Share the Love?

[afx]

A modeling magazine had a photographer at NNL Mid-Atlantic this past weekend.  If they wanted to photograph your build they would place a red sticker on your entry slip.  In the Tuner class there were 15-20 entries.  The magazine selected (4) builds, but here is the thing.  All (4) were by the same builder!  There were several others builds that I thought were equally deserving.  Why not give as many modelers as you can the thrill of getting their build in a magazine?

[Jim N]

I have wondered the same thing.  I will read the photo spread and see the same builder over and over.  I would think that the photographer could take pictures of other models.  The only time I guess this practice is okay is when the one builder's models are far superior to everyone else, but what harm is it to include other builders.

[Greg Myers]

Unlike playing in the Super Bowl, where every player gets a ring whether they play or not ? 

[espo]

I have also noticed this in several magazine spreads. I have to wonder if the photographer has a way of knowing who the builder is at the point that they leave the notice. The few shows I have attended the information sheet for the model describes what the builder had done to the kit but their name is not present. I understand that it is this way for the judging so that the judges don't show a preference to one builder or another. The photographer may be picking what they feel is the best looking build. In the shows I have attended the quality of what is displayed is such that it is almost impossible to say which is best since it is in the eye of the viewer.   

[mikemodeler]

My opinion- who gets chosen is subjective and likely based upon the photographers tastes.  The thing that bothers me most is when they take pictures for the annual issues  and there is a theme for the show (Camaros, tri-five Chevies, etc) and there are few shots of the theme models!

Not having ever been a photographer at a show, I am sure there are many who wonder why they didn't get chosen or feel slighted, but I would imagine to take quality pictures of say 30 models, it takes quite a bit of time to do so and if there are 500 models on the tables, choosing which ones ain't easy!

[89AKurt]

Good question!  I've had some of mine that did not get an award that got published, to my surprise.  Don't worry about it.

[droogie]

I've had some of my models photographed at every show they were displayed at and to date none of the photos have appeared in any magazines. In fact, the same models have been photographed by the same photographer for the same magazine multiple times. Apparently, even if the photographer likes the model, the magazine editor may not.

[styromaniac]

Good question at the top of this  topic...but there may not be a satisfying answer. I was at that show and was lucky to have one of my four entries in the competition class selected for photographing ...probably because it fits into the current enthusiasm for TROG  ( The Race of Gentlemen ) vintage racing...and Tim Boyd did a "how to" article on this very subject awhile back (Build a Vintage Beach Racer)..but there were so many fine builds on display and such limited space in the magazine I'll be surprised if my  entry shows up. I have to believe the photographer makes educated guesses on what he thinks the publication will find interesting and tries to cover all the bases, regardless of how many may belong to one particular modeler.

[Lunajammer]

Though photographing is subjective, the shooter isn't just selecting what he considers the best. He's selecting which ones offer the most variety that will appeal to the most readers. An editor may also consider the value of including the works of recognizable national luminaries (who shall remain nameless? ).

[StevenGuthmiller]

Maybe a little bit of "everybody gets a trophy" mentality here?

I don't pretend to know how builds are chosen for photographing at these shows, nor do I care.

I had a couple photographed a couple of years ago, but they never appeared in a magazine.

I really don't care.

Last year, I received 2 trophies & peoples choice plaque for a pair of models & was never chosen to be photographed.

I really don't care.

The recognition by my peers was much more important to me than what some magazine photographer or editor thinks.

 

Steve

Edited May 17, 2018 by StevenGuthmiller

[afx]

For clarification I had no entry in the class.

[Force]

I have the feeling that sometimes models can be selected just because of the person who built them,  when the builder is a known name, and not the models themselves.
I don't know but if a model is concidered for publishing the model itself should be the main reason for it to be selected, who built it is not important as far as I'm concerned.

[BigTallDad]

31 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Maybe a little bit of "everybody gets a trophy" mentality here?

 

That could very well be the case.

[styromaniac]

I don't sense the "everyone gets a trophy mentality" at all...the original poster asked a logical question regarding more inclusiveness as to magazine coverage...not contest awards. And as for "everyone gets a trophy"...dont some IPMS contests have rules regarding "sweeps" in categories....to prevent one outstanding  builder bringing his collected works to a show and dominating the event?

Edited May 17, 2018 by styromaniac
Spelling

[styromaniac]

I've been in and out of the hobby for about 23 years...not including the formative years of my glue sniffing youth. Bought and studied a lot of modeling publications in that time. I've come to believe that contest coverage has different parameters than the show itself. When putting together a lay out for a magazine I think the editors want a degree of "gotcha" factor...in the form of unusual subject matter ( off the "beaten path" builds )....knock out paint finishes ( fogs and fades, miles deep candies )...or just plain off the wall crazy builds ( steam punk...sci fi...etc ) The perfectly executed & detailed rendition of a 32 deuce or a 60s muscle car might not get the nod on the contest pages if the editor just published an issue that had those subjects covered. Nothing personal. Besides...the only way to adequately portray a super detailed build is to feature it as a profile story...with multiple angle shots and close ups.

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 minute ago, styromaniac said:

I don't sense the "everyone gets a trophy mentality" at all...the original poster asked a logical question regarding more inclusiveness as to magazine coverage...not contest awards. And as for "everyone gets a trophy"...dont some IPMS contests have rules regarding "sweeps" in categories....to prevent one exemplerary  builder bringing his collected works to a show and dominating the event?

This was an NNL event that the OP was referencing.

As far as I know, they are not even traditionally "judged" events, so there are no rules regarding "sweeps" that I'm aware of.

Any awards offered are either given by individual clubs at their discretion or "peoples choice awards".

At least that is how our local event is set up.

As far as your statement about "more inclusiveness as to magazine coverage" goes, I read that as the thought that someone needs to inject more "diversity" into the selection process for what will & what will not be photographed for a magazine.

If Bob has the 5 best builds at the show, Joe does not deserve to have his model featured in the name of diversity.

That mentality spells "everybody gets a trophy" to me.

In my mind, exemplary builders should dominate.

 

Steve

[styromaniac]

Point taken...if Bob has the best builds in an NNL and the sponsor or attendees choose his builds as the best in that show...then so be it. But show coverage is a different matter...I bet there's been a lot of magazine contest issues that didn't even show the category winners...but preferred to show the "diversity" of the participants. Doesn't hurt the hobby in my opinion...and doesn't speak to "everyone's a winner!" either.

Edited May 17, 2018 by styromaniac

[StevenGuthmiller]

49 minutes ago, styromaniac said:

Point taken...if Bob has the best builds in an NNL and the sponsor or attendees choose his builds as the best in that show...then so be it. But show coverage is a different matter...I bet there's been a lot of magazine contest issues that didn't even show the category winners...but preferred to show the "diversity" of the participants. Doesn't hurt the hobby in my opinion...and doesn't speak to "everyone's a winner!" either.

If the magazine in question sees fit to show the diversity of the other participants, that's fabulous!

But, that should be left up to the editor and photographers for the magazine.

The readers will determine whether or not it meets their expectations.

I believe that the OP's statement would have been better posed directly to the editor of said magazine.

 

Steve

Edited May 17, 2018 by StevenGuthmiller

[Jantrix]

I think a model being eye catching and to a lesser degree, original, has a lot to do with what gets selected to be photographed/published. 

A red 68 Mustang, no matter how well built, no matter how many trophies it won, in a photograph, it's just a red 68 Mustang. Show themsomething out of the ordinary, and in my opinion, you'll get chosen.

 

[High octane]

When you take your model to be photographed, you must slip in a $20 bill along with your info sheet.

[styromaniac]

I "personal messaged" the OP and suggested he do what StevenGuthmiller just suggested...go to the source...and ask how subjects are chosen. ( Should be easy since the photographer at the event also happens to be a member of the sponsor club....which the OP is as well ). In contrast to Steve G's point...I don't think it was incorrect to ask readers in his post what they thought of the situation...to get a sample of opinions to see if he is off base with his post. I think it served it's purpose, he is getting a good response.

Edited May 17, 2018 by styromaniac

[StevenGuthmiller]

36 minutes ago, styromaniac said:

I "personal messaged" the OP and suggested he do what StevenGuthmiller just suggested...go to the source...and ask how subjects are chosen. ( Should be easy since the photographer at the event also happens to be a member of the sponsor club....which the OP is as well ). In contrast to Steve G's point...I don't think it was incorrect to ask readers in his post what they thought of the situation...to get a sample of opinions to see if he is off base with his post. I think it served it's purpose, he is getting a good response.

I don't think that it was incorrect to ask either.

This forum is all about discussion after all.

I offered my opinion on the matter, but I feel that the OP would get a more relevant explanation to his question if he asks the people who know the answers.

 

Steve

[Dennis Lacy]

I've had multiple models at the same show selected to be photographed and then later show up in the same contest coverage article in MCM. It was the first model show (non-comp NNL) that I had ever participated in. Photographer had no idea who I was, nor did anyone else. I don't think it's anything more than he walked around the tables and put a card next to what caught his eye. I was flattered that he thought enough of any of my models to photograph them. 

That being said, does favoritism and the "buddy system" happen? Definitely! That's life.

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, Dennis Lacy said:

I've had multiple models at the same show selected to be photographed and then later show up in the same contest coverage article in MCM. It was the first model show (non-comp NNL) that I had ever participated in. Photographer had no idea who I was, nor did anyone else. I don't think it's anything more than he walked around the tables and put a card next to what caught his eye. I was flattered that he thought enough of any of my models to photograph them. 

That being said, does favoritism and the "buddy system" happen? Definitely! That's life.

This is the exact same circumstance that happened to me at the first show that I ever attended.

My build did not make the magazine, but there was obviously no favoritism involved as far as who was chosen to be photographed.

A very good point that I had not thought of Dennis.

 

Steve

[afx]

The goal of a model magazine, besides obviously wanting to sell issues should be to encourage ever more people to be excited about the hobby. That was my original point.  Somehow it got twisted into me being a whiner and everyone should get a trophy.  Rant over.