Legolas Prod Pics Up

[MaulFan]

Q, I hope that you don't take offense by my comments, or your photographer, and if I did offend I truly apologize. I'm a passionate photographer who looks for the most faithful depiction of subjects as can be captured, and am familiar with ways that the lens can distort reality and just felt that as much as the showing off of the details on these figures is important, showcasing them in a more creative and ""real world"" lighting situation would also showcase the beautiful work that the Sideshow team puts into these pieces.

 

[The Josh]

That new shot makes him look much better. That actually looks more like what we saw at SDCC than the production pics.

I have to agree that calling for the photographers job is total BS folks. These are freaking toys and calling for someones job is a tad much. I mean it's not like she's a teacher and if the job isn't done people are really effected.

 

[Customikey]

It's a different philosophy of photography to which I just happen to subscribe.

I'm giving Maul Fan his due because he is such an amazing photographer, but I never called for anyone's job. God knows I have enough difficulty taking pics of my own work. I think some more shots in varied lighting would help quell the revolt.

 

[Fritz]

Thanks for posting Q. All your points are valid and make total sense. I would respectfully suggest that you throw a couple/few "normal" pics in with your galleries (if possible of course) just to more flatter the figures/statues. I don't understand the logistics involved so it's easy for me to say LOL. But I think some normal picks would just enhance the product and calm the hysteria. You obviously can't cater to everyone and I just hope that the full lighted pics and peoples mass panic don't result in any order cancellations etc., that's the only reason I make this suggestion. I'm fairly confident that the majority of people know by now to wait for final product delivery before making any rash judgements.

My 2 cents.

 

[LOTRFan]

I have to agree that calling for the photographers job is total BS folks. These are freaking toys and calling for someones job is a tad much. I mean it's not like she's a teacher and if the job isn't done people are really effected.

You're right Josh, we need to call for YOUR job! I mean how will the youth of today ever learn with you always on the net!?

 

[The Josh]

We've been off the whole week. Bad weather.

 

[pjam]

Here's the deal with photography. The photography department falls under me and our very talented photographer has my 100% support. I approve all the shots and often times direct the shoots. The philosophy behind our general photography is as Dave says so detail isn't hidden. Our figures are not only about the sculpt but also the detailing in the costuming and accessories, which everyone seems to forget. These images aren't used only for our website, but also publications and retailers who require these types of masked images. When we want to add extra "pop," we'll use more interesting lighting effects and backgrounds, as seen in some of the blogs and newer gallery shots in a few of the Star Wars figures. As far as "futzing" with figures with water treatments and such, we intentionally show the figure as much out of the box as possible, but of course with some straightening out of the costume.

So for those of you calling for heads, maybe you should call for mine instead.

Q

Thanks for the explanation Q but it doesn't solve the problem collectors have responding to these masked images. Maybe you guys should take a set for Collectors and keep these masked images for retailers, magazines, etc... otherwise I simply suggest we wait to receive the figures or see pics posted elsewhere to get a better idea of what the figures actually look like.

Honestly they aren't always very representative of the figures we receive as you can clearly tell from the responses here, they sometimes appear washed out and the sculpts appear distorted from some angles which I believe is totally unfair to the artisans and collectors but thanks for your explanation, I appreciate it.

 

[Customikey]

Just looking at the awesome PPO images for figures like RAH Fett, Jabba, and Faramir. I think having shots like that for the production figure would be wonderful!

I'm assuming it's the same photographer.

I love his work for the Pre-order pages. I'd like to see more of that style to go along with the high illumination photography.

 

[MaulFan]

Well I think the photography lynch mob has gone on long enough, so I'm going to throw out some positivity in this thread. Perhaps the web images don't light the figures as beautifully as we the collectors do on our own, but at the same time, we could also not be given so many images either, so we should accept and enjoy them as they are. The biggest bottom line, which even I forgot in my heated reaction to these new images, is that when we get these things in hand, 99% of the time, they are the beautiful items we expected, or better, and that's what should count, if the web pics aren't fantastic looking, what's it matter when the piece itself you own is fantastic. It's like people said about the new SW boxes, we're not buying the pictures or the boxes, we buy the figures and how those are is what counts, and since many of seem to agree that the web images aren't a good judge of what you'll get in hand, then wait to get it in hand and then judge the piece.

 

[MaulFan]

Just looking at the awesome PPO images for figures like RAH Fett, Jabba, and Faramir. I think having shots like that for the production figure would be wonderful! I don't think giving some dramatic lighting would hurt the representation of the figures at all! I can't imagine that publications ask for bland, washed out pics for their mags.

Mikey, just to point something out, I don't know if you saw my Jabba box mockup, but the Jabba figure image I used came out looking like the Jabba PPO, that wasn't lighting for the photo, it's one of the old prototype shots with some photoshop effects making it look like it does, I agree the effects look nice, but just thought I'd share that it's a postproduction trick.

 

[lcummins]

...I love his work for the Pre-order pages...

That would be a she...

 

[The Josh]

That would be a she...

Yeah, the photographer is a she.

 

[Customikey]

That would be a she...

My apologies.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Yeah, the photographer is a she.

Green hair is HOT.





Seriously.

 

[Sachiel]

I think the proto on Andy's page is also different. It looks different in the mouth area and even more like Bloom.

 

[The Dwimmerlaik]

Yeah, the mouth is differente he used that mouth when he killed an orc or he was angry, the ears are also differente, overall is the same

 

[thamesvalidude]

Well whatever, the photo doesn't look like Bloom.............who will bring me the head of Q?


Just kidding...buying it anyway!

 

[Darren Carnall]

ok, after nine pages of negative here's some positive. I think after some of the painjobs we've had recently, this one seems really good (yes I'll be repainting it... and probably resculpting it too... but that's not the point, lol)

I've always thought that he looked too square jawed (back when I ordered it) but it was still a good 'Legolas' figure. It had hints of Orlando, but wasn't the slam dunk some of you were expecting. IT is however, a very good looking figure, and once in hand I'm sure it will look amazing.

As for the 'different sculpt' I'm not so sure. Those two front on pics being used for comparison seem to have been taken at totally different angles and from different distances too possibly. If you look at how things line up, the eyes and ears, chin and neck, you can see that one is more tilted down than the other. This alone could cause all the difference in sculpt everyone is seeing.

Plus, the new prod. pics have darker thicker painted eyebrows (who would've thought) and also to those who said the eyes had been sculpted different (someone said the old eyes were more squinty, which looks accurate), it's all in the paint. If you look close you can see that the old pic has the skin paint going right into the eye, whereas the new pic leaves some of the botto of the eye white. This has the effect of giving the new pics wider eyes (I know about this cause I did it with my Aragorn to fix the 'wonky' eyes.

Trust me... once we all have this, we'll all love it... again. (but like Mikey said... I can't wait to see what some of the repainters/resculpters can do with this to make it a truly exceptional figure) ....and here was me hoping for a figure off from sculpting duties

(well at least I had a break with Maul (who turned up yesterday) and only needed his lips touching in with black.

BRING ON LEGOLAS :chew

 

[Shai]

I still say hes got a potato chin...

 

[morbidaj]

I always enjoy the threads of angry comments, and then once someone from sideshows staff makes a post... the kiss ass apology comments!.