360 GRADI MAGAZINE (English Version)

of his success. If his
creative ability and skill
in Photoshop are not
in question, it is also
true that there are now
several photographers
who take care of their
talent in creating
breathtaking images but
do not have the same
ability to involve the
viewer emotionally.
Beyond my thoughts
on this professional
photographer, I wanted
the reader to have the
opportunity to get to
know Skip Staheli better
by hearing directly from
him the narration of his
experience. I asked him
some questions, probably
the most immediate ones
that anyone would ask
him. From his answers
shines a person who tells
himself with simplicity
and who does not give
importance to success
in the virtual world
of Second Life (in my
opinion, rightly so).
Moreover, it points the
attention on an important
aspect: nowadays,
many photographers
professionally realize
images, just because
photography is one of the
most appreciated activity.
We know Skip Staheli
better in this exclusive
interview for 360 GRADI
Magazine.
“ I am 100% selftaught
in photo
editing and using
Photoshop.”
Skip Staheli
Oema: Did you already
know how to work on a
picture before joining
SL or learned because
of your photographer
activity inworld?
Skip: No, I didn’t know at
all.. the first year, I didn’t
work with photoshop,
but just messed around;
a bit later, I had a very
old version of photoshop,
and had a laptop from
work, with a lousy
graphics card.. and did
all the painting with my
finger on a mousepad...
I’m 100 % autodidact
in photo editing and
photoshop.
Oema: Why choose to be
a photographer in SL, and
when you understood,
you became famous?
Skip: One of the
questions most asked, I
think, I never choose to
be a photographer in SL,
it just happened.. one
day, I found out about
making snaps inworld,
and saw some cool
talents on Flickr with SL
work.. I was inspired to
also do nice jobs, just
for myself and later
for friends.. but soon
friends of friends asked
for photo’s, and at some
point, it seemed I was a
photographer.. so then
I just decided to own
a photo studio “Photo
Studio Purple Cows”
since 2008.
Famous, lol.. that’s a bit
funny, I think.. how much
famous can you be in SL,
and what’s the worth of
it?
Maybe I was lucky that in
my beginning SL time, not
so many photographers
were around, and working
with the right designers
and loads of models
for their model contest
pictures put me on the
map... I don’t think it’s
still happening at this
time, those many photo
contests for models.
Also, by now, all avatars
are mesh, so making
lovely pictures isn’t that
difficult anymore... So
it’s hard to stand out in
such a huge amount of
photographers.
But I certainly don’t
feel “famous” lol. When
people act like I am, I’m
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