Welcome to this edition of "Screenartist Spotlight". Today I've interviewed AlonsoX, a fairly new member on the forums but already his shots have come a long way and has contributed a collection of creative screenshots to the site. That's what we're here to explore - how Alonso produces the quality screenshots that he does....
Studio V: Alonso, although you're a fairly new screenartist, your shots have come a long way and impress a lot of people. Do you have a secret for composing that "special" screenshot?
Alonso: I think almost all the things I've learnt about screenshots are from the V... In my opinion the best way to learn is to read the comments people leave in some threads... Or to see what people answer with when they're asked things like... What water is that?
.... There are no "secrets" IMO, we have lots of recommendations from true screenartists in the Studio... I really recommend to visit the tutorial library and learn from that. For composing screenshots the more important is (in my opinion): Angle, lighting, and scenery (water, terrain, airports, etc.). Studio V: I've noticed that you post quite a lot in the Payware forums. Do you feel that Payware items (e.g. aircraft, scenery etc) help to improve shots?
Alonso: Well, payware add-ons can really help with the quality of screenshots, but I think there is also a lot of freeware stuff that can help. I mostly use payware for the environment of the sim, because there are VERY good A/C models out there with very good repaints. So not using payware doesn't mean less quality at all... and we have the proof at the Freeware board of course. 8-)
Studio V: With the recent release of FSX, do you think that using FSX can create much better shots than FS9 or do you think that it is down to the screenartist and not the sim?
Alonso: I haven't tried FSX yet because my system wouldn't handle it. But anyway, for the moment I'd stick to FS9 because of the huge variety of add-ons available and because it's better to wait for DirectX 10 for better framerates. Of course FSX has a lot of benefits for taking better shots but at the moment, in my opinion, FS9 is a better option
Studio V: I've noticed that a lot of your screenshots include civil jets, Alonso. Do you prefer these "aluminium tubes" over the smaller aircraft, and if so why?
Alonso: I really love big civil jets because in my opinion, they're more exciting when taking off (and climbing) and when (approaching and) landing
... We all know cruise is always boring. :-/... But I also enjoy taking relaxing flights in Cessnas 8-) I just prefer taking shots to "big tubes" because there's actually more to show. 
Studio V: Water packages are important when flying over oceans. What water package do you have (if any) and do you feel that different water packages can improve shots?
Alonso: Of course water packages are very important... I use Flight Environment water but really recommend Real Environment Pro water (which is freeware)... Remember that clouds are also very important when taking above seas... FSSkyworld works perfectly with FS9 built in real world weather.. Always try to choose the most transparent clouds in any cloud add-on you have.
Studio V: Alonso, do you have any advice that you could offer to screenartists on how to improve their screenart?
Alonso: Yes... I've learnt from people's advice in various threads the following tips:
- Never show a plain horizon in the shot.... try to cover it with clouds or choose another angle.
- If you don't have a great rig (like me) maybe all terrain/water textures won't load, so also try to cover with clouds.
- Try to always get contrasts with lighting - bright and dark things together in one shot look nice.
- Turn off lens flare, sun flare and Anti-Aliasing in the sim, that can pretty much ruin a good shot.
- Try to avoid using FS default stuff... they don't always look nice and some people get tired of seeing the same things
- Use add-ons like the Recorder module (freeware) or Walk and Follow (payware) for much better and creative angles.
- When getting plane close-ups, use your common sense when cutting some parts of the plane, that can ruin a good shot too.
Well, that is, of course, only some advice.. you can find a lot more in the Studio tutorials
Studio V: Everybody's FS worlds are different, and we all know that screenshooting isn't just about the aircraft. What other additions have you included in your FS world?
Alonso: Well, my most important additions are (also including freeware alternatives) :
- DBS Walk and Follow (Alt: Recorder Module)
- Real Environmet Pro (It's freeware and has lots of cool thigs)
- ActiveSky + Flight Environment (Alt: FSSkyworld + FS9 built in real world weather)
- Ground Environment Pro (Also recommend SRTM meshes a lot)
- Project AI traffic packs AND making your own traffic, it is hard but results are great.
Those are the most important add-ons I use in my FS.
Studio V: Alonso, thanks very much for this informative and interesting interview. It looks like a lot of new screenartists can follow your advice and well be on ther way to composing fatastic screenshots.
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