Star Wars Prop Exhibit..lots of pics

[oblagon]

Just attended the Star Wars: Where Science meets imagination exhibit in Chicago this weekend. Lots of really cool props, for anyone who's not gone I defiently recommend it.
Really suprised me how many of the items up close looked like trash; expecially the stormtrooper helmet. I think the trooper helmet in the gift shop looked better than the original.

Anyway, I took lots of pictures and thought I'd post them here for everyone.
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/oblagon/

 

[franz bolo]

Cool! I Can't get enough pics!!

FB

 

[Ham Solo]

Very cool!

Thanks for posting the pics.

I may have to take a little road trip and check it out.

 

[tomtav]

Great Pics Thanks - I cannot wait to go see this.

What is the best way to get good high quality pics throught the glass cases?

Is there a trick to limiting glare?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[oblagon]

Great Pics Thanks - I cannot wait to go see this.

What is the best way to get good high quality pics throught the glass cases?

Is there a trick to limiting glare?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

I'd like to know as well. Tried mulptiple settings on my camera and the regular point and shoot worked the best. Problem is the exhibit is so dark that you almost need a flash to make out anything.

Also forgot to give anyone going this tip.
They have a full-size cockpit of the Millenium Falcon that you can "ride" in, but it's a seperate ticket thats free. When I went nobody at the ticket booth mentioned this to anyone and it sold out; for some reason the ticket booth attendents are not mentioning it so you need to ask.
Although not seeing the falcon cockpit gives me a good reason to go back this month:lol

 

[Chief Bast]

Thanks for posting the pics. My brother-in-law and I attend the show in Ft. Worth a couple of months ago and really had a great time. You're right though - a lot of the props are very crudley (but impressively) done.

I'd also add that if any of you have kids ages 5 or so and up, the exhibit offers several science experiments/demonstrations that tie-in to SW tech that the little ones will find interesting.

 

[vaderdarth]

The worst glare is always gonna hit the camera when the lense is parallel to the plexi. In other words, angle off a bit from the plexi. It always seems to work for me.

Dave

 

[DL 44 Blaster]

AWESOME!! Thanks for sharing

 

[franz bolo]

What is the best way to get good high quality pics through the glass cases?
Tom

Don't use a flash if possible. A tripod is ideal but sometimes not allowed. The best thing to do is get a camera with a large aperture. This limits focal length but lets more light in.

My old digital camera (Olympus 3040) has an aperture of F1.8 and takes great shots without the flash. If the flash is too powerful, it can ruin shots also. The flash on that camera is pretty low so it doesn't burn out the shot.

Also you might try manual focus. In low light, the camera sometimes can't focus on it's own. It's hard to tell on some displays though. You can always go 2 days. The first day, take a bunch of pics then go home and see what didn't turn out. Then go back the next day. Angling your shots is also recommended.


Here is a photo using no flash (right side) I took at the MOM exhibit. You can also brighten it in Photoshop (left side) because there is still a lot of data that you can't see.



FB

 

[BR12819]

if this is the same one that came through portalnd, or, a while ago make sure to look into the cockpit of the rebel blockade runner. because, they still have the mini playboy pin-up and the starwars poster. really one of the high points of the exibit

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Great photos, thanks for sharing !

I think the darkness makes for interesting photos sometimes.........

(from the Fort Worth Texas Exhibit this summer)

And here I am in costume with the big guy himself.....

 

[Krel]

Another option is a xenon flashlight, I use an old Streamlight Scorpion because it has a fixed focus reflector. It is very compact, but puts out an incredible amount of light. If you, or an aide hold it away from you while focusing on the object you don't get a flare into the camera lense. If you have friends, and more than one light, it is amazing how much light you can put out.

A hint, don't use one in a dimly lit restaurant, the screams of pain from the other diners is embarrassing.

David.

 

[silverskyes402]

Thanks for the pics, wish I could have been at the exhibit!

 

[RoCKo]

thanks for sharing! great pics....! :thumbsup

 

[Chris07]

I got to see the exhibit last year when it was in Ohio. Awesome props and costumes. If you haven't seen it go, it's worth the trip. I spend some time looking and taking pictures of the snowtrooper costume.

 

[defstartrooper]

I'd like to see those

 

[mgoob]

Taking photos behind glass: polarizing filter.

Also, I have taken a flash attached to the camera via a cable and pressed the flash up against the glass while the camera was several feet away. Therefore no glare and brightly lit subject.

 

[TheRealMcFly]

For you east coasters... the exhibit is coming to my place of work.

It will be in Philadelphia come Feb.

www.fi.edu