Pennsic: A photographer's plea

[UrsusofAnglesey]

I am really looking forward to Pennsic and taking lots of photos there. Pennsic is pretty much the ultimate SCA photo op, and I feel I am doing a much better job than even a year or two ago. I’m psyched and I hope you are too, but I want to take the best pictures possible for all of you, so for those of you attending, I would like to make a few requests and suggestions.

Let me pause before I start to say everything mentioned here is only my own opinion, and I do not pretend to speak for all photographers and spectators, but having done this now for well over a decade, I do feel I have a pretty good perspective.

It is also important to add, I think, that these are merely suggestions and requests, not demands, not rules, so please feel free to modify or ignore anything below.

Having said all that, here are some things that bug me, and some ideas on how you can improve your appearance in small ways that nevertheless can make a real difference in how you look in photos and to all those watching.

APPEARANCE and ARMOR

For those just starting out, I realize your funds are probably short and you are still getting your armor and grab together, but even so, you can look good, or at least not stand out so badly among the others who do look good surrounding you and thus bringing the whole group “down” visually.

- NO JEANS. Please find, borrow or steal some earth tone sweatpants (no bright colors that look modern), or at least some khakis or something that doesn’t stand out as obviously, totally modern. Heck, most stores now sell pajama bottoms that look pretty good for about 10-15 bucks.

- TENNIS SHOES. If you’re going to wear them, please, please, please don’t wear bright WHITE tennis shoes, or black tennis shoes with bright stripes on them. I once saw a Duke fighting in all black tennis shoes and you really couldn’t tell until he came up close to you. IMHO, almost nothing detracts from a fighter’s appearance more than glaringly modern footwear.

- TUNICS. If your armor looks crappy (and mine sure did when I started), a big, loose tunic does wonders to cover it up. There’s really no excuse for exposed plastic armor, even if that’s all you have for the moment. Everyone can afford or make a tunic. It also serves to cover up tee shirts, which look also terribly out of place. I finally convinced a Tuchuk friend of mine that he looked great in his leather armor except that he always wore black tee shirts, which just kind of ruined the whole effect.

For moderately or very experienced fighters, there are still a lot of little things you can do that will improve your look considerably, some of them fairly minor but that visually makes a big difference. Of course, these also apply to beginning fighters.

- SHIELD COLORS. Paint SOMETHING on it, please! You ever see those old Westerns where they signal each other with mirrors or even a piece of steel? Well, that’s what a metal shield looks like to photographers and spectators. A giant reflector. Same for white shields, which reflect glare incredibly well. I’ve had many, many good shots ruined because an unpainted or white shield was tilted in the wrong direction. All black shields are almost as bad, and suck in color like a black hole, especially in a bright (sunlit) environment. So even if you don’t know what to paint, a solid color other than white or black adds color to the picture and avoids those bright reflections.

- GARB. The same rules also apply to your garb. All white garb stands out (and not in a good way), especially if it is REALLY white, and reflects available sunlight. Put something on it. Heraldry, an animal, household, baronial or kingdom badge… whatever. Or use a sash, a tabard, even a war belt to break the color up a little, please. On the opposite side of the coin, all black garb or tunics may look cool, but they just suck in color and darken the details of you and everyone around you in photos, so try to break that up also.

- INSIDE OF SHIELDS. Many of you may think that the front of your shield is the most important visual part of it, and I commend all of you for the beautiful painting and devices you display. But we spectators see the inside of your shields almost as often as we see the front. Maybe even more so, because the front is often blocked by your opponent. Not that I expect devices or the great paint jobs you do on the front, but realize that exposed metal (again) is a great reflector, and all the words written with magic markers or even bumper stickers just look downright tacky, especially when the rest of your armor and garb looks really good.

- HOCKEY GLOVES. There is a knight of my acquaintance who has great garb, good armor, a fine looking shield, wears boots and looks really, really good… except that he wears a modern hockey glove on the inside of his shield. It has a bright red stripe and the palm is all white, so whenever he is facing away from spectators, or even turning to the side, that hockey glove just kind of leaps out at you like an… anachronism. (Pun intended.) It just spoils the whole effect (for me, at least). Safety rules, of course, but at least think about it and try to make it a little less glaringly modern so it doesn’t detract from the rest of your garb.

- WHITE SOCKS. A pet peeve of mine. It is really, really frustrating for me to see someone with a finely painted shield, great looking helm, fine garb, good looking armor, boots or dark shoes… and white, glare-reflecting exposed socks. To me, they just kind of leap out of a picture and ruin the whole effect. (The rumor in the Bog is that Ursus won’t take your picture if you wear white socks, and if a bunch of crazy Celts can learn to wear dark socks, you can too.) So please consider DARK socks if they are exposed. They cost about the same as white ones. (I’m talking modern socks, not wrapped leggings or something similar, of course.)

Let me hasten to add after all those criticisms that the vast majority of the SCA nowadays does a great job of looking good in their armor, with variations.

However, if you have crappy armor or garb, you bring down everyone around you. I cannot emphasize how frustrating it is for me as a photographer to take a great melee shot of fighters in good grab and armor… surrounding one goob in plastic pickle-barrel armor, tee shirt and jeans. It just freaking ruins the whole shot for me, and nine times out of ten, I won’t use it at all, just because of that ONE guy.

So by all means use peer pressure: “Can I loan you my spare fighting tunic, my Lord?” Find the new fighters in your kingdom and encourage them to dress up a little so they don’t detract from the rest of you who worked so hard to look good. Slap a tabard on them, loan them a tunic, suggest they paint their shield, point them towards someone who can provide them some covering garb.

I’m preaching to the choir, of course, by posting this here on the Archive, where all of you strive for authenticity and a good kit, except for my nit-picks like hockey gloves, shields and white/black garb. But I am hoping you will all pass along these suggestions to the newer fighters, watch for guys in your group/household/kingdom/whatever who make the rest of you look bad, and give them some friendly encouragement and suggestions, while subtly (or not) letting them know they are NOT just representing themselves, but more importantly, their Household, Barony and Kingdom. You all are the shining example, or certainly should be, but also mentors and models for newer fighters. They don’t have be perfect, but they can strive to at least not show anything that is glaringly modern. The rest will come later.

Again, you are of course free to disagree or just flat out ignore anything and everything I have said above. I have no right to lecture you.

However, I would like to encourage you to see your kingdom not only fights well but also looks good AS A GROUP, and that, of course, means from the King all the way down to the newest, rawest fighter you have.

So please forgive my presumption, and I hope you will take this as a sincere effort to improve the looks of everyone who participates, to the greater glory of us all.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to seeing all of you soon on the greatest stage of the SCA: Pennsic.

Feedback, comments and questions are welcome. If anyone has any further ideas, please also feel free to post them.

Ursus of Anglesey
Photographer to the stars (that means YOU!)

[Johann ColdIron]

Great suggestions presented in a very sensitve manner, Ursus. One of my favorite pics that you have taken (of me) is one from a Lost Boys battle a few years ago. I am in my reasonably period garb and armour with a fierce look on my face. Perfect shot. My parents literally fought over a copy I gave them one year.

The guy next to me is wearing hockey gloves and sporting obvious blue foam as a helmet liner. I'm glad you didn't pass up the shot because it is a nice one but it would have been nice if he had put enough effort his kit so that it didn't stick out like a sore thumb! I've been tempted to photoshop him out or at least tone down the glaring issues.

Maybe you need to hand out flyers at Pennsic titled "Why Ursus did not take your picture this year" That might motivate some folks!

[Effingham]

Ursus, I love you, man.

Forget the photography -- that's just good all-around appearance advice. Period. (So to speak )

[Brother Logan]

Ursus,

You, Sir, are my new man crush! I hope we will meet at Pennsic. Look for me, I owe you a beer! Hell after this thread the whole SCA owes you a beer!
Cheers,
Leo

[Corby de la Flamme]

I'm tempted to make a joke about the household whose badge is a white sock (or so it seems to me) but I'll restrain myself.

Besides, doesn't everyone know red athletic socks are lucky?

[Thomas MacFinn]

Everybody bring an extra pair of clean dark socks to Pennsic. Give them away to those that need them.

[Donal Mac Ruiseart]

I'm tempted to make a joke about the household whose badge is a white sock (or so it seems to me).

I do recall a household in Atlantia that had a flag to which were sewn two socks positioned as if recently vacated, with the little "zoom!" lines coming out of the openings. This was a visual based on their unofficial war-cry: "Knock Their Socks Off!"

This was <mumble> years ago, I ought to add.

[Effingham]

Consider how easy it would have been to fix this:

[Apollonian]

Forwarding to my squires, Ursus. AND, covering up the hockey glove behind my shield.

Thanks!

Falcone

[Gaston de Clermont]

Amen, brother Ursus! A great request, and written with some sensitivity.

[UrsusofAnglesey]

Consider how easy it would have been to fix this:

What a perfect example, Eff! Great armor, nice axe, garb/clothes... not so much.

Admittedly, we do not know the context of the photo, and I don't mean to criticize the guy, but that's the type of mixed message that I think ultimately detracts from all of us who DO go the extra mile. And given what we do, assuming we all have a interest in history and authenticity (why would you join the SCA if you did not?), that should be pretty much everyone.

Thanks to everyone for their support, and I'm sure I'll see lots of great kits and garb at Pennsic. Frankly, that will make it harder to justify to myself taking pictures of people who are marginal, and have noticeable flaws in their armor/garb. No one can be perfect (except you CoTT guys, of course ), but we can all strive to be better.

Ursus

[Vladimir]

How does he bend his right knee?

[Rana]

How does he bend his right knee?

I imagine he straightens/adjusts his leg armor first.

[Christian Darmody]

[quote]- HOCKEY GLOVES. There is a knight of my acquaintance who has great garb, good armor, a fine looking shield, wears boots and looks really, really good… except that he wears a modern hockey glove on the inside of his shield. It has a bright red stripe and the palm is all white, so whenever he is facing away from spectators, or even turning to the side, that hockey glove just kind of leaps out at you like an… anachronism. (Pun intended.) It just spoils the whole effect (for me, at least). Safety rules, of course, but at least think about it and try to make it a little less glaringly modern so it doesn’t detract from the rest of your garb.[/quote


www.bogpages.com/SCA-photographs/2010/F ... 7400_TGckT

What a Dork! This guy must have severe color blindness or some other thought process limiting disability!

You would think that if he can pull off this:

www.bogpages.com/SCA-photographs/2010/F ... 0082_CTAxV

www.bogpages.com/SCA-photographs/2010/F ... 0205_gQJB6

He could surely make the effort to buy a pair of simple gloves rather then bumble onto the field with the red glove of shame.

Seriously...... Those two items have been a point of embarassment for me. My Brother Knights kid me about it on a regular basis.
Honestly, I can not coddle my neglect with any excuse. I can make a promise - I will resolve this offense shortly.

Ursus? I ask one thing from you. When my gloves achieve the proper level that my vanity and station require I want you to refere to me no longer as an aquaintence. Please, consider me a friend. :O)

BTW, thankfully you have shots of me wearing Grettir the Slow's gauntlets - I do not feel so abashed when wearing his work.

We are fourtunate to have you in Atlantia.

Humbled,
Syr Christian Darmody

All photos courtesy of Ursus
Silly red hockey glove of shame and lacrosse glove of dishonour provided by your's truely.

[UrsusofAnglesey]

- HOCKEY GLOVES. There is a knight of my acquaintance who has great garb, good armor, a fine looking shield, wears boots and looks really, really good… except that he wears a modern hockey glove on the inside of his shield. It has a bright red stripe and the palm is all white, so whenever he is facing away from spectators, or even turning to the side, that hockey glove just kind of leaps out at you like an… anachronism. (Pun intended.) It just spoils the whole effect (for me, at least). Safety rules, of course, but at least think about it and try to make it a little less glaringly modern so it doesn’t detract from the rest of your garb.[/quote


http://www.bogpages.com/SCA-photographs ... 7400_TGckT

What a Dork! This guy must have severe color blindness or some other thought process limiting disability!

You would think that if he can pull off this:

http://www.bogpages.com/SCA-photographs ... 0082_CTAxV

http://www.bogpages.com/SCA-photographs ... 0205_gQJB6

He could surely make the effort to buy a pair of simple gloves rather then bumble onto the field with the red glove of shame.

Seriously...... Those two items have been a point of embarassment for me. My Brother Knights kid me about it on a regular basis.
Honestly, I can not coddle my neglect with any excuse. I can make a promise - I will resolve this offense shortly.

Ursus? I ask one thing from you. When my gloves achieve the proper level that my vanity and station require I want you to refere to me no longer as an aquaintence. Please, consider me a friend. :O)

BTW, thankfully you have shots of me wearing Grettir the Slow's gauntlets - I do not feel so abashed when wearing his work.

We are fourtunate to have you in Atlantia.

Humbled,
Syr Christian Darmody

All photos courtesy of Ursus
Silly red hockey glove of shame and lacrosse glove of dishonour provided by your's truely.

Actually, Sir Christian, I was not referring to you. (Cough! Cough! {...sounds like Sir Kieron...} Great guy, great outfit, with that one weakness.)

Here he is at Ymir. Looks like I filtered out most of the shots where the glove is glaringly obvious, but you can see the obviously modern hockey glove plainly on his shield hand, and that kind of spoils for me what would have been a very fine picture.



I had not meant to name names, but I did not want you to think I was criticizing you specifically.To tell you the truth, I had not noticed your glove. And I would be honored to call you friend, with or without the glove. It is enough for me that you strive to make that last effort to bring your kit fully up to snuff. Heck if you just cover up the bright red a little it would make a huge difference to a nit-picker like me, because your glove itself does not look terribly modern, except for that color.

Thank you for your kind words. I consider myself fortunate to live in Atlantia.

Ursus

[Dietrich von Stroheim]

Ursus,
Your photos have been one of the major incentives for me to improve my kit. I'm sure you remember the thread about why I switched from hockey elbows to bazubands...that was solely because I wanted to look better in those great action shots you catch of me!

On the hockey glove behind shield subject--for once, I'm not guilty here, as I use a shield basket. But, it seems very prevalent here in Atlantia for folks to use the hockey glove instead. I don't really understand why.

Does the glove offer some performance advantage over the shield basket? I would imagine that it certainly would not offer more protection, or look better.

I don't know.

Anyway, your request is altogether reasonable and is a great call to action.

Thank you again for all that you do.

My best,

Dietrich von Stroheim
Fortunate subject of many awesome Ursus photos

[Vladimir]

The most common argument I have heard for a hockey glove instead of a shield basket is that it stacks in the trunk or hangs on the wall more easily.

[UrsusofAnglesey]

Thanks, Dietrich. If I have helped in some small way to inspire any of you to improve your kit, I am satisfied that I am doing my part to make us all look better.

Heck, I still have a hockey glove from when I used to fight, so I have nothing against them... unless they are on obvious display, and it is hard to hide them. So I would ask that you look into alternatives (leather gloves, covering it with leather, or even dying it all black somehow so it's not immediately obvious what it is). It is frustrating to me, as it probably is to the fighters involved, to see that one glaring flaw in what would otherwise be a fine-looking kit.

Like Sir Christian, you need to be aware that you need to someday upgrade your kit. As you improve it, the small flaws stand out even more, like tennis shoes and hockey gloves.

At Gulf Wars this year, there was a knight who had a beautiful tunic, a good-looking helm... but wore sweatpants and white tennis shoes. I tried shooting him from the waist up and finally got frustrated, then avoided him altogether. All I could think of was that it was a shame that half of his kit looked great and the other half looked like sh*t.

If you're going halfway, folks, or even 90%, work on the rest to eventually get it to 100%. Don't get lazy and ignore that last little bit. In many ways, it makes you look even worse, especially of you have the same flaws year after year when the rest of you looks so good.

Sorry. Got into preaching mode again (my father's influence - yes, I'm a PK - preacher's kid).

Thanks to all of you for your efforts. I do not mean to belittle them. Overall, the SCA looks pretty damned good, and so much better than it was a decade or even five years ago, IMHO. We're on the right path. All we need to do is keep going the way we have been going and try a little bit harder. Not only with our own kits, but in encouraging the new fighters (who can bring our kit down visually when they stand next to us in a shield wall...).

Ursus

[Johann ColdIron]

He could surely make the effort to buy a pair of simple gloves rather then bumble onto the field with the red glove of shame.

The "Red Glove of Shame" That is a great way to put it!

Got a pattern if you need it Christian

[Glaukos the Athenian]

I was thinking about the Hockey glove issue, as I wear one with my Greek Aspis. I had tried to disguise its appearance with gold spray paint, to help it blend with the shield, which had only a limited degree of success.

I have been thinking about simply gluing (77 3M spray glue is awesome for this) swatches of leftover suede or fabric, on the areas where the glove is exposed, to hide the modern-ness of the glove without losing what appears to be a comfortable and safe way to hold a shield.

If I find the time I'll post pics of the results.

Glaukos

[SirCathal]

Glaukos ...

Try just wrapping some cloth around/over it. Just an idea *shrug*

[InsaneIrish]

I was thinking about the Hockey glove issue, as I wear one with my Greek Aspis. I had tried to disguise its appearance with gold spray paint, to help it blend with the shield, which had only a limited degree of success.

I have been thinking about simply gluing (77 3M spray glue is awesome for this) swatches of leftover suede or fabric, on the areas where the glove is exposed, to hide the modern-ness of the glove without losing what appears to be a comfortable and safe way to hold a shield.

If I find the time I'll post pics of the results.

Glaukos

Just cut out a spat of quilted white fabric and sew it to the outside of the glove. it will give it the semblence of a quiled mitten. Which is fairly period, even for a Greek.

[Aaron]

Has anyone had any luck with covering the "red glove of shame"? I wear one under each of the gauntlets I use, and the "red glove of shame" often peeks out for a photo-op. They are GREAT protection but my attempts at covering them have been less than stellar.

-Aaron

[Rutgur]

A fabric mitten (canvas is a good choice) over the hockey glove works wonders. Mine is white/natural cotton and is fairly unobtrusive. It also helps shed water in the event of a light rain, which helps keep the hockey glove from getting damp funky.

[Swete]

Just make 'em "don't see me black".

[Corby de la Flamme]

I'll be happy to sit down with any of my brothers (or anyone relatively recently showered and not too drunk) at Pennsic and show them how, with 20 minutes time, a big gardening glove, a bit of foam and some hard leather scraps they can make an easy hard gauntlet for their shield hand.





Vair & Ermine Camp, Battle Road a bit past the merchants.

[BdeB]

On the hockey glove behind shield subject--for once, I'm not guilty here, as I use a shield basket. But, it seems very prevalent here in Atlantia for folks to use the hockey glove instead. I don't really understand why.

Does the glove offer some performance advantage over the shield basket? I would imagine that it certainly would not offer more protection, or look better.

I don't know.

All armour is personal and some very successful fighters use shield baskets but IMO and that of many there are some real advantages to a hockey glove over a basket. PM me if you are interested. (Or hit me up on FB sometime)

[DukeAvery]

I must admit that I, even recently, have been guilty of the highly visible sock atrocity. Inspired by your polite plea, I am moved to do better.

Regards

Avery

[Louis de Leon]

Dark socks will be purchased before Pennsic. Thanks for the tips!

[Christian Darmody]

I will be easy to find at Pennsic......

I will be the Dude with egg on his face! LOL.
Sorry for my incorrect assumption.

Still, I continue to strive for a better finished look.

Christian Darmody

[Diglach Mac Cein]

Dark socks - check (cover foot only). Disguised shoes - check. Pants - nope! I fight bare legged, like a proper hero!

HG Ullr in the Midrealm reccomends the 10% rule. Every few months, try to improve your kit by at least 10% from where it was.

I reccomend this heartily as a way to go -
.

[Aaron]

My wife is making me mittens to cover my "red glove of shame" and the blue one, and the one on the other hand...lots of shame on my hands.

-Aaron

[Swete]

Consider how easy it would have been to fix this:

Did anyone else take note of that nasty looking dent in his armour? Looks like someone has been trying out warhammers....hopefully not while wearing the armour!

[InsaneIrish]

Consider how easy it would have been to fix this:

Did anyone else take note of that nasty looking dent in his armour? Looks like someone has been trying out warhammers....hopefully not while wearing the armour!

that could be a "proof" mark.

Some later period plate armourer's would actually SHOOT their breastplates with a gun to prove that they were "proof". Then leave the dent there, and sometimes even encorporate that dent into a design/motif on the breastplate.

[raito]

Dark socks - check (cover foot only).

Strangely, white socks are quite correct for my portrayal.