Photo Mode#

Assassin’s Creed Origins beautifully recreates the splendor of ancient Egypt. Photo Mode lets you capture every magnificent moment. This guide covers the best photo locations and photography techniques.

Photo Mode Controls#

How to Open It#

Press the Photo Mode hotkey at any time during play to enter the photo interface:

• Console: press D-pad Right (or enter Photo Mode from the menu).
• PC: press the corresponding hotkey on the keyboard to enter the photo interface.
• The game pauses automatically once you enter, so you can adjust your composition in peace without being attacked.

Adjustment Options#

Common Shooting Workflow#

1. Hide the UI first to keep the frame clean.
2. Turn on the rule-of-thirds grid and place the subject at a point of interest.
3. Use the free camera to find your angle, and adjust camera distance for the right shot scale.
4. Set depth of field and filters, confirm the composition, then press the capture button.
5. Open the album right after shooting and delete any shots you’re unhappy with to retake them.

Best Photo Locations#

Photography Techniques#

Composition Techniques#

1. Rule of Thirds: Place the subject at the 1/3 position of the frame
2. Leading Lines: Use roads, rivers, and colonnades as leading lines
3. Framing: Use doorways and windows as a foreground frame
4. Symmetrical Composition: Buildings such as temples suit symmetrical framing
5. Foreground Layers: Add a foreground to increase image depth

Using Light#

1. Golden Hour: The light is best in the hour after sunrise and before sunset
2. Backlighting: Place the subject in front of the light source to form a silhouette
3. Side Lighting: Emphasizes texture and three-dimensionality
4. Soft Overcast Light: Good for details and portraits
5. Night Shooting: Use firelight and moonlight to create atmosphere

Special Effects#

1. Motion Blur: Turn on motion blur when shooting running or combat scenes
2. Slow-Motion Effect: Pause during an ability cast to shoot
3. Macro Close-Up: Zoom in to shoot gear details
4. Panorama Stitching: Combine multiple shots in post (external software)
5. Black and White Mode: Suits desert and ancient ruin scenes

Recommended Photo Routes#

String the photo spots into a route and come away with several great shots in one run:

Northern History Route (about 1 hour): Lighthouse of Alexandria → Great Library of Light → Pompey’s Pillar → Lake Mareotis area. Shoot the city panorama from the top of the lighthouse in the evening, then catch the library at sunset on the way.

Central Temple Route (about 2 hours): Giza Pyramids → Sphinx → Memphis Temple → Temple of Amun → Karnak Temple hypostyle hall. Set out in the morning; the pre-noon light renders temples most clearly.

Southern Nature Route (about 1.5 hours): Lake Faiyum → Nile Delta Wetlands → Western Desert Dunes → White Desert → Black Desert. Shoot the delta when morning mist is around, and the White Desert rock formations at noon.

Route Principle: Place photo spots near viewpoints where possible; after synchronizing a viewpoint you can start shooting straight from above, saving climbing time. Visit the same region once at sunrise and once at sunset to capture two completely different color palettes.

Sharing and Community#

Photos you take are saved in the game’s default screenshot directory:

• PS4: Press the Share button to save to the album
• Xbox: Screenshots sync to the cloud automatically and can be viewed in the app.
• PC: Photos are saved by default in the screenshot folder of the game’s install directory, or saved straight to the system clipboard with the platform hotkey.

Recommended Sharing Platforms:

• Social media communities: add game tags when posting so fellow fans can find, like, and discuss your work.
• Photography communities: upload high-resolution work and join weekly themed events.
• Video communities: record Photo Mode footage into short clips, add music, edit, and publish.

Sharing Tip: High-resolution images attract more attention — export at the highest resolution in external software before posting, and include the shooting location and time to boost engagement.

Photo Mode Achievements#

Completion Tip: The thresholds for these achievements are very low — just enter Photo Mode and press the button once to unlock the first. For the cumulative photo achievements, snap shots casually as you travel and combine them with the weekly photo challenge tasks; there’s no need to grind deliberately.

Recommended Camera Settings#

Although the in-game Photo Mode features are fixed, the following setting combinations can help you get the best results:

Landscape Mode:

• Aperture: f/8 - f/11 (deep depth of field, whole frame sharp)
• Filter: none or natural
• Saturation: +1
• Contrast: +1
• Sharpness: maximum

Portrait Mode:

• Aperture: f/2.8 - f/4 (shallow depth of field, blurred background)
• Filter: warm tone
• Saturation: 0
• Contrast: +1
• Focus: the subject’s eye area

Action Mode:

• Use the pause function to capture the best action moment
• Pause mid-air or at the instant an attack lands
• Motion blur: on (enhances the sense of motion)
• Shutter speed: 1/500 (equivalent)

Night Mode:

• Aperture: f/1.4 - f/2.0
• ISO: 800-1600
• Use firelight and moonlight as light sources
• Exposure compensation: +0.5

Weekly Photo Challenges#

Post-Processing Suggestions#

Although the in-game Photo Mode already offers decent tools, you can optimize further with external software after export:

Recommended Tools:

Common Post-Processing Adjustments:

1. Crop Composition: Rework the framing, following the rule of thirds
2. Tone Curve: Adjust the contrast between highlights and shadows
3. Fine-Tune Color Temperature: Adjust warmth or coolness to suit the scene’s mood
4. Clarity Boost: Enhance texture detail
5. Add Vignette: Darken the edges to make the central subject stand out
6. Dehaze: Reduce the gray haze caused by sandstorms

Game Photography Philosophy#

1. Slow Down: Pause between quests to take in the world
2. Notice Details: Pay attention to small details and easter eggs in the environment
3. Express Creativity: Express your personal style through composition and filters
4. Share and Exchange: Share your work and techniques with the community
5. Record the Journey: Document your adventure story with photos

Hidden Easter Eggs and Special Moments#

The world of Assassin’s Creed Origins hides plenty of special moments worth capturing:

• Sunrise Halo: At the instant of sunrise the Giza pyramids form a golden halo; shooting upward from the west side of the pyramids works best.
• Sandstorm: Sandstorm weather in the Western Desert gives the image an orange-red graininess, great for atmospheric work.
• Night Sky Galaxy: On clear nights far from towns, long-exposure-style filters can produce a starry sky.
• Animal Migration: Hippo herds on the Nile banks and flamingos by the lakes are natural embellishments for your frame.
• Battlefield Remains: Battlefield ruins cast long shadows at dusk, with excellent layering.

Tip: Special weather doesn’t appear at any time; you can advance time repeatedly near a save point (waiting several hours) to reroll the weather, then enter Photo Mode once you get the weather you want.

Filter Combination Quick Reference#

How to Use the Quick Reference: Apply the recommended filter for each scene first, then fine-tune brightness and contrast for consistently good results. When you want a personal style, deviate gradually from the quick reference as your base rather than starting from scratch and wasting shooting opportunities.