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'Halotography': What you wanted next-gen Halo to look like photo

I think we're all kind of over the argument as to whether or not Halo 3 looked more like Halo 2.5. But after checking out these Halo photo compositions by photographer Joshua Reppenhagen, it's hard for me not to wish that Bungie's game looked a bit more like this.

Joshua used a combination of Halo 3 and Photoshop CS to give some of these images a more photorealistic look, with some impressive results. "I think this gives a much needed breath of fresh air to Halo," he writes to us. Anyone agree?

You can check out the full "Halotography" set of 47 images at Joshua's Flickr page.
 


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57 comments | showing # 1 to 50

liquidninja's Avatar
liquidninja at 04/26/2008 13:56
It'd be awesome if Halo3 looked like that. Mmmmmmm photorealism <slobbers>.
B-Radicate's Avatar
B-Radicate at 04/26/2008 14:02
This makes me wish they'd get their act together and make a damn Halo movie more than anything else.
Antlerbot's Avatar
Antlerbot at 04/26/2008 14:02
Good stuff...but it really doesn't look that much different from halo 3 as it is now. Basically...I see Halo 3 + blur + higher contrast. Woo.
Clockwork's Avatar
Clockwork at 04/26/2008 14:04
A blur effect would've been great in Halo 3.
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar
deiga-the-semivaliant at 04/26/2008 14:08
I would have liked the higher contrast.
Nick Chester's Avatar
Nick Chester at 04/26/2008 14:09
@ Antlerbot:

It's subtle, but I think it's very effective.
RAB's Avatar
RAB at 04/26/2008 14:09
i'm not usually much of a graffix fiend, but some of those are fucking incrediible
GoS-CPT-Stewart's Avatar
GoS-CPT-Stewart at 04/26/2008 14:11
A lot of times people complain about the lack of color in games these days, but I sort of wish that the colors in Halo 3 had been toned down a bit, sort of how we see it in these shots. A little bit darker tone would have been awesome for the game.
tsunamikitsune's Avatar
tsunamikitsune at 04/26/2008 14:12
I never really thought Halo 3 looked too bad graphics-wise, but that was on my crappy SDTV. Playing it on VGA cable a few days ago really sucked with how crappy it looked.
nicojay's Avatar
nicojay at 04/26/2008 14:15
Hands up all those who think photorealistic graphics make a game more enjoyable than if it had simple, clear, crisp graphics that enable one to see what is happening.
Barring the game genres that intentionally graphically befuddle one. Space giraffe couldn't be more enjoyable?
geekjutsu's Avatar
geekjutsu at 04/26/2008 14:21
Amazing what a big difference a few changes make.
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 04/26/2008 14:22
These look great, but the gray just doesn't sit well with me. I don't know about you guys, but when I walk outside I see colors. The sky's blue, not brown.

There's no doubt that Halo's visuals let me down, though. They didn't look bad, but they weren't what I expected from the 360's biggest game.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 04/26/2008 14:22
So wash out the colors and it looks better? I disagree.
monosylabik's Avatar
monosylabik at 04/26/2008 14:31
thats the thing i like about halo the actual bright colors they use. i hate this washed out look so many games have nowadays, its so demure and dull.
d0x's Avatar
d0x at 04/26/2008 14:33
True Halo 3 isnt mind blowing but calling it Halo 2.5 is extreme. If you put them side by side the difference is HUGE. Also there is just so much going all in the map at any given time and the maps are quite large with no loads. Anyone notice the lighting? Its really some of the best around. At the end of the day it could have looked better but im sure for that to happen Bungie would have needed to break up the levels of put bigger hidden loads in. I prefer the seamless experience and the highly tuned gameplay.
dephect's Avatar
dephect at 04/26/2008 14:41
I guess I have to be the downer here and say something like..
I dont see any talent to the photo touches. It looks like he pretty much clicked the effects tab and picked a couple at random.
SDogg554's Avatar
SDogg554 at 04/26/2008 14:44
they look like real life action figures. big deal.
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 04/26/2008 14:49
Awesome.
Orionsaint's Avatar
Orionsaint at 04/26/2008 14:57
I think in making Halo 3. Bungie was worried about straying too far from what Halo was and turning off Halo fans. So they held back.
Novakaine's Avatar
Novakaine at 04/26/2008 15:09
@ vexed alex: Don't you know? Bright, lively colors are for kiddies and casuals--hardcore gamers prefer dark, mature colors.
animateria's Avatar
animateria at 04/26/2008 15:15
Too blurry.

It would be unplayable with all those blur effects.

I like the lively colors of Halo 3 better thank you very much.
Teta's Avatar
Teta at 04/26/2008 15:16
Yeah i think washing the colors make things look more realistic. Why? Because every time i see those guys in those suits i can only think of heat. And heat washes out colours.
Amazing "photos" i must say.
Timmeh's Avatar
Timmeh at 04/26/2008 15:20
I dunno, some kinda look okay but it's nothing special and that blur looks awful in the photo up there. It looks like some kind of failed depth of field effect or... well, I'm not sure what the desired effect was but it doesn't work.

Sorry but these pictures mostly look like something anyone comfortable in the basics of PS could do in 30 mins.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 04/26/2008 16:04
Ummm, this is terrible stuff. The attempt at doing DoF with the blur is lazy and horribly wrong. And the "realistic" washed out look makes the game indistinguishable from any other game out there, honestly.
JackLeroy's Avatar
JackLeroy at 04/26/2008 16:33
Halo 3 looks fantastic, the lighting is some of the best I've seen this gen.

Honestly, the marine grunts look like crap, but everything else is great. You seriously need you eyes checked if you think it's only vaguely improved.

There's a difference between a similar art style and graphic quality people.
Xbudz's Avatar
Xbudz at 04/26/2008 17:39
Hey all! I've seen this technique before, it is used to make miniature models look real.

Here's a link for instructions on how to do it yourself:

http://www.recedinghairline.co.uk/tutorials/fakemodel/

Personally, I dont think it made Halo 3 look any better, just different. But this technique when used on a small scale toy city or something like that- it really improves the overall look. Giving it a more realistic feel.

Have fun!
Sam Spectre's Avatar
Sam Spectre at 04/26/2008 18:15
Psh. He just blurred some parts and changed the contrast. Doesn't impress me much, although it is an improvement.

I have to say, I'm also one who wasn't overly impressed with the graphics.
Ronsauce's Avatar
Ronsauce at 04/26/2008 18:16
I thought Halo 3 was one of the best looking games so far this generation. Sometimes parts of it looks kind of iffy, but there are some truly spectacular areas and effects.

These pics don't do much for me. The blur would have been good as a decent depth of field effect, but it seems kind of applied all willy-nilly in these shots.
fluorescent_grey's Avatar
fluorescent_grey at 04/26/2008 18:29
meh pics imo
i enjoyed Halo 3's graphics
adultswim810's Avatar
adultswim810 at 04/26/2008 18:39
overdose of depth of field+random blurring=good now!?
adultswim810's Avatar
adultswim810 at 04/26/2008 18:41
and after looking at all of them my eyes hurt now...
Rob165x's Avatar
Rob165x at 04/26/2008 19:01
When I first saw the water among the cool lighting in Halo3 I fell in love. It has good graphics; people who say it ain't an improvement are only hating on the franchise. The bright colors is part of the universe, and making it look like Resident Evil might not work. This reminds me of some idiots who told me that Resident Evil(1)'s Remake on Gamecube looked exactly like its PS1 counterpart. LMFAO, I hate dicks...check it out...
http://www.rehorror.net/thirdeye06/m_c_g.php
pisses me off when people still argue this with me!
kawitchate's Avatar
kawitchate at 04/26/2008 19:25
so we're trading the bright and colorful Halo for photo-realistic browns and grays? i thought all of us here HATED how all next-gen games are browns and grays?!?

Halo 3 may look like Halo 2 in a way, but that's what makes it HALO. hell, look at the new Gears 2 shots and tell me that doesn't look EXACTLY like the original. they're both sequels. they should look like the ones that came before it... ESPECIALLY games that stick with more color over browns and grays.
Aziel13's Avatar
Aziel13 at 04/26/2008 19:30
Dizamn <3
halokid's Avatar
halokid at 04/26/2008 20:18
MaD Cool
Churchhills Dog's Avatar
Churchhills Dog at 04/26/2008 21:01
I appreciate the skill that went into moddifying these screenshots i don't think I'd care for the game to look like that. there are already too many shooters that are either out or on their way that sport the monochromatic "realism" look. I like colors. Bright, rich colors.
runchild's Avatar
runchild at 04/26/2008 23:55
I liked 'em. The blur affects where somewhat poorly used in some places, but the concept is quite nice: COD4 and Assassin's Creed have shown that it can work quite well.

As for the blue sky debate: i don't think washed out colors are bad. It's just different. i still think Gears of War is visually stunning despite the semi-monochrome pallete. It wouldn't look...right without it. Some games can benefit from it, while others wouldn't. There's room for both styles. And i don't think we've fully explored semi-monochromism. The upcoming games Saboteur and Mirrors Edge both use it combined with some bright colors to create a very interesting effect.
Neonie's Avatar
Neonie at 04/27/2008 01:56
Antlerbot really hit the nail on the head with this one. They really did not do much to most of the pictures besides add a blur effect.
Boolean's Avatar
Boolean at 04/27/2008 03:51
I'm not seeing it. All I see is a different color MC and some really oddly placed blur (why just blur the bottom half?). Not only are these bad photoshops, I fail to see how this makes Halo look any better at all. In fact some of those I can't tell what he did.
Drunken Haze's Avatar
Drunken Haze at 04/27/2008 05:17
What i wanted from halo 3 was for it to feel like that advert they had with prelude no. 15 in the background. That advert actually achieved the epic feel, final fight, strugle of humanity thing that halo attempts. And chopin > halo music every time.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 04/27/2008 10:05
Pictures look good! Wish Halo 3 looked that good.
Macca's Avatar
Macca at 04/27/2008 10:08
@Reaprar, go watch the trailer, then go play the third mission. You can tell the trailer was done in the game engine.
Foe's Avatar
Foe at 04/27/2008 10:24
I dunno about those pictures, the extream depth of field just makes them look like miniatures not better in my opinion. And I'm also not sure I agree that making things browner equals better. Anyone play Resistance? Case closed.
Noah's Avatar
Noah at 04/27/2008 10:51
Why are they wearing blurry pants?
nicojay's Avatar
nicojay at 04/27/2008 12:04
To hide the stains.
Icarus One's Avatar
Icarus One at 04/27/2008 13:07
Depth of field always adds to the photorealism of an image, and it was one of the visual effects Halo 3 was sorely lacking. They tried to do it, but it needed more finesse.
Dan CiTi's Avatar
Dan CiTi at 04/27/2008 13:21
Halo 3 looks a lot better than Halo 2.
Drop of Flame's Avatar
Drop of Flame at 04/27/2008 17:24
Halo 3 does look like these shots. This guy just tried to go for a depth of field effect, which was really hit-or-miss.
Jon Bloodspray's Avatar
Jon Bloodspray at 04/27/2008 20:16
So Halo3 should have looked like CoD4? Yeah these pics are cool tho... I guess.
Eschatos's Avatar
Eschatos at 04/28/2008 17:30
I don't see any improvement. All he did was slightly blur most of the picture. It looks a lot worse than originally.
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