With another month done and dusted, we’re back with another #DSPorterSpotlight on another amazing Porter. In our penultimate community blog of the year, we want to celebrate the talents of Lisa, an incredibly talented virtual photographer and DEATH STRANDING super-fan, who has shown us so much support over the years, across our social channels.
INTERVIEW WITH LISA WEST
ːsteamthumbsupː https://twitter.com/Lisa_West_Pix
Hi Lisa! It’s great to have you on board for this month’s #DSPorterSpotlight piece. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what makes you a DEATH STRANDING super-fan?
Thank you so much and thank you for having me! Being asked to do this by such an incredible team really means the world. I'm Lisa, from London, and I’m an avid Hideo Kojima fan. I've been playing video games consistently for 35 years and I love them as much today as I did when I was a kid. DEATH STRANDING is a gaming highlight for me. Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa were my first teenage idols so it was a given really. I can’t express my love for the DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT world, characters, story, lore, design and soundtrack enough. Personally, for me, it's perfect.
We’ve seen some incredible photo mode shots from yourself over the years. What is it about DEATH STRANDING that makes it so appealing to capture?
Thank you! For me, it’s the isolation in DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT. Sam Bridges in this vast, broken world. That is a big part of why I play the game. I feel like I can connect to the isolation side of it. But I also love to capture the other side of the coin, capturing the same theme of isolation but within a bright and beautiful world.
You’ve been such a positive force in the DEATH STRANDING community over the years. What is it about this community that makes it so special to you?
The people in the DEATH STRANDING community are some of the sweetest I've ever met. They're always so positive and supportive of one another! The DEATH STRANDING community is filled with talented people too. From cosplayers and artists, to virtual photographers! I'm currently obsessed with @Frau_Haku and her cosplay of Fragile. I suggest people go and see those beautiful pictures. The time and effort that goes into her work is inspiring!
Can you talk to us about your artistic process when working on a shot, and do you have any favourite techniques that you like to use?
I put on Low Roar and stroll through the world! I feel like there’s a chemical reaction in my brain that makes me see the world of DEATH STRANDING as an art book when Low Roar is playing in the background. They go hand-in-hand so well when it's time to take photos. As for techniques, I'm not the most advanced virtual photographer there is, but I like simplicity. A simple shot of Sam Bridges in the forefront, looking out into a big empty environment is always my go-to! If I can make someone look at a picture and say “Ohhh I want to go explore over there” then I know I've achieved the photo I wanted to capture.
Do you have any advice for new Porters who might be about to play DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT for the first time?
I’ve actually just bought DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT for my friend and I told her, just have fun with it. Take it all in! There will be times when you're a little confused as to what is happening but that's OK, that's the point! Take in the music, the story and the backstory of every character. KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS have created the greatest game ever made. You only get to experience it for the first time once.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1850570/DEATH_STRANDING_DIRECTORS_CUT/
A big thank you to Lisa for taking the time to answer our questions. Missed out on any of our previous #DSPorterSpotlight features? Check them out here:
DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT - #DSPORTERSPOTLIGHT 2023
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3708210213986502157
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3708208311601519769
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3648533079196108618
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3681181005684079617
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3685681434319368881
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3717204095287980768
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3692431219063417828
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3711568338028655174
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3650767125370982393
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1850570/view/3664275387881062203