Winners of the 2022 Festive Forrestal Screenshot Contest

[IronMike]

The virtual USS Forrestal's log entry on January 1st, 2023, reads - as is tradition in verse:

"We send our thanks to the kind DCS crew,
we're now sailing due south 180°,
Would it have not been for you to help see us through,
We would have been lost in deep waters with freezing degrees.

We're set south now, on a warm course to sunnier shores,
We no longer dread the upcoming tasks, duties and chores.
We sail with a heart full of courage and love, occasionally waving off players,
And cheering at 3-wires, as we follow you all beyond, up and above."


To state the obvious first: it was incredibly tough choosing a winner. Each team member chose his personal top three, and from this we get the winners, by points. We also selected a 4th and 5th place for honorable mentions, plus one special mention we simply could not pass on.

To all of you: thank you! Christmas/ Holiday season is an awesome time, and your screenshots made it even better. The creativity in this community has always amazed us and it is great to see that it is running strong as ever. All of you, who participated, cheered up the Forrestal's crew (and us), and we would like to thank you all for taking the time and submitting your stunning takes on a Festive Forrestal. Those of you who did not make the top 3 this time - it was a close call for sure, all your submissions were great, and we hope you have more luck next time. Thank you!

 

 

Top honorable mention: YaeSakura - "A Strange Parody of Frosty the Snowman."

Without a doubt a labor of love, sprinkled with a pinch of snow, ehem, and certainly sailing in as a top mention higher than a kite. Yae however is part of our team and inner circle and thus he wasn't eligible for points, but ofc couldn't go without mention. The effort and amount of time it must have taken to arrange the crew alone, the angle, the composition, the mood set with the snow, the carrier steaming through the sea like a snow plow, Santa ready to start up - it is simply perfect in many ways and a classic already, one might dare to say. We'd also like to take this opportunity and thank Yae for the many great and remarkable skins he made for us and all the effort he puts into making the Tomcat and thus DCS a bit more visually appealing. Thank you for everything, Yae!

Forrestal Crew Remarks:

"The Crew assembles on deck for a photo op, while Santa is smoking a last cigar with the plane captain, before firing up Rudolph, the rednosed engine. Two Tomcats fly an overhead pass, capturing the scene. Shortly after the crew breaks up and disperses again, kicking off Holiday Season with loud cheers and returning to their duties, dedicated to help Santa deliver his gifts. A welcome moment of fresh air on deck passes in a whiff, like the last year, and we sail off to new shores.
In other news beloved holiday icon Frosty the Snowman was arrested on drug charges and may be facing a court martial. He was caught together with his mate Jim 'Polar' Bear snorting black lines of gun powder in the armory."

 

 

1st Place Winner: _BringTheReign_ - "Home - For The Holidays"

A true masterpiece in composition, lighting and effect and a powerful display of the beautiful capabilities of DCS. Not much is needed to add the festive touch here. Taken from a clever angle, the lights and waving Santa set us into a Christmas mood at a glimpse. We find ourselves on the carrier in first person view from the pilot's position right away, almost like stumbling into a scene. Yet when viewing it from a distance, we find ourselves as if we're looking through a small window filled with toys, with one of those scenes so often found in toy shops around Christmas, like a kid marvelling at all the trucks and buggies, ships and planes neatly set up around a fictional winter landscape among Christmas trees. And no matter how we look at it, we are and just want to be there at the same time, both in the sim and in the real world. It is a picture that is both simple and multi-layered and one never grows old from looking at it. Better than our words ever could, this picture speaks for itself in a both quiet and welcoming voice. Thank you and Congratulations! 

Forrestal Crew Remarks:

"Victory205 is sitting in the cockpit, prepping the jet for startup, ready to go through the checklists with JESTER. But just before all the action starts and 205 takes off for his Christmas Cap Duty, the CAG stumbles out on Vulture's Row in a Santa costume and waves the crew good-bye! Being away from home during Holidays is hard for everyone, but it needs not much for us to get that Christmas feeling, and everyone is happy to add a bit to it, to change some light bulbs, to put on a costume and to set up a tree in the mess... We sail, so others can enjoy their gifts, this is our gift to them. In our thoughts, we are home, and Santa sails with us."

 

 

2nd Place Winner: DonJosh - "Armed Rudolph as Wingman for Santa"

Another true masterpiece, this image stands out in many ways that continue to impress us, and would deserve a 1st place, if not coming in 2nd in a run-off after a tie, unfortunately, and only for the reason that there can only be one 1st place. But a true winner it is nonetheless, though not un-ironically leaving the lead to Santa and taking the position as number two, as it suggests itself. What greater honor than to fly wing off of Santa could there be though? Its carefully set tone of colors, its focus, naughty and shiny at the same time, its clarity, its neverending sky losing itself to infinity, the palpable cold air and wet deck and the clear sense of a mission to deliver the most joyful gifts of the year - it all drags us into the scene. It is skillfully balanced between the melancholy and monotony of a cold winter day on deck and the warm and fuzzy feeling of a patch of light blue sky breaking through the clouds and the dark and wet grey giving way to bright and cozy red colors. Like Santa bringing joy into our lives with his gifts, this image is a gift to celebrate Holiday Season and the Forrestal's Crew just could not pass on having it as a wallpaper for all Holidays to come. Thank you and Congratulations!  

Forrestal Crew Remarks:

"On the flight deck, temperature is 24, altimeter is 2424. Clear the port catwalks, now launching aircraft on the waist, stand clear, we got 24 knots, shoot em!"

 

 

3rd Place Winner: DonRudi - "Christmas Tree with Candles and Balls"

"Oh Forrestal, oh Forrestal,
how mighty is your air-wing
With Tomcats, Hawkeyes and Vikings,
but also Corsairs, Prowlers and Sea Kings
Oh Forrestal, oh Forrestal,
unleash your mighty air wing"

Coming in at a strong 3rd place, this image is a masterful representation of creative deck arrangements, and the Forrestal's Crew absolutely loved the mood it set for them! While we loved all the other great attempts at beautiful deck arrangements, this Christmas Tree stands out in its liveliness, using a historic representation of an air wing while carefully setting mood and tone with a selection of Christmas colors and fitting equipment and personnel. It misses nothing, from balls to candles to fir needles to a strong stem made out of Tomcats and branches of the remaining airwing. Well, it maybe misses one thing: the presents. But that is alright, because this constellation is a gift in itself, and the crew absolutely appreciated the festive distraction from their day to day duties during the Holidays. And if one looks closely, Felix is bringing gifts anyway, so no one has to miss out... Thank you and Congratulations!

Forrestal Crew Remarks:

"Oh DonRudi, oh DonRudi, 
You showed our mighty air-wing,
With Corsairs, Prowlers and Sea Kings,
But also Tomcats, Hawkeyes and Vikings,
Oh DonRudi, oh DonRudi,
We find your image is striking!"

 

 

4th place honorable mention: Tomcatter87 - "Felix 200, sporting a special christmas paintjob, lighting the candles we all love the most to welcome a most distinguished visitor."

"Fly, fly Tomcat
Out of all the fighters you know you are the mastermind
Fly, fly Tomcat, Hornet ain't too far behind
Fly, fly Tomcat, Snort's gotta make it to town
Snort, make him hurry, tell him he can take the runway down
Fly, fly Tomcat 'cause I'm reelin' like a merry-go-round."

In a very close 4th place, we would still like to mention this picture. Flying through snow, escorting a most distinguished visitor, the wind whipping down the deck, the freezing grasp of winter in northern waters, the crew assembles on deck to pay their respects to the most senior pilot around. We absolutely love this picture and so does the Forrestal's crew, giving it a distinguished position on the wall of the ready room. The hurling snow, the cold waters and the harsh conditions we do not mind when looking at it, as they bring back those memories of white Christmas days, with a snow blanket covering earth for a short time in the year. To mention is that here, too, a historic deck composition is to be seen and Felix is carrying gifts for everyone. Thank you!

Forrestal Crew Remarks:

"To serve it takes a Tomcatter's guts!
Even for Christmas we stand, what the heck,
Our watch on an icy and snowy deck,
Literally freezing off our butts!"

 

 

5th place honorable mention: RevampedGrunt - "Joy Bringer 1-1 set for launch"

Last but not least we would also like to mention Operation Joy Bringer coming in at 5th place. We could not see past the effort put into the image, from the lights decorating the Island, the shooter wearing a Christmas hat, to Santa's catapult being operated in ice-sled mode to the charming, slightly glowing Christmas Tree, the forest in the back and the snow falling all around, just like we'd all hope for for Christmas! It is almost like a painting and spreads that warm Christmas mood that by now has left us already again. But we like to preserve it a bit longer, and looking at this picture certainly helps us to stay in it just a little longer still. Thank you!

Forrestal Crew Remarks:

"It was our busiest Christmas yet. The deck was completely packed, but there he was, pilot of all pilots, a shining beacon of light, a source of warmth and coziness, lining up on Cat 1 with his magnificient slay. Operation Joy Bringer kept us from home, yet we take pride in delivering the joy year after year. May it reach you all, in your homes, with your loved ones, now and forever."

 

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1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners please expect a PM from me beginning of next week. Congratulations again!
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Winner gets:

1. Place: A lifetime supply of free Heatblur DCS modules, past, present and future. You get two copies of each module we release as long as you (and us and DCS) live, including existing and future modules, by Heatblur Simulations for DCS.
2. Place: Two copies of the upcoming DCS: F-4 Phantom by Heatblur Simulations (or two existing modules by Heatblur Simulations of your choice).
3. Place: One copy of your choice between the DCS: Viggen, DCS: Tomcat and DCS: Phantom by Heatblur Simulations.

Everybody else: a place in our hearts and a warm thank you from the Forrestal's crew.
---------

 

 

Congratulations and a big thank you also to everyone who participated. Believe us if we say: not choosing you was incredibly tough. We absolutely loved all your entries and could not be more proud to witness your creativity and efforts. You absolutely made our Christmas a lot more festive! Thank you!

We also wish you more luck next time, and hope to have you all again for the next one!


The Heatblur Team



To check out all original entries please visit this thread:

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/315412-the-2022-festive-forrestal-screenshot-competition-deadline-extended-till-jan-8th-2400zulu/

 

Edited January 14, 2023 by IronMike
typos

[Tomcatter87]

Congrats to the winners! 

[Don Rudi]

Wow! Thank you so much @IronMikeand all at HB  , I truly did not expect this - I am speechless 

Congrats to 1st and 2nd place!

[RevampedGrunt]

I'm very glad to see the comments from the crew. I look forward to future chances to try something creative, and to really get into creating something out of the amazing visuals from DCS and Heatblur's modules. 

[draconus]

Congratulations for the winners!

About 1st place - I didn't notice the Santa on the bridge before

[_BringTheReign_]

It is hard for me to find the words to express my gratitude... thank you. Not only for the first place and lifetime supply of Heatblur modules (am I dreaming??) but also for the very very kind words. I certainly did not expect to win and a huge shoutout to all who submitted!

From the start I knew I wanted to use a longer focal length to bring the midground and background closer to the viewer - so they could admire the incredible labours of love that are the Heatblur Forrestal Carrier, assets, and F-14 Tomcat! Keep in mind the foreground is an exterior model Tomcat with a camera positioned inside - truly some very impressive LOD work from HB on that one. 

I truly am at a loss for words - thank you from the bottom of my heart, both for this recognition and for everything you folks do - your passion, hard work and long hours are evident in the placement of every rivet, the click of every switch, and the feeling of sheer excitement of strapping into a Heatblur jet. 

All I can say is - thank you!

[IronMike]

24 minutes ago, _BringTheReign_ said:

It is hard for me to find the words to express my gratitude... thank you. Not only for the first place and lifetime supply of Heatblur modules (am I dreaming??) but also for the very very kind words. I certainly did not expect to win and a huge shoutout to all who submitted!

From the start I knew I wanted to use a longer focal length to bring the midground and background closer to the viewer - so they could admire the incredible labours of love that are the Heatblur Forrestal Carrier, assets, and F-14 Tomcat! Keep in mind the foreground is an exterior model Tomcat with a camera positioned inside - truly some very impressive LOD work from HB on that one. 

I truly am at a loss for words - thank you from the bottom of my heart, both for this recognition and for everything you folks do - your passion, hard work and long hours are evident in the placement of every rivet, the click of every switch, and the feeling of sheer excitement of strapping into a Heatblur jet. 

All I can say is - thank you!

Thank you for the great submission, it is both our pleasure and honor. Congratulations again!

[DonJosh]

Wow, I totally forgot about it, because life is busy! Conrats to all others! Thank you for choosing my pic for the second place. Iam bit lost of words. You made my day!

If okay?: I would like do donate one of my two copies I won, to the 4rd place.

Edited January 27, 2023 by DonJosh

[Tomcatter87]

23 hours ago, DonJosh said:

Wow, I totally forgot about it, because life is busy! Conrats to all others! Thank you for choosing my pic for the second place. Iam bit lost of words. You made my day!

If okay?: I would like do donate one of my two copies I won, to the 4rd place.

 

Nicht dein Ernst jetzt? 

Now it's my turn to be lost of words. Thanks a thousand times - what an incredibly great gesture. 

[IronMike]

@_BringTheReign_ @DonJosh @Don Rudi @Tomcatter87 - PMs have been sent, my apologies for the delay.

Special thank you to @DonJosh for the very kind gesture. It is always great to see, when the love gets shared around. We bow to your example. Thank you!


Thank you all again for participating and enchanting us with all your great submissions, we are already looking forward to the next contest and hope you all and many more will participate again.

Congrats again to all the winners!

[DonJosh]

@IronMike could you please check your pm. Thank you

[IronMike]

1 hour ago, DonJosh said:

@IronMike could you please check your pm. Thank you

Will do Josh! You will all receive your prices this week btw, I saw your PM. My apologies I did not get to reply yet.

[Don Rudi]

On 11/4/2023 at 3:35 AM, IronMike said:

Will do Josh! You will all receive your prices this week btw, I saw your PM. My apologies I did not get to reply yet.

Hi!

Just a little question, I assume we will get the key when the Phantom is released?