October 2023 Breyer Photo Show Results

October 2023: Costume Party

Judging by Christine Jordan

Hello! I'm Christine. You may know me as the designer of the last few years of Breyer’s Freedom Series Halloween horses, including Slither and Tabitha! I love incorporating images into realistic markings, a trend that stuck with me from artists like Bev Dolittle and the early Breyer Halloween horses by Karen Williams. I look forward to them every year, especially since Halloween is one of my favorite holidays!

I was excited when I was asked to judge this Costume Party-themed Photo Show. It looks like everyone had a great time setting up and photographing their entries! Some took the party theme literally and set up elaborate scenes with plenty of guests, games, and snacks while others focused on one particular costume. And there was so much variety in those costumes! I was really impressed with the entries. 

17 and Under

1^st place:

True G., VA

I absolutely loved this scene! It really looks like a party, and you've got wonderful interactions between your subjects. It looks like everyone is having a great time and your decorations are on point. Consider a warmer-toned main light source and a low secondary light on the opposite side source, just to show a little more detail in the shadows.

2^nd place:

Hilah D., VA

I kept coming back to this because it really looks like a professional portrait photo! I love the tone and setting, and all the colors complement each other. The use of depth of field is also impressive! One minor suggestion for the future is to mind your scale by removing the oversized leaves. Everything else is amazing!

3^rd place:

Mariner G., VA

This entry is such a great take on trick or treating! The lighting is fantastic, and the costumes are so cute! In the future, just make sure your "grass" is flat on the ground. It's a small detail, but it can make a big difference.

4^th place:

Hayden C., WA

The soft light in this scene is so nice! Excellent use of backlight for atmosphere. I love the Grim Reaper costume – it looks great on that model, too. The near fence is a bit too small, especially compared to the visible fence in the background.

5^th place:

Payton W., AZ

Love the idea of a costume class! It reminds me of my barn growing up. The costumes are clever and well-made –  the hot dog and mustard especially made me grin. If you had moved the setup to be a little more lit from the side rather than lit from the back, it would reduce the translucence of the candy corn costume and the palomino horse.

6^th place:

Olivia R., SC

This party idea of all horses is wonderful! I really enjoyed the costumes and the activity of it. In the future, try keeping the floor clear of out-of-scale items, and don't forget to keep your horizon line level.

Honorable Mentions

Hailey S., OH

I had to give a shout-out to this entry! The MCU has been such a great source of entertainment and the costumes you made leave no questions of who every pony is supposed to be! 

Hannah W., FL

These costumes are so clever, and the perspective is great! You really managed to fit a lot of horses in this photo without making it look crowded. A diffused light source facing towards the scene would help bring out the details that are missing when lit from the back – the horses in the barn are well dressed, but hard to make out.

18 and Over

1^st place:

Cecilia H., WY

Clever, well thought-out costumes and perfectly-placed dolls made this a standout entry! I adore the knight especially – it really looks like a costume someone would make out of what materials they could find, in the best possible way! My only suggestion would be to putt down a faux brick, stone, or asphalt floor to help add an extra bit of realism to this scene. 

2^nd place:

Cassiel M., CA

This scene just oozes Halloween! The costumes, the decorations… I just love it! The skeleton costume is my favorite. Everything is perfectly-placed and very intentional. One little thing: the open window of the barn looks out over books. Sliding a photo behind the window is an easy solution to add a more realistic-looking background.

3^rd place:

Cade R., AZ

A very well-photographed entry. The sun and galaxy horse idea is out of this world, and the judge setup is perfect. You also have excellent lighting. I think having a fence behind the horse would help the "horse show" scene, as well as making sure your lead rope is draping properly.

5^th place:

Caitlin E., CO

This looks like such a festive barn! The décor is so well-executed and fun! I really like the bench setup with the buckets of candy. The two girls caring for their ponies is wonderful. Using a warmer light and a slightly lower point of view, more level with the scene, would help bring the whole thing up another notch.

6^th place:

Maddie M., FL

The dino costume is fantastic and well-made ,and the scene idea is great! Everything is perfectly in scale. The scene is a little left-heavy, leaving the rumpled grass mat very noticeable on the right. Finding a little more balance between the elements of your scene is key to an engaging photo show entry!

Honorable Mentions

Robin S., OK

I just had to include this wonderful dragon costume! It gives me "old school special effects" vibes. The translucency of the wings works well with the background.