One of the most frequently asked questions of a photographer is about naming their favorite lens. A favorite lens is a very personal choice, and you can bet that if you ask five photographers this question you are going to get five different answers. With that in mind, I decided …
Today, I’m taking a look at two different interpretations of Star Wars’ most infamous Sith Lord, Darth Vader. I’ll be comparing The Hasbro Galaxy of Adventures Darth Vader (MSRP $9.99) to the Disney Store, ToyBox Darth Vader (MSRP $12.95) to see which one of these figures is best suited to …
Traditionally, in my family November 1st marks the beginning of the holiday ‘no buy zone’. While you are free to holiday shop for others, you are forbidden from purchasing anything for yourself. To prevent myself from spiraling into the depths of retail withdrawal, I put together this list of my …
In 2019, Disney opened Galaxy’s Edge, a Star Wars-themed land at both Disneyland in California, and Walt Disney World in Florida. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to explore Walt Disney World’s version, and brought my camera and a few plastic friends along for the ride. In this post, …
As a photographer who loves to toy around with lighting, I was ecstatic when Lume Cube asked if we’d like to test drive their new Lume Cube 2.0. James Gibbo, a veteran Lume Cube user, posted his thoughts on the 2.0 here, while I am approaching this as a complete …
When Dave DeBaeremaeker brought up the idea of a friendly, Photoshop vs Practical Effects post I jumped at the opportunity to join him.
I’m super excited to share this technique with everyone. Dubbed ‘Light Stenciling’, it’s a trick I’ve used in multiple shots, and I’m always floored by the results. It’s easy to pull off, doesn’t require a ton of gear and can add a really cool effect to your toy photography. What …
As toy photographers, we go to great lengths to avoid camera shake. From using tripods and remote shutter releases, to holding our breath during an exposure to avoid unintentional camera movement. The rule of thumb is that the steadier your camera is, the cleaner your image will be. Thankfully, photography …
Inspired by James Gibbs‘ “Toying with Bright Ideas – Playing with FIRE!“, I wanted to put together a post for those, like myself, who are a bit more timid when it comes to mixing fire and toys. Real fire is extremely dangerous to work with, not to mention the hazard it …
Gelling a lens is one of my favorite toy photography tricks. It’s easy to pull off, and adds a dramatic, glow-like, color effect to any scene scene. I’ve used this trick countless times in my photos whenever I wanted to push my colors a bit further. When I say ‘gels’, …
As I alluded to in my introductory post, Starting Small, my first foray into toy photography didn’t register high on the ‘interesting scale’. My best efforts consisted of planting toys in front of a bright background, pressing the shutter and slathering the results all over Instagram. The photos were what …
Hi. My name is Alan, and I am a toy photographer. Though I took occasional snapshots of toys as far back as 2008, I didn’t start focusing my camera on toys until the birth of my son in 2012. As any new parent will tell you, free time becomes a …
