Magicians of the Miniature
Here’s the latest from the Archives of Matte Shot …
I’ve been planning this retrospective on model work for a few years and wasn’t sure how or when to include it. The site’s called Matte Shot for a reason as that medium has always been my lifes blood, as it were. However, ever since I was a youngster I’ve been equally mesmerised by the use of the model, or miniatures if you prefer, in motion picture trick shots for as long as I can remember. I feel that miniatures – as with traditionally painted mattes – are the purest of the whole all encompassing realm of special effects with their success being to a considerable extent the result of – as much as anything else – the gut instinct and ‘eye’ of the miniatures exponent.
I vividly recall building model towns and ‘sets’ as a 11 year old and photographing these with a cheap Kodak Instamatic camera which had absolutely no control whatsoever over focus or aperture. A few years later when I was 13 or 14 my Dad bought me a Canon FTb SLR (still got it), and although it was still just static images, the leap forward was amazing. I clearly recall trying to achieve maximum depth of field by ‘shooting’ model tanks, planes, war type set ups outdoors in bright sunlight and stopping the 35mm focal length lens down as far as I could to f22 if possible. Then came the phase brought about upon seeing EARTHQUAKE on it’s first day in 1974 (in 70mm and Sensurround!!!) where the only good miniature was one which burned, swayed, collapsed or was deluged in a torrent of water. So came the era where my model trains and crudely constructed buildings were purposely wrecked in glorious Agfa Colour 36 exposure still photos…
…Read the Full Article @ Matte Shot…
Matte Shot – a tribute to Golden Era & Traditional Special Effects is a tribute to the artistry and ingenuity of traditional matte painters, this collection celebrates the hand‑crafted movie magic that once shaped cinema — from grand, epic vistas to invisible effects even seasoned viewers might miss. It’s designed for both casual fans and dedicated enthusiasts, offering a renewed appreciation for skills largely forgotten today. I’ve also reached deeper into the Matte Shot archives to bring even more of this remarkable work forward, and I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I do.
