Pictures in FSM? Yeah, right

A compilation issue would be nice. Above and beyond GSM. Maybe something a bit more substantial. But I tend to sympathise with the stet side. At least with the mag the way it is now. What trade off and who gets the short end of the stick. Less advertisers? Cost will go up. More pages, more costs will go up, for every page you add, you actually add 4 more pages so that means more printing, more shipping weight, more bindery costs etc. How much more are you willing to pay? How much more is everyone willing to pay.?The magazine isn't everything to everyone now. Figure guys get shorted, sci-fi feels snubbed, car guys get short changed, armor guys are inandated with something they don't model etc. So where do you begin and end? I agree that we all like that ego stroke of seeing our stuff in the magazine and getting the approval of our comrades in modeling. We do that little bit extra, not so much for ourselves but on that off chance that we will show off our endeavors to others and get their approval and admiration. It certainly not to have someone tell us it sucks.

Keep submitting if it so suits you, or not. Leopolds idea is intriuging. Start your own publication. You could set it up maybe to the regional level and photograph and print each of the contests entries. Sell it as an independent publication. It wouldn't be the first publication spawned from an underground idea. With the right marketing it could work. Isn't that the point of a free market society?

Its not an easy answer nor a light undertaking. I'll submit if you start one.

Mike

Hey, you guys are complaining about not getting your pics in FSM??? I've been on the IPMS show circuit since 1992, and I have a wall of awards from Canada to Virginia, and FSM has been at most of them taking pics...

I try to build models that are unique, either subject or paint, and NOTHING I've ever put on the table has ever gotten that little red card saying they even wanted a photo!!!

I've sent stuff in that was done professionally, nice backgrounds, good lighting, etc., and yet I see pics of some guys airplane taken on his back porch, with the kids' swingset in the background.

I've given up...which is one reason why I work so hard on Modelwarships.com, it's my own private FSM.

I'm not holding a grudge or anything, because it's really not that important. I just don't understand their logic sometimes.

Personally, I'd prefer to see models from the likes of Massimo Barbieri, and learn his techniques. They post pics of his models, with a brief descripition. I want to know how he does it!

Jeff Herne
Modelwarships.com

They should just publish a magazine with just pictures from the shows. That way the other 69% could be recognized.

Gent's, I feel your pain. But on the other hand I can understand why most photos are not published. Being a photographer, sumitting photos for a major magazine is somewhat like submitting your best model at a contest..they have to be top-notch, period. 10 or so years ago before my photography skills had improved, I too sang the rants of many of you. But if the quality of the photo, not mention; if the photo subject is not what the magazine is looking for at the time..they simply will not publish it at that time or at all. Even if Senior Editor Paul Boyer takes the shot of your award-winning model at a contest...the same standard applies. There are hundereds of variables to take into concideration weather to accept or deny-even send back your photo: subject, composure, lighting, angle, clarity, focus, depth of field, etc. Like someone said in another post..they want to sell magazines with only the best content possible, from the latest advertisments to the text in the articles...so the photos (the visual essence of or hobby) have to top notch. I think FSM Magazine even tried to hint to us this fact several issues ago with a how-to for "taking photos of your models", to help us get our stuff in their magazine. We simply just have to improve our photography skills and I'll bet cha we'll all be seeing lots more model photos in the Reader Gallery. By the way, I learned most of my photography skills by reading, studying FSM magazine! Cheers, and good luck.

Some helpfull references:
http://www.okclive.com/flagship/photo.pdf
http://www.videoworkbench.com/photograph_scale_models.html