Naughty Dog is on its way again to conduct a #TLOUPhotoMode challenge for the crowning glory of shots inspired by The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 4. So, with your controllers in hand, dive into Photo Mode and start capturing those brooding and post-apocalyptic vibes to let the devs see your creativity.
In case you missed that tweet (Really?), the devs issued a call to crowdsourcing earlier in the week: send in your in-game shots that capture the spirit of Episode 4, whether they’re gritty guitar moments, atmospheric forest scenes, or soul-numbing combat encounters. And the final date being May 7, uh, so perhaps you want to hurry and show all your photography skills.
If you just came up here, #TLOUPhotoMode challenges have been around for ages. Naughty Dog loves to celebrate the insane talent of their community: a perfect frame of Ellie mid-strum or Joel looking tired (well, he’s certainly seen better days). The best part is, the chosen screenshots usually get featured on the studio’s official social media pages along with picture fame and maybe some clout should your picture catch everyone’s eye and go viral.
Should I even ask: Why Episode 4 over any other one? Let’s leave the rest of the other episodes untouched but if you, after having seen the HBO series, know this episode had… well, a thing or two. Scene after scene of heavy punches to the heart, gorgeously filmed, and some crazy-intense moments which most probably had you yelling at your screen through most of the episode. Channelling that energy into one single still? Not nearly easy. But hey, who said this would be easy?
For those needing a reminder on just how to utilize Photo Mode in The Last of Us Part II: pause the game, hit the Photo Mode option, and go all out with filters, depth of field, lighting adjustments, or any other effect that can provide that little extra punch to your shot. The mere visuals alone are breathtaking; sometimes a well-framed basic screenshot looks cooler than any big-budget movie scene.
And if you are sitting there thinking, “I, on the other hand, don’t have a fancy setup,” well, don’t! Some of the best entries during the previous contests were just pure moments-no editing, just capturing the atmosphere of the game. Flickering light through shattered glass, a quiet moment shared between the characters, or a brutal combat shot- they all count.
So technically, what are you waiting for? That submission link is in that Naughty Dog tweet (https://t.co/HH4ARMGrxD), and the clock is counting down. Whether you’re the king of Photo Mode, or you’re just not really feeling it, this is your chance to flex those visual muscles. Maybe, just maybe, your screenshot will be everyone’s number one talking point next week.
For your inspiration, just browse through the hashtag #TLOUPhotoMode. The community is already flooded with cinematic wide shots and kill-ready close-ups that could very well have been taken straight out of a concept art booklet. The bar is set quite high, and that’s the fun part!
And, even if you don’t enter, you must check them out once the submissions hit. Naughty Dog fandom is pretty talented, and it’s half the fun to watch wildly divergent takes on the same game. Now, go get them screens hits, and maybe—just maybe—ensure your place in TLOU fan history.
