1st Prize Entry Winning Photo (Ghost Rider) 

Winner: Greg Stretch from Dorset, UK
Instagram: @gregstretchphotography
www.gregstretchphotography.com

Mood Photography Submission: Ghost Rider
Winner of: Captain America Sentinel of Liberty

Share a short introduction about yourself!

I am Greg Stretch, an amateur photography based in Dorset, UK. I've been taking photos for the past 2 years when I bought my first DSLR camera. I started out with a Canon EOS 550D but have since upgraded to a Canon EOS 6D. Being on the south coast of the UK, I am lucky to be surrounded by lots of stunning scenery and I concentrate primarily on landscape photography especially sunrise and sunset shots on the coast. I've recently started experimenting with more creative photography. I particularly enjoy light painting at night using steel wool and coloured lights. As a keen statue collector, I wanted to try and use what I had learnt with light painting shots and combine it with my passion for statues - which brings me to partake in the XM Mood Photography Contest.

These days, I am primarily a movie collector with a main focus on Iron Man and Predator with a few iconic movie characters thrown in. My favourite statue is undoubtedly the XM Ghost Rider though. I never thought such a piece could be produced and was totally blown away when I first saw pictures of it. I just had to have one. It is even more impressive in person, and despite the complicated nature of the sculpt, it all fits together so well.

My dream pieces that I would love to own one day are the XM Iron Man MKVII and the upcoming XM Narin Predator. I was lucky enough to see the MKVII in person and it is such a stunning piece, I hope to track one down one day to add to my Iron Man collection. The Narin Predator is my ultimate dream piece and I hope I'm able to acquire one.

What equipment did you use to take this gorgeous photo? E.g. camera model, iPhone model, any lighting etc. Can you share the techniques, processes or special filters you used to create the end result?

I remembered when my Ghost Rider image was first published as one of the shortlisted entries on XM Studios Facebook page, it received quite a mixed reaction. Lots of likes but also a lot of criticism as people thought that I had used photoshop or added effects to create the flame effect. As such, I wanted to share more about how I created the image.

The equipment I used:

·       Canon EOS 6D camera

·       Canon 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens

·       Hahnel Giga T Pro II remote shutter release

·       Manfrotto 055 XPRO Tripod (not pictured)

·       A length of battery powered EL wire.

The competition brief was to submit a photo that conveys mood, and mood to me is created using light. Therefore, the only 2 effects I used are an EL (electroluminescent) wire for lighting and a long exposure.

Firstly, I set up my camera on a tripod and attach a remote trigger. This allows me to set my camera to bulb mode for exposures longer than 30 seconds.

Next up, I choose the settings on my camera and set my focus manually. Once all that is done, I draw the curtains and turn off all the lights so that the picture can be taken in total darkness. With bulb mode set, I release the shutter with my remote and turn on the EL wire that is in place behind the statue. By keeping the EL wire and myself in constant motion, the camera picks up on the wire movements. I try to imagine where the flames will be and keep moving the wire long enough to create the desired effect. In this case, I achieved the effect in just under 3 minutes.

It took a couple of attempts but I was really pleased with how the finished shot turned out - it really did look like flames.

The final settings for the shot are as follows:

·       Focal Length: 40mm

·       Aperture: f/6.3

·       Shutter speed: 177 seconds

·       ISO 100

Finally, any tips and advice for budding photographers who have interest in photographing collectibles? I see a common issue on Facebook where people take photos of statues at conventions or at home, with either harsh lighting, warped perspective (due to lens perhaps) which result in photos that causes great concerns and debates between collectors. What simple techniques can you recommend to collectors when using mobile phones to take photos for best optimum shots that doesn't distort the statue that much?

I don't really feel qualified to give much advice as I'm still learning myself, however here are a few tips that may offer some help:

• Always use a tripod and timer where possible
  I always try to use a tripod for my photography. It ensures a pin sharp image. The last thing you want is unnecessary camera shake. Using a timer for the shutter also helps. I normally set a 2 second delay after pressing the shutter. Even camera phones have a shutter delay and you can get mini tripods for phones as well. I would highly recommend using both a tripod and timer.
  
   
• Adjusting the aperture
  I find that having a large aperture really helps when taking images of statues as it helps to pick out the details you want while blurring the sections that you choose not to feature. I’ve included a couple of sample photos to illustrate this effect. I find that it helps add drama and atmosphere to the shots.
  
  
  
  
  
   
• Lighting
  It is not always easy to get the perfect lighting especially if you are at a convention where you have no control over it. Although you might be able to adjust your exposure to compensate for this. A lot of phones now have a Pro mode where you can adjust a lot of settings like you can on a DSLR, it is worthwhile to check if your phone offers this option.

2nd Prize Entry Winning Photo (Black Panther) 

Radis Mehrpoya, Sweden
Submission: Black Panther
Winner of: She Hulk

Share a short introduction about yourself!

Hello statue collectors! My name is Radis, 25 years old and I am from Sweden. I have just recently started collecting statues and have, for some reason I can't explain, a strange love for it. I have never really been a collector of anything, but I now own three ¼ statues (all Marvel). One of them is from XM STUDIOS, which in all honesty puts my other two statues to shame as it is also my current favorite XM-piece. This statue is none other than Black Panther, the figure in the photo that had the honor of recieving a spot in the Top 3 in the Mood Photography Contest.

My previous job requires me to possess basic photography skills and as such, I learnt a thing or two about it. I have not really taken a lot of photos of statues but when I saw XM’s post about the Mood Photography Contest I thought: Hey...why not enter? Even if I don't win, I get to share this beautiful piece of art that has been brought to us by XM.

What equipment did you use to take this gorgeous photo? E.g. camera model, iPhone model, any lighting etc. Can you share the techniques, processes or special filters you used to create the end result?

I used a DSLR camera from NIKON (D3200) with a 30mm lens to take this photo. I wanted to portray T'challa on the prowl in the late day/evening. So I waited until the sun has started to set for a little bit. This also helps create a "smoother" lighting, which in my opinion was important due to his all black suit. If I were I to take the photo during mid-day, I believe a lot of the details would not be present due to harsh shadows created by the mid-day sun. Oh, and removing the cape for a more stealthy look was the cherry on top for me.

I removed his cape for a less regal and more stealthy look.

In the end, I still had to increase the contrast a little bit. Sometimes what you see on the camera display isn't the same as when the photos are finally upload onto your PC monitor. Could I have returned outside again and took the photo with different settings? Sure, but dragging the statue with me again was not a tempting thought.

In your opinion, what is most difficult about photographing collectibles? E.g. is it choosing a suitable background? The logistics of carrying a heavy statue outdoors etc?
Finally any tips and advice for budding photographers who have interest in photographing collectibles? I see a common issue on facebook where people take photos of statues at conventions or at home, with either harsh lighting, warped perspective (due to lens perhaps) which result in photos that causes great concerns and debates between collectors. What simple techniques can you recommend to collectors when using mobile phones to take photos for best optimum shots that doesn't distort the statue that much?

Generally speaking, I don’t think the background is very important when taking pictures of collectibles. What is important is the lighting and the angle. Poor lighting will make almost any statue look dull, combine that with a bad angle and the piece may even look bad. There can be a myriad of things to take into consideration when photographing, but to simplify things, the two most important elements to me are: Angle and Lighting.

Pick an angle where you can see a lot of the statue and it’s details. This is usually where the face or the torso is shown. Point your camera where the character is most "open" and make sure to focus either on the whole sculpt or the detail you are trying to show.

If I were to take the opposite angle with his left shoulder/back facing the camera, I would have lost a lot of detail - mainly the beautiful necklace he's wearing.

As for lighting, generally you will want the light source(s) to hit the piece from many different angles to really highlight all the beautiful details, such as musculature etc. Make use of your environment’s lighting as best as you can. Even if the paint app does not show the way you want it, in the end, most people will not be able to tell what color it originally is due to the colors/lightning in the background. Last but not least: DO NOT USE FLASH...EVER! Unless you're a professional or know what you're doing lulz. That's just my two cents.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone in the community for participating and regularly uploading videos and pictures on the web. And thank you to XM for dishing out these awesome pieces. It is always nice to wake up in the morning, look at your favorite hero and be inspired. We may never really be as awesome as Black Panther, but we can strive everyday to be a little bit better than we were yesterday.

Now....bring the Hulkbuster already!

3rd Prize Entry Winning Photo (Magneto) 

Antonio De La Torre, Mexico
Instagram: @antonio_dlt_13

Submission: Black and White Magneto
Winner of: HX Thor 1/6

Share a short introduction about yourself!

My name is Antonio DLT, I live in Mexico City and my hobbies are collecting statues and photography, so a few years ago I realised that these 2 hobbies complement each other very well. I have been collecting since 2009 and during these years I have collected many scales of statues and many brands. XM is currently one of my favourites. I currently have 28 XM statues and my favourite statue is still MAGNETO. If you like to see more pictures of my statues, you can visit my Instagram account: @antonio_dlt_13

What equipment did you use to take this gorgeous photo? E.g. camera model, iPhone model, any lighting etc. Can you share the techniques, processes or special filters you used to create the end result?

In the past 2 years I have tried to take my Photography hobby to the next level and the process has also meant improving and expanding my photographic equipment. I currently have a variety of cameras - Nikon (including the Nikon D750), Sony (I have recently acquired the D850 and the Sony Alpha 7R2), among others. In addition to a variety of lenses and accessories, on occasion, I also enjoy taking casual photos with my cell phone, which is an iPhone7. I usually prefer photos with natural lighting, so I try to take pictures of my statues in places and at times where the light transmits a warm and at times, giving it a dramatic mood. Sometimes, I take photos with artificial lighting by using LED lamps or mainly Strobist (off-camera flash lighting techniques).

I do not like to use Filters, what I like to do is take photos in its RAW format, taking full advantage of the information captured by the camera's sensors. I will then use Light Room to tweak at most, only the image exposure, shadows and sharpness. I do not like to alter the original colours of the photo unless it is to change it to black and white. My final step is to save it in JPG format for sharing.

In your opinion, what is most difficult about photographing collectibles? E.g. is it choosing a suitable background? The logistics of carrying a heavy statue outdoors etc? 

In many of the photos that are published on social media, what I have noticed is that lighting, focal point and angle of the photos are sometimes not properly taken care of. For me, these 3 elements can vastly improve the photos in a significant way.

Choosing a theme for the background is of course important to convey a specific mood or feeling. As XM statues are heavy, wanting to take photos of them in an outdoor setting poses a logistical difficulty. Personally, I do not like to take photos of the statues outdoors as there is risk in causing damage to the statue as well.

Finally, any tips and advice for budding photographers who have interest in photographing collectibles? I see a common issue on Facebook where people take photos of statues at conventions or at home, with either harsh lighting, warped perspective (due to lens perhaps) which result in photos that causes great concerns and debates between collectors. What simple techniques can you recommend to collectors when using mobile phones to take photos for best optimum shots that doesn't distort the statue that much?

My first recommendation is to buy a camera with good features. It does not even have to be a professional camera. However, even the best cell phones do not have the same capabilities as a camera of course.

My second recommendation is to pay attention to the lighting. It does not matter if you are using a camera or your cell phone camera. Bad lighting causes focus problems. And when the image is dark, one is unable to appreciate the figure properly. On the other hand, if you use the flash function, it causes very harsh lighting that generally fails to show the colours as they really are and it will also create strong shadows, making the statue in the photo look different from what you see with your own eyes. So, do take care of the lighting!

Thirdly, if the idea is for the photo to show the figure as it is in reality, you will definitely have to take care of the perspective and angle in which the photo is taken. This is to avoid having the figure look disproportionate. The best way to do this is to take your photo in front of the figure, positioning your camera angle 90 degrees to the view you want to capture. Finally, enjoy the process of taking pictures of your collectibles and admiring them as part of the Hobby itself. There is nothing better than being able to appreciate the pieces you love anywhere, anytime because of the good photos that you have taken.