WIP Opinions wanted - U.S. Marines Fallujah

legend69 · May 6, 2013

Hi,

As always I am stuck....trying to figure out the "scene". I am sure everyone has seen the original picture with Brad Kasal, but in the original picture the figures are very cramped. Does the door on the right detract from the figures? should I take it out, but leave the table on the left?

All thoughts and ideas are VERY VERY welcome.

Thanks,

Ant

p.s. the figures are almost finished

Joe55 · May 6, 2013

I say leave the door.

Joe

JasonB · May 6, 2013

I would leave the door but move them forward so that the door is in the background. I know it wouldn't exactly match the picture, but these poses are less crowded together and straight across. In the picture they were angled to fit through the door and squeeze around the table. Putting them on this side of the door puts them in the foreground as they should be, and is just a slight continuation of what was happening in the picture. The blue of the door would add some nice contrast.
Quickie Photochop job

Gellso · May 6, 2013

Defo door off.

looks great btw,

Love the shading especially on the boots.

Gells

Merryweather · May 7, 2013

just my opinion, and I haven't seen the original picture, but I say lose the door and the table. The figures are just awesome , so why add details which don't in my opinion add anything to the impact of the situation?
fantastic job!

Ferris · May 7, 2013

I like JasonB's suggestion to move them in front of the door, but I would suggest to either leave out everything, or do as Jason said, but add a bit of the wall around the door to make clear these guys are evacuating from a building. You'd get some additional height and can frame the figures somewhat. I can't sketch it digitally, but I hope you see what I mean.

Love your work on this by the way. The blood-soaked uniform is eerily realistic!

Adrian

legend69 · May 7, 2013

Thanks guys, this is exactly what I wanted - a few ideas and comments to get the creative juices going.

JasonB - thanks for the photoshop it really gives a clearer idea of the scene. Although the blue door will provide beautiful contract, and I was looking forward to making it and painting it, I think ( I am not sure yet however) that a cleaner scene without the door will draw attention to the figures. After fiddling with the door and placing it behind the soldiers, it just looks wrong in the actual vignette, the perspectives and angles are all wrong.

I am 75% sure that I should remove both the door and the table. Still got some thinking to do.
All comments and ideas are still very welcome, I still have 25% that can swing either way.

Thanks once again for all your comments.

Ant

renarts · May 7, 2013

Here's the original photo

http://marinesmagazine.dodlive.mil/2010/06/28/sgt-majbradley-a-kasal/

renarts · May 7, 2013

I like the idea of the door because it is a)true to the original image, b) it funnels the eye into the vignette of figures and acts as a frame. c) it is the pop of color in an earth toned scene.

JasonB · May 7, 2013

I agree
Without some context, its just 3 nice figures standing alone. No story being told. I think I would add more framing around the door to show how small and area it was. Until I saw a larger pic showing more of the area, I thought the door was larger and the area more open. If you were to add some wall in front of the table and around the opening, and put them in front of the door, it would work. Basically your choices are just figs or something as described, if you want to stay as true as possible to the pic. Maybe some more basic interior behind them as well. Anyhow, its whatever makes you happy that counts. BTW, theres nothing to lose by building the door area and seeing how it looks. If you like it, go with it. If not, it doesn't effect the figs at all.
Cheers
Jason

aknific · May 7, 2013

I think its better with the Door, but behind as suggested by JasonB.
And oh yes, nice paint job!

legend69 · May 8, 2013

After reading all the new comments...and after a lot of STARING at the figures, I think I will build the door area, to go behind the figures. As Jason said "If you like it, go with it. If not, it doesn't effect the figs at all". Sooooo here we go.

Once again thanks to everybody for all their comments!!!!!!

Figurenfreund66 · May 8, 2013

The vignette lives because of the drama and belongs to the Door. Just as the mood is conveyed correctly!

So leave the door! I would say in this case, you build it exactly as in the photo. If you move the figures in the foreground, the story is lost!

hendryk

legend69 · May 9, 2013

Ok...so I made a quick mock up with paper of the door.

1/ Pics with the soldiers behind the door as in the original pic - I think they get lost, overshadowed by the foreground
2/ Door in the background - they jave exited the building - the door is in the background
3/ The blue door was made for another set of figures I am working on, combined it to have a more accurate picture.

I am leaning to a mixyure of option 2/3.

ALL thoughts and comments welcome.....

Thanks Ant

Figurenfreund66 · May 9, 2013

For the dramatic and the Story - the First version .

For the Figures - the other ones !

If i must do it - i would do the First !

Hendryk

Maki · May 10, 2013

First one for me also... it tells the story as it is seen on the original photo. I don't think the base is overshadowing the figures; on the contrary, it adds to the action and drama.

Mario

Martin64 · May 10, 2013

The first version works best for me. Excellent painting by the way!
Cheers, Martin

legend69 · May 12, 2013

Thanks to EVERYONE for their thoughts and comments. I have made my decision. I will post the finished item in a week or so.

Ant

specmod · May 18, 2013

Love what you have done with these figures, excellent work and well done, though I think that if you had have had the eyes looking in different directions and not all straight to their front, it would have tied them in all together more if you know what I mean?
In re of the base I'd go with no 1 option, will make it look far more dramatic as per original pic.
Again well done, look forward to seeing what way you go with this. Cheers

WIP Opinions wanted - U.S. Marines Fallujah

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