does one receive credit for modeling his/her own things in the competitions? if not do you think they should? a plus of modeling ones own stuff is that it shows he has talent. a minus of modeling ones own stuff is that it shows he is cheap and cant afford or deoesnt want to spend money on other peoples models. what do you think/know about this?

a minus of modeling ones own stuff is that it shows he is cheap and cant afford or deoesnt want to spend money on other peoples models. Ummmm you're saying that if one cant 'afford' to buy models, that one is just 'cheap'? Also, just because one cant model, doesn't mean one is talentless....not everyone can model.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=759828&Start=19&Artist=blaufeld&ByArtist=Yes

Well, I modelled everything it is in my image "Back to the game" for a contest some time ago, and I think that was one of the reasons they choose it for the Grand Prize... But, usually in a contest is much more important the compositon, lightning and overall "feeling". So yes, if I need an item that I want not/cannot buy I try to model it by myself... but I prefer to concentrate in making the image than making the single objects.

A plus of modeling your own stuff is making the image unique. Most models on the marketplace are easily recognized when used in a render. The uniqueness might give you an edge in a competition. A minus of modeling your own stuff might be that it's tough to create quality comparable to the models in the marketplace. "Cheap?" No way. I've modeled some things myself, mainly because I couldn't find a satisfactory item in the MP or in freestuff.

svdl wrote: " A plus of modeling your own stuff is making the image unique. Most models on the marketplace are easily recognized when used in a render." I totally agree to that, some items really stand out. But i think this happens because most of the users here, don't bother much with their images, they just import an object, import premade lights & cameras, and then hit "RENDER". Still some artists create unique images, using favorite products; they put a lot of effort to present these items in an original way, using their own unique style. Concerning contests, i don't think that an image based on "ready-to-render" products would get many votes, ranks, or whatever. So, bottom line for me is: Modeling your own stuff & breathing new air into other's products, are two different things, both fit for praise!

Many of the competitions and challenges in specific communities require that the artist model everything themself. I always model my own stuff because that is something that is very important to me. I want my scenes to be my total creation. ...I love playing God! :) I've played around with Poser and I know that it takes a lot of work and talent to create an Excellent scene in there, even though one is often working with other people's models. It does sometimes seem unfair that a scene that is 100% original is competing with scenes containing models, but I figure that the bottom line is the overall Excellence captured in the scene and that regardless of how one got there, the finished picture is what counts. -Perry