Photographing Shiny

I recently painted and photographed a few sample figures, including some of the Minifigs Mythical (i.e. Middle) Earth ME range. These being Wood Elves and Rangers there was quite a bit of green in various shades. By the time these had been varnished I thought the photographs didn't really do them justice, and wondered if this was more to do with the colours than anything. Of course, it is far easier to photograph a flat or matte painted model, so I thought I'd experiment with another sample figure I've finished. This is a Minifigs Spanish Scutarius from the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range. 

A distinguishing feature of these troops is the black cloak, not an easy colour to paint or photograph. My preference here is to work the black up with a little brown, hatchuring the paint rather than blending it in, and then catch the edges with a light shade. It's not a complicated little model and I've painted it as I would a unit of figures of this type. I've left the shield a single colour with the intention of maybe adding a transfer should I get a unit together.

The picture at the top is the unvarnished version, whilst the picture underneath is the same figure with a layer of water-based gloss varnish.  

As with any photo of a varnished figure you can see the reflective highlights. It's very hard to avoid this and, to be honest. when you're looking at a unit or several units on a battlefield the effect is very pleasing. 

Notice the warrior is armed with a heavy javelin in the fashion of a pilum, with a long iron-shanked point. His sword is on the far side. 

From this angle you can see how the folds of the cloak reflect the light. You can also see something of the highlighting on the unvarnished version, but this is practically indistinguishable on the photograph of the varnished model. 

The effect is less extreme in reality than it appears, but I think it suggests I should go for more contrast. With black it's always tricky because the more you highlight the less black it gets! 

From the back you can see the effect a little more clearly, again the top picture is the unvarnished model and the bottom one is the same figure varnished. 

This is the same deal from the front of the model. As you can see he has what is supposed to be a Celtic style of shield with a central rib or boss. This seems to have been translated into a flat shield that looks more like a Greek thureos. On the plus side it will take a transfer or a painted emblem well! 

And by way of comparison this is a figure that was painted and coated with an old fashioned polyurethane varnish thirty odd years ago. Must get round to finishing that army sometime!

The figure is one of a small range I made and which Wargames Foundry cast up for me - this chap has been heavily converted to boot.

I think the varnish is definitely 'shinier' than the water-based version and undoubtedly tougher too. I still use it occasionally, but it takes forever to dry compared to the water-based version and the fumes are something else!