From the very moment I booted up Breath of the Wild, I was enveloped in the overwhelming natural beauty of the game. It is far and away the most photogenic Zelda game there is, and the Nintendo Switch’s capture button lets you take perfect advantage of that. I was instantly compelled to document my whole journey in Hyrule, from my first death to the last shrine.
Once I saw for myself the kind of vistas and spectacles you could capture in Breath of the Wild, I took it upon myself to find the most perfect angles and highlights, to turn my Adventure Log into a scrapbook. Link wasn’t the only one who would be collecting memories; I was on the hunt.
I started out simple by taking pictures of attractive skies from behind. I wanted to make it clear that I was on a quest; that I had set on a journey to scour Hyrule in search of perfection.
I went on to take random photos of moments that I felt were particularly fun or quirky. First, there is me opening a chest, as seen from behind a thin waterfall in the Faron region. Below that is my second time ever riding a bear. (The first time was when I accidentally jumped off a cliff and fell right on top of one, completely by accident. Sadly, I was killed by an Electric Keese shortly after, and I missed my chance to document the moment. You’ll just have to trust me on it.)
There’s also this monstrosity, which happens to be a Thunderblade flurry rush against a Flameblade-wielding Lynel, which almost overheated my Switch.
But the funniest capture I’ve ever taken, in any game, was found in the Hebra Mountains. I was minding my own business, jogging along through the snow, when all of a sudden, what should I see in the distance but a Lizalfos in its dormant state, but standing very oddly.
This picture is 100 percent real, and I can’t believe it, either.
It was after this point that I began to try more intently to find beautiful scenery and stunning snaps, preferably without Link in the way. I learned the tricks of hitting the right photographic angles, and started placing boxes directly behind Link to push the camera forward and create an unobstructed view.
Then I began experimenting with the DLC, trying out Master Mode, the Trial of the Sword, all the new costumes and much more.
All of these screenshots are excellent, and I’m attached to them all for different reasons; but now come the best shots of all. These are the screenshots that defined my photographic career in Breath of the Wild, and I don’t think anything else I can capture will ever compare.
Here we have two shots from the Temple of Time as Link gazes out towards Hyrule Castle, plotting his next course of action.
Next up is a very ominous photo: a pair of familiar, sinister eyes peeking through the foliage. Link appears to have met a terrible fate; I would steer clear, especially at this time of night.
This beautiful beast is my first horse, Yoko-mei, standing majestically in the sunlight. The photo was taken mere moments after I revived the steed with the help of the Horse God (which is another story for another time), so it holds a lot of weight for me.
Most people who have played Breath of the Wild will know of Satori Mountain, and almost anyone who’s visited at night will agree that it’s one of the most beautiful locations in the game. But if you’re lucky enough to catch a break here just before dark, it blows everything else out of the water.
And finally, we’ve come to my favorite screenshot in Breath of the Wild, the one I worked hardest for and the one I’m most proud of. This was the first time I learned to turn off the HUD to take better photos. If you ever want to rest and get away from the stresses of danger and side quests that greater Hyrule brings, come to Korok Forest and just look straight up; you won’t be disappointed.
There are so many more great captures I’ve taken in my years of playing this game; so many that if I included them all, this article would go on forever. Alas, my work still isn’t finished. In a game as expansive, dynamic, and visually stunning as Breath of the Wild, there are always more adventures to be had, and more T-posing Lizalfos to spy; and so, the quest shall continue. Tell me the stories behind your own creative captures from Breath of the Wild!
Note: You can click on each screenshot to view the full-sized versions, and all of them are free for anyone to use as wallpapers, icons or sharing in general. Enjoy!
