Print Story Leveraging Synergy May 26 - June 1
Wizards and Hobbits
By atreides (Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 02:00:17 AM EST) (all tags)
So, I've learned several things this week:
  1. Have the right paint for the right job.
  2. Have the right paint for the right job. (I know it's the same thing, but it's such a big thing I thought it deserved to be mentioned twice)
  3. Learn to photograph minis.
  4. Do the job assigned!!!


So, once again, I painted.  However, I ultimately failed it.  My goal was to do two attack bikes and three buildings.  What I got was a little different...

It's funny that when I assign myself something to paint, I paint, but not what I assigned myself.  Just the same way I used to read different books than the ones I was assigned by my teachers.  The funny thing is that I have been working on the assignment I intended to give myself in 3 weeks.  I did the three buildings though I chose to paint walls.  Unfortunately, I ran out of the paint that I use for my desert walls. :( So my walls are tan on the front and still white on the back.  So I guess I'm going to go pick up some Trail Tan tomorrow.

So, there's a 4 mini set that's supposed to represent the biggest bad-asses of a Marine Chapter.  The minis are quite nice and I've already painted one but I want to get the others done eventually.  I was planning on doing one in a few weeks but I felt the need to work on one now instead of the bikes.  So I did...

This is the best picture I got of it.  That's pathetic.  I've taken mini pics before and gotten better results but no this time.  So maybe I better find a better way to take them.  Something to work on between now and next week.

I wish you could see all the detail.  It's not the best mini I've ever painted, but it's not bad at all and I did a few things and used a few colors I never use.  I'm happy with the results. 

So, my goal for the coming week is to paint 2 land speeders and and 3 buildings of some kind.  More than likely I'll finish off the walls I started and couldn't finish.  I hope to, in the next few weeks, do this and report that not only did I do the job assigned, but I actually went beyond and accomplished more.  But for now the stated goal will have to do, I guess. 

< On Headgear | Poem of the Day: "The Unknown" by Donald Rumsfeld (collected by Hart Seely) >
Leveraging Synergy May 26 - June 1 | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback
Dear sir, by nightflameblue (2.00 / 0) #1 Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 10:11:33 AM EST
Please to be researching "macro mode" for your camera. Thank you.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that I've probably got as much time photographing small things as anybody on this site. While I'm not perfect at it, I may have tips that help. (The above head measures approximately 2.5 cm top to bottom.)

You either need macro mode, or a real good telephoto that lets you back it up off the item you're picturing. And a tripod is absolutely essential with such small items. Depending on your camera, shutter lockup can help too.



Macro mode infidels unite!!! by atreides (2.00 / 0) #2 Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 10:48:14 AM EST
Actually, I used macro mode.  There are two things I think are responsible after sleeping on it...  One, our digital camera is kinda crappy.  It's great for everyday type stuff but not so great in general.  Two, I may not have had enough light.  I had one lamp with a white background because I was too lasy to arrange more lamps and such.  If there are other things, well, I don't know about them because I suck at photography.  I will happily take suggestions and whatnot.

He sails from world to world in a flying tomb, serving gods who eat hope.
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LIGHT TENTS ARE FOR THE WEAK! by nightflameblue (2.00 / 0) #3 Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 10:56:56 AM EST
And, also, those that like taking good pictures. You can usually pick up a decent one for about twenty bucks if you know where to look. For the tiny figures you're photographing, you may be able to get by even cheaper. A light tent, two cheap lamps, and a piece of white posterboard can go a long ways to getting you enough light.

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Lamps? Check. White foamcore? Check. by atreides (2.00 / 0) #4 Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 11:08:27 AM EST
Light tent?  Hmmm...  I'm not into photographing much, but I can spend a few dollars USian to be able to get a decent picture.  Another thing is that whenever I get close to take the picture, it keeps telling me it's too close to focus.  I assumed that the light issue was part of it but maybe it is and maybe it isn't...  Is 2 inches too close?

He sails from world to world in a flying tomb, serving gods who eat hope.
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Depends on your lense. by nightflameblue (2.00 / 0) #5 Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 11:15:42 AM EST
Point and shoot? Two inches is probably too close. I'm lucky. My wife bought me a Canon Rebel XTi, so I can take "macro" shots from about three feet away now. But back in my cheapy point-and-shoot days? Crank up your resolution as high as it will go, and back up a little. Then crop for onscreen pictures. And if you don't have a tripod, try to set up your camera to lay on something. Books. Notebooks. Papers. Something so it's stable. And if you can, remote trigger or set the timer so you aren't pushing the button right as the shot is taken. That causes camera shakes that show up on really close shots.

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Leveraging Synergy May 26 - June 1 | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback