ruffles, the amazing details on the corset, all the wonderful accessories and the beautiful eye mask give a perfect ‘gothic lolita with class’ look. The black and purple color combination underlines the strong gothic look in an awesome way. I did not wanna ad too much of other accessories as the gown itself already has those amazing features, so I only added some bracelets and a collar from LouLou&Co and the wonderful “Rosenkavalier” hat from Rozoregalia that brought back the roses in such a nice way.

Now I had to find a location that matched the look. I was looking around many places until I remembered a wonderful victorian place. Venexia, a super amazing RP sim. It has so many nice places and corners and if you are polite and kind and do not disturb the roleplayers, wearing your observer tag, this place is heaven for pictures.

Details

Gown: [AD] Creations – “Murk” – NEW (partwise mesh)

Hair: DeLa – “Lori” (mesh)

Necklace: LouLou&Co – “Enigma”

Bracelets: LouLou&Co – “Crepsule”

Boots: *GF* – “Short Lace-Up Boots”

Hat: *+RR+* – “Rosenkavalier”

Skin: Silken Moon – “Wicca”

Sim: Venexia

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

Warrior of the Dawn

August 21, 2012 by Wicca Merlin

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News at EMO-tions – For Girls & Guys!!!

May 28, 2012 by Wicca Merlin

This weekend EMO-tions came up with a fantastic new release. The “Demonica” outfit and 2 new hairstyles, one for girls – a long one – and one for guys… ok for me the second one is unisex as I really like the style of it and I am not willing to let this go for the guys only :p

But now lets take a closer look on the “Demonica” outfit first. The outfit comes as a full outfit and you only have to add skin, hair and shoes. the great skirt, open in the front, that is hold by amazing detailed leather straps makes a wonderful female attitude. The leather pants, gloves and as well the top are covered by amazing high quality textures. The whole outfit goves an awesome strong and warrior looking touch. What caught my eyes as well is the huge collar with that amazing chains the really shine in the lights and give the whole style a sexy touch as well 😉

The male… pardon the unisex :p style is called “Troy”. A wonderful pony tail with short sides that for me fits male AND female, available in all needed colors at the EMO-tions Mainstore.

The second hairstyle, called “Nora” is the long female one. Wonderful flexible and curled hair with a nice ornament round the head that you can purchase in all regular colors. To see more of all the amazing creations of EMO-tions you better take a look at the EMO-tions Mainstore 🙂

Stylecard

Outfit: EMO-tions – “Demonica” – NEW

Hair 1: EMO-tions – “Troy” – NEW

Hair 2: EMO-tions – “Nora” – NEW

Shoes: L&B – “Gothic Platforms”

Earrings: *P* – “Monica”

Poses: Morphine

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

Wicca Merlin

The Second Life of a SL Model

Tag Archives: roleplay

Avantasia for THEMA Magazine

Avantasia

Playing with Projectors and Lighs – Part I

In Midian City with [sys]

LOTD 10/06/2014 – Cool Look at the Dead End

Wicca’s Wardrobe: How I put my looks together? Sometimes I do not even know by myself ;)

Gothic Lolita Feelings

Warrior of the Dawn

News at EMO-tions – For Girls & Guys!!!