The Little World

I’ve checked my photo records and discovered that I’ve been looking at model exhibitions for some 50 years. In some circumstance as a participant – in others just a spectator, Whichever, I have learned valuable lessons:

a. They are all worthwhile – even the manky little ones. There is always something new to see in the bulk of old displays, and it is fun searching for new diamonds amongst old jewels.

b. They are often badly-lit. This is a function of the halls and rooms in which they are held. A photographer depending upon ambient lighting alone gets skewed and variable results.

It is worthwhile experimenting and inventing lighting solutions for scale models. You cannot carry too much equipment as you move amongst the masses, but a combination of flash and diffuser seems to illuminate most displays well.

Always take a RAW image as well as a jpeg. You may have to saw wildly at the colour temperature sliders to recover some semblance of accuracy. In a few cases it will never be right. In these instances, convert the file to monochrome and pretend you meant to do that in the first place.

c. Models will fall apart on display, even if they are not handled. Many have fallen apart on the way to the exhibition and been super-glued together. Do not judge the builder- this is life.

d. Exhibitions with trade stands or swap meets are the best ever. You can get bargains or skinned alive, depending upon your luck.

e. Dealing with exhibition committees is a delicate matter. Some will help – some hinder. Some will be cohesive in their decisions and some will be all over the place. Some will respond to emails and some will ignore them. Be patient beforehand and forgiving afterwards.

f. Trophies are sometimes presented to winners – as are trade credits or cash. All to the good – but the best shows present something as well to juniors to encourage them.

g. Set-up and take-down are a view into the Pit Of Chaos. You will lose something and break something. The wiser modellers take to drink.