A model shootout challenge: make a model believable
Nov 10, 2024
David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.
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Whoa; stop right here. You were probably expecting a photographic gallery of beautiful people, right? Please don’t leave, there really is information about photographing models. In the context of this article, however, “model” refers to scale assembly kits for representing real cars, trucks, armored vehicles, ships, and aircraft and not hired agency talent.
Trying to photograph a scale model to make it appear believable is a very challenging exercise for a photographer. More often than not, photographs of models look, well, like toys. And if all you want is to make a record of a model in a toy-like sense, then that’s OK. If you’re striving, however, to present a model in a believable composition, you’re going to have to shrink your photographic perspective down to a scale proportion.
Here is Your Model Challenge
So, let’s begin the challenge:
1. Purchase a scale model kit. In this exercise, a scale model car kit will be used. You can locate scale model kits at your local Hobby Lobby store. But wait, there’s more. Every two weeks Hobby Lobby features a 40% off sale on all scale model kits. During this bi-weekly sale it’s the ideal time to purchase a kit for this challenge.
[Please note: During your model kit purchase also buy some cement for assembly and an assortment of paints for coloring your finished product.]
2. Build your model. Most scale model car kits can be assembled in 1 – 2 days. The finishing with paints can take another 1 – 2 days.
3. Select a venue for your model photography session. In order to maximize the believability of your final images, ensure that all of the visible surroundings are kept at a suitable scale dimension.
4. Finally, and this is very important, keep it low, very low. Your camera positioning needs to be as low as possible for maximizing believability. The proper scale perspective can be easily tested by making some sample photographs of a real automobile. Now, refer to these test shots during the placement of your camera when photographing your model car.
One gotcha that could spoil the believability of your model photograph is conflicting or unexpected atmospheric influences. Shadows, cloud cover, and backgrounds filled with trees, buildings, or, gasp, people can immediately scuttle your perfect model shot. Just keep it low and keep it tight and everyone’s going to wonder where you saw that classic 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429.
Enjoy.
David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.
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One response to “A model shootout challenge: make a model believable”
Model building and photography happen to be my two hobbies and I would add that lens choice and dept of field are important points to consider when trying to make your model look realistic.
if you study real life car pics, most will be taken close to the subject so that elements in the foreground will appear much larger than anything near the back of the car. Replicating this effect by using a wide angle lens in close to the model introduces the challenge of narrow dept of field. A method to overcome this is to focus stack so that the whole of the model will appear in focus.
A side note, is that the camera will magnify any little imperfection on your subject, like dust/hair or a less than perfect paint job, ruining the illusion. I would suggest that anyone wanting to try this and is not a model builder, to start off with diecast models, some of which are finished to a very high standard these days.