virtual photography
/ˈvɜːrtʃuəl fəˈtɒɡrəfi/
CommonThe practice of capturing and composing screenshots in video games as a serious photographic art form.
Distinct from casual photo mode use. Virtual photographers approach it like a craft, study real photography principles, and often share work on dedicated communities. Some debate whether it counts as 'real' photography.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | I got into virtual photography through Red Dead 2 and now I study actual composition theory because of it | An in-game screenshot hobby led to genuine interest in real photography principles. | reddit, 2022 |
| 02 | people sleep on virtual photography but some of these shots are genuinely stunning | The practice does not get enough respect given the quality of work being produced. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | my virtual photography account blew up because people thought the shots were real photos | The game screenshots were realistic enough that viewers assumed they were photographs. | instagram, 2023 |
| 04 | games like this are why virtual photography is a legitimate art form. look at this lighting. | The visual quality and expressiveness of the game justify treating screenshots as art. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Someone is treating in-game screenshots as a serious creative practice.
- Describing a community or subreddit focused on game screenshots.
- Someone discusses composition, lighting, or technique in the context of game screenshots.
Do not use it when
- Someone just took a casual screenshot without intention.Use “screenshot” instead.
- Someone used photo mode once for a meme.Use “photo mode” instead.
Virtual photography vs photo mode
virtual photography
Virtual photography is the creative practice and community around in-game screenshots.
photo-mode
Photo mode is the in-game tool that enables it.
Origin and context
Virtual photography as an organized practice and community grew alongside the addition of photo modes in major AAA titles in the mid-2010s. Dedicated subreddits, Twitter communities, and even formal exhibitions of virtual photography emerged by the late 2010s.
- First seen
- mid-2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/virtual-photography