Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Photo Mode Guide (Patch 1.5.0) – How to Capture Stunning Shots Like a Pro

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Since its explosive Game of the Year win at The Game Awards 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has stood out as one of the most visually striking RPGs in recent memory. Every brushstroke, every Nevron encounter, every surreal skyline feels like a living painting.

But until now, there was one big missing piece: a proper way to capture it all.

Fan-made mods tried to fill the gap, but they came with limitations and quirks. With the free “Thank You” update (Patch 1.5.0), Sandfall Interactive finally delivered what the community had been asking for—an official, fully featured Photo Mode, accessible anywhere in the game.

This guide will walk you through every Photo Mode feature, explain how to use each tool effectively, and share pro-level shot ideas to help you turn simple screenshots into true works of art.

How to Access Photo Mode in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Once your game is updated to Patch 1.5.0, Photo Mode is available at almost any moment.

📸 How to Open Photo Mode

  • Open the Pause Menu (not the Party Menu)

  • Select Photo Mode

You can activate it while:

  • Exploring open areas

  • Standing on the world map

  • Fighting enemies and bosses

  • Admiring vistas mid-dungeon

Yes—even during combat.

Camera Controls & Movement Basics

When Photo Mode activates, you’ll gain access to a free-floating camera that lets you frame shots from virtually any angle.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Photo Mode Guide (Patch 1.5.0)

🎮 Camera Controls by Platform

PC

  • Move: WASD

  • Raise / Lower: E / Q

  • Reset to character: F

  • Slow movement: Hold Left Shift

Console

  • Move camera: Analog sticks

  • Reset to character: LS (Xbox) / L3 (PlayStation)

  • Slow movement: LB (Xbox) / L1 (PlayStation)

💡 Pro Tip: Slow Mode is essential for precision framing—especially in combat shots.

Photo Mode Settings Breakdown (Every Tool Explained)

Toggle the settings panel anytime:

  • PC: Space

  • Xbox: X

  • PlayStation: Square

The options are deep, flexible, and surprisingly powerful.

Camera & Focus Settings (The Foundation of a Great Shot)

These settings control composition and depth.

  • Field of View (FOV):
    Wide for landscapes, narrow for dramatic close-ups.

  • Grid Overlay:
    Enables the Rule of Thirds for professional composition.

  • Aperture:
    Controls background blur (bokeh strength).

  • Focus Distance:
    Sets where sharpness begins.

  • Display Focus Point (Highly Recommended):
    Shows a yellow focus plane so your subject stays perfectly sharp.

Lighting & Color Controls (Set the Mood)

This is where your images come alive.

🎨 Color Grading

  • Brightness

  • Contrast

  • Saturation

  • Temperature (warm vs cool tones)

✨ Visual Effects

  • Chromatic Aberration

  • Vignette (edge darkening)

  • Bloom (light glow)

  • Film Grain (texture)

💡 Custom Lighting (Advanced Feature)

You can add:

  • Point Lights

  • Spot Lights

Each light can be:

  • Recolored

  • Adjusted for intensity

  • Moved freely in the scene

Perfect for illuminating faces, weapons, or dark environments.

Filters & Subject Control

🎭 Artistic Filters

  • 32 total filters, including:

    • Black & White

    • Oil Painting

    • Sketch

    • Painterly effects

⚠️ Important Tip:
Filter intensity defaults to 1.0, which is often too strong.
Lower it to around 0.3 for subtle, blended results.

👥 Subject Controls

  • Hide Characters

  • Hide Enemies

Great for:

  • Clean environmental shots

  • Solo hero portraits

  • Removing combat clutter

Creative Inspiration: 5 Pro-Level Photo Ideas

Want your shots to stand out? Try these techniques.

1️⃣ Combat Freeze-Frame

Pause during battle and capture:

  • Lumina spells mid-explosion

  • Perfect parry sparks

  • Cinematic attack angles

Hide the UI for a pure action shot.

2️⃣ Environmental Portraits

In areas like Verso’s Drafts, find a strong backdrop and:

  • Position your character manually

  • Add a custom light (soft gold or cool blue)

  • Create contrast between subject and background

3️⃣ Hidden World Explorer Shots

Use the free camera to:

  • Fly far beyond your character

  • Discover unusual angles

  • Highlight architecture in Old Lumière or the Flying Manor

Think like a drone photographer.

4️⃣ Moody Noir Style

Best used in darker areas like the Endless Tower (now visually improved in Patch 1.5.0):

  • Increase contrast

  • Add heavy vignette

  • Apply Black & White filter at low intensity

  • Hide all but one character

Instant dramatic silhouette.

5️⃣ Painterly Masterpiece

In vibrant locations (markets, tents, festivals):

  • Apply Oil Painting or Brush Stroke filters

  • Adjust saturation and temperature

  • Mimic classical art palettes

You’ll end up with something closer to a digital painting than a screenshot.

Final Thoughts: Photo Mode Changes How You See the Canvas

Photo Mode in Patch 1.5.0 isn’t just a bonus feature—it’s an invitation to experience Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as an artist, not just a player.

With full camera freedom, professional lighting tools, and deep artistic controls, the game now lets you build a personal visual gallery as unique as your expedition.

Experiment with every slider. Pause during impossible moments. Share your creations.

The Canvas is waiting for your vision. 

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