Set building.
 

Has anyone else noticed how much the general standard of set building has improved here lately? I've noticed how often I've found myself saying "great set" when commenting on pics these days. Not only are more people building or using sets, but most of them are awesome. I know I went from someone who never built sets to someone who has built quite a few, simply because of the inspiration of the great set builders on this site. Even my wonky efforts have improved, just by looking at what others have built. There is so much to learn on Joedios simply by observing the skills of others, that even us "old hands" are picking up new tricks. ;)

I've considered stepping it up a notch but I'm so poor, I can't go all out. I might talk to Luke sometime about just how much money he pours into his dio sets. It wouldn't be hard to drop $50 for just a couple of shots, y'know? Eventually, I'll show you guys what I'm really doing since I'm not posting much in the way. What I do post in terms of new stuff is showing up in the REVIEWS section. (hint hint)

I use to like going out and taking pics (still do), but set building does have a lot of upsides.
The two main ones are one is being able to control the lighting the other is getting the exact setting you want instead of having to go out and find it. Cuts the hassel a little.

Flint and I switch off.....we do dio sets (some of which we have under serious construction/development as I type) AND we love to get the 'outside' shots........something about it that cannot be fabricated, you know???


It's great because my yard is a veritable goldmine for various environments.......and his isn't too bad either........so we're lucky.......and we enjoy the hell out of the set up and angles to 'get the shot'!!! ;) :cool:

I agree that while sets are usually my thing, I still try to do outdoors stuff when I can.

I stated that in post #4. I guess I'm being ignored. What a surprise :rolleyes:

.......If anyone takes a look at any of mine or Flint's 'night-time' shots, they'll see that we love to 'set the lighting'........of course, I'm a woman and like to look through the lense for the 'it' shot, so we tend to take a lot of the same thing with a slight variation of the angle..........but when it's the 'money shot' we just KNOW it and it's such a rush, you know???

Whatever

I know that BT, I was agreeing with you, but I deleted it anyway. :confused:

I haven't built any sets yet, but it's something I want to do when I get a new camera so I can take better shots.

I'm kinda in the same boat, I can't spend to much money on indoor sets. They mostly consist of printouts. :rolleyes:

Very true! The last set I made used a couple of shelves I didn't need anymore and some of that white craft square sheets. I'm working on another one little by little, but I'm not really sure how I want it to look. Also I find it helpful to building sets that you can make appear different just by shooting from diffeerent angles. Or do sets with front and back sides. It takes up less room and you get twice the use out of it!

My backyard is great for forest or jungle dios, but I have a lot of trees so lightning getts a difficult.

Geez BT. Knock it off.


You guys know I love using foamboard for things. Or wood if I can. But what I didn't really mention was that building a set can cost $$$ and is it really worth it for just a shot or two? I don't think any of us have extra cash laying around to just start building massive sets. The way I see it too, we gotta change the sets up or the pictures would become really boring.

so true, the only way i really see spending a lot of money on a dio set would be if it was a hq. you know, something you will be using often.

I gotta agree, the level of set building has increased. And the story telling, and many of the shots. The new members are a much needed infusion of fresh blood and ideas!

It doesn't take a lot of money to make sets. Cardboard, printouts and everyday items (I saw some awesome shots using a Computer Chasis and a desktop inbox) . God, some of that stuff is Genious!! I figure if you make a person try to guess what the set is, you have caught his eye and made him forget for a minute he is looking at a picture of toys!

Keep up the good work..I'm about 2 weeksd from having my Joes displayed completely in my new Garage, after that, I'm gonna "kick it " with a vengence! Whew...Can't wait to work more on my "Enemy of my Enemy" dio!!!

Cool Ender Cant Wait To See The SEt Up :)

And now that I have a Riddick custom of my own, we can finally start tying him and Jim together :-) YAY!

Figured I'd add this in here:

I was at walmart today looking for a hooded CC and dio goodies when I stumbled through a clearance isle. There were Dora Explorer sets that had an ellegant looking table and a few chairs. Obvious repaint aside I though they could be used for Castle Destro or whathaveyou. Just thought I'd pass the word along.

Money Shot.
 

I couldn't agree more with this. Pru I know exactly what you mean. when the shot's so clear and the lighting is right.. It's worth setting up and so worth it when you get to recreate your adventures on your cpu screen!! :D

Playing around with the lighting on night shots is so much fun! Multiple light sources, and different coloured lights can impart some awesome moods into a picture.

Some of you guys need to do a "How-To" about how you do these sets. A "Behind the Scenes" thing. The "How-to" section is getting a bit Dusty!

Working on it ender, but it's a double edged sword. The last time I shared the technique of using craft papers, foamboard, and dollhouse items, a few of my customers as well as the casually interested made "How-To's" purporting to have originated the concept, or worse, said they built the diorama I have fashioned for them.

Stuff like that stings a bit, you know? I know it's not rocket science, but it would be the height of good manners to at least acknowledge when a brain is picked and an idea perpetuated.

But I am working on it, because I was driven by the enormity of the thing I saw on the Lord of the Rings extras. The techniques they used were the exact same one I do, and I imagine that the commission for such large sets like Minas Tirith and Rivendell, were lucrative. So I figured a few "How-To"'s would enable all of us to get to that station, where we can be appreciated for our craft and compensated for our talents.

Look at the guys on Robot Chicken. Their sets are sometimes better, yet, I have seen work from many of you that is far exemplary than theirs.

One never knows what can happen.