Looking at it now reminds me of the scene in chapter 11 of CoLA (http://touhou.wikia.com/wiki/Curiosities_of_Lotus_Asia:_Chapter_11), where Reimu weakens the Hakurei Barrier and Rinnosuke, who was daydreaming about the outside world, finds himself transported - in a dreamlike state - to a shopping district in Japan, wherein he is befuddled by all the light, noise and smell there before being brought back by Yukari.
Nobody in the place seemed to have paid any attention to poor Kourin, so maybe his oniric presence could have only been perceived in a ghost picture much like this one?
It's probably already been considered but I think we should keep a thread like this here just cuz it's kinda interesting seeing earth gensokyoificated.
seeing earth gensokyoificated.|3
i remember that chapter.How misterious was that...he was able to do an astral projection? maybe with the white noise of the i pod who he was hearing, he fall into a kind of trance state who, combined with his own youkai sleeping abilities,project his spirit to the place where, probably, the i pod was lost...but happily Yukari found him, because he no have practice in that, and would be very dangerous...for example,his spirit would be lost in there and without form to return to Gensokyo... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astral_projection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HypnagogiaMy opinion is that he did something very like Maribel does, only he crossed from Gensokyo into the outside world in a half-dream half-real estate. So yes, it would something like astral projection. I don't think he has border-crossing innate abilities like Mary, but since Reimu weakened the Barrier, which separates fantasy from reality and he was - ironically - fantasizing about the real world, he accidentally stepped into there.
Purvis:
First Picture: YES. Here we go. This is the stuff. Look at that Youkai Mountain range. Look at those clouds where Iku's chillin' out. Very yes. 10/10
First comment: Hmmm. The history is nice, but it's not really selling it to me. Good effort, though. 5/10
Total: 15/20
Second Picture: Hmm, not quite so evocative as the last one, but still very nice. The landscape is just a little too broken up for Gensokyo, though. 8.5/10
Second comment: Not really selling it, but at least it's not wishy washy. 4/10
Total: 12.5/20
Third Picture: Okay this looks cool. It's not Gensokyo, but looking cool and the story to go with it gives it more points than usual. 4/10
Third comment: I like this. I like it a lot. Very clever. 10/10
Total: 14/20
Nobu:
Photo 1: Too much skyline here. With the interesting story behind these mountain ranges, I wish they felt more like the focus of the shot. The sky is taking up about 2/3rds of the shot when it should be ideally at 1/3rd. A good cropping job would fix this quite nicely as the resolution is decent, but I have to judge this picture's composition and not what it could be, alas. That said, your description adds quite nicely to the vibe I get from these mountains, and if this hasn't found its way into Gensokyo yet I could imagine it will someday down the line.
Photo 2: Woooow. That tengu bird really jumps out at you, doesn't it? The horizon here is placed at a much better position than it was in the last shot, and I rather love the visuals of the rolling landscape gradually receding into the mist. This is how I'd imagine the border of Gensokyo to look like, pretty much. The only thing that clashes with the Gensokyo vibe is the power lines I can make out, but the quality of this shot has convinced me that they must be structures built by the Kappa to power their inventions. :3c
Photo 3: The light sure makes some interesting patterns, and almost looks intentional. Again, this picture shows the importance of description as Ammy mentioned, which saves an otherwise lackluster shot.
Quality: 8
Explanation: 9
Overall: 8.5
Kilga:
- This is on the upper end of sale effort. The use of the third picture is quite clever, if gimmicky.
- The main fault I would find with the first two pictures is that they're too similar. I know one is supposed to be the "invert" of the other, but still, I would have been more interested by three different scenes.
- Overall 7/10. Nothing that really blew me away, but a very solid all-around submission.
Matsuri:
Picture 1:
Ooh, pretty. I've always wanted to see mountains in person. Maybe some day, hopefully sooner than later. Anyway, I like how you combine Gensokyo legend with legend of our world as well. That, and it's just a damn nice picture. 9/10
Picture 2:
Another very nice picture, and it gets my imagination going on what Gensokyo would actually look like. The bird captured in the shot is a nice touch as well. 8/10
Picture 3:
What the-- my eyes are playing with me in this one. It's an interesting effect that came out of a screwed-up picture, hahaha. I like how you think out of the box and reference Touhou in a different sense than 'what would Gensokyo look like'. 8/10
Comments:
Two perspectives of how Gensokyo would look, along with a more abstract image. I strongly approve! Your descriptions are vivid and enthralling, and come with reference information for those wondering about context. Also, the variety of locations are pretty neat, as well. I'd love to travel some day~
Final score 25/30
Purvis:
First Picture: Lovely! A bit too clearcut and built up, think, but still very nice. The plantlife seems a bit off, maybe? There's something I can't put my finger on. Still: 8/10
First comment: Very good, staying convincing, nice narrative 6/10
Total: 14/20
Second Picture: THIS IS CAKETOWN! And not Gensokyo. 0/10
Second Comment: Okay, this one is just kinda trying to get something going, and being wishy washy about it. 1.5/10
Total 1.5/10
Nobu:
Photo 1: Even without the description, I really get the feel of Gensokyo through this shot. A hill overlooking a forested plain stretching out into a misty horizon, I can almost see the Hakurei border from here! The sky is a bit too whitewashed I think, but this may actually help contribute to the Gensokyo vibe, along with those great smoke plumes.
Photo 2: If not for your description, I don't think I would have looked at this entry very favorably. This does not obviously scream out 'Gensokyo' after all. The atmosphere does evoke that feeling of loneliness and the possibility of getting whisked away, as if we were close to the border of here and there. I do enjoy the natural lighting, and the clouds in the background as well.
Quality: 8
Explanation: 8
Overall: 8
Kilga:
- The Utsuho intro had me excited for a better suspension of disbelief write-up, but it all went downhill after that.
- Utsuho/Hot spring shot is good, I like this one. Second shot...what am I looking at here? Where in Gensokyo is this supposed to be? The description isn't helping at all, it's just a reference to a song (with a name I don't recognize to boot; I assume it's a game ED).
- Overall 5/10. The second picture here really hurt.
Matsuri:
Picture 1:
*gasp* This is unprescedented serious affair! It's a shame that Okuu wasn't there, though. This one made me laugh. 11/15
Picture 2:
The picture is sort of bland, in my opinion-- however, I like the perspective of this shot, especially when coupled with your description of it. I even threw Future Dream into my playlist while judging this one. What strikes me the most about this one is the last two lines of your description. I found them to be profound and poetic, and honestly, I totally dig that sort of thing. 13/15
Comments:
Combining a shot of nature with a shot of something with a more abstract explanation behind it. I like it. Nice job.
Final score: 24/30
Purvis:
First picture: Oh, this is pretty. But, the artificial gazebo and buildings in the background detract a bit from the Gensokyoness. But that you don't notice them immediately, I think says something of the picture's quality. The trees are what you see first, and this is good. The general decor is modern, but largely not distressingly modern. The only complaint? See that cup in the lower left corner? Would it have killed him to clean that shit up? Really brings it down. 6/10
First comment: Kinda wishy-washy. Not feeling the love of Hakugyokorou in this. 3/10
9/20 total.
Second picture: Oh that is nice. I could see this leafy ravine in Gensokyo easy. And the building does have kind of a look I'd associate with something Shriney or Tenguy. The only flaw is the people in it. 9.5/10
Second Comment: Wishy washy. I'm not feeling it. I need to be convinced, not sorta cajoled. 2.5/10
12/20 total
Third Picture: Cute, kinda clever, but Purvis is not thinking of Gensokyo. 0/10
Third Comment: What? I guess there's some effort. 1/10
1/20 total.
Nobu:
Photo 1: The ground peppered with pink cherry blossoms really gives off the feeling of "spring", and thus fits well with the PCB-vibe. The modern architexture doesn't really scream "Gensokyo" to me, but if I squint I think I can kinda see it. The colors are somewhat subdued but the trees are framed well. That bench really screws with the composition though, and so does that cup at the base of the steps on the left side.
Photo 2: This is marvelous. You say "Alice's house", but what I see here makes me think of the Human village. The wooden architexture of the building doesn't look out of place for Gensokyo, and I love how the vegetation seems to be spilling out along the side of the ridge like a waterfall. Your attempt to sell me this shot was a bit weak, but the quality and Gensokyoan vibe shines through luckily.
Photo 3: I don't think I can judge this, as this is a picture of a picture that I'm guessing you didn't take. Not to mention the quality is incredibly grainy, and the association of this with Gensokyo is quite a stretch. Also, that name gave me a bad Tekken x Touhou crossover visual in my head just now. :<
Quality: 7
Explanation: 6
Overall: 6.5
Kilga:
- He really tried to trip himself up by ruining the suspension of disbelief I felt this contest was designed to create. It seemed like he went about the contest with a mindset of "find thing -> imagine thing in Gensokyo" rather than the other way around ("well, I guess this could be...").
- The Hakugyokurou staircase shot is good. The Alice house shot I'm ambivalent on, it feels more like a Moriya Shrine or a tengu house or something to me with the way it's on the edge of a hill. The Remilia shot makes me frown for being gimmicky and far-fetched.
- Overall 4/10. Hakugyokurou picture is the only thing here I can really say I liked. The rest, both the pictures and the comments, were uninspiring at best.
Matsuri:
Picture 1:
Frankly, you've won my heart with this one. If there's one thing I love to take pictures of, it's flowers. Not only that, but Perfect Cherry Blossom is my favorite Touhou game, so perhaps I'm biased, but I don't care. This picture is lovely, and I can see where you're coming from with your comments regarding it. 10/10
Picture 2:
I like this picture as well. It seems peaceful, rustic, and secluded, which definitely feels like a place where Alice would live. 8/10
Picture 3:
...erm. Something about this last one just disturbs me a little. Before reading your comments, I figured you were taking a blurry shot of someone's kid through a window or something, but to know that it's a picture of her with funeral details... it just bothers me for some reason. That said, I have to give you points for creativity, and the coincidences are rather striking, since... well, with your explanation, it does remind me of Remilia, I suppose-- though it probably wouldn't had you not pointed it out. 5/10
Comments:
Last picture aside, the other two pictures were incredibly nice, and your explanations behind them make sense. I also like your attention to variety-- one picture apparently in a city, another in a more nature-based setting, and one...erm, rather unique picture.
Final score: 23/30
Purvis:
Picture 1: Not really feeling the gensokyo, but! I can see where she is coming from. Her titling convinced me a bit. 4/10
Comment: Since all her comments are just titles, they'll all get the same score. On one hand, not really persuading, but more inviting me to see what they do without cajoling. I like it, but there are better ones. They all get 4.5/10
Total: 8.5/20
Picture 2: Oh, this looks old and decript and very SDM spare room. And the title adds to it. 9/10
Total: 13.5/20
Picture 3: This is creative. It's a little too clean and bright lit for Kourindou. But, it has the antiquey feel down perfectly. 8/10
Total: 12.5/20
Picture 4: Oh man! If it was just the right half, I'd be totally buying it. But the shelf on the left half just doesn't look Gensokyo. Nor does the western style scale. Man. If it were just the right half, even the poster would work. 7.5/10
Total: 12/20
PIcture 5: Oh yes. I am very feeling this. This is the Youkai Cherry Tree. Beautiful and evil-looking. 10/10
Total: 14.5/20
Nobu:
Photo 1: This photo makes me feel like I'm seeing the death of a tree, as it gets its lifeforce sapped out of it. The colors here are odd and interesting to look at, and I'm surprised these sorts of colors could occur naturally in the sky. Still, I don't quite get the Gensokyo feel from it.
Photo 2: What an interesting reflection! It actually looks like there's a beam coming out of that door. This photo does give creepy vibes of the supernatural, perfect for Yukari. However, I have mixed feelings about the composition of this shot. The door seems misplaced in the frame and there's a lot of uninteresting negative space that detracts from the door and window presentation. Also, the lack of focus and streaks on the glass hurt the photo as well.
Photo 3: (I'm going to lump the critiques of Kourindou and Eirin's shop together, as they're both collages). This is an interesting collection of items I could totally see being found in Kourindou (except for maybe the women's clothing on the busts, but maybe Rinno likes to dress up once in a while :3) It's hard for me to give any more detailed judging than that for specific shots in the collages, but I can say overall the framing of the items is nice and I see no glaring problems.
Photo 4: I wish I could see more of the tree as I think that may have helped out this shot. The subjects of this shot are the branches, but there's almost no contrast with them and the background, and the outlines are very fuzzy. And the glowing streetlamp(?) in the bottom corner detracts from the shot as well.
Quality: 6
Explanation: 6
Overall: 6
Kilga:
- Not really sure I can judge anything here, since the rules say you can only submit three pictures and she submitted five.
- Overall ?/10. Shouldn't this have been disqualified?
Matsuri:
Five pictures, huh. Well, I don't feel like picking just three, so I'll judge all five, giving each a score out of 6.
Picture 1:
It's strange, yet oddly interesting. I don't really understand what it has to do with Gensokyo or Touhou at all, even with your description, but it's a nifty pic nonetheless, and deserves some credit. 3/6
Picture 2:
Ahhh, my eyes are messing with me in this one, too! Definitely has to be some borderhax going on in here. @_@ 5/6
Picture 3:
I've always harbored a secret interest in antiques, especially since they're often so much more ornate (and often more ingenious) than our modern inventions that we have today. This could all be stuff you could find in Kourindou. I like it! 6/6
Picture 4:
Also appealing to my interest in antiques, but this time, you're appealing to my interest in medicine, as well! I'd like to get a closer look at all of those bottles and read about them and research them and oh~ 6/6
Picture 5:
Mrrrr. I'm not really seeing the Saigyou Ayakashi in this one, and the description doesn't really help it much. It's an interesting picture, but I'm just not seeing Gensokyo or Touhou in it, I'm afraid. 3/6
Comments:
Definitely some interesting stuff here. I didn't really get any Touhou vibes from a couple of them, but the ones that did redeemed you quite a bit. I like your attention to variety as well, what with the more abstract images and the antiques and the medicine.
Final score: 23/30
Purvis:
Picture: So close, yet so far. It's just a bit off for Nitori's workhole. If just a few things were added, it'd work. It's too bright (artificial light kills it). If there were some cucumbers; some kappa-looking things. Maybe some decorative cattails... So close, yet so far. Sunlight would have saved it, I think. 3/10
Description: See, this is a good description. I'm feelin' it, weaving lovely imagines in my head. Good thorough explaination. 10/10
Total: 13/20
Nobu:
This looks like a mighty fine workshop for a kappa (And I see she shops at Lowe's as well, who knew?). I love the colors in this shot, and there's a certain organized chaos I get that seems to fit the Kappa. What I don't like about the shot is how it's tilted at an angle slightly, and makes it look somewhat sloppy. Also, whatever that grey thing is next to the box on the left side is intruding on the shot, and looks out of place. Overall though, I like this photo.
Quality: 6
Explanation: 8
Overall: 7
Kilga:
- This is cute, if a bit gimmicky (though at least it's based a little more off Gensokyo reality than a silly meme). He actually tried to sell it, too!
- But he only submitted one shot. D:
- Overall 6/10. I can't find any real fault with his one image, but...it was only one image.
Matsuri:
Yeah, it does kind of suck when there aren't many landmarks in your area to work with, doesn't it? However, I can tell you put thought into the shot and you pulled off the improvisation well, especially with your explanation. Your description provoked my imagination, and while looking at it, I could almost see Nitori happily working away on her inventions. That said, it's still pretty ordinary, and wouldn't remind me of anything related to Gensokyo if you wouldn't have explained it to me. 20/30
Comments:
I'm not done judging here, though. I think you're deserving of a few extra points here. It takes a certain special touch to take an ordinary picture and make it stand out with a nice description. I think Aya would be proud.
Final score: 23/30
Grats to Nietz, reading the reviews was fun. I'm glad they weren't kept secret >=)