My first ever CMON pics

[scottjames]

Here are my first ever CMON submissions:

Lesser Daemon

Aspiring Champion of Nurgle

I have picked up my brushes again after ten years of no painting. I think I could really use help with both the painting and the photography!

 

[Sukigod]

The models are well done, I like the look of the aspiring champion, nice and gritty.

As for the photography, the colors in the lesser deamon seem a bit blown out, or over adjusted - typical of auto adjusting. Learn to play with the levels a little, it\'ll do wonders for your pics.

The aspiring champion is only let down due to not enough light coming from the front. Adding an addition light - it doens\'t even have to be pointed directly at it - from the front will knock out the shadows which only cover the detail that\'s there.

Looking good and welcome back to the brush!

EDIT:After going back and looking at the photo again, I like the moodiness imparted by the sharp downcasting shadows. If you shot this one again, I don\'t think I\'d put another light in front, I\'d use a different technique using a \"bounce board\".

Get a white piece of paper/cardboard/foamcore and put it between the camera and the model making sure it won\'t show in camera or can be edited out. Face the white side towards the mini \"bouncing\" the light coming from above to sort of fill in the under areas. You can easily adjust the angle of the bounce board to brighten or lessen the amount of light being reflected onto the model.

This will create a soft fill that , while lighting up the underside - will be much more diffuse than a direct light source and won\'t blow out the moody shadows that realy make this look cool. If what I describe doens\'t make sense, let me know and I\'ll post a quick sketch of the setup.

Good luck again!

 

[Einion]

These look pretty good for someone who\'s been away for a long time, nice job.

On the photography, TTL metering with a white background will tend to under-expose the figure so you need to either increase the exposure time (+1 at least in the camera) and/or use Levels to adjust the image on the computer before posting.

I posted some tips on using Levels just the other day in this thread. A modest lightening gives you this:

Better lighting to begin with is the best way to get better photos (you camera looks like it\'s well up to the job). The general rule of thumb is lots of diffuse light is best, however you arrange that. I really like to take model pics outdoors on an overcast, but bright, day but it\'s better for consistency and all-year photo opportunities to organise something for indoors if you need to take pics regularly. Photo tips in this other thread.

Einion

 

[supervike]

I like them! Very nice dark and gritty feel to both of the, especially the Aspiring Champion.

Welcome and we\'d would love to see more!

 

[arogers907]

Welcome aboard!

Very nice work for a warmup set.

Voted.

 

[scottjames]

Thanks for the tips and links. I\'ve just read about the \"Levels\" tool so I can do some histogram adjustments in future if I need too - though as Einion pointed out, having better lighting in the first place is ideal.

I need a tripod, and using the self-timer is a good idea. Also, maybe have my lamp right above the camera lens, facing the model.

Lots to experiment with - but first I need to paint something else!

Thanks for the photo tips, any comments on improving the paintjob also much appreciated.

thanks for looking!

 

[scottjames]

Another quick question - do you all varnish your display minis? I\'ve read I should give them one gloss coat and two matt coats. That sounds like alot of varnish to put on top of a nice paint job - is it really quite invisible once on? Do you varnish before taking photos, or vice versa, or does it not matter?

Thanks!

 

[groffus]

I think they look great, I love Nurgle over all the Chaos Gods. As a newguy here myself welcome, I have been given so much help and hints from everyone here.

 

[arogers907]

I don\'t varnish my minis at all. I might hit large groups of ranked infantry (for WHFB or something) with a thin blast of dull coat. Even then, probably not.

I think I\'d rather touch up the odd corner or edge than flatten or shine the paint job.

... just my opinion.

 

[Bastetcat]

Originally posted by scottjames
Another quick question - do you all varnish your display minis? I\'ve read I should give them one gloss coat and two matt coats. That sounds like alot of varnish to put on top of a nice paint job - is it really quite invisible once on? Do you varnish before taking photos, or vice versa, or does it not matter?

Thanks!

I\'m going to give a dissenting opinion here. Most of the better painters here don\'t varnish, or they might lightly hit them with a bit of dullcote. That should tell you something. Varnish WILL change the colors a bit, but 3 coats isn\'t otherwise noticeable (unless you\'re spraying it on too thick).

However, I find I have too much trouble with paint chipping off which makes me :cussing: . I play with my minis (oh brother, I just went and did it ) so I\'m more interested in protecting them. Opponents have a tendency to pick up the mini by the figure first and then ask permission.