This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 16th to 22nd October

Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program.

Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community.  

Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter.

Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured.

This week’s theme: Baghdad

Painting

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @giraph_1

“I have so much to tell you”

Baghdad is a city that has deep roots in Assassin’s Creed lore. Throughout the series we have seen mentions of this beautifully vibrant playground. In 2023 we have finally been able to parkour its rooftops as Basim Ibn Ishaq. This striking capture has a real painting vibe, something that is amplified by the subtle white border. I adore the composition as it makes the city feel so big. This is assisted by the glorious water way running alongside it. There is a real Assassin’s Creed Origins feel to this shot, however the wondrous blue topped structures instantly tell us it is Baghdad.   

Lantern

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @IronJoy_

“A beacon to light the way”

Decorative is a word I would use to sum up Assassin’s Creed Mirage and the beauty is often in the detail. Entering into a city full of culture and innovation really helps to create a diverse world that not only tells a story but acts as a history lesson. This beautiful shot encapsulates the ambiance of Baghdad. The warm tones of the capture are delightful and the lighting is on point. The lantern attracts the eye but it’s the clever composition that draws your attention to it. I love the markings on the wall and the perfect balance of dark and light.

Docking

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @Cll3ar

“I will go in quietly”

One of the earlier missions in Assassin’s Creed Mirage sees Basim infiltrate a docked ship. It is the first real test of Basim’s training and rewards you with a nice outfit. This capture reminds me of Assassin’s Creed Origins and the constant flow of ships arriving at port. For me though this photo has been pulled right from the art studio at Ubisoft Bordeaux. The framing is exquisite and the saturation delightful. I love how you can see the beautiful blue topped building in the distance. I can just imagine this being Basim’s view as he plans his attack.

Archway

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @G_Assassin90

“It is but one path”

Even though Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a smaller game compared to the recent entries, I feel it has embraced and perfected specific locations. Most if not all of the major landmarks are memorable and have key moments and cues that make them recognizable. This capture is just so striking with the mix of colour tones. The warm interior reminds me of the collector’s edition, especially with the decorative border. The framing is precision with the dome encased in the archway. I must admit the dusty atmosphere and the sense of community in the courtyard make the shot for me.

Majestic

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @cop_filip

“We must go to Baghdad”

Assassin’s Creed virtual photography can often excel in capturing the history of a location. Often character portraits rule but if you observe these masterfully created worlds you can see a lot is going on. This is one of the reasons the Discovery Tours have become so popular. This capture from Filip is a perfect example of the hard work that has gone into making Baghdad feel authentic. You could easily be forgiven for thinking this was a holiday snap. There is so much to love about this shot, the framing with the tree, the sunlight on the building and that elegant shadow of the bird cage on the wall. A perfect capture for the Baghdad theme.

The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week

Judge: @_Virtualtourism

''A great capture. Once again Filip’s real world photography skills are shining through. You get the sense he’s walking through 9th century Baghdad himself rather than through a controller. Captures like this are precious in such a busy game, they shine the light on moments and scenes that can be easily missed. Filip has allowed us all to experience this through his photo. Great shot Filip.''

And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list!

Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in!