Hi guys, after seeing Dr. Brad's great photo's of an old school diorama I thought I would post these. They are from the National museum of natural history in Washington D.C. The dinosaur hall is going to be renovated & I'm not sure if these will survive.
Do not pursue him! He will not return to these lands. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of Man will he fall..
I'm starting to think these museum dioramas had a big influence on a generation or two of modelers as evidenced in the dino projects seen here and at the shows.
Unfortunately, a lot of exhibit "modernizing" I've some across consists of tossing the dioramas and replacing them with an "interactive" computer gizmo. Which is usually out of order. Nice thing about the dioramas (other than the fact that they are very dependable) is that kids go home and start arranging their dino toys to make their own scenes. Decades pass and they're still happy putting their dino stuff together. Yep, we like doing that. Pure fun.
One more thing. The vegetation is really nicely done in this diorama. I'd buy one of those little palms or cycads in a second if I found one. The two different theropods are interesting and the triceratops look pretty good. The colors on all of them are uniform to be sure, but back then they were thinking elephants and rhinos, not roosters.
timetraveler wrote:Wow! What a treat. Thanks so much.
I'm starting to think these museum dioramas had a big influence on a generation or two of modelers as evidenced in the dino projects seen here and at the shows.
Unfortunately, a lot of exhibit "modernizing" I've some across consists of tossing the dioramas and replacing them with an "interactive" computer gizmo. Which is usually out of order. Nice thing about the dioramas (other than the fact that they are very dependable) is that kids go home and start arranging their dino toys to make their own scenes. Decades pass and they're still happy putting their dino stuff together. Yep, we like doing that. Pure fun.
One more thing. The vegetation is really nicely done in this diorama. I'd buy one of those little palms or cycads in a second if I found one. The two different theropods are interesting and the triceratops look pretty good. The colors on all of them are uniform to be sure, but back then they were thinking elephants and rhinos, not roosters.
No problem, your'e welcome! I agree with you about the interactive crap, that's for the birds. I saw these dios for the first time 30 years or so when I was a kid & it made me want to do dioramas just like you said. The hall is going to get upgraded in the next year or so & I hope these return with up to date knowledge (though I can do without the damned feathers!).
Do not pursue him! He will not return to these lands. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of Man will he fall..
The more I look at the pictures of this diorama, the more I like it. Just look at that beautiful sky background. Gorgeous. Panoramic. The whole thing has a Zallinger feel to it. That's the thing about these great dioramas, you can make a "pilgramage" year after year to the museum to reconnect with them and still find levels of detail and design that you may have missed. When we were kids we moved on past toys and unto models because at some point we realized the museum stuff was on another level. I was in heaven when the Kaiyodos started hitting stateside back in the mid-eighties. They really were of "museum quality" and totally jump-started (along with the Billikens) my renewed interest in modeling.
I don't have a problem with museums respectfully showing how advances in science change the way we understand things. Thats the way its supposed to work. However, like diplomacy, with dinosaurs there is no final word.
For those who wonder what other colors dinosaurs may have been, a look at the work of Joe Nejberger, Martin Garratt, Shane Foulkes and Steve Riojas can be quite illuminating.
Marvellous stuff. Unfortunately, as timetraveller was alluding to, these days it's so much easier and cheaper to stick up a simple graphic or a bit of computer wizardry..... Diorama making is a lost art, which is a pity......
I sure wish I could see this diorama in person. I enjoy some of the interactive stuff, but I love dioramas. And, interestingly, even my kids seem to gravitate to them. We recently had a chance to see the Liaoning forest diorama in Victoria, BC (it was on the road - originally was in AMNH in New York) and it was great!
Was the Liaoning Forest diorama at the Field Museum in Chicago a few years ago? I know I saw a Dinosaurs of China traveling exhibit there that featured quite a large (maybe 1/1 scale) diorama. If that was it I would say that it was the best, most realistic diorama I have ever seen in person. The only drawback was that you could not take pictures, and there was not so much as a postcard depicting it. Anyone know if pictures are available of it?
I really don't have a bias against interactive exhibits if people can really do something. Kids love those fossil digs in a sandbox and stuff like that. I'm just a little dubious about going to a museum to watch TV. On the other hand, maybe that is what some museum goers best relate to (i.e. those that feel very comfortable with computers, video games and the related devices). I think there is room for both in a robust, modern museum.
The poignant comment about dioramas becoming a "lost art" makes me think we modeler's are making a valid cultural contribution by keeping the genre alive and well.
I'm not sure if that was the one in Chicago? But no pictures? I hate that. Man, I must have taken 50-60 pictures of that exhibit alone when we were in Victoria!
You are very fortunate to have been able to take pictures. Maybe they have loosened up, no doubt due to customers complaining at the various stops on the museum circuit. I know in Chicago they had sport-coated security about every ten feet enforcing the "No Pictures!" rule. Too bad, because there were some nice dinosaur skeletons displayed too. Only thing I ended up with was an exhibit T-shirt and a coffee mug (both featuring a feathered dinosaur). A booklet about the diorama sure would have been nice though.
Personally, I think if you pay your special admission charge for these traveling exhibits, you should be able to take all the pictures you want. Not being able to take pictures greatly diminishes the educational aspect of the exhibit. Unless this is just about making a buck. Nah.
timetraveler wrote:You are very fortunate to have been able to take pictures. Maybe they have loosened up, no doubt due to customers complaining at the various stops on the museum circuit. I know in Chicago they had sport-coated security about every ten feet enforcing the "No Pictures!" rule. Too bad, because there were some nice dinosaur skeletons displayed too. Only thing I ended up with was an exhibit T-shirt and a coffee mug (both featuring a feathered dinosaur). A booklet about the diorama sure would have been nice though.
Personally, I think if you pay your special admission charge for these traveling exhibits, you should be able to take all the pictures you want. Not being able to take pictures greatly diminishes the educational aspect of the exhibit. Unless this is just about making a buck. Nah.
Pictures anyone?
I must be the rebel then. No sports jacketed enforcer has ever stopped me. LOL
But really I'm with you. I paid the special price so I'm going to take pics. Of course I go in with my iPhone and not a big DSLR, and just put the phone on silent, and turn off the flash so no one hears the click nor the sees the flash, and just click away. I do it quick and occassionally get a few blurred pics. But most turn out okay.
Hmmm. So that's how you do it. Thanks for the tip.
I do think folks are getting way too touchy about photography in general. I see a lot a signs these days at craft shows and such declaring "No photos". Picky, picky.
When I exhibit stuff I like it when people take pictures. Its a compliment.
I have one of those pen cameras that you have in your shirt pocket, I take photos for my trolley modeling and take photos of transit cars and stations right in front of the motorman or conductor and police as photographers are harassed even though it's legal in most cases. and the photos come out real sharp indoors and out, got mine at Hammacher & Schlemmer around $ 200.00 but to me it's cheaper than a summons and a court appearance for doing something legal to begin with because of a few power hungry cops. Karl
Photograph what interests you today because tomorrow it may not exist.
That's the thing about these great dioramas, you can make a "pilgramage" year after year to the museum to reconnect with them and still find levels of detail and design that you may have missed. When we were kids we moved on past toys and unto models because at some point we realized the museum stuff was on another level.
that's what i do @ milwaukee public museum...about time i make another trip up there...WITH A CAMERA!!!
thanxxx for posting this diorama it's a beauty!
JOHN PETIK "Christ promised the resurrection of the dead. I just thought he had something a little different in mind." http://s1294.beta.photobucket.com/
jtn144 wrote:Hi guys, after seeing Dr. Brad's great photo's of an old school diorama I thought I would post these. They are from the National museum of natural history in Washington D.C. The dinosaur hall is going to be renovated & I'm not sure if these will survive.
Wow..! Yes, it’s old, but in the same time extremely nicely done model work.
The terrain and pictorial landscapes liked me especially.
Thanks .
