Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Mr. Maka Orion.
He is a very talented sl artist photographer and an active promoter of interesting social media initiatives related to SL photography.
Maka is also a special friend of mine, who helped me to develop this little idea about a talk show interview after he noticed my inclination to curiosity and to make a lot of questions ^^'.
So, after he teased me a little calling me nosey-rosey and asking what school of journalism did I attend :D
we have come to create this first (and probably last :D) episode of the "Cla Jones Not so Late Show".
Hope you'll enjoy!
Cla:Hi Maka, glad to have you here and thank you for letting me interview you
Maka:Hi Claudia, Thanks for having me!
C.:Could you tell us a little more about yourself? Like how did you find SL and when did you start going on SL?
M.:Well, I'm Maka and I'm a 30 year old guy from the Netherlands who loves making photographs and being artistic on SL.
I stumbled upon SL by accident really, i googled "Online open world games that are free" and after scrolling down a few boring options there was "Second Life". I checked it out and i found it interesting from the very beginning to create your own Avatar and basically do whatever you want to do.
And that was in 2014, somewhere in August so i believe i have my Rez day coming up soon!
The funny thing is after i created a avatar, somehow i teleported to this London sim and i literally thought that sim was all of SL! So i stayed there for a good week until people told me about this thing called teleporting and showed me different sims!
C.: Haha I guess we experience the funniest and weirdest things when we are newbies... How has your sl changed after 8 years? What's your vision of sl to day, do you think it's a game or something different?
M.: My vision of SL, hmm...I treat it mostly as a game but with real people behind the screens and real feelings and emotions while being aware and respect the fact that for some people it is literally a second life for them, and for some a escape from reality and all the drama that has happened there.
For me it was about meeting new people, doing fun things, explore new sims and hang out. But for the last few years i have been keeping myself busy in SL with other things, like photography and talking to friends.
C.: You certainly are a great SL photographer and you also are the manager of four Flickr groups: the three themed ones "A Black & White Second Life", "Cosplayers of Second Life", "A Sexy Second Life" and the very popular "Free Spirits of Second Life". How do you like this experience?
M.: Thank you for the compliment, i still see myself as a ordinary photographer who is still very much a student of the game. Yes, I do run them groups, I loved the idea of getting to see people's work and passion and i loved the idea of them sharing it in a group that i created as i felt i wanted to be a source of connection for these amazing artists. Where they could enjoy eachothers work and connect through that group with one another. I love that idea and i hope in some way i have achieved that, even if it's just a tiny bit.
C.: I believe you surely did, Maka! In addition to your groups, you also created the SundayFunday Photo Challenge. Every two weeks you invite all the sl photography's lovers to challenge themselves about a theme you propose.
Of all the themes you launched over these years, do you remember which ones have been particularly loved by the participants?
M.:Yes, and i recently expanded it to a 3 weeks event. The themes that seem most popular among the participants are the more serious ones like Black and white, Poems, quotes, portraits and stuff like that. They are also my favorite types of themes.
C.: Tell us about your SL photographs. What does inspire you and what type of photos do you like to take?
M.: Well, allot can inspire me actually. Sometimes i listen to a song and i get inspired, or read something, or see something on tv, quotes, poems, other people, you name it.
Mostly i like to take pictures with a deeper meaning, accompanied by a quote or poem. Something that puts my thoughts on camera and make a image out of them. Pictures that people might need to look at twice or more to get it or see the meaning behind it..That's what i love most, but i also love to challenge myself with other kinds of pictures.
C.:Which is the picture you took you love the most?
M.:It's hard to say what picture i love the most because they all have different meaning to me in different periods of my life and all in a different state of mind. I ahve taken pics when i was struggling with depression that are darker, and i have taken pictures when i was feeling really good that look really bright and happy.
But there is definetly one i cherish allot, and that is this one flickr.com/photos/141139571@N08/51713560748/in/dateposted/
C.:Thank you so much for being so open with us Maka and for taking the time to do this interview. I feel that the viewer has gotten to know you a bit better and got a glimpse of how the mind of an artist works. I thank you for your time and for wanting to answer my questions!
ᶜˡᵃ'ˢ ᵒᵘᵗᶠⁱᵗ ᵇʸ ᵛᵃˡᵉⁿᵗⁱⁿᵃ ᵉ.
ʰᵃⁱʳ ᵇʸ ᵈᵒᵘˣ
Tags: SL Second Life interview fun show friends NSLS
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Today, I'm very happy to host a great friend and artist.
Without him, Flickr would definitely be a sadder place.
He is the wildest dream of every penguin girl :P
Ladies and gentlemen, the funniest, the doodest, the irreplaceable: Mr. Pengu Wes - and his little cute buddy Pengy!
Cla: Hi, Pengu! Thank you for accepting my invitation!
Pengu: Hello, Cla! I was more than happy to accept the invitation from a dear friend! Thank you for thinking I am interesting enough to be interviewed!
C.: You certainly are, Pengu! Let's start from the beginning: How and when did your Second Life start?
P.: So back in 2017 I looked around SL after watching a video on YouTube long ago that was poking fun at the platform. I was in-world for maybe… 1 hour, then did not come back until 2 years later.
What brought me back was, well, a different (and hilarious) video on YouTube about SL with this guy claiming to be the Mayor of Second Life. I roped my partner, Andie, into the world, and we pretty much got sucked into the world of SL on July 2019 and have stuck around since!
C.: At some point, a little penguin named Pengy came into your SL and photos. Tell us about this magical encounter? Which type of pictures you like to take with him? And which type he likes to take with you?
P.: I joke about how Pengy magically appeared and descended from the heavens from a hot air balloon into my SLife. But, if I am going to be honest… the name “Pengy” came from a typo Andie made so long ago. It sounded like it should be a name for a little penguin!
Thus, Pengy was born! His first official appearance was driving us and my friend around in a car (flic.kr/p/2kSw4eb). This is one of many times he is seen driving around. I cannot say he is the best driver though, as many of my friends know!
My favorite snaps with Pengy are typically the type where the viewer realllllyy has to search hard for him. Kind of like a “Where’s Waldo” game. Of course, Pengy’s favorite type of photos are when he is the star--usually involves him getting into trouble like crashing into things with a vehicle. Or whenever he gets to look super cute.
C.: You are a talented artist with a unique funny and cute creative streak, but you also are a blogger, a blogger manager and a social media manager for several popular brands and events. How did you grow through these experiences? Which of those roles do you like the most?
P.: I feel like when I decided to take a dive into the blogger world it made me push my creative muscles more, because I really wanted to represent the brands I blog for in a fun and inventive way. This paved the way for me to be picked up by Ananas, starting out as one of their bloggers, and then their social media manager. Which has been so fun, and I get to interact with some fantastic people like Diff, the creator of Ananas, and Bleue, the blogger manager of Ananas, and all of the wonderful bloggers of the brand.
It led me to being a social media manager, and then the blogger manager for Cat-Noodle, a brand owned by Bleue and her partner, Eimear. That was where I learned so much more about blogging, what to look for, and appreciate the different blogging styles. Giving feedback and interacting with the bloggers was really fun, and being a blogger myself, I feel like I had an eye to see the effort a blogger has put in a photo, and I love giving them props for those efforts.
After Cat-Noodle closed, a new opportunity was presented to me to become the blogger manager of a brand new event called The New Ones. Still making my way through this new experience!
All in all, I think my favorite role is blogger. I do have a love for doing such goofy and cute photos. I don’t take myself too seriously, but I respect the craft of SL photography, and enjoy the hobby immensely.
C.: Aside Pengy, the other significant member of your family is your partner Andie. We all know beside a successful man there is always a great woman, so how does she support you in this crazy adventure of yours?
P.: Andie is an instrumental and important part of my adventures in SL. She is a tremendous reason why I stick around on the platform as much as I do. When I ventured into blogging she was fully supportive, and continues to be as I reached milestones throughout my blogging journey. She is always happy to take part in my silly ideas. Though, yes, sometimes she rolls her eyes at some of the crazy things Pengy and I get into, she is always happy to participate in the goofiness! Andie makes my SL brighter and full of laughs. I just adore and love her.
C.: What's your favorite photo among all the ones you took?
P.: Oh, that is a difficult question, Cla! I cannot possibly pick a favorite! But I’ll say one of the favorite types of photos I like to do are collaborations. Working and talking to a friend who gets as much joy as I do with SL photography is a fantastic experience. And then to see the different versions of photos we take together is so fascinating and fun to see how we visualize the same set up of a photo but in different ways!
C.: Triple R (www.flickr.com/photos/pengu_wes/albums/72157716782119041) is a series of yours I personally love because it combines two of the best things in life: friends and food! And it also made us know about all your friends’ favorite foods. But which is yours?
P.: Aw, Rundowns, Roadsides and Restaurants (Triple R) is a series very near and dear to my heart. It was what helped me break out and meet Flickr friends in world.
As for my favorite food, I loooove Southeast Asian cuisine. Pad Thai and pho rank among my favorites!
C.: They say the funniest people are often the saddest ones. Does it apply to you?
P.: I would not say it applies to me. I think, in general, I have a very chill attitude. The world can be dark, and really depressing sometimes, and I just want to help a bring a bit of brightness to it with my goofy personality.
C.: We are at the end of our interview. As for the last question, I would invite you to make yourself a question and give yourself an answer.
P.: “How to make friends in SL?” is a very popular question brought up for newbies and old timers alike. How would you answer this question?
I think it all comes down to interests and really putting yourself out there. Like real life, it can be intimidating to try to make new friends in a brand new community. Being part of the SL Flickr community, and interacting with others has really led me to finding some really wonderful friendships on this platform. Triple R served as a creative vehicle for me to meet new people, and while I was really nervous about reaching out to people to do a photo with me, it was well worth it. I have learned from them, shared so many laughs, and always encourage them as they continue their SL photography adventures just like me.
Thank you so much, Pengu, for your time, for opening yourself up by sharing many of your interesting thoughts, and for making us smile once again!
See you all in two weeks time with the next episode of NSLS
ᶜˡᵃ'ˢ ᵒᵘᵗᶠⁱᵗ ᵇʸ ᶜʰᵉᵉᶻᵘ
ʰᵃⁱʳ ᵇʸ ʷᵃˢᵃᵇⁱ
Tags: SL Second Life NSLS interview justforfun friends
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I am so honored and delighted to have today one of the most interesting and talented SL photographers artists.
In every pic of her there is a little poetry.
She can play with lights in an unique magical way.
Ladies and gentlemen let me introduce you to the fabulous
Ms. Lya Seerose !
Cla - Hi Lya! I'm very happy to have you here and thank you so much for hosting this NSLS episode on your beautiful sim!
Lya - Oh my, Cla !
Thank you so much for considering my crazy idea and put your show on the road ! Starting right here at Whisper City, our home ! I'm so very excited !
C. - Tell us about your SL, please. When and how did it begin?
L. - Like many of us, I started to hear about this "new strange open world game where you can build everything" around 2009 and I was intrigued enough to create an account and start my first steps in the skin of a total noob trying to find my way around basic prims and crazy flexis! I can't believe that 13 years after I'm still learning new things everyday !
C. - How did your love for SL photography start?
L. - I'm pretty new to SL photography. When I came back in 2020 after years and years of absence, looking for a french roleplay community, I met some nice people inworld who were photographers themselves and asked me to pose for them, that's how I discovered Flickr for SL and how I got into it. Starting slowly to be charmed by the idea of taking my own pictures with my spin on them. With months passing by I worked on understanding the settings for photography better and what would make an interesting picture, refining my taste in the matter by looking up at others. One day, I was finally brave enough and ready to open up a Flickr account and post my very first picture. I was so proud ! The community that came with posting more often was the best reward of it all, meeting all these kind people who shared the same interest for expression through pictures, who understood the difficulties behind a complicated shot, the friendships that were and still are created, that's my best accomplishment and why I'm so grateful for it all !
C. - We can't talk about your photos without mentioning your partner Adam Cayden, with whom you created some of the most beautiful and romantic pics we can watch on Flickr.
How did you meet him?
L. - Oh, thank you so much for thinking that Cla, I'm so honored you do. Adam is a master at what he does and I'm so lucky to be able to learn alongside such a beautiful soul, he taught me almost all that I know and he's the best thing that happened in SL for me. I won't go into too many details as it's personal but we started as friends became best friends and slowly but surely with months and months passing by grew into lovers. To my surprise, everyone around us saw it coming before us actually ! What's meant to be will always find a way so it did !
C. - Who is the most creative when it comes to take pictures? How do you set up for your photos together? I mean, do you have like brainstorming sessions to decide about every detail or
what is it?
L. - I believe we are both as creative as can be and we energize each other to keep that creative flow constantly moving around us! Picture ideas can spark from a discussion we have together, something we saw on our own, or a need to express a feeling, that's how mostly it sparks yes ! We also like to challenge each other cause we believe in growing out of our comfort zone and I think that's how we improve. Then when it comes to the shooting, we always help each other by building or rezzing what's necessary, providing suggestions, or simply giving encouragement, that's what your partner should be, the shoulder you can lean on for advice and your biggest fan, and he 100% is mine.
C. - What did Adam teach you about SL photography?
L. - Almost all that I know, but most of all, to give it my all every time and that's what I try to do
C. - Which is your main source of inspiration for the pics you take?
L. - A specific feeling I want to express, it's really like a personal diary that I share with others but who is mostly made for me
C. - If you had to remake one scene of a popular movie in a photo, what would it be?
L. - A movie ? Gosh there are too much, let's say something from "The Grand Budapest Hotel" as it's my favorite, full of colors and symmetry, exactly what I like !
C. - Is there one picture, among the ones you took, you particularly cherish?
L. - It changes constantly as all the new pictures I put out are very significant for me, but the one that always warms my heart is called "Touch" and was so very personal, so very "out there" for me... I'm really proud it was received the way that it was !
To this day it's my most popular picture, so, yes, this one in particular for sure !! www.flickr.com/photos/lya_seerose/50918806448/
C. - Our interview is gonna end. Would you like to ask yourself a question and give yourself an answer?
L. - I wouldn't ask myself a question but I would gladly take this opportunity to thank every single person who ever faved my work, commented on a picture or said hi to me inworld after seeing my flickr! I so very much appreciate you ! The community, even if sadly flawed by some, is mostly composed by such nice people and it's simply a pleasure to interact with such amazingly talented people, like you Cla ! Thank you so much for asking me to be a part of this !
Thank you so much Lya for accepting this interview, for your time and for revealing us all them interesting and inspiring aspects of you, your SL and your wonderful art!
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NSLS will be back in two weeks time with a new episode. Stay tuned!
ᶜˡᵃ'ˢ ᵒᵘᵗᶠⁱᵗ ᵇʸ ᵇˡᵘᵉᵇᵉʳʳʸ
ʰᵃⁱʳ ᵇʸ ᵈᵒᵘˣ
Tags: SL Second Life NSLS interview fun friends
© All Rights Reserved
Today's special guest is one super cute and lovely girl among the most talented and appreciated young SL bloggers. In a very short time she could conquer many of the most famous Second Life brands with her talent and her fresh, adorable style. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the cutest, the sweetest, the gorgeous (as well as my lil SL sis): Ms. Andie Panda !
Cla - Hi, sis! I've finally dragged you here hehe. Are you ready? Okay, let's get serious and let's start! First of all, thank you so much for accepting to be interviewed
Andie - Aw, thank you so much for asking me to be part of this series, sis. I’m super excited to tell a little bit of my Second Life story!
C. - Let's go back to your first steps on Second Life. Your partner Pengu in NSLS ep.2 told us how back in 2019 you and him started your SL together (www.flickr.com/photos/164400702@N02/52248516615/in/datepo...). What was, at that time, your first impression about this little magical word?
A. – Yeah! Um, I first became aware of SL a couple years before I joined. Only in passing though, I didn’t really know what it was other than being a virtual world. So, the first time I made an account and logged in I was pretty amazed by how expansive the world was. There is so much to explore, and to get involved in. Of course, for me, all the different clothes and mesh bodies and heads were what really drew me in. I was pretty immediately taken with the idea of creating this totally unique avi that could look like anything I imagined it to. To this day I love reinventing my look and exploring the endless lovely sims that make up SL.
C. - With time you got interested into SL photography and blogging. Now you blog for some important SL brands like Tres Blah, Foxy, Mellowcute, Foxcity and many others. Can you tell us how and when did your blogger experience begin? What is your style, the magic ingredient that makes your sl photography unique?
A. - It was really Pengu who introduced me to SL Flickr, and since then I have been in awe of the beautiful art that is uploaded daily. He got into taking pictures before I did, mostly because my laptop at the time was not able to keep up. I would take pictures and they would just be so pixelated, but I would post them on my Flickr and be so proud of my 10 likes!
I really got into blogging in June of 2021. That was when Pengu got his first sponsorship, and to be honest I was a little jealous! I spent most of that summer blogging for a couple newer brands and really focusing on growing my follower count and learning editing software and Black Dragon which changed my photography game immensely. Foxcity was my first major sponsor. Our mutual friend, Ethan Lane, pushed me to enter her blogging contest and I was one of the people chosen, I remember feeling really intimidated but that was when blogging became more than just snapping a cute picture. It’s really about representing brands to the best of my ability because I love their work.
As far as my style, I don’t know that I could nail it down in one specific category. I’ll go, you know, months of doing lots of girly and pink and pretty pictures and then on a whim I’ll want to do darker and grittier things. Last October I really embraced Halloween and did a lot of witchy, more gothic pictures. So, I guess what makes my style unique is that it is always changing!
C. - I know you like to "collect" SL mesh heads, just like me. Do you have a favorite one?
A. – Collect is a very nice way of saying ‘spend way too much money on’ hahahahahha. Um, much like with my style fashion-wise, I feel like I am constantly reinventing my avi to fit with whatever mood I am feeling at the moment. When you and I first met I wore Lelutka Ceylon pretty much all the time. Prior to that I was wearing a lot of Glam Affair skins and I loved the Genus heads. Right now, I’m wearing Briannon. As far as a favorite, it’s so hard to pick just one. I still have fond feelings for my Genus Baby head and the original Lelutka Evolution Nova head.
C. - We all know love is a great source of inspiration, and we can see your sparking creativity at its best in all your couple photos with your partner Pengu. Some of those pics are currently featured, until the end of September, at The Gallery of Photographic Art for the "Three couples telling their stories" exhibit (here the slurl for our viewers who'd like to visit it: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Goldbach/210/153/25 ).
Would you like to tell us something about your story? What is your (second) life with Pengu -and Pengy, the little penguin who joined your family- like?
A. – Aw, Pengu. He is a huge part of my life in and out of SL. Our friendship first started when we bonded over a shared enjoyment of writing stories and from there, we found out we have a lot in common. He’s so funny and so kind. And he is endlessly supportive of me. He is the one who really gave me that nudge to start getting into taking pictures, and from there encouraged me to get into blogging. He makes me laugh and he always knows how to pick me up when I get down on myself. I could never say enough about what an amazing person he is and just how much I love him.
I think at our cores, Pengu and I tend to be more introverted unless we are around the amazing friends we’ve met in world. So, a lot of the time we are just quietly at home, planning pictures or going to shopping events. And of course, whatever we do, we cannot do it without Pengy. I like to joke with Pengu that Pengy is a bit of a diva, and that he has been in more collab pictures than Pengu and I combined. But I love the little guy. How could you not, he’s adorable.
C. - You also are a very good writer, and you just mentioned how you met Pengu thanks to your mutual passion for writing. Last year, this led you two to create a great romantic series titled "August" about two lovers who lose and then find themselves again (www.flickr.com/photos/pengu_wes/albums/72157719750391407). The story is very beautifully co-written by you and Pengu and masterfully illustrated by you both in your respective versions. Would you like to make more photo-series like that? Can we expect for more of those?
A. – Oh yes, the August series. That story was one that Pengu and I dreamed up together probably a year before we turned it into the photo series, and it was so amazingly fun to see characters we’d created be translated into a new format. It was just really special. As far as would we do another series, you know, I think that if the inspiration were to strike then nothing is out of the question. We have several other stories that I think would make for a fun, engaging series. So I guess we will see what the future brings!
C. - Is there one photo you particularly love, among all the ones you took, and we can watch on your Flickr?
A. – Oh man, it is difficult to choose a favorite! I have so many pictures that I love and that have done well, but I think the first one that comes to mind is www.flickr.com/photos/andie_panda/52014566831/in/dateposted/
It was such a fun picture to take, I love the vintage vibes, and I feel like it really captures Pengu and I’s relationship!
C. - Our interview is almost over. I'm gonna set you free, sis. But not before inviting you to ask yourself a question and give yourself an answer.
A. – I’m going to use my question to ask you a question, sis! I would love to know what picture from your Flickr is your personal favorite?
And thank you again for having me. This was so much fun and I am super excited to see who is next!
C. - Haaa, you got me, sis! Now I realize how hard is to respond this question. Well, the pics from my flickr I love the most are the ones I took with the ones I love. Those are certainly the most meaningful and important, my little memories. So I'm gonna take this chance to remember of our first pic taken together www.flickr.com/photos/164400702@N02/51357074571/
Thank you kindly Andie for answering my questions and let us to know better about the wonderful girl you are, your fantastic photo skills and your interesting sweet world!
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See you all in two weeks time for a new NSLS episode!
ᶜˡᵃ'ˢ ᵒᵘᵗᶠⁱᵗ ᵇʸ ˢᵖᵉᶜᵗᵃᶜˡᵉᵈᶜʰⁱᶜ
ʰᵃⁱʳ ᵇʸ ᵈᵒᵘˣ
Tags: SL Second Life NSLS fun friends interview
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