Hey seasoned taxidermy competitors....

[AndyO]

Is it required to take photos of your manikin prep, or any other custom made pieces, to show the judge? Don't know what category I'm entering yet.

Thanks!

[wetnwild]

Its not a requirement, but if you want the extra points, put them together in a small notebook and leave it near the mount with a note to the judge. sometimes it appears they dod not give any extra points for making your own parts and mannequin, but if you leave them the info, there is no excuse!!

[ElkinsTaxidermy]

Some shows limit you to 3 photos. Make em count!

[Vince Spellane]

Some shows limit you to 3 photos. Make em count!

Just curious to which shows limit to 3 photos.....that is a really dumb rule...what if you modify more than three things.  I always include detailed pics of my mods. 

[Brian Jones]

Here we have a separate sheet to fill out, with that info. I don't believe photos are a requirement, but are allowed.

[George Roof]

Here we have a separate sheet to fill out, with that info. I don't believe photos are a requirement, but are allowed.

X2

Judges read that sheet where YOU stated that you "used an altered commercial form" or "custom made your own form". That's their only requirement.  "Reference pictures" "For Judges eyes only" are true reference pictures of an animal (live preferably) depicting the pose or the anamoly that you're portrayed in your mount. Any judge worth his salt is not going to be that impressed with how many cuts you made in a form to get that pose (can you imagine what Dennis Harris would have to show???)

[Brian Jones]

Dennis, would have to set up his DVD player and TV. That would be easier to show.

[bill@hogheaven]

You will never convince me they all look at the photos either.

[AndyO]

I don't think I'm going to bother with photos. I'll let them judge what I bring.

Any judge worth his salt is not going to be that impressed with how many cuts you made in a form to get that pose

Well, I kinda disagree with that. Any judge worth his salt knows how much effort it takes to chop up a form to not only create a custom pose but make it anatomically correct.

[George Roof]

Andy, I hate to break this to you but it takes every bit as "much effort to chop up a form to not only create a custom pose but make it anatomically" INCORRECT as it does to make it correct.  The key to any alteration or custom made for is anatomy, not effort.

[Vince Spellane]

Andy, I hate to break this to you but it takes every bit as "much effort to chop up a form to not only create a custom pose but make it anatomically" INCORRECT as it does to make it correct.  The key to any alteration or custom made for is anatomy, not effort.

I think that is the point he is making George that if you can make modifications to customize a pose that is anatomically correct it should receive greater merit than if someone has proper anatomy and has not put forth extra effort by using prefab parts or unmodified forms.  In this case you would have effort as well as anatomy.  What you must remember though, is if you use pictures and a modification is done incorrectly and may have not been as noticeable through the hide or simply overlooked (I know unlikely but possible) you have now drawn their attention to it.

[Jim Tucker]

Just for the info DON'T have identifying objects like signs and people "accidently' in the photos...not saying YOU would but some DO and it is frowned upon.

[George Roof]

Vince, that sounds nice, but again, the judges see guys like Ken Walker carving his own manikens,  Fred Vanderberg making his own molds for his whitetails, and Dennis Harris slicing and dicing worse than Gallager. Don't try to BS the judges with shots like that.  You need REFERENCE shots outside the norm or they'll simply ignore them completely The form being anatomically correct can still have a skin on it that's not. But who am I to dicourage anyone?  You can never tell.

[RDA]

Im a retired judge.......A)  providing reference may bite you in the butt.....   B)  IF a judge is qualified to judge that catagory,,,,he or she will not need reference....THey bring their own......    Ive always attempted to make things easy for the judges..... THE ONLY  time i ever put reference down with a show piece was as a joke between Igor and myself  LOL.......

[Bill Yox]

As a judge I cringe when I see the fat folder with "to the judge" on it. Especially ona mount thats not going to be the best one that day. I cant win. If I do my job they guy might be so dissappointed for all the work he was told was needed. But I dont want to award him brownie points for taking the time to assemble that folder, only to have the mount not do as well as expected.

If you have an unusual or questionable theme or pose that seems to need explanation, by all means include some photo reference to show what you were doing. But, none of the usual, the membrane in the eye is goofed up, so you send a pic of a deer with a very abnormal membrane to justify the screw up. See the difference?

If you casted the form yourself (and many of you dont, trust me, we do know the difference) or cut it to bits, just do so accurately. Just because its heavily altered doesnt get you points. Being accurate and convincing will. Its much more simple than some would think!