House of Silent Children

Outdoor shots from a while back

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:11:41 GMT

More face-up portraits

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:35:44 GMT

I just processed the portraits I took. I ended up with a whole mess of photos, and I just couldn't narrow it down very far.

I'm starting to feel really satisfied with the look of the group. It's taken a long time, but I'm finally settling on eye and wig coices for most of the core group, and not just switching around all the time. When I first got into BJDs I thought I wouldn't limit myself by making up 'images' that were set in stone for each doll, but now I'm finding 'looks' and 'personalities' for each one. I find the combination, and the face-up that just clicks and then I don't want to change it. I think it makes it easier to portray the dolls in photostories or just in general if they each have a specific look that's theirs.

That's sort of beside the point of this post i suppose, just something I noticed as I got them all ready and posed them all together. Which took 3 hours, by the way. I appreciate dollheart's accuracy in using really buttoning buttons but it sure adds to the prep time.

so... Anyway, here are mor pictures to show off the faceups that I've done. And one of Sara, because she just jumps into groups shots like that. XD

Sofie/Yori:
Dollheart tea melody outfit
Leeke wig
ED custom eyes
Necklace by needoll

Rose/Liz:
top: dollheart/ skirt: val zeitler
Jpop/monique wig
headband by needoll
kite purple zoukes

Rowena/Old 28:
Volks top/dollheart sea melody
jpop wig
Hand Glass eyes

Robyn/Emma:
Dollheart cherry dress
jpop wig
gumdrops

Nicholas/Igon 1st ver:
Volks outfit
eyeco eyes
jpop wig
hat made by DoA member, I don't remember who though ^^;;;

Eliot/Kohya:
Volks outfit,
jpop wig,
UV gumdrops

Speck/Narsha:
customhouse dress
hand-made eyes from Y!J... maybe?

Sara:
Veitler/Marie Antoinette dressing gown
jpop wig
hand-made glass eyes from a dolpa via rkold

(whew that's a long list of credits, sorry XD)

Catching Up!(img heavy-16 pictures)

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:21:47 GMT

I am so far behind on posting pictures that I've taken. And I've a back log of processing to do as well, so expect a lot of posts in the next few days!

I've been experimenting with new techniques, and my dad built a second set of walls for the set that fit inside the outer set. They're so blue and calm, with paneled wainscoting - and the floor,(have I mentioned the raised floor for the set?) it makes such a beautiful room for the dolls, I wish it were my room, I wish I could climb into their cool, blue world and live in it.

I've done a lot of faceups lately, and I'm feeling quite confident at doing them now. I'm thinking of offering my faceups by commission. Please tell me, and be honest, would you commission me? what do you think of my style? Is there something you think i should work on improving? (I was thinking of charging in the 30-40 dollar range, do you think that would be fair?)

Here's a repaint (and very slight custom) of my mom's Emma, Robyn:

My Yori (Sofie), finally 100% repainted:

Sofie and my mom's Liz, Rose (who's faceup I think I'm most proud of:

Igon head and Narsha girl - please forgive the quality of the pic, it's from a meet, the lighting at borders is not always fantastic.

I just took a bunch of portraits of the dolls I've done faceups for in the last few months - and Sara, just because. I'm going to process them tomorrow because the neighbors started running heavy machinery of some kind this morning at 8am and I want to get to bed soon in case they start equally early tomorrow.

Non-choma key, but still as 'Doctor' and 'Romana':

The Doctor and his Companion on the Planet of the Giant Ferns//V.Williams, Malcolm & V.Carol, Genny

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:18:36 GMT

this is from, well rather a few mornings ago now, but as it another Saturday after Doctor Who night I was put in mind to finally put this up here too.

There was sunlight one morning after quite a lot of grey days and I ended up grabbing the first two dolls that came to hand and heading out back to take pictures. Quite by coincidence Malcolm was wearing his suit, and i had marathoned Steven Moffett episodes the night before, and I couldn't help noticing he looked rather Doctor-ly. (I still love Professor River Song more than is reasonable for the amount of time we saw her. I wish it weren't so unlikely that we'll actually get to have her as a companion even after Moffett takes over. And I am so looking forward to *that.*)

"This is nice isn't it? Just a nice stroll to take in the scenery. Lucky we're here before the summer really gets going, the heat on this planet's unbearable in the summer. Literally in fact, for you anyway. You humans, not much built for the heat. But this, this is lovely. Very green."

"What, and we've not got to save any villagers from alien overlords? Run from any monsters? Uncover any grand conspiracies?"

"Nope. Just a sunny day on a friendly planet. With very large vegetation. Not disappointed are you?"

"Oh, no, this is brilliant. A little sunshine is just what I needed. Much as I love the running, it's nice to have a break just every once and a while."

"Mm, yes. Just what the doctor ordered. Still, might not want to stick around after dark, some of local nocturnal beasties you wouldn't want to meet face to face."

"Of course. It wouldn't be a trip with you without a few things that go bump in the night."

Malcolm is wearing Volks, Volks wig and Hand Glass eyes.
Genny is wearing Dollheart, Poshdolls skin wig and Hand Glass Eyes.

I am little dissapointed that the digital cameras just don't do too great in high contrast situations. But it was still fun.

And now Malcolms is getting a pinstripe suit and some trainers, so you know, I'll proably do something similar once I get that sorted. If only there was a way to get the Coat.

Country Rococo Girl// volks Yori, Sofie

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:01:01 GMT

so, finally mirroring my Den post and personal journal with recent photo works.

I redid Sofie's facup entirely from scratch - for the first time ever. I've done plenty of other faceups before of course, but I've been really reluctant to mess with Sofie too much because she was my first doll. I am SO much happier with her now though, she can stop being ignored come photoshoot time because of her poor quality faceup. Which is good to because she shows up soon in my *ahem* lates project. With which I'm having a little inertia problem but end is theoretically in sight.

Anyway, here's the big reveal of my girl.

Clothes: Val Zeitler, Volks, antique, AG
Wig: Vier 4D (still got that wonderful 4D perfume smell, too)
Eyes: ED customs of some sort, I forgot what colour numbers
Shoes: Volks
Faceup: me ^_^

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:44:23 GMT

Sofie (Yori):
White fer, doll heart
Wig: Volks
Eyes: Volks glass, i think

Kerry (Hina):
Volks SDC sailor dress
Wig: monique? English mohair, from jPop/narindoll fur
Eyes: I don't really remember, something silicone i think.

Rowena:
volks outfit,
random mohair wiglet
no eyes

I decided to do a little work on my backlog of unprocessed photos. I believe I was using a black filter on these too, actually. I'd just received the white fer outfit. I was experimenting with some highly directional lighting, partly inspired by a Demeyer book I'd become enamored with. Now that I think of it, I'd love to do more like this with the single spot. Maybe something a little more deco looking in the wardrobe... if i can throw together some things to suit.

But first I have to get finished with a photo story shoot I'm working on. Which is of course turning into a bigger project than I originally thought, but it's a lot of fun to do once i get down to it. I may be stretching out the photographing of it just so I can keep working on it ;) - okay, enough hinting XD you guys will see what I'm talking soon enough, i promise.

We Who Go Outside - Rowena (old f28) & Lucy (Kaye Wiggs Mallory)

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:49:35 GMT

We who go outside to wander
As the day swings down flat
With the light all stretching out
Lying down for its nap
Watch moments suspended in dust motes,
Feel the shape of the grass.
Pollinate our thoughts,
Restless, transient,
To grow and fruit in the night
Smooth rounds dreams
Of distant bees and fleeting leaves
And peaches
Cradled soft in two hands.

Credits

Rowena-
Clothes and shoes: all volks
Eyes: kite purple zouks
Wig: jpop
Faceup (which needs touching up): me

Lucy-
Clothes and shoes: volks
Eyes: Unknown but very nice half-rounds glass
Wig: jpop
Faceup: Kaye Wiggs

Camera: Cannon Kiss/Rebel w/28mm lens.

I'm experimenting with a black diffusion filter, I really like the look it gives, much more convincing that post-production photoshoping. I had a lot of trouble getting my metering and exposures figured out this time around - I like how this batch came out well enough but I think I'll try something similar with a different meter and possibly a little earlier in the eveing. I've a new lense that wants more test driving, too. Hopefully there'll be more sunny evenings.

Also I really need to enhance Ro's blushing/eyebrows again. I never did her top coat of MSC because I wasn't sure if I was really done, and even though I eventually decided she was just how i wanted her never got around to it. So now a lot of shading has rubbed off. It's a real testiment to the complexity of her sculpt that she looks as good as she does so bare. But I miss her high colour.

Hansel and Gretal Take in the Green Dawn

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:44:06 GMT

Peter:
Wig - unknown but maybe ajumapama?
Eyes - Kohya's
Clothes - Volks and Luts
Helmet - vintage
Shoes - Volks

Hannah:
Wig - jpop
Eyes - I think they're EDs but they might be zouks, I don't want to take them out to look XD
Clothes - Volks
Shoes - Volks

(All photos are taken by me and edited by me and are therefore my intellectual property.Please don't link to them or save them for *any reason* without my permission. I was targeted by Den of Demons so I'm a little touchy about this right now.)

Winter has finally loosed it's grip, despite the post-easter snow (!!) we had. More sun = more photo opportunities. As much as I love the set, nothing compares to natural light. It's been a long, stressful winter and I've been having the photographic equivalent of writer's block but I think that's finally changing. And Hanna and Peter are my favourite little photo-muses. I still can't believe I got Hanna to stand unaided on the grass! - used to be she wouldn't even stand on perfectly flat table for more that a few seconds.

I found out a couple weeks ago that my mom is getting one of the Momoko girl! <3333 I'm very much looking forward to having her as a photo subject, maybe together with Genny/Carol? They both have nice roundy faces. But she's a USA lotto doll so the wait will be looong.

opening post

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 10:42:08 GMT

tonight was an impromtu photoshoot night. since a friend needed my dad to photograph a statue for him, the lights and ect. were all set up. I'm getting used to a new lense. Focus and zoom rings turn opposite to my previous lense, but after getting used to that small change this new lense is truely fantastic.