Hammer's Great Worm 77006

[hammer570]

For a long while during the process I had a pretty intense love/hate relationship with this worm.  Some parts were a lot of fun, some others I just couldn't seem to get it to work how I had it pictured in my head.  Had to leave well enough alone with the belly, especially (I feel like the end result is too heavily shaded, but I couldn't seem to get a decent contrast... oh well).  I really like how the stones around the base came out, shout out to robinh for the help with those.  Thanks also to Xherman1964 for some help blending the highlights on top.  Honest C&C very much appreciated!  I have no delusions of grandeur with this piece, just a decent addition to the table.  But any critiques to help me learn for the future are most welcome!

 

Also, tried out natural light by the window for the photos, with a folded piece of sketch pad paper as the background.  Don't love it, and a lot of the colors and details don't translate exceptionally well, but alas, it will have to do until I can afford some ottlites.

 

Without further ado...

 

 

 

edit:  better photos.  Thanks Chris Palmer!

Edited February 20, 2016 by hammer570

[Chris Palmer]

The worm looks great!

 

Rather than a white background, next time you take pictures, try something with more of a neutral mid-tone for the background. Like a sheet of your sketch pad sprayed with grey primer. You camera's light meter reads the white background as very bright, and so darkens the image in an attempt to tone down the brightness, thus darkening your figure.

[hammer570]

Chris,  thanks for the tip!  Just brushed up a new background and reshot the photos, even with it being more overcast than the original photos, the details and colors pop so much more now.  Editing the original post to replace.  Much better than it was before, I'll take my photos this way going forward until I can get some proper lights and background material.

[Chris Palmer]

Chris,  thanks for the tip!  Just brushed up a new background and reshot the photos, even with it being more overcast than the original photos, the details and colors pop so much more now.  Editing the original post to replace.  Much better than it was before, I'll take my photos this way going forward until I can get some proper lights and background material.

 

I agree. The photos look much better! I'm glad I could help.

[knarthex]

Nice work!

 

For OTTlites, you don't always need to buy the whole thing.

By that I mean I bought OTTlite Bulbs at Michael's or AC Moore (Forget which) on sale, and put them into the swing arm lamps I was already using.

With them being on sale, the coupon from the internet, and my military discount, I got the 3 that I use for under $30....

Be sure to mark on the lamp what the bulbs 'temperature, is, as this helps with your camera settings....

(I put a piece of masking tape on the bell of the lamp and wrote on it with a sharpie)

 

George

[Glitterwolf]

I think it's a great looking worm!

Don't sell yourself short.

 

I like it!

Now I think it would look even better when you base it.

Put it on a base and use some green stuff or basing material like sand and rocks to make it look like it pops out of the ground!

 

As for the background, I have just googled the word photo backdrop, and I could download some stuff for free.

I printed that out and use it for my photos.

 

Maybe that will be of help?

[Chaoswolf]

I agree with Xherman, you did a great job!