Virtual Photography: An Explorative Six Part Series - Cyberpunk 2077
A 6-part limited journey through iconic games. This time we take a stroll through Night City in Cyberpunk 2077.
This is a limited 6-part series that is only available on Substack and will not be emailed out to subscribers.
In these posts we will explore where pixels meet photography. With new capabilities in gaming, better graphics, more powerful consoles and computers, the lens extends beyond traditional devices such as our camera gear or mobile phones.
Video games has emerged as a new canvas for photographers to hone and test their skills, offering unique perspectives and moments. It’s a medium often forgotten in photography, but it deserves recognition for what it is.
A tool to better your own skills in photography.
With instant changing of the time to get the sun or moonlight to hit just right, or experimenting with different focal lengths and lenses without renting or buying expensive gear.
It’s a tool for us photographers, professional or hobbyists, to improve our skills. Finding new angles, props, tools and lighting effects or even action scenes. Whatever it is, if the game offers it, you can most likely photograph it too.
In this 6-part limited series we’re exploring a fun and captivating new medium that transcends the boundaries of conventional photography. The series will span six parts, during which I will go in-depth on each game, character or series that I capture and feature.
Join me in the boundless world of virtual captures in this first part of a 6-part series!
Hold Up, Don’t I Need to be a Gamer to Enjoy it?
Not at all! If you can appreciate art in any form, regardless of its medium, then the specific medium becomes inconsequential.
These posts aren't meant to showcase the games or narrate the stories within them; rather, they aim to celebrate the individuals who brought these creations to life. It's about acknowledging the writers, the composers behind the soundtracks, and the artists who crafted the concept art. It's a tribute to those who envisioned and passionately manifested their creations.
Art, in all its forms, is subjective. The key is knowing where to direct our attention to truly appreciate it.
Personally, I have a deep love for video games. They have played a significant role in shaping who I am, offering endless worlds and adventures that continue to inspire and drive me. While it may be a source of inspiration for me, I understand that for others, it might seem pointless.
So let's find a middle ground where we can simply appreciate it for what it is: a medium for enjoyment.
Virtual Photography - An Intersection of Pixels & Photography
This post delves into the exploding realm of virtual photography, exploring the impact of in-game photo modes on the gaming industry and the evolving art of visual storytelling within virtual landscapes.
Virtual landscapes are, in many ways, limitless—much like our own world and reality. However, they offer something our world doesn’t: a wide array of environments, ranging from alien landscapes to post-apocalyptic Earth, space battles, and the ability to participate in ancient wars, as well as experience zombie apocalypses and dystopian futures. Depending on the game, the world can be either boundless or very confined, but both offer unique perspectives on worlds and environments.
In this post, we will explore a dystopian city in a not so far off future called Night City in the game Cyberpunk 2077.
So, let’s dive straight in.
**All screenshots are captured on a PlayStation 5 using in-game graphics without modifications, alterations, or external editing software. All screenshots are presented as is.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 a role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red, which faced significant scrutiny upon its release in December of 2020. Justifiably so, as it was far from finished when it initially launched.
However, our focus here is not on the backstory of its release; rather, we're here to showcase Cyberpunk 2077 as a game and its undeniably gorgeous world.
In Cyberpunk 2077, we follow the main protagonist, V, who can be either a man or a woman or you can navigate a spectrum in between based on personal preference. I value these inclusive options, especially in the context of the dystopian future we're navigating.
Cyberpunk 2077 seamlessly combines exploration, driving, shooting, incredible storytelling, and an abundance of lore that would make your head spin if we were to delve into it.
Despite its rocky launch, the game is stunning in every possible way. The environments we traverse or drive through are nothing short of breathtaking, albeit in a very dystopian manner.
You'll see what I mean.
About the Capture: Ads rule Night City in more ways than you can imagine. If you look closely, you can even see ads displayed on the sidewalks aimed towards the road in an upward angle to be seen from the other side and by passengers and drivers. Ads are played 24/7, even in your own apartment on holo-screens you can’t turn off.
All ads are seen by everyone, including children, and a lot of ads have something sexual or sexualized in them or something to do with drugs or augmentation.
In fact, 400 in-game brands are visible in the game on billboards, ads through the radio, ads on TV, and logos and brand names plastered on every imaginable surface. That’s how prevalent ads are in Night City.
It’s a sick dystopian society presented in a beautiful way. Because no one ever leaves Night City. Except in a body bag.
Night City is unforgiving at the best of times. If you roam the streets where many corporations have their offices, you will occasionally witness someone falling from one of the roofs or windows above.
All these falls are ruled as suicides, and while we can't entirely rule it out due to the work culture, I'd say that most of these so-called suicides are murders. It is well known that corporations like Araska and Militech have a tendency to "accidentally" have people "leave" their positions in rather unorthodox ways.
Night City
About the Capture: I wanted a beautiful evening/night shot of Night City, and I managed to find a fantastic angle for about a third of it in the new expansion, Phantom Liberty, which we'll explore more later. Prepare for a very long post, chock-full of virtual photos of Night City and some very special characters.
I took more than 400 in-game photos of this game, and I wish I could show them all, but I have to limit them to the absolute best and most relevant.
The definition of a dystopian future city—a city ruled by corporations with cybernetic enhancements everywhere. You don’t live in Night City without having some form of cybermodification in your body, especially if you want to make a name for yourself.
Becoming someone in Night City takes guts, blood, sweat, and a lot of bullets. Fortunately, Night City has plenty of bullets because here, you either live long enough to become a legend or you go down in a hail of bullets. The choice is yours.
Because in Night City, every corp plays dirty, ‘cept the streets are more than that. They’re filth.
If you want a deep dive into the history of Night City and all its surrounding areas, including its founding, I highly recommend you watch this almost 3 hour long video of Night City Deep Dive by Watchman Gaming on Youtube. It’s well worth it if you want to know more about the city, its history, gangs and neighborhoods.
Please keep in mind that it may contain spoilers.
MaxTac
If you’re truly unlucky, or just plain psycho due to experiencing malfunction in your cyberware, MaxTac is the group that will take you down, and they act swiftly. They will act without mercy and are the final line of defense for NCPD to protect the lives of the citizens of Night City.
Then again, civilian casualties happen much more often than you'd want to believe when MaxTac gets involved. They walk away without consequences though, as NCPD and the Mayor won’t allow Internal Affairs to investigate or get close to them. They are essentially protected with a full license to kill freely. Truly dangerous individuals.
MaxTac is officially a part of NCPD but operates independently and does not work closely or even remotely with NCPD unless it involves cyberpsychosis cases or extreme situations that NCPD can’t handle.
About the Capture: MaxTac, the law enforcement group that will take you down, no matter what. If MaxTac gets called, you better run fast, or you will die quickly. This group of law enforcers consists of former cyberpsychos (which stems from psychological side effects from cybernetic implants) themselves, rehabilitated to serve the public rather than destroy it.
To MaxTac, you’re nothing but a mid-day snack.
The MaxTac officer pictured is called a Mantis Officer due to her augmented blades coming out of her arms. She also happens to be the first character we saw out of Night City 10 years ago in a teaser trailer. Check it out below.
The teaser may be 10 years old already, but even back then, they knew exactly what they were doing with teasing her becoming a MaxTac officer after getting arrested.
It’s a fun little easter egg to know about. Another fun easter egg involving this woman can be found at a Jinguji clothing store where you have an … interesting interaction with her after you take down a cyberpsycho yourself.
Photo Mode Settings
Before we get into the photos, let’s have a look at this extremely limited photo mode in Cyberpunk 2077. I say 'extremely limited' because it is even less complicated and more confusing than Horizon Zero Dawn. Not to mention how challenging it is to get the right angle, focus, and distance, as the camera always stops behind the main character, even if set as invisible.
However, no matter how bad, limited or rudimentary or even functionless it may be if we compare to Horizon Forbidden West and Zero Dawn, it does allow for new challenges that requires us to be a lot more creative and precise when taking in-game photos.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that if you're on PC, you have access to mods that can and will improve the photo mode in Cyberpunk. On PS5, as I'm playing, it is unfortunately extremely limited in comparison, which means I have to get extra creative to achieve shots of even remotely similar quality.
With that said, I wish the photo mode was better or at least were a lot less limited. One thing to fix this would be to allow the camera to move freely within a single chunk, which would result in much better photos instantly. A “change time of day” slider would be nice to have too, but not necessary if you can move the camera freely.
In the first screenshot, we see Camera Type, which allows us to switch between First Person View or Drone view. There's also a Preset option that enables the use of preset angles for the Drone view, along with an FOV slider and a Rotate slider. These two functions operate similarly to those in Horizon Zero Dawn.
In the second screenshot, we have DOF (depth of field), Auto Focus, and Aperture. Personally, I prefer playing with manual focus as auto tends to stop where it shouldn't. While DOF and Aperture are basic but useful, there's an issue with artifacting around objects if you keep DOF on and forget to change the Aperture.
Screenshot three is particularly useful for those who take self-portraits, offering the most fun and customizability on consoles. This section alone is powerful, even more so than Horizon Forbidden West, making it a massive bonus.
In the final screen, we can see the Effects such as Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, etc. This is where the photo mode truly shines, or could truly shine, especially if you could change the intensity of the Effects you can apply, which unfortunately, you can't.
After capturing many more than 400 photos inside Cyberpunk 2077, I feel like I need medical attention. Someone, please call Trauma Team for me!
Trauma Team
About the Capture: Trauma Team (International or North America), or TT(I) for short, is a corporation that specializes in rapid response and medical services. They are heavily armed and always ready in an instant.
Trauma Team has agreements with many corporations that allow certain employees access to Trauma Team memberships without paying for the service themselves. If you’re rich enough, though, you can pay for it yourself, but it will cost you more than the average yearly salary for someone in Night City.
These individuals will venture into any zone to retrieve their patient, even zones that the NCPD won’t enter, because they’re both crazy and armed enough to do so.
Their guarantee: 7 minutes or a refund.
Trauma Team offers three packages: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The most expensive and comprehensive option is obviously Platinum, a package only very few can afford long-term. However, don’t worry – you can subscribe for only 24 hours if you can't afford it for an extended period.
This is useful if you anticipate needing medical services within that timeframe.
In 2020, their High Priority package cost $34,000 per month with no yearly discount, which is a tad extreme. While no prices are listed for 2077, I'd say it's safe to assume it is at least $5,000 per month for Platinum, considering you still have to pay for any damages.
On the flip side, you receive 24/7 monitoring, a 90% discount on prescriptions, and all the bullets they have to fire are included plus a lot more.
So, I guess that’s a bonus.
Living in Night City
About the Capture: Thousands of people live in so called Mega Buildings, where most of the apartments don’t have daylight or a view of the outside as these luxuries are usually more expensive than a literal box.
If you want to get an idea of what a Mega Building is like, watch the movie Dredd and you’ll get an idea as it’s layout and looks are pretty similar to the game too.
In the big photo we can see Mega Building H10, where V’s apartment is located.
The other shots are from an apartment in Northside, hallway in Corpo Plaza and industrial apartment in The Glen.
The Glen apartment (photos 3-6) is by far my personal favorite due to its industrial look and feel, not to mention natural lighting. If I can get my hands on an industrial building irl, that’s how I would build an apartment inside of it.
Night City is more than megabuildings with thousands of apartments in them though; it also boasts many corporate buildings and various districts.
So let’s take a quick look at a few in-game photos of these before we move into the meat of the post.
Night City is Gorgeous
About the Capture: In the above photos we can see various street views that you’re bound to see if you’re driving around or walk around Night City.
The second photo is from inside the Corporate Plaza corporate buildings area with the fourth and fifth offers a view from Charter Hill. The first, third and sixth shots are all from the downtown Corporate Plaza area, closer to an apartment you can rent there.
I feel like these shots offer a glimpse into where Night City truly shines, its environment. The neon streets that light up in the night puts such an immersive atmosphere in the game it’s almost like you’re there yourself.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a truly stunning game.
Let’s talk environment in Cyberpunk 2077.
The world itself is not just alive around you, but things happen that you have no control over. Things that include random drive-by shootings, car chases, accidents, fights, people running from something, people talking on their phones and so much more.
CD Project Red, the developers of the game, nailed the world that Mike Pondsmith created. I’m in awe of its beauty and all its flaws.
Streets of Night City
About the Capture: In these in-game photos, we can observe a stark contrast between the poorer and richer parts of the city. The difference is quite significant, with the poorer areas appearing dirty and littered, while the wealthier parts are clean and well-maintained, featuring actual trees.
However, there's one element common to almost all streets in Night City: neon.
Night City is characterized by neon; neon lights are ubiquitous no matter where you go. Even in the badlands, where there are very few buildings, and around the city dump that separates the badlands and Night City, you can find neon signs and lights.
That's how prevalent neon is, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
If there's one thing that Cyberpunk does extremely well—way better than any other game I have seen—it has to be the neon and lights.
The natural-looking effects that the light and neon create are stunning and extremely immersive. Running around in Night City and looking at all the colo(u)rs and lights is more than enough to enjoy the world itself.
More Neon
About the Capture: In these in-game screens, I wanted to showcase a bit more of the neon that you can find throughout Night City. There are even neon lights inside buildings, neon lights projected as holographic images and lights, and entire panels.
The world and environment in Cyberpunk 2077 are truly stunning and almost beyond words.
In the fifth shot of the gallery, you can see a fraction of the city dump with a neon sign for CHOOH2, which is the fuel of the future.
One of the reasons I love this game is because of its world design, but that’s far from the only reason, with the main reason being the story we’re playing. The characters that we meet in this story is exceptional, well written, immersive dialogue and an extremely captivating story.
To put it in a way that is fitting to Night City:
The story of Cyberpunk 2077 is a rollercoaster of fun presented as an emotional clusterfuck. It’s funny, sad, filled with action, events that will pain you and stories that will haunt you forever.
The story is a masterpiece, it’s perfectly paced, perfectly balanced, engaging and captivating enough to hook you instantly. There’s no story I would recommend more than the story in Cyberpunk 2077, it truly is a masterpiece.
Characters of Night City
Night City may be beautiful to look at, but what truly sets this game and city apart is its characters that we encounter throughout our journey.
Each character is unique, possessing their own story, and leaves a distinctive mark in one way or another. The attention to detail and the love put into creating these characters truly shines, and what defines them is the amazing voice actors and actresses who bring them to life.
Having played Cyberpunk 2077 for more than 400 hours across multiple playthroughs, I can honestly say that the voice acting in Cyberpunk 2077 is among the best in any video game. The only game I can compare it to in terms of quality and flow would be Death Stranding, which is essentially a very long movie.
But before moving on, let’s take a quick look at how extreme some gangs and people are with their bodymodifications and cybernetic implants. The perfect example of this is the Maelstrom gang.
Maelstrom
About the Capture: The Maelstrom, one of the oldest and more established gangs in Night City. Their focus on extreme body modifications and cybernetic implants doesn’t just look scary; it also makes them very dangerous.
Members of Maelstrom are usually on the brink of cyberpsychosis, as they like the thrill of almost losing control, but their urge for improving their own flesh is stronger than the pull of going full psycho.
They usually implant themselves with combat mods, pain editors, and many other things to enhance their physical performance and make themselves almost superhuman.
It’s not a gang you want to run across in a dark alley, as they are considered crappy and boring if their body count is less than a dozen. So, if you’re unlucky, you may find yourself at the wrong end of the barrel.
Now that we’ve gotten an overview of the city itself, one of the scarier gangs, and all the neon you could handle, let’s move on to what has to be the best part about Cyberpunk 2077: the characters.
So, let’s take a small look at these enigmatic and amazing characters that truly bring Night City and Cyberpunk 2077 to life.
We’ll start with not just any character, but we’ll start with the best choom anybody could have in a city like Night City: Jackie Welles.
Jackie Welles
About the Capture: Jackie Welles, one of the most lovable goofballs in Night City and an amazing choom, or partner in crime, however you want to put it. Jackie is a well-crafted character who embodies the quintessential Night City resident dreaming big.
His aspiration is to become a legend, to solidify his name and legacy at the nightclub Afterlife as a mercenary and have a drink named after him, driven by the purest of reasons: to help his family.
However, there's one significant obstacle in achieving his dreams. Most legends are found in the graveyard.
Being a mercenary in Night City is something that could quite literally make or break you, depending on your luck and skill. But one thing is certain: if you already have a reputation from a Fixer, you will receive an invite to a certain place called Afterlife.
No, I’m not talking about the literal afterlife, although it is fitting, as this nightclub is located inside an old morgue.
Afterlife - Nightclub
About the Capture: Afterlife, a nightclub where all notable mercenaries of Night City end up at least once for a job in their career. Whether they come back or not depends entirely on them surviving the job.
Afterlife is built inside an old morgue, which is a bizarre and evocative choice depending on how you look at it, especially considering that many mercenaries usually end up meeting their fate on the job.
Afterlife is run and operated by the Night City legend herself, Rogue Amendiares.
Rogue Amendiares, a legend in every way. She should be an older woman in 2077, as she rose to prominence in the 2020s, but she sure doesn’t look it, and she sure doesn’t act it. Her cybernetic enhancements and contacts deep into the underground of Night City may keep her around for a very long time, thanks to remarkable medical advancements designed to prolong life.
That is, if you're rich or important enough.
Rogue Amendiares
About the Capture: Rogue Amendiares, an old mercenary turned Fixer. A Fixer like Rogue is someone who connects mercenaries with gigs or small jobs that need to be done. These gigs can include assassinations, corporate espionage, data mining, kidnapping, grand theft auto, or anything else you can imagine.
Rogue is The Fixer in Night City, her name legendary for decades, and her personality is cold and calculating. There’s no other Fixer a mercenary would rather work with than Rogue; she pays well and provides the best gigs you can find.
The main photo in question depicts a young Rogue Amendiares during her assault mission on Arasaka Tower with Johnny Silverhand on August 20, 2023.
The gallery is from 2077, where Rogue is in her 80s. She looks pretty damn good for an 80-year-old if I say so myself. And she’s still as spry as she was in her 20s.
Johnny Silverhand, the enigmatic rockerboy and figurehead of the anarchist rock band, Samurai, played by the ever-so-talented Keanu Reeves. Yes, that Keanu Reeves.
Johnny is a bit... eccentric, to say the least. His ideals are extreme, and his methods even more so, but his heart is in the right place, even if it may not seem like it. He hates corporations, and he especially despises Arasaka.
Johnny Silverhand (Keanu Reeves)
About the Capture: Wake the fuck up, samurai. We have a city to burn.
These words are etched into the memory of every person who witnessed the reveal that announced Keanu Reeves portraits Johnny Silverhand. Since then, these words, among many others, have been echoed in Cyberpunk circles and have become a staple throughout the gaming world.
However, Johnny Silverhand is a somewhat tragic figure, scarred by a war in which he lost his best friend and left arm. His vendetta against Arasaka, especially after the loss of his girlfriend, Alt Cunningham, further underscores his tragic history and that’s just the beginning.
He has lost more than any of us could ever imagine, and that's not an exaggeration.
Capturing Johnny's photos isn't always easy; he's not always around. But when he is, you know a funny, quirky, and downright colorful comment is about to drop which always include an f-bomb or two.
To be perfectly honest, I truly believe that this is Keanu Reeves' best role.
During Johnny’s assault on Arasaka Tower in 2023, he was followed by the then-best Netrunner in Night City, Spider Murphy.
Spider Murphy may not be a soldier in the traditional sense, but her knowledge of the Net was unmatched by only a handful of others, which included Bartmoss himself—the Netrunner who destroyed the Net and accidentally brought in an era of individual nets that blocked access to a haven of information and knowledge beyond the Blackwall including thousands of what are now called rogue-AI’s.
Bartmoss singlehandedly changed the way the Net works in Night City, albeit unintentionally. This speaks volumes about his skill. Spider Murphy wrote the book about him, likely being the only one who understood him both as a person and as a Netrunner, given her equal skill in the field.
Spider Murphy
About the Capture: Do spiders spin webs? It's time to catch flies.
Spider Murphy began her career as a Netrunner at the age of 9 when she falsified a sales data order form from Zetatech to receive a new deck from them. You could say she’s a bit unique and obviously extremely skilled, given that she accomplished that at the age of 9.
The only time we see Spider Murphy in the game is in a flashback to the attack on Arasaka Tower, but she is referenced throughout the game quite a bit, which is fantastic as she’s such an interesting figure. The most notable reference is her book on Rache Bartmoss and Netrunning guide, which you can find excerpts from in the form of datashards in the game.
If you want to know more about Spider Murphy, I know I do, you should check out the Cyberpunk board game and its substantial accompanying lore.
Arasaka Tower, one of the biggest and tallest structures in all of Night City. A powerhouse of a corporation with a structure and design intended to broadcast its threatening prominence to the world.
This is the second iteration of Arasaka Tower in Night City, with the first one being completely demolished in 2023 during Johnny Silverhand’s attack on the tower.
About the Capture: Arasaka, a very prominent name in the world of Night City. A name that reportedly started in 1859 with the birth of the Arasaka Corporation's founder, Sasai Arasaka but weren’t founded until 1915.
Arasaka Tower in 2077 is built on top of the ruins of the original Arasaka Tower that was destroyed back in 2023 when a small tactical nuke went off on the 120th floor. A nuke that was supposed to go off in the basement. No one knows why it stopped on the 120th floor and didn’t go all the way down to the basement, but thousands died as a result of it.
I wanted to capture the darker undertone of the corporation itself because, let's face it, corporations are evil, and I aimed for an angled shot of the tower itself just to show how massive and threatening its presence is.
The Arasaka Tower casts an intimidating presence over Night City, and the figures at its summit are equally formidable. This is not just because it has had the same CEO and owner since 1960—Saburo Arasaka, born in 1919, who assumed control of the corporation at the age of 41.
Doesn’t make sense? Allow me to explain.
The world of Cyberpunk introduces us to a reality that is very much akin to our own yet strikingly different—not only due to its dystopian setting but also its advancements in medical technology. These medical breakthroughs have propelled humanity forward significantly, although we have not yet achieved true immortality.
However, thanks to Soulkiller, we are on the verge of attaining it.
Hanako Arasaka
About the Capture: Hanako Arasaka, the sole daughter of the Arasaka family. Hanako grew up sheltered as a means to protect her from the scarring traumas of the outside world, but this has not hindered her.
Utterly brilliant, Hanako is a self-taught netrunner whose skill makes her the only one capable of truly grasping the meaning of Soulkiller. Which propels her far beyond the likes of Bartmoss and Spider Murphy.
Believe it or not, Hanako Arasaka is 78 years old. Saburo Arasaka, her father, had her when he was 80, and he is 158 years old in 2077.
It truly is mind-blowing what money can buy in the world of Cyberpunk, as you can pretty much achieve immortality.
With highly prominent individuals like Saburo and Hanako Arasaka, there are bound to be bodyguards very close by.
Among the most loyal is Takemura-san, a highly skilled soldier turned personal bodyguard of Saburo Arasaka himself. It is an immense hono(u)r to attain such a position, as it comes with the best of everything, including cyberware and body modifications.
Goro Takemura received a one-of-a-kind cyberware and an endoskeleton, both of which make him close to superhuman in every aspect.
Goro Takemura (竹村 五郎)
About the Capture: Goro Takemura, a fiercely loyal bodyguard to the man himself, Saburo Arasaka.
Takemura grew up in poverty and was raised by his grandmother. As Arasaka conscripted for their corporate army, Takemura became a soldier, something he equates to winning the lottery. Coming from extreme poverty, I can certainly understand what he means, as he suddenly had access to food, the best training, and a warm place to sleep.
Takemura’s skill is nothing short of terrifying, especially when fully equipped with everything Arasaka could provide him. However, even if stripped of it all, he would still stand tall and remain equally intimidating.
That’s how powerful his presence is.
Night City may seem unforgiving, and it is, but there is a lot of love to be found in the city—not just in the city itself but with the people, the characters who reside in it.
If you play as a female V, which I prefer to do, you can romance one of the best characters in the game: Judy Alvarez.
Judy Alvarez
About the Capture: Judy Alvarez, the best braindance editor in Night City. When we first meet Judy, we're actually meeting up with someone else—this someone else is Evelyn Parker, best friend of Judy.
Personally, I doubt anyone knows Evelyn like Judy does. Their bond is truly special, and it shows.
Truth be told, Judy Alvarez is one of the best and most passionate individuals in all of Night City. She’s lovable, extremely well-written, and a very balanced person overall. She’s impossible not to love.
Judy may primarily focus on pornographic braindances, but she does so ethically, involving only consenting adults who take part in genuine passion. At least according to herself.
But what is braindance?
The best way to describe it is the headgear that Judy wears in one of the shots—a braindance device. This device sends signals to your brain through light and sound waves, allowing you to literally experience what is played as if you were there.
BDs, as they are also called, can be used to solve crimes or find clues at a crime scene if anyone at the scene had a BD device or chip. They're also used for music videos and movies.
The NCPD makes use of BDs, but instead of experiencing the events themselves, they use a holographic viewer.
The technology is incredible and very interesting.
Evelyn Parker
About the Capture: Evelyn Parker, a high-end prostitute, for lack of a better word. When we meet up with Evelyn, it's at the bar at Lizzie’s Bar, home of The Mox. That's why I included the mannequin, as it ties directly into both Evelyn and Lizzie’s Bar.
I won’t show anything or anyone from The Mox, mostly because I tried for hours to get a good shot of one of their members, but the lighting in that place is horrendous for photos, unfortunately. At least on PS5.
Evelyn is a character, to say the least—entrepreneurial, ambitious, and very focused. However, her history of being a prostitute and a so-called doll makes her a bit … strange and fragile, even if her appearance is that of someone confident and strong.
Evelyn is a very interesting character who is not only well-written in every aspect but also adds vibrancy to the story.
Night City is filled with interesting characters, but only a handful are romance options, which, in my opinion, is more than enough as it's about the quality of the character rather than the quantity.
With that said, one of the best chooms anyone can have, in a romantic setting or not, is Panam Palmer. If you play as male V or a V with a male body, you can romance Panam, and you’ll be treated with hilariously cheesy interactions that she despises herself.
You can tell she’s trying something she’s never done before, but she falls short, and it is hilarious.
Panam Palmer
About the Capture: Panam Palmer, a nomad from the clan Aldecaldos. Panam is the best kind of friend you could ever ask for; she is fiercely loyal to those she cares about and will do her damndest to be the best she could be at any given time for them.
She risks life and limb on more than one occasion for V, and V does the same for her, which I guess is why their bond becomes so strong.
Panam is amazing through and through. She leaps into action without question and shows up when asked. Her voice actress, Emily Woo Zeller, really nails her and brings life to her character that is hard to beat or even match, for that matter.
But there’s not only companions, fixers and mercs, or amazing chooms to be found in Night City. The city is also filled with larger-than-life personalities like Lizzy Wizzy, a world famous artist whose posters you’ll find everywhere.
Lizzy Wizzy looks a bit strange, but that’s because she changes her appearance frequently. She has a detachable jaw and a full-body replacement to become her signature chrome body.
Yup, these are the extents some are willing to go to stand out in the world of Cyberpunk.
Lizzy Wizzy
About the Capture: Elisabeth Wissenfurth, aka, Lizzy Wizzy, a famous artist in Night City. The lady of chrome, or whatever you want to call her, is a character you have a couple of interactions with throughout the game, and they’re very interesting.
Being a mercenary pays off if you want to meet or work with famous personalities, especially if your big idol is Lizzy Wizzy herself.
By the time we meet Lizzy, we’ve already done a gig for her, and she tells us a story about what happened. I won’t spoil it if you want to do it yourself. But it is a doozy.
This is how unique and strange Lizzy is; she once enacted her own death on stage while a team of Ripperdocs from the company MoorE did a five-hour-long operation on stage where they replaced her internal organs with the latest implants only for her to rise and perform her song; Re-start, Re-heart, Repeat, after the procedure.
Yeah, it’s safe to say that she is a bit unique.
If you haven’t and want to see a performance by Lizzy Wizzy, I highly recommend checking out this video. This performance is a live showcase in the new expansion, Phantom Liberty, and it is nothing but pure mesmerizing art.
It’s a stunning performance, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it myself. It is incredible and a true testament to the talent behind the game.
No, this is not a cutscene, it is a moment that happens in the game that you could completely miss or ignore. It’s 100% optional, yet, you stay and watch due to how mesmerizing it is.
Another larger-than-life personality, as if there’s not enough of them already, is Kerry Eurodyne. Johnny's friend from back in the 2020s who was also a member of the band Samurai that Johnny formed.
Kerry, much like Johnny or Lizzy Wizzy, is a tad unique. Not in the same extreme way, but in a goofy way instead, and he is amazing because of it.
If you want to romance him, you need to play as the male V as Kerry is gay.
Kerry Eurodyne
About the Capture: Kerry Eurodyne, a world-famous rock star in Night City. Kerry is the only person that I know, both in real life and in any game I’ve played, who has a nude painting of himself to commemorate his time with Samurai.
Not only that, he’s also eccentric in all the right ways for us to do nothing but laugh as we spend time with him. Kerry is unintentionally funny and hilarious at the same time, all by accident because of how quirky he is.
No age has been listed for Kerry, but if we go by the timeline and do some math, Kerry has to be at least 74 years old. Not a bad look for a 74-year-old; I know I wouldn’t complain about looking that good at that age, nor would I say no to having as much energy as he does.
In the fifth photo in the gallery, we can see three girls with him; these girls are the members from Us Cracks, a Japanese lazrpop group. Guess who’s who based on their names: Blue Moon, Red Menace, Purple Force. Yup, creativity right there.
The interaction where you can snap this photo is nothing short of amazing; it’s so funny and so stupidly quirky at the same time, it’s just amazing.
What I have covered is nothing but a mere fraction of a large world filled with many more characters and environments, and that’s just from the base game itself.
Cyberpunk 2077 received a massive upgrade last year with the 2.0 and 2.1 updates, which include the new expansion, Phantom Liberty.
You could technically say that Phantom Liberty is a DLC, as it is downloadable content, but the scope and sheer size of it make it an expansion as it expands on the world, lore, story, characters, and a lot more.
Welcome to Dogtown
About the Capture: Welcome to Dogtown, the seedy underbelly of Night City that will eat you up and spit you out in pieces or full of holes, even if you’re careful.
No one ventures into Dogtown on a whim, and those who do regret it very quickly, as life is much harder there than in the city. Even if the illusion of safety, with their closed-off entry to this part of town, screams security, it is anything but secure.
QUICK NOTE: If you’re thinking about playing Phantom Liberty, I recommend you proceed with caution as mild spoilers are ahead. And if you’re wondering when the right time to start the expansion is, my personal recommendation is when you’ve reached the point of no return in the main storyline or are at least level 50 or have done a 100% playthrough of the basegame.
As we enter Dogtown, we are introduced to a new character called Songbird. Songbird is an extremely skilled Netrunner working directly with and for the President of NUSA, (New United States of America) Rosalind Myers.
So-Mi, as she is also called, is an FIA agent (Federal Investigation Agency). This means she has top clearance and full access to essentially anything that the government tries to hide, and if she doesn’t have access, she’ll make her own.
Songbird is somewhat of a secret weapon for the NUSA and the President, as she frequently breaches the Blackwall (which is illegal and extremely dangerous due to the thousands of rogue AIs that exist there).
Songbird (So-Mi)
About the Capture: Songbird, or So-Mi depending on what you want to call her, is a Netrunner that appears to us as a holographic image that only V can see. At least when we first meet her.
So-Mi’s story is sad, and it’s very obvious that she has an internal struggle. She knows she’s nothing but a tool and a weapon for the NUSA, which means that she won’t be allowed to just leave, especially not after having worked so closely with the President as she has.
It’s as she says herself, a weapon doesn’t retire; it just stops being useful, at which point they are discarded. Something she has seen happen to other FIA agents throughout her career, including her own mentor, Solomon Reed, whom she was ordered to have killed 7 years ago.
She knew she had to follow orders, but it has been eating at her ever since.
If you want to know more about the story and how she had him betrayed, I recommend you watch the following cinematic trailer for Phantom Liberty.
I guarantee you’ll find it interesting, especially if you’re a fan of Idris Elba, as he portrays Solomon Reed.
Solomon Reed (Idris Elba)
About the Capture: Solomon Reed, a dedicated FIA agent through and through, despite them ordering his death seven years prior.
Reed is an incredible character who grapples with inner conflict, especially concerning So-Mi betraying him all those years ago. While he has forgiven her, he still feels guilty for not being there to protect her from that decision.
Despite being a loyal soldier for the President and a literal spy within the FIA, he still retains a degree of independent thought. He desires nothing more than to trust his government despite what it did to him. This makes him very dangerous to many, especially those who could be considered traitors.
Idris Elba portrays Reed in a way that, in many respects, makes him comparable to Johnny Silverhand but in the complete and total opposite way. It's astounding how well-written his character is and how much of a contrast he presents to Johnny.
This post has gone on forever; it’s taken me well over 30 hours to write and format, not counting the 100+ hours it took me to replay Cyberpunk 2077 again.
Let’s not forget the 420+ in-game photos that I snapped. All of which were a pleasure to do, and I have sincerely enjoyed every moment of it.
I still have quite a few photos to show, so I will finish off with a gallery or two and provide short information about each photo.
More Characters
Meredith Stout, a Militech agent, is a hardass in every regard, known for taking what she wants and almost never failing in doing so. Meredith is available for a one-night stand (which leads to a spicy scene), regardless of your V's gender.
Clouds Receptionist, unfortunately, I do not know her name, but she’s a beautiful character that exudes Cyberpunk vibes without overtly doing so through augmentations. She is what we’d call a purist.
Totentanz Clubber, an unknown person that I found sitting outside the notorious nightclub Totentanz. I loved her vibe, especially with the metallic facemask she’s wearing, so I just had to snap her photo.
Viktor Vektor, a very talented Ripperdoc and a personal friend of V. Viktor is a fantastic character that gives off the vibe of being extremely trustworthy. I love Vik; he’s such a fantastic and well-written character that Cyberpunk 2077 and Night City wouldn’t be the same without him.
Viktor Vektor as he removes our current eye scanner with a new model from Kiroshi. It’s a very interesting scene that provides a small insight into how people like Vik work, and I love that scene because of it.
Dexter DeShawn, also known as Black Jesus of Afterlife, which is honestly a really funny nickname. Dexter is a cold and calculating Fixer that has no issues screwing over the mercenaries he’s working with. Still, the game wouldn’t be the same without Dex.
Oshima, which is clear as day that it is an Easter egg, as this particular person is considered a God in video game circles. Oshima, as he’s aptly called in Cyberpunk, is none other than Hideo Kojima himself. I found him casually chilling in the bar inside of Konpeki Plaza and just had to snap his photo, even if it’s not the best one I’ve taken.
Konpeki Plaza Server, this golden woman is the attendee in the Konpeki Plaza Bar. There’s nothing special about her, except for being golden, which is a common theme with workers inside of Konpeki Plaza, so I assume it is some sort of uniform. Which is pretty scary when you think about it, as a full-body swap like that usually means you’re more machine than human. It’s a golden Lizzy Wizzy essentially.
T-Bug, a talented Netrunner and personal friend of V and Jackie. T-Bug is a very intriguing character as you can’t really place her, but there’s no doubt she’s on a friendly basis with both V and Jackie.
Random Shots & More Characters
Viktor’s Clinic: This is the chair in which Viktor performs his Ripperdoc duties.
My V on her Arch Motorcycle: Keanu Reeves happens to be a co-founder of Arch Motorcycle in real life. It’s a seriously fantastic motorcycle, and I love the fact that you can own and drive them in Cyberpunk. Now I just need one in real life.
Arch Motorcycle: I wanted to try a more stylized shot of the bike, and I believe I managed. I had to play with the settings quite a bit, but eventually, I got the colors to pop as I wanted them to.
Arch Motorcycle Tire: Another stylized shot as I wanted to try and capture movement, which unfortunately you can’t, but I’m still pleased with this one.
A Dark Alley: This alley happened to have a bunch of dead people in it. I came across this scene after what looked like a shootout between rival gangs, and the lighting and shadows in this alley just begged to be photographed.
A Reflection in the streets after it had rained in the game: The water filled up the small holes in the road and gave such depth I just had to snap a picture of it.
Misty Olszewski, Jackie's output (girlfriend): Misty is nothing short of wonderful, and I’d love to have her as a friend. She’s caring, loving, not to mention spiritual and just amazing. I love her; she’s such a great character.
Black Market Dealer: This guy you can find in Dogtown, and he’s a Black Market dealer. As you can see, he’s more machine than human, but believe it or not, he’s actually human. Just heavily augmented. We can ask him about his chrome, but all he gives is a vague answer that doesn’t answer anything. But a very interesting character nonetheless.
Black Market Shouter: A purist. I’ve examined her as much as I possibly could on PS5, and I have been unable to find any chrome or augmentations on her. Does she have some? It’s possible, but if she does, it’s hidden underneath her clothes.
To be honest, I could easily post another 100 shots before I’m happy with this post, but considering the heavy load it already carries, it’s probably best if I wrap it up here.
Even though there are many more interesting characters that I’d love to feature, I feel it’s time to conclude. If you would like a part 2 or a more comprehensive list of characters, let me know in the comments.
Let’s finish off with a quote from Cyberpunk that really hits home for me and for almost anyone who hears it.
The quote is extremely hard-hitting, especially if you have a fire inside of you that you can't quite put your finger on why it burns as strongly as it does. I know it hits hard for me and inspires me to push myself harder and further in everything that I take on.
Virtual Photography - An Invitation to Inspiration
Let this post serve as an invitation for you to traverse the fascinating intersection of pixels and photography, either with me as we continue to explore more games, or by yourself.
As we’ve delved into the realms of a very unique game, we witnessed the technical capabilities of in-game photo mode and the exploration of virtual landscapes through the virtual lens.
Each photo is unique in its visuals, showcasing how a tiny change in factors like the time of day, pose, and angle can completely transform the picture. In in-game photography, you enjoy much more freedom than in real life, as you can instantly travel to get a new backdrop or change the time of day while taking the photo.
In-game photography, or virtual photography, provides numerous opportunities for photographers to expand their horizons (no pun intended) and discover fascinating new ways to capture scenes.
If nothing else, it can serve as inspiration for a future photoshoot.
What’s Next?
With each game, character or series I will uncover various techniques in different ways, different games and different environments.
Next up on this journey is, I honestly have no idea yet, but you’ll find out in April or May 2024.
Much like the Horizon series and Cyberpunk, I will journey through a game world and play with new techniques in its photo mode. I have not yet decided what game I’ll cover or what to focus on in it, but it will most likely be a heavy focus on stylized shots, or something completely different. It’s a mystery.
We have seen the power of virtual photography as a medium in its own right already, but there is still much to cover.
Numerous games remain to be explored, each equipped with its own photo modes that vary significantly. Some photo modes, like that of Cyberpunk 2077 and Horizon Zero Dawn, are more simplistic, while others go beyond, providing functionalities comparable to those found in very basic entry-level DSLRs and basic image editing software, such as the photo mode in Horizon II: Forbidden West.
Certain mods for games on PC offer functionality that matches a more advanced DSLR with Lightroom combined. Modders usually take things to the next level with everything they do.
Remember, I do not engage in modded photography as I am on Playstation 5, but it is worth mentioning if you’re playing on PC and want to engage in virtual photography with more options.
This is an experimental post, available exclusively on Substack and the Substack app. It is a venture into uncharted territories where virtual and visual storytelling converge.
We will continue this odyssey of pixels in a couple of months where we’ll cover another game, where I’m inviting you to another captivating photo series, one virtual frame at a time.
This game looks stunning, and again this is such a novel and exciting way to explore photography through the medium of gaming. Love the neon in particular!
Some of those are gorgeous man. Night City is such a gorgeous environment to take pictures. Especially for people who like urban photography.