As an avid fan of open world adventures, I could not wait to explore the remnants of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This highly anticipated sequel builds upon Breath of the Wild‘s colossal map with expanded verticality across giant floating islands in the sky.
One new feature that caught my attention was the in-game Camera on the Sheikah Slate. As someone who regularly utilizes photo modes to capture stunning vistas and memorable moments, I was thrilled at the chance to put this tool to use during my time with Tears of the Kingdom.
In this comprehensive guide from a passionate gamer‘s perspective, I will walk you through the entire process I followed to unlock the Camera. You will also learn various tips and tricks to fully capitalize on this feature as you adventure across the remnants of Hyrule.
Venturing Into the Chasm Depths – Finding the Camera
The Camera becomes available by completing the "Regional Phenomenon" quest at Lookout Landing for Purah. This epic multi-tiered tower not only reveals more of the broken world map, but also rewards Link‘s Paraglider to traverse between floating islands.
Lookout Landing towers above the Hyrule Field region, allowing breathtaking views in all directions. As you leap off its topmost platform with the Paraglider in hand, one particular sight catches the eye – a gaping scar in the land known as the Chasm.
This unsettling pit exudes eerie red energy – the telltale sign of Gloom – and proves key to unlocking the Camera.
Stat: Gloom refers to the environmental decay seeping parts of Hyrule. It injures Link by reducing maximum health the longer you linger.
After meeting Purah‘s eager assistant Josha, I took on a quest named "Camera Work in the Depths" – sending Link rappelling down toward the Gloom-infested chasm.
The descent instantly blanketed the landscape in ominous red fog as particles rose harmfully into the air. My first goal was to locate an eccentric researcher named Robbie who hid deeper inside.
Braving the Treacherous Depths
The chasm stretched down for ages as I glided lower using Link‘s Paraglider. Enormous tree roots covered the rocky walls, exuding Brightbloom plants that lit the way. One misstep here could mean doom in the endless void below!
Landing on a precarious outcrop, I was met by a panicked helper named Ponnick. He explained that Robbie was investigating ancient ruins ahead, seemingly oblivious to the Gloom now sapping away Link‘s maximum health.
Onwards I pressed using the Brightblooms as waypoints. The winding caverns and foggy environment made navigation extremely disorienting. New enemies like rotted Stalkoblins and corrupted Chuchus meanwhile hindered progress.
After fending off attackers with sword skills honed since my Breath of the Wild days, I forged deeper until the cave pathway ended. Robbie‘s eccentric form finally came into view beside a statue holding intricate stone orbs.
We were now over 2000 feet underground according to my Sheikah Sensor‘s depth tracker! As Link‘s strength waned from prolonged Gloom exposure, I hastily opened the inventory for curatives and soldiered on.
No mere environmental anomaly would keep this passionate gamer from his prize!
Unlocking the Camera Feature
Turns out Robbie was studying this odd statue linked to an ancient ritual site located directly beneath Hyrule Castle prior to the kingdom‘s downfall over a century ago.
Josha needed pictorial data to advance her archival research. And that‘s when Robbie eagerly enabled the Camera functionality on the Sheikah Slate for Link‘s use!
I eagerly booted into Camera mode using the handy quick access menu. After capturing multi-angle snapshots of the ruins, the quest marked completion, rewarding access to the Camera permanently!
But more importantly, I could now frame and immortalize captivating sights during my time with Tears of the Kingdom like a real passion project!
| Quest | Reward |
|---|---|
| Camera Work in Depths | Permanent Camera Access |
This early unveil of a mysterious ritual site hints at darker secrets connected to Hyrule‘s tragic fate. As teasers suggested, ancient magic and technology will likely play huge roles in Tears of the Kingdom‘s story.
I for one cannot wait to discover how this enigmatic underground altar connects with the kingdom‘s downfall over a century ago!
Tips and Tricks for Using the Camera
Now I‘d like to provide helpful pointers for utilizing your camera when photographing spectacular scenes across the game‘s fragmented world.
Accessing and Taking Photos
The most basic tip is remembering how to equip Link‘s Camera on short notice:
- Open Camera – Hold L Button then select Camera option
- Take Picture – Press A Button to capture image
- Save Photos – All images auto-save into Album inside Camera menu
You move the camera freely to frame shots before snapping a pic. Minor adjustments in Link‘s position also help achieve better focal composition.
Camera Controls and Features
Here are some additional functions when taking photographs you should know about:
- Control Zoom – Use up/down buttons to adjust level of zoom
- Toggle UI – Press X to show/hide all onscreen user interface elements
- Photo Mode – Strike poses with Link using his special abilities for selfies
Saving memory on the Sheikah Slate requires some organization. Make sure to periodically transfer best images onto the Handy Album device inside Hateno Labs.
Compositional Techniques
I utilized artistic principles like the Rule of Thirds for visually appealing shots:
- Split frame into grid of thirds both vertically and horizontally
- Align point of interest along these lines or at intersections
- Balance elements evenly across the composition
Lighting plays a huge role too. Experiment by adjusting time using campfires and noting intensity or color differences. Contrast this with darker spots to elicit mood.
Embrace techniques used in real photography to capture Tears of Kingdom‘s alien beauty!
Environmental Storytelling
This ingenious Hyrule Compendium also identifies and documents flora, fauna plus artifacts across the world.
Analyzing these entries reveals hidden connections tying into ancient Sheikah history, the kingdom‘s fate and other subtle environmental narrative clues.
So remember to capture images of everything from wildlife to odd geographical structures using the Camera rune to unravel more secrets!
Encouraging Exploration and Adventure
Rather than just chasing main objectives, I found myself leisurely roaming the world of Tears of Kingdom and letting curiosity guide my Camera‘s lens.
Captivating environments served as motivation to uncover hidden pathways leading to never-before-seen locations with magical allure untouched by Gloom‘s decay.
My Camera became the ultimate adventuring tool – capturing places and moments I would likely never discover just by following campaign quest steps alone.
From a roleplaying perspective, the Camera feature grounds Link‘s motivations as an inquisitive traveler seeking to chronicle the last vestiges of his forgotten home instead of just a destroyer of evils.
Beauty Tarnished by Decay
Despite azure skies and picturesque vistas, evidence of the Gloom‘s devastating effect always looms as a reminder of this dying world‘s grim fate.
Yet, shining through the destruction, pockets of hope cling on – whether gorgeous Alba Lilies sprouting mysteriously on a deserted tower or schools of fabled Crimson Loftwings soaring between glittering waterfalls flowing off a tiny landmass.
My Camera let me freeze such framing majesty and color before the decay swallowed it whole. I can only imagine what sheer cinematic beauty awaits atop the tallest undiscovered peaks hidden in Tears of the Kingdom‘s sky!
How It Compares to Other Games
While triple-A open world games now regularly include a Photo Mode, Tears of the Kingdom weaves photography directly into both gameplay and narrative like no other.
The Camera here is an actual magical lens tied to Link‘s ancient Sheikah Slate gadget rather than an external post-processing feature. Operation wise however, the functionality remains highly intuitive.
Combo freedom in Breath of the Wild translates directly into the sequel – letting you utilize Link‘s entire athletic moveset and pick from various armor dyes before clicking shots. Want to leap off a mountain or balance on a sword for dramatic effect? Go for it!
Or if scenery is the focus, comprehensive options like time control and weather changes help achieve the perfect backdrop. The toggle-able UI means unobstructed environmental views too.
While not as advanced as dedicated photo modes in titles like Gran Turismo 7 or Forza Horizon 5, Tears of Kingdom‘s in-game Camera surpasses most peers by supporting the very ethos of adventure and exploration!
My Experience as a Passionate Gamer
Between tense battles in Gloom-ridden underground spaces and mystical ancient artifacts with sinister ties, this entire quest to find the Camera played out like an intriguing mini-story of its own – ripe for unraveling Tears of the Kingdom‘s core mysteries.
As someone already enthralled by the original Breath of the Wild‘s rich lore and environmental details, this sequel only elevates such worldbuilding ambition to the next level both vertically into the clouds and metaphorically in scope.
The Camera feature notably reflects this meticulous attention that Nintendo‘s talented developers have clearly poured into Tears of Kingdom‘s finer facets – rewarding wandering travelers like myself with inspiration around every corner.
Like uncovering a magician‘s secret trick, discovering and unlocking the Camera early on lifted the curtain just enough to showcase how much hidden content and storytelling waits off the beaten trail.
My lost ancient homeland beckons again for a passionate wanderer. And this time I have a Camera masterfully built into my Sheikah Slate to capture every scenic detail or magical creature – chronicling the bittersweet fate of forgotten Hyrule and uncovering tales left untold for over a century since its cataclysmic descent into myth.
The journey begins anew for this gamer up into the clouds!
I hope my guide detailing how to acquire the Camera rune and outlining effective usage tips helps fellow passionate explorers document your own memorable travels across the remnants of Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom!
