Laticauda's Diorama, behind the scenes

[laticauda]

If you are interested, I will show (as best I can) how I did this years diorama, and other pics that I take for fun or for the DTB.

[laticauda]

My original idea for the 2015 Diorama contest was a herd of Nigersaurus moving through a mangrove, or delta environment.  I have three Nigersaurus, but when I put all the elements together, I didn't have the room to fit all three in the picture. 

I shot the photo in my basement with one desk light over head and a light coming in from the side.  I placed all my elements on a card table.  First I had a plastic bin, in which I layed down a hard foam.  I roughed up the foam and sculpted a river bed out of it.  I also put in two holes and ran a flexible plastic tube underneath.  From there, I added real dirt and rocks, with plastic plants and moss.  I then filled it in with water.  Behind this, I had a space where I had more plastic vegetation.  Behind that I had an old window, in which I painted the glass.  Still not through as I had behind that, a blue foam board to represent the sky.   

To add movement to the water and to create the splash effects, as I took the picture, I blew into the plastic tubes to create a splash, or general water flow.  I then had some fun trying out different positions to put my animals in, and found I didn't have as much room as I had thought.  I rubbed the models in spots with water and mud to try and make them look like they were actually spending time in the environment. 

Here are some of the pics.

This is the shot I ended up going with.

  I really liked this shot, but decided against it in the end.



This I thought was going to be the one I entered but the two people I asked didn't like it. 

  The saraosuchus wasn't in my original plans, but since I couldn't get all three Nigersaurus to fit, I added it in.

One last congtats out to winners this year, and to all who competed, it was a joy to see everyones hard work.  To Dr.Admin as well, as he puts in a lot of hard work to put this contest on, Thank you.   

[Kovu]

Dude! I can't believe that's all handmade - it looks so natural and realistic! Great idea on how you created water movement.
I really like the second picture you posted. Their positioning makes them look like two different figures. The one on the right's neck doesn't look curved.

[Rain]

Yeah, neither can I. I thought you just placed your figures in a creek somewhere and snapped a picture. Great work, it looks very realistic 

[Tyto_Theropod]

This was one diorama that I wanted to get something and I was kind of disappointed that it didn't, especially now I see how much hard work you put into it! I'm with Kovu - I had no idea it was a model set! All the pictures are really nice, and any of them could be a winner for me. I love the murky light and the whole feel you gave them.

[Arul]

Very good work Laticauda it looks so natural 

[Gwangi]

Wow, I had no idea how much work went into this. Like the others I had assumed it was taken in nature. I think I prefer the shots with the two Nigersaurus. Any time more than one individual of a species is represented I'm happy. All great shots though.

[laticauda]

Very good work Laticauda it looks so natural 

Thank you for your kind words.  The biggest praise I that I can receive is that it looked natural, as that was the look I was going for.   That comment makes it all worth while.   

Wow, I had no idea how much work went into this. Like the others I had assumed it was taken in nature. I think I prefer the shots with the two Nigersaurus. Any time more than one individual of a species is represented I'm happy. All great shots though.

I really wanted to do a herd shot, but I also wanted to convey movement and a symbiosis with its environment.  My back ground was difficult to move on a card table and not big enough to do a wide panorama shot, so I was forced to get in close and tight for my shots. 

Dude! I can't believe that's all handmade - it looks so natural and realistic! Great idea on how you created water movement.
I really like the second picture you posted. Their positioning makes them look like two different figures. The one on the right's neck doesn't look curved.

Thank you very much.  Getting the timing for the water to splash while holding the camera (as I do not have a tripod) and not leaking water every where was a challenge.  For the figures, I modified two of the three by heating up the necks and re positioning them, so each would look different.

Rain and Tyto_Theropod,  thank you for you kind thoughts as well, I am truly honored. 

[Polihierax]

One of my favourites! 

[Bokisaurus]

Nice, I love the simplicity of your diorama. You really captured the mood, it was one of the one I voted.

[laticauda]

Nice, I love the simplicity of your diorama. You really captured the mood, it was one of the one I voted.

Thank you.  Next year, maybe I can improve some technique and make it a little more lifelike.