My Rotten Harvest: Ahsa Ruyar

[Mclimbin]

Hey all,

I just wanted to say thanks for all the great feedback that I got for my submission. Seems like most people said I did a pretty good job but the photo was not so good. I'd like to know if you think the values-adjusted version is better (on the right) than the original one that I submitted (on the left).

I went with the original one for my submission because I thought the colors were closer to real life. The background might have confused some people too, because it's actually a golden brown color, not white. It didn't work so well, I guess. I should have used a more neutral background.

I'll probably pull out my photo gear and take another shot at her (pun intended;) ) So if you have any advice for me related to photography, photoshop or even any other painting-related critiques, I'd be really happy to hear it.

A couple of notes: she started out with a kind of skull-face bra, but I didn't like the way it looked. It was cool in the concept art but didn't look right on the mini. I also wanted her to look fairly normal, pretty, and girl-next-door-ish, but then with skellies coming out from under her skirt (!!). So I ground the skulls off and painted her bodice to cover her parts.

I also tried for both a muted and a limited palette. I used the same color (MSP Desert Sand) to highlight both the red and the green, and then used the same Desert Sand for the skellies, with MSP Red Liner for the shadows on the skellies. I like how the red leather turned out more than the green cloak, personally.

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/1782/ahsatotalrm6.jpg http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/982/ahsatotal2bw4.jpg

[callumrice]

Thats a really nice mini. I like the paint job, and yes, I do think the photos look a lot better on the right, seem a lot clearer.

[Nathan Caroland]

Yeah, I think in this instance, having the levels changed up a bit help out to bring the focus more on the miniature, or atleast clear it up a touch.

[Wren]

I don't think the golden brown background worked well for this particular mini. I think it was too close in tone to what you used for the highlights, and having the two the same kinda washed out the photo.

[Mclimbin]

OK, I took the photos again with a more neutral background. Do you think it looks better? :)

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r108/Mclimbin/Ahsa1new.jpg http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r108/Mclimbin/Ahsa4new.jpg http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r108/Mclimbin/Ahsa3new.jpg

[Stupidcow]

It looks wonderful. The details are clearer and the whole piece seems to jump out at you. Its a pity you didn't submit this instead or it would have caught the eyes of the crowd more.

[Wren]

Yep, I do think it looks better. Even the base seems crisper and more detailed.

[Duende]

This DOES look better than you other pictures IMHO, but (to be brutally honest, I hope you forgive me) I think with this picture, people might have been saying "the background is too bright and makes the colors on the mini look washed out."

I think the most commonly used sky-blue background would be best, it tends not to be too bright to wash out colors and doesn't give a look of having a hue problem in picture that has a background of any other color.

But your second set of pictures are an improvement over the first, I agree! But I still remember thinking "ooooooooooooh" when I first saw your entry in teh RH gallery ;) Just keep experimenting with your photo program's different functions, it's the best way to learn.

:D

[Mclimbin]

Thanks again guys and girls,
Yeah, I'm still having some problems with the photo software. This time, the background is actually a greenish grey, but it comes out as white at the top. I'll keep working on it. :)

Thanks for the brutal honesty, D. That's why I post pics here! :)

[Nathan Caroland]

I like it and think it looks better IMO and as Duende said though, you'll certainly get those folks that are going to tell you the background is too bright, but I think it gives a better alternative than the 'yellowish-dull' one from before irregardless.

Experimenet with background layers and see if any of that works for you for displaying your piece, might find it'll be a bit more complimenting for your piece. There is an excellent piece by Spacemunkie on here somewhere about photoshopping your miniature.