February 2024 Breyer Photo Show Results

February 2024: A Bit of Magic

Judging by Tiffany Purdy

I have been collecting and showing model horses for over 30 years. I have also owned, bred, and shown real horses for over 20 years. I am a self-taught artist who spends my days as a high school Chemistry and Physics teacher. I first starting painting and customizing model horses so that I could fulfill my desire for of all the real horses I wished I could have but couldn’t afford to own. One of my favorite customizing things to do is to create fantasy type equines to bring all my equine dreams to life.

Here are this month's show results!

17 and Under

1^st place:

Kali Jo G., TX

Overall, a stunning presentation. The photo effects with the reflection of the model in the water and the rippling of the water evoke a truly magical feeling.  This looks like a photo that could be used in a professional advertisement.

2^nd place:

Hannah L., NH

This beautiful lighting creates the impression of a glorious winter day.  The color of the model contrasts nicely with the snow and the background. The slight blurring of the trees in the distance gives a great illusion of being in-scale with the model.

3^rd place:

Lucy H., TX

The staging in the photograph is very impressive. There are tons of little prop details in this setup that clearly communicate the magical unicorn dreams the little girl is having.

4^th place:

Daphne B., TX

The angle of this photograph is quite clever. The curvature of the water splash from this point of view really looks like it’s coming from the unicorn’s horn. The green grass line in the background provides excellent contrast with the color of the equine in the foreground.

5^th place:

Poppy S., WA

Overall, a very pretty scene with wild Mustangs out on the range. The placement of the sunset centered behind the models is visually striking.

6^th place:

April B., KS

As a mother myself, I greatly enjoyed this magical moment captured between a mom and her baby. The use of the water reflections and soft lighting add to the warm, touching moment of motherhood portrayed in this photo.

Honorable Mentions

Boone G., VA

The is a very cute idea with the little horseflies and colorful flowers.

Josey R., WV

Unique use of a silhouette in this photo. The contrasted background is very well done.

Aubrey S., AZ

Looks like just about any shot taken on horseback! Very clever.

18 and Over

1^st place:

Savannah D., VA

Great use of angles. The blurred background really makes the model stand out in the photograph, and the snowflake effects added to the picture truly create a magical winter scene with this unicorn.

2^nd place:

Myla P., CO

A beautiful photograph that looks like a real horse at first glance. The combination of the dramatic lighting and the rainbow that perfectly frames the horse is truly stunning.

3^rd place:

Hollyn G., VA

There are tons of little details in this scene with great use of color. Together they create an excellent contrast with the white unicorn. This set-up is impressive for a small scale model.

5^th place:

Alli B., VA

This photo does a wonderful job of conveying a magical moment between a mother and her baby. The clever use of a blurred person in the background outside the stall adds a great deal of depth and realism to this photo.

6^th place:

Olivia S., MI

The snow contrasted with the unicorns, especially the brightly-colored pair in the foreground, is very pretty. The placement of the models with each other conveys that the unicorns are interacting in a playful, magical way.

Honorable Mentions

Melissa S., OR

These black unicorns are very striking in their forest home. The models are well-placed and the gently blurred background creates an illusion of proper scale with the trees.

Cecilia H., WY

Clever, unique setup portraying a magical moment of a dear friend being rescued.