Completed Mike's Gallipoli NZ Native & MR Vignette

[kiwi45]

Wow Mike awesome, are the wee fly's just painted or knowing you, little bits of putty etc.
Cheers Les.
p.s sorry about your Chiefs, have the wheels fallen off?

 

[Mjølner]

Arhhh... come on, don't spoil my confidence It's awesome

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Wow Mike awesome, are the wee fly's just painted or knowing you, little bits of putty etc.
Cheers Les.
p.s sorry about your Chiefs, have the wheels fallen off?

"Flies" are a tiny mix of acrylic Matt medium & Matt black

Chiefs - gotta have faith Les almost entire team on injury list...

 

[kiwi45]

Mmmm Mike, one win in six games...not lookin good. Will see you in final lol

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

This little guy is done & ready to be put on base with his Kiwi mates in next few months.

He'll be issuing ammo to the new Maoris coming ashore.

Thoughts?

​

 

[NickM]

I love it, Mike. You have a unique painting style and a knack for simulating textures, like the rough material of his uniform pants.
Can't wait for the other figures. Top quality painting, mate.

 

[Mjølner]

Very bold feller, is he thinking "why are they always late!" or is it "it's my ammo crates and you don't get them without signing"?
Fabulous paintjob trousers looks like real fabric and that face.....well just great
Looking forward to see the rest, thank you for posting

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

I love it, Mike. You have a unique painting style and a knack for simulating textures, like the rough material of his uniform pants.
Can't wait for the other figures. Top quality painting, mate.

Thank you Nick.
Textures & surface effects are something I am working hard to learn what looks effective.

Off to bench again

Mike

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Very bold feller, is he thinking "why are they always late!" or is it "it's my ammo crates and you don't get them without signing"?
Fabulous paintjob trousers looks like real fabric and that face.....well just great
Looking forward to see the rest, thank you for posting

Hi mate, welcome your feedback & positive comments.
I'm trying to show a guy that has had 3 months at Gallipoli, looking at newly arrived Maori troops with a sense of what they are in for & yet an authority that he's seen it all.

Sadly 700 of this regiment would be decimated in the next month in taking of Chunuk Bair :-(

Stay safe
Mike

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

My mate Neil has just got a new camera & asked about my photographing ideas.
So thought I'd share some thinking here for us all to learn together.

Here's my first response to him...

"Great news on camera. What did you get?"
You won't look back with one of these & am sure you'll soon have great photos.

You will need another couple of things to get going if you haven't already got them.

First a camera tripod.
Doesn't have to be flash just helps support when you take photos.

Second a light tent.
I got mine off TradeMe(NZ version of EBay) for $40 - best investment I've made I reckon
Mine is 40cm which has worked right up to the big guy.
It came with 2 mirror base acrylic sheets & 4 different backgrounds. Ouse black but also have green, white, blue & red ones.

Third lighting.
I use simple clip on desk lamps x3. These are basic ones from lighting shop & have highest power pigtail bulbs.
Will aim to get photo of setup & add here as I share my approach.

Still lots to learn & have to thank John Belcher for heading me in the right direction.

Useful?

Mike

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Next tips - my camera is a Canon too, though not SLR.
Setup is there then there are a range of settings I set for most of my photos.
1. AutoTimer 2sec delay
2. Lighting: a. In day either: Daylight or Fluorescent b. in night: Fluorescent - halogen
Use viewfinder to provide sense of colour balance
3. Macro on - small flower symbol
4. FStop 5.0 balanced with Depth of field set at 1.0 ISO 80
These depend on size of subject but are critical settings to fiddle with until looks right in viewfinder. Typically lower the better. Do a Google search for these to give you more understanding. These were the critical lessons John Belcher taught me.
5. zoom in - I use camera screen indicator to show when focus: good is Green, Yellow out of focus.
6. Take initial test shot - review then fine tune
7. More detail on attached Viewfinder shot

With regards background, this has a texture on this which combined with light tent diffuses the light. I also use a small flat lamp to cast a light up behind the figure to offer contrast.

Does this help?

 

[Mariobusta]

Thanks Mike , This should help a lot , I will try out these settings and hopefully come up with some decent photos for a change .
Cheers
Neil

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Thanks Mike , This should help a lot , I will try out these settings and hopefully come up with some decent photos for a change .
Cheers
Neil

This one hasn't gone away everyone
Finally able to get back and work on some of my own projects.
Early paint beginning on young Maori Pioneer coming ashore...

 

[peedee]

I have no idea how I missed the start of this thread, but I am so pleased to be be reading the whole story so far.

This is a remarkably touching tribute, beautifully done in all respects.

Watching humbly.

Paul.

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

I have no idea how I missed the start of this thread, but I am so pleased to be be reading the whole story so far.
This is a remarkably touching tribute, beautifully done in all respects.
Watching humbly.
Paul.

Thanks Paul, it's a project that has taken too long, but an enjoyable learning journey since it began.

Glad you've found it of value.

Stay safe,
Mike

 

[peedee]

No such thing as taking too long mate.
you have set high standards and are keeping to them.

I hope you enjoy the completion of the piece.

Paul

 

[NickM]

The young Maori bloke is looking beaut already, Mike. Keep it up mate, it's great watching the scene you imagined come together

 

[smudger1960]

They look brilliant Mike,you have breathed life into this little beauties

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

The young Maori bloke is looking beaut already, Mike. Keep it up mate, it's great watching the scene you imagined come together

They look brilliant Mike,you have breathed life into this little beauties

Hi Nick & Brian,

Good to be back on the project mate & pleasing to hear they look good.

Particularly enjoying this little Maori guy.
He was inspired by this young man's diary - Rikihana Carkeek, brilliantly bought to life in 3.5:1 scale by Weta magicians.

Stay safe
Mike

 

[Viking Bob]

I have just caught up with this one, amazing. Really like the conversions, excellent stuff.