"PREJUDICED ???" Topic

Hi everybody and I hope you're all well,healthy and safe !

Here's my complaint for dan of the team/white dwarf magazine :

I publish these e mails here,for all to read,because I am a victim of unfair treatment by dan who instead of being fair towards an old time Games Workshop customer/collector and painter,he's chosen to burry my hq work in favour of his prefered painters/friends !!!

Now I very well understand that the field of miniature painting is a highly competitive one,but I also believe that each and every painter should be judged with his/hers work in mind and not other personal/confidential criteria !!!

I am not the best painter ever,but I know my work is very good and of high quality and I demand to be judged with this in mind !!!
By the way I've won 2 gold medals and a few other rewards and trophies for my miniatures painting skills,at several local IPMS competitions !!!

Here's communication between me and dan :

I took a look at your pictures and sadly they are still a bit out of focus in places. I think it might be that there are just too many models in the shots sometimes or that the camera is too close to them.

As an example take a look at the group shot with Eowyn and Grima at the front, They are both in perfect focus, whereas Aragorn and Eomer behind them are fuzzy. I reckon if you took individual pictures of each model, that would make a massive difference – it would help the camera focus on the models more easily. Remember, we can always group them back together in the magazine once the images are edited, so you don't need to worry about having the whole fellowship in a shot. Similarly, the model doesn't have to fill the frame. We would rather it appeared smaller in the image but all in focus, than large and out of focus.

I hope that all makes sense!

I also had a look at the file data and it says you've got the ISO at 400 and the F number at 4 (I can;t tell if you have it on manual or automatic shooting). If you're able to lower the ISO to 100 or 200 and raise the F number to as high as it will go, that will also help. The images may then appear really dark so you will need to adjust the shutter speed to accommodate. This may mean the camera takes a while to take the picture so it will need to be placed on a level surface and not moved at all during this process. The easiest way to do this is with a tripod or a stack of books. Just set the camera timer, press the button and step back. :)

Hopefully that will all help! I know it may sound like a lot but you're pretty close to getting a great shot of your models and the effort will definitely be worth it! :)

Dan

On Tue, 29 Sep 2020 at 10:37, ΑΝΤΩΝΗΣ ΣΑΡΡΗΣ <tonysarris3@gmail.com> wrote:
HEY DEAR DAN AND ALL THE REST !!!

I'M SORRY FOR THE TROUBLE,HERE'S A FRESH LINK FOR YOU !!!

link

I HOPE YOU'LL FIND ONE OR TWO PICTS TO PUBLISH IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE OF THE WHITE DWARF MAGAZINE !!!

ALL THE BEST,

TONY SARRIS.

Στις Τρί, 29 Σεπ 2020 στις 11:36 π.μ., ο/η White Dwarf <team@whitedwarf.co.uk> έγραψε:
Hey Tony, good to hear from you.

Sadly I'm not sure I can follow that link – it looks like it is to one of the drives on your computer rather than a hyperlink …

Feel free to resend the link though and I will happily take a look. :)

Dan

On Mon, 14 Sep 2020 at 14:39, ΑΝΤΩΝΗΣ ΣΑΡΡΗΣ <tonysarris3@gmail.com> wrote:
HELLO DEAR DAN AND EVERYBODY IN THIS TEAM !!!

I HOPE YOU'RE ALL DOING FANTASTIC AND THAT YOU HAD A GREAT START OF THIS NEW WEEK !!!

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE PICTS I'M SENDING YOU=I HOPE THEY'RE OK TO FIT YOUR LOVELY MAGAZINE !!!

KIND REGARDS AND MANY THANKS !!!

TONY SARRIS.

C:\Users\saris\Pictures\2020-05-29 LOTR + WARHAMMER MODELS FROM 26=2=2008

Στις Τρί, 4 Αυγ 2020 στις 6:38 μ.μ., ο/η ΑΝΤΩΝΗΣ ΣΑΡΡΗΣ <tonysarris3@gmail.com> έγραψε:
That's great, thank you so much!

Στις Τρί, 4 Αυγ 2020 στις 6:19 μ.μ., ο/η White Dwarf <team@whitedwarf.co.uk> έγραψε:
Hey Tony, thanks for writing in.

Your miniatures look great congratulations! We would love to feature them in the magazine but sadly the pictures aren't quite of a high enough quality at the moment. Fortunately I have a solution! If you have a read of this photography article:

link

…you'll see the sort of quality we're after. If you follow the advice in there you can't go far wrong. My main suggestions would be to move the camera back further from the models so as to help get them all in focus, and to take the pictures on a plain white background.

I hope that is useful to you and I look forward to seeing more of your work soon. :)

Dan

On Tue, 4 Aug 2020 at 00:36, ΑΝΤΩΝΗΣ ΣΑΡΡΗΣ <tonysarris3@gmail.com> wrote:
DEAR SIR/MADAME,

I HOPE YOU'RE WELL,HEALTHY AND SAFE !

I'M SENDING YOU A FEW PICTS FROM MY HQ HAND PAINTED MODELS,FOR YOU TO REVIEW AND PUBLISH-IF POSSIBLE !
HERE'S A LINK TO FLICKR :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paintony

AND A FEW ALBUMS :
link
link
link
link
link

I JUST HOPE YOU'LL LIKE MY WORK !

MY WARMEST REGARDS AND THANK YOU IN ADVANCE !

TONY SARRIS.

PS.for TMP readers : the links to see my work and for judge yourselves and not be spoon fed by the unqualified/prejudiced !!!

flickr.com/photos/paintony

flickr.com/photos/finecast

Seems it's not the quality of the painting work that is the problem but the quality of the photography?

Your shots are horribly blurry in the back and sides. They are not complaining about your miniatures, but the quality of your pictures.

Lets take a look at this picture. The polar bears are in focus but your rider is not.

link

The necromancer is out of focus

link

The background scenery item is out of focus

link

Everyone in the back row is out of focus

link

You do not mention your camera or your settings or your camera setup.

A quick look shows me you have some nicely paint models but the photography does cause you some issues.

From your Flickr album:

1) 28 MM MEDIEVAL ARTILLERY – The wall dominates the scene and the glossy light reflections detracts from the figures esp the right hand side as you look at them
2) 28 MM CRUSADES PILGRIMS – Strange shadow on the background, background cuts figures in two, part of base missing, face of right hand man in white blurred
3) 28 MM FRENCH NAPOLEONIC ADC – base chopped off, different background to base, highlight blown on gold
4) 28 MM FRENCH NAPOLEONIC ADC – blurred, too small, background a mess
etc. etc.

Am I qualified to comment? Would hope so as I've won national competitions, been printed in photography magazines, produced 100s of pic for product web sites and sold a print or two…

First thing I would look at is your background, if you are using two cards at 90 deg then keep the join horizontal and close the to figure base as possible. Even better get an infinity curve set up using a graduated colour or white
Then check your camera histogram and lighting to make sure no highlights are blown or blacks loosing details – use diffusion to soften the light (even cloth or paper can help)
Then check composition – check edges, check corners, recheck edges and corners
Then check depth of field – go for a longer shutter speed (you are using a tripod I assume) and keep the iso to a max of 200

Master each step before moving to the next.

Good luck and never let a critic wind you up or stop you doing what you enjoy.

Edit: I was typing this while Andrew posted so comments are similar to his.

Figures are also getting lost against the background items due to not enough contrast or positioning.

Background color too close to figure colors
link
link

Cape appears to be part of rocks at first glance

link

The figures do look good, but the composition of the figures and other items needs to showcase them.

This is a bizarre set of accusations against Dan, who took the time to give you detailed feedback on why your photos were not up to the required level. He seems to have gone out of his way to be helpful.

Also, WHY ARE YOU WRITING EMAILS TO HIM IN ALL CAPS?

I would have thought the choice of photos to publish is at the absolute unqualified discretion of the magazine editor, with no duty to provide explanations.
White Dwarf is a showcase for GW products and from my occasional perusal the standards are VERY high.

Have not looked at or read a WD in decades …

Dan's replies seem very helpful and constructive to me.

Are you complaining that a magazine will not publish your pictures? If so, what gives you the right to determine what is published or not?
Where is there any proof that he has particularly singled you out for rejection?
If I was you I believe I would take what seems to be constructive criticism and try to improve instead of making unfounded accusations

Paintony, I could also write a long rant about all the editors who have ever turned down an article submission. Many of us could. Sadly, this would not improve the quality of our work. You may find it more helpful to pay attention to the nice specific criticism. Or go dig up one of Henry Hyde's old articles about photographing wargames.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE REPLIES=YOUR FEEDBACK IS GREATLY APPRECIATED !!!

NOW PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC LINK I'VE SENT DAN,FOR A SELECTION OF ONE OR TWO PICTS TO PUBLISH IN WHITE DWARF MAGAZINE=I DO BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THE PICTS ARE OF HIGH QUALITY=WORTHY TO BE INCLUDED IN SUCH A MAGAZINE AND DAN'S COMMENTS ON THE NOT SO GOOD ONES=FOCUSING ON THE NEGATIVE,RATHER THAN THE POSSITIVE,IS THE REASON I'VE PUBLISHED THE WHOLE STORY HERE !!!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST,I'VE HIRED A PRO PHOTOGRAPHER TO TAKE THESE PICTS,SIMPLY BECAUSE I'M NOT GOOD AT TAKING OICTS AND DO NOT OWN A GREAT CAMERA !!!

link

AFTER VIEWING THESE=I JUST HOPE THIS ALL MAKES SENSE !!!

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN !!!

Not sure if you understand, but typing in all caps is considered to be yelling. And it's hard to read. Try it, you'll see.

I would have thought the choice of photos to publish is at the absolute unqualified discretion of the magazine editor, with no duty to provide explanations.

Are you complaining that a magazine will not publish your pictures? If so, what gives you the right to determine what is published or not?

Indeed. You seem to think you are a privileged character.
I suggest you Google famous science fiction authors to see how many times their work was rejected.
In fact, with your bitching, whining and taking your self pity to a different forum, it would not be unreasonable for the editor of WD to just block all emails from you, and wash his hands.

I've got a headache from all the SHOUTING

This is one of the stranger threads we've had in the last few years…..

…did I ever tell you about the editor who sent back my article? Co-incidentally that was WD as well…about, hmm, let's just say several decades ago.

I've joined the exalted ranks of WD rejects too.
Like 20thmaine it was quite some time ago. I sent in some artwork (which I cringe at now). The rejection was very polite and they recommended a fanzine to sent it to.

Constructive criticism will inevitably focus on negatives rather than positives, good though the painting appears to be – far better than I could ever hope to achieve but I'm not qualified to have an opinion on whether it's good enough for WD these days

(Like Legion, I've not read one for about 35 years)

The pro-photographer photos you link to DO seem out of focus, as Haywire pointed out though.

And, please, no more shouting 🙂

I think you figures work really well for desktop use (i.e. the three foot view) but lack the subtle blends you see now.

Heavy dry brushing and hard shading are not the GW style anymore – maybe pick a figure they show in the 'how to paint' section, paint it up using the same colours but in your style then dissect the differences between their result and yours?

The rejection was very polite and they recommended a fanzine to sent it to.

Ooh….burn!

They just suggested a complete rewrite…….

Don't mean to pour more salt into the wound, Tony, but I have to agree with others here that the pics you've linked to leave a lot to be desired and are substandard for a quality publication like 'White Dwarf.'

The background and lighting, for instance, are pretty bad. In his reply, Dan provided a helpful link to proper miniature photography techniques using white paper and proper lighting. That really works (speaking from personal experience) and I highly recommend it!

As for the paint jobs, some of them look like they may be good enough in the fan-submitted showcase section of WD (if the background and lighting improve), but keep in mind that there are many other people submitting pictures to feature their awesomely painted figures to WD each month so there's no guarantee that any of your submissions will make the cut.

FINE BY ME !!!

I WON'T BOTHER ME,YOU OR DAN NO MORE !!!

JUST A CLARIFICATION=NOT APOLOGY,ABOUT ME WRITING IN CAPS !!!

I'VE SELECTED THIS WAY,BECAUSE IT REFLECTS=SUPERIORITY+INNER STRENGTH+HIGH SELF ESTEEM=OF COURSE MOST OF YOU=LOVELY GUYS,WON'T SHARE THE SAME OPPINION WITH ME…LOL !!!

PS. ONCE A GIRL,I WAS CORRESPONDING WITH,MADE THE EXACT SAME COMMENT,THAT WRITING IN CAPS,EQUALS SHOUTING !!!

WELL HERE'S MY REPLY TO HER AND TO ANYONE WHO CARES=

"IF BY JUST READING MY PM'S YOU HEAR ANY SHOUTING/LOUD VOICES,THEN YOU SHOULD DO A MENTAL HEALTH CHECK UP,BY A PHCYCIATRIST"…LOL !!!

REGARDS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR "NICE" COMMENTS !!!

SEE YOU SOON FELLAS !!!

TONY.

Wow…….

Have a nice day.

Maybe the loud voices in your Efffing head have something to do with your judgment. You were given very sound advice along with some criticism here, what did you expect when you put yourself out there.

Adjust, recalibrate, and try again Mr. Edison, or Marconi if you prefer

PS- You're an excellent painter!

It's always funny whenever some self-righteous misguided whiner would come on TMP to air whatever grievance and perceived injustice perpetrated upon their person, only to be sorely disappointed for all their attempts to obtain sympathy and get us to see their biased point of view.

What a d@#k!

Actually I am pondering if there is some sort of cultural and or linguistic issues, happening with Tony?

"Wow!" is the correct response IMHO (sorry about the capitalization!)

It's all gone quiet..too quiet? Is it safe to come out yet?