PlaymoFriends
Creative => Photography & Graphics => Topic started by: Martin Milner on January 04, 2010, 17:42:37
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(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/001-2.jpg)
This was the best picture I took to show the whole layout. Tim spent hours setting the tables up before I joined him, not to mention finding all the right pieces, and buying and setting up the "sky paper", though he has everything well organised.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/002-1.jpg)
Her's the longer table, with the volcano on raised boxes at the back. I don't know how many individual pieces of plant there are, but it's got to run into the hundreds.
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Hi Martin :wave:
Thank you so much. I thought it was going to be a lot of material. It looks really great when photographed though the rock. I really appreciate you showing us the "behind the scene" pictures :wow:
Great job Tim & Martin :clap:
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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Here's another view from a slightly different angle.
(http://www.animobil.info/playmo/jungle1/howto.jpg)
Here's how to make your own
1. Buy lots and lots of Playmo (this is an easy one for everyone here)
2. Pick a vantage point you plan to shoot from and set up the scene so it looks good from that view. How it looks from other places doesn't matter for this kind of photo set. We tend to make complete scenes to allow photography from different angles. That's a great way to work, but to stretch out what you have to seem bigger a single vantage point works well. In this case I only used tree tops for most of the image, that was enough so making whole trees would have been wasted time and resources.
3. Put a band of the most detail up close and reduce the amount of detail the farther away from the camera it should be. In this case small plants with animals up close, large objects like the temple top in the midground and smaller looking objects like tree tops that could be any size at a distance.
You expect a volcano to be big so having it far enough away so it just fits in your image will make it seem bigger than it is.
4. Color gets lighter and more grey as it is farther away from you. I put a bright detailed foreground strip then the darkest tree tops I had in the middle section. A row of middle toned tree tops next then the lightest tree tops last. Doing it on a slope puts each group a little higher in the image.
5. Light, light, and more light. I had the curtains open but it was a cloudy day. My room lights are fluorescent with about 120 watts above the table area plus light bleeding in from other fixtures farther away. I put a 500 watt halogen floor lamp right next to the scene to bounce as much light as possible off the ceiling.
6. Use a tripod or solid surface with a time delay on your camera. This will allow you to get by with setting for less light and not have blurring from camera movement. Playmo generally holds still so it's a good subject for lower lighting.
The hardest shot in Martin's story was the jumping Ninja, we had to ask him to jump a bunch of times before we got a clear shot.
Here are links to two versions of the plain jungle photo that are free to use as computer wallpaper if you like. One is for regular monitor shapes and the other for widescreen. Small versions of the images are below. The links will take you to large versions desktop size.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4242117165_b676bbc25a.jpg)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71879015@N00/4242117165/sizes/o/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71879015@N00/4242117165/sizes/o/)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4242112765_354e7c4bbf.jpg)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71879015@N00/4242112765/sizes/o/in/photostream/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71879015@N00/4242112765/sizes/o/in/photostream/)
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That set up looks very realistic, Tim and Martin, and thank you, Tim, for the useful hints and tips. :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:
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:wow:
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I always like "Making Of" featurettes. Thanks!
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Thank you Tim and Martin for the story and "making of" information! :wave:
Gepetto
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this was fascinating to see the helicopter view, and to read all of the layers of thought and planning that went into it. it is obvious that the two of you are having lots of fun. as km stated, it is always fun to watch the "making of" extras on the dvds.
thanks guys.
kaethe
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Thx for this "Making of"!
I like the pics, because they give me a feeling that I stay at this moment as a Klicky at this point.
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I always love good nature pictures. This scene is fantastically made and out of experience I know it can be a pain to set up nature pieces. Good job tim! (and martin of course)
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What a great "behind the scenes" shot :wow: :wow:
The perspective of the tropical forest is so deep and rich in vegetation and colors :xholly:
A very realistic diorama cleverly prepared and photographed :love:
A very happy New Year to you Martin & Tim :xmascheer:
Karim <*)
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Amazing set-up! Thank you both for showing us how those gorgeous story photos were made. :wow:
I was wondering before how you gained so much depth in the background. I really do envy your collection of trees and landscape parts - especially the volcano. I have resisted buying those dino sets until now, but now you've made it even harder. ;)
Thanks for the tips on lighting and how to lay out the foliage, Tim. Very useful! :love:
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Hi Tim :wave:
Thanks again for the pictures and info. Our eldest son is starting to show interest in photographing his small displays. The info you provided will be passed on to him and the other sons. If you ever see them making a movie of any kind you will know that your influence helped guide them :**: so basically, it all your fault if any of them run off to Hollywood :lol:
seriously, thank you for the info
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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If any of them run off to Hollywood they better take me with them.
To explain things of course. ;D
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Hello,
Your jungle is great! It looks like a real one. :)9
Cheers
PB
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Here are links to two versions of the plain jungle photo that are free to use as computer wallpaper if you like.
I did it! And it's beautiful. :love: Now I just have keep watching to make sure that the volcano doesn't erupt and deposit pyroclastic flow all over my keyboard. :o
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Don't you mean pyroplastic flow? ;D
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My desktop looks all warm and humidy now--in contrast to the chilly rain falling on us in SE USA right now. Thanks! I also appreciate your set-up tips. I had never thought of setting up for just one angle but I can see now how it might be a great approach.
keep up the good work guys!
Betsy :)
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It was seeing this very scene that inspired me to take lots of playmophotos myself and the "how to" part has some really useful information! What a great view!
Skypurr Jr.
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Nice to see a making of
also nice to see boardmembers getting together and have fun