The Grand Tour

Jim diGriz reveals why being trackside always inspires him, and why getting distracted is par for the course for a great game photo

Gran Turismo 3 was the game that gave Jim diGriz the photo mode bug. His passion has since left the track to include grabbing artistic shots from games as varied as Mad Max’s epic spaces and Uncharted 4, where he looks for the “Drake-ness” in the scene. We catch up with diGriz to learn a trick or two capturing Nate’s best angle.

OPM: You clearly like Driveclub. What do you like about its photo mode?

Jim diGriz: Apart from the fine details the cars and bikes were rendered in, I love the dynamic qualities to weather and sky, and, of course, the trackside environment such as wind, litter, balloons, leaves, flags, and smoke. What is best for me, though, is the versatility of its functionality. A picture can be made to be very different, depending on what functions you choose to emphasise the image with.

OPM: How long do you spend trying to get the perfect shot? JD: Actually, I’m a lot sloppier than I should be. I’ve seen some shots that other gamers have taken that are so perfect – yet I’m happy if I catch a dynamic, unusual moment. I suppose after taking so many pictures I have a kind of feeling for which angle, depth of field and filter would suit the image best. I’d say I spend between three and five minutes per decent shot, taking several support images from similar angles or using a different filter/ approach. From those, I’ll choose which one works best.

OPM: Do you have a favourite game photo mode and why?