Jump to content

Photographing your models


Recommended Posts

I've taken plenty of photos of my models, mostly in-process on the work bench. Sometimes I'll make an effort to take some beauty shots, always with so-so results. But my brother, who is a pro photographer, showed me some tricks using my PILAR model. Am I likely to pick up the same tools he has? Not too likely, but a lot of it actually isn't too much of an add, assuming you already have a decent camera.

 

My impromptu lesson took place in my garage, with a big piece of black fabric for a back drop, and a coffee table to hold up the model. 

The main "tool" was a soft box-  a big umbrella like thing with diffusers and a strobe inside. This was arranged over the model to rain soft parallel light down from above. We played with a reflector panel to get some bounce-fill, and even resorted to an old photo flood to fill in a dark spot. The process had a lot of trial and error: take a shot, examine it, adjust the lighting, it was all magic to me.

 

It was hardly a complete studio, but we made do with it to get some decent shots. See more in the scratch build gallery under PILAR. 

 

 

My brother Wil doing his thing in the garage:

20210715_112607b.jpg

 

 

Better view of the soft box and reflector:

20210715_113848b.jpg

 

 

Using an old flood to fill in:

20210715_120613b.jpg

 

 

... to get results like this:

DSC06769b.jpg

Edited by Patrick Matthews

Pat M.

Matthews Model Marine

Model FUNCTION as well as FORM.

Get your boats wet!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well that certainly puts my iPhone to shame!

 

Very interesting though. Thanks for posting these pro techniques.

Bob Garcia

"Measure once, cuss twice!"

 

Current Builds: 

Hms Brig-Sloop Flirt 1782 - Vanguard Models

Pen Duick - Artesania Latina 1:28

 

Completed: Medway Longboat 1742 - Syren Ship Model Co. 

Member of the Nautical Research Guild

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There’s a whole long post on this topic, you should add this to the other methods listed there. 

Regards,

Glenn

 

Current Build: HMS Winchelsea
Completed Builds: HM Flirt (paused) HM Cutter CheerfulLady NelsonAmati HMS Vanguard,  
HMS Pegasus, Fair American, HM Granado, HM Pickle, AVS, Pride of Baltimore, Bluenose

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its all about the lighting and the gear you use   - and how much time effort and money  you want to put into it,   photography is like that anyway.

 

OC.

Current builds  


28mm  Battle of Waterloo   attack on La Haye Saint   Diorama.

1/700  HMS Hood   Flyhawk   with  PE, Resin  and Wood Decking.

 

 

 

Completed works.

 

Dragon 1/700 HMS Edinburgh type 42 batch 3 Destroyer plastic.

HMS Warspite Academy 1/350 plastic kit and wem parts.

HMS Trafalgar Airfix 1/350 submarine  plastic.

Black Pearl  1/72  Revell   with  pirate crew.

Revell  1/48  Mosquito  B IV

Eduard  1/48  Spitfire IX

ICM    1/48   Seafire Mk.III   Special Conversion

1/48  Kinetic  Sea Harrier  FRS1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This would interest a lot of people, but as Glenn says, you should consider posting on the "Photographing your work" sub-forum.

 

Stunning model, btw.

Cheers, Derek

 

Current build:   Duchess of Kingston

On hold:              HMS Winchelsea

 

Previous builds:  HMS SpeedyEnglish Pinnace, Royal Yacht Caroline (gallery),

                            Victory Cross-section (gallery), US Clipper Albatros, Red Dragon (years ago!)

 

On the stocks:    18th Century Longboat

Link to comment
Share on other sites

non of my builds are worthy of this much trouble and expense, i will  have to make do with my EOS 1300 outside lighting and a wheely bin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have my own studio and been shooting people for more than 10 years. But for photographing your boat here is my first tip which will basically cost you 4 euros but improve your photos to almost professional level. Buy a large piece of white paper, place it on a table which is very close to a window. Thats it... you can even use your phone to photograph. 

20211005_123304.thumb.jpg.b806ce9c6ad96e69e6f7288eebc36768.jpg

 

If u want to have some variation, buy a black paper as well. A static model doesnt need complicated lighting. But it needs lots of light so all details are visable. So make sure to be very near a large window. 

 

Current builds: HMS Victory (Corel 1:98), HMS Snake (Caldercraft 1:64), HMBV Granado (Caldercraft 1:64), HMS Diana (Caldercraft 1:64), HMS Speedy (Vanguard Models 1:64) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll move this to the photo forum since that would probably be the best place.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...

As an ex pro photographer I agree with most of these comments. Lighting is crucial,  but it does not have to be expensive. You really can't have too much light on a subject (though you CAN have it in the wrong place) reflectors are the answer to most lighting issues and the easiest and cheapest way to make one or six is to stick crumpled up baking foil onto cardboard. Works as good as anything. I used this for product shots at my home studio, but on location had to use proper expensive stuff for the sake of credibility, but there is almost no difference between them. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...