I need to start todays article off with a massive thank you to Jack Glanfield. He’s been a MASSIVE supporter of Knights of Dice from the very beginning, he’s ordered directly from us many times and also from Shiny Games in Nottingham, his support has been legendary and today’s article has been inspired by some images he recently shared with me.
Realism vs Perspective … it’s an interesting topic and one that is more relevant to science fiction, at least in my mind, than it is to a historical setting. In this instance we’re specifically talking about the cyberpunk genre.
To kick things off lets have a look at this image Jack sent me, this is the ‘feeling’ he is trying to capture. It’s immediately recognisable as a ‘cyberpunk’ scene and for me, it immediately conjures up thoughts of Blade Runner. Dark, wet and punctuated by LOADS of neon.
Jacks used a mix of kits from the Easy District and Sandport Hydra ranges, two ranges heavily inspired by Blade Runner and Star Wars. Whilst Star Wars isn’t really considered, at least by me, to be cyberpunk, the kits in that range can very much fit that genre … with the right paint job.
And this is where we can start talking about ‘perspective’. Have another look at the reference image, the ‘inspiration’. How much of it is recognisable? Yes, obviously the scene has a specific focus, and it is not the buildings, but overall, looking past the figures in focus, what you are immediately hit with is darkness and neon. Nothing makes sense, it’s busy, it’s cluttered and imparts a sense of ‘heaviness’.
This image of the Otomo Apartment (including several additional floors) topper with the Rooftop Landing Pad is a CLASSIC example of what I am talking about, realism vs perspective. The main undertone is that oppressive grey which optimises the cyberpunk genre, punctuated by HEAVY use of neon.
There is clear examples of OSL (object source lighting) for the two acrylic signs but the rest of the neon seems … random. But is it? In an overall setting, with other buildings on the table, with cars and street traffic, with small market stalls and noodle bars (it’s not really a cyberpunk scene with a noddle bar is it!) and suddenly, the perspective makes sense.
This next image, well the one above, is a classive example of perspective. There are two different buildings in this image that appear to be ‘joined’, through clever use of lighting and composition.
The building on the right has some pink neon on the lower left that alone doesn’t seem to make sense, it’s not realistic, until it is seen in the large concept of it’s surroundings. As soon as that second building with the neon orange sign is there is makes perfect sense. Even if that building wasn’t there the neon pink could still be explained by so many other scenic elements … a road sign, a bus stop, a passing super-car with neon underlighting.
This Yuka Spire model from the Easy District range is another classic example of what I’m talking about … it makes no sense for those neon colours and highlights to be there, but as soon as it’s on the table with all the other scenic elements on the board.it makes complete sense.
Jack has done an amazing job with these models and I can’t wait to see the whole table setup with all the little elements you’d expect to see on a cyberpunk table.
Amazing job Jack, thanks for letting me use the images … share more of them with me!