Lighting for a night scene

[MattMcK.]

Hello all-
I'm planning out a project featuring 1870s fire fighters based on the Currier & Ives print "The Life of a Fireman: the Night alarm." I think it will work as a box dio, although I've never done one. To complicate matters, it would work best as a night scene. Nothing like making your first foray into a new form hard, right?

Can anyone point me toward a good source of info on lighting for such a project? I have an old copy of Paine's diorama book, but I've seen much newer lighting systems in dollhouse catalogs. General info on box dioramas would be very helpful as well.

I'm also a little torn: if the hand drawn pumper turns out well, who will see all the detail work if its locked into a particular viewing angle by a box? What to do?

Matt

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Hi Matt!

The second editon of Sheps book is a bit thicker and the section of shadowboxes had been increased. I didnt regret buying the second edition.

Ray Anderssons old book has some good stuff in it. Especially when it comes to wiring. Many of his ideas are good but the finish of his dioramas is not up to todays standards. Great ideas however.

Im doing my first boxdiorama at this moment so this is only speculating from me and what Ive read. Use of blue coloured light makes it looks like a night scene. Still dark but light enough to see. Perhaps also some soft spots to focus on certain objects or action.

Just dont waste your time on detail that cant be seen. If your not certian if the detail will be visible, thats another question.

Hope this helps.

Cheers