VIDEOLUDICA 

I have always been fascinated by the very concept of "game photography". Since most videogames are a simulation of travel, taking snapshot of digital spaces comes natural to most gamers. Some, however, have elevated this practice to an artform. Robert William Overweg, an art student, sent me a few samples of his promising new project, "The beauty of the virtual world caught in the photographic image".

What follows is Robert's description:

"The beauty of the virtual world caught in the photographic image

The beauty of the virtual world always hides behind the game which is played in it. Robert William Overweg captures the realistic virtual landscapes. These worlds are often a direct copy of our own reality, but due to the possibility to construct everything in this world. There is always an ideal incidence of light, day and night. The birds fly in the most perfect patterns for the viewer. Robert shows us the images from the virtual world in a new context in which they were not intended.

The games Robert uses are normally scenery for a gory spectacle. The main focus is the fight between players and the desired objectives. By focusing on what lies behind that, gorgeous images arise which seem to be on the verge of reality.

Robert is in his last year at the art academy in Arnhem (the Netherlands). He has developed his skills in many aspects of the graphical field. Including books and websites. In the last couple of years he is embracing the virtual world as a playground for his ideas about images." (From the press release)

And here's the artist's statement:

"I have always been a gaming enthusiast. About a half year ago I started the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. which takes place in a kind of bizarre but realistic looking world. I started to take pictures the same way I would normally photograph in real life. Which could be described as streetphotography (a la Gary Winogrand from the 60's and 70's) This world was especially interesting because it was set up as a real world as said before. But lightning struck on places which gave the most beautiful shadows. Birds flew in the most perfect patterns for someone looking at the sky.

My interest in the realistic looking virtual worlds was further developed in my essay. As you might have allready read I am a graphic design student from the Art academy in Arnhem , the Netherlands. In my fourth year I have written an essay about what I find interesting in relation to our profession.

I have allways been engaged with the truth and reality issue in images. Especially news/media images. My essay of course deals with Susan Sontag, Jean Baudrillard, all the reasons why photography fails as messenger of the truth. It is allways a representation of the truth. Photography is the translator of the truth but one with a serious handicap.

I started seeing games more and more as the most perfect representation of the real world. While game developers can create allmost every environment, most games take place in real life environments or environments based on that. The possibility to construct whatever is wanted does give us the best possible lightning day and night. Allways there, never fades.

The places which portray these beautiful situations however are allways hidden behind the game which is being played in it. The main focus is on the killing of the other team. Or to reach a certain goal. All the games I photograph are actually based on violence and killing. But I seek to portray the beautiful elements which the games contain. A nice contradiction.

What I also find interesting in viewing the final results is that the experience you have while viewing a picture from my hand created in a game. Is in the beginning often not different from the experience you would have watching a picture created from the real world. The border between reality and virtual reality fades for a subtle moment." (Robert William Overweg)

Link: Game Photography by Robert William Overweg

Link: GameScenes