Virtual photography has gone from being a casual snapshot in video games to becoming a form of contemporary art. Behind the account @photo.in.game Meet Maxence, a digital artist from France who has managed to merge three of his greatest passions: film, video games, and photography. Since 2018, Maxence has dedicated himself to capturing the visual essence of virtual worlds, transforming simple in-game moments into true cinematic works of art. In this exclusive conversation with ProGamers.life, we delve into his creative process, his landmark book of virtual photography, and his vision for the future of this discipline.

What began by capturing simple screenshots in titles such as The Last of Us Remastered, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, A Plague Tale: Innocence and Red Dead Redemption 2, has transformed into an artistic career culminating in an officially licensed printed book.

We spoke with Maxence about his instinctive process, the current state of capture tools, and why human emotion will always beat artificial intelligence in virtual framing.

Instinct, cinematic passion, and the perfect shot

Unlike other photographers who transfer traditional technical rules to the virtual space, Maxence relies on his intuition and his passion for film.

“I don’t have any particular skills in traditional photography; I’m simply a film enthusiast and a lover of cinematic framing,” Maxence explains. “It’s the lighting, a unique situation, or an inspiring location that gives me the impulse to open photo mode… I never force things; there’s nothing better than a candid photo.”

This search for organic compositions demands patience. Recalling his most complex capture, the artist points to an image of Alan wake 2 focusing on the character of Rose among flowers:

"I had to find the perfect animation while each flower around it was arranged harmoniously. It took me about twenty attempts, not counting the time spent adjusting the lighting and camera."

Freedom of movement: The ideal photo mode

For a virtual artist, camera freedom is key. Maxence highlights the capture modes of Insomniac Games (Spider-Man 2), along with those of Cyberpunk 2077, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Stellar Blade, Alan Wake 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered.

However, he acknowledges that the lack of spatial freedom remains a recurring limitation: "Camera movement should be automatic in every photo mode. Unfortunately, it's still very restricted in most."

From the digital world to paper: A historical book

Maxence's work reached an unprecedented milestone after partnering with the publisher Dashbook to publish a physical book supported by the developers themselves.

“Dashbook contacted me to pitch this idea about my work. It was something I already had in mind, so it was a natural decision,” he says. “Plus, it’s something completely new that’s never been done officially with the approval of video game publishers. I contacted about twenty companies and ultimately worked with five to include around ten games.”

For Maxence, the transition to paper transforms the perception of digital art:

"Having a physical object changes everything. It allows us to transform photos of unreal worlds into photos that actually exist in a book we can hold. It gives it an aesthetic and professional look that showcases each capture in the highest quality and reaches a wider audience."

The future: AI, 3D worlds, and professional recognition

Faced with the rapid advancement of generative tools, Maxence firmly defends the value of the human eye:

"AI seems interesting to me for helping develop a game intelligently, but it should never replace human beings, their creativity, and their emotion. We will never find the soul of a human work in artificial intelligence."

Looking to the future, the artist envisions an evolution toward immersive 3D photography in the style of Ready Player One. He also advocates for the professionalization of the role within development studios, recalling his experience in the initial interview phase for a virtual world photographer position at Rockstar Games.

As for the next titles he wants to photograph, Maxence already has his sights set on Insomniac Games' Wolverine, Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI.

We are incredibly grateful to Maxence for sharing his journey, artistic vision, and the details behind his book with the ProGamers.life community. If you'd like to discover more about his work or admire his cinematic framing in some of the industry's most iconic titles, you can follow him directly on his Instagram account. @photo.in.gameSee you in the next frame!

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