My last post was all about my thoughts on which toys to pack for the Utah Toy Photo Safari. Since then I have attended the safari, and am on my way home again. So it is time to look back on my choices and see how well, or how poorly, …
Whenever I plan a trip the question of which figures I should bring inevitably rears its ugly head. It can be a tough question for me to answer as my muse speaks to me in different ways on different days. Right now I am deep in planning for this years …
I have never been super comfortable taking toy photos out in public, especially when I travel. I have done so from time to time, but normally when I felt I could do it and escape notice. Its not that I am ashamed of taking photos of toys, I just dislike …
I have become a fan of collecting and displaying prints of my favourite contemporary artists on my studio walls. I started doing this because I liked their work, and wanted to help support them by buying a print of their work. However I also found that they have become a …
It is no secret to frequent readers of Toy Photographers that we are big fans of Lume Cube lights. Their size and power are well suited for toy photography. Recently Lume Cube has sent us some new attachments to review.
At the risk of starting a post with a silly pun, playing with light can be illuminating. How light plays off a figure can dramatically change the mood of an image. A good understanding of light is a powerful tool for a photographer, however it can be hard to understand, …
Recently I created an image based off of Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet story (as featured in Avengers: Infinity War, and the Marvel comic books). I called it “After the Snap”. It is a fairly complex image, and involves some composite work. This is a behind-the-scenes look at how I …
As of the time I am writing this, I have not made any significant new art for well over a month. This is a long time for me to go without jumping deep into the creative zone. So it is safe to say I am currently in a creative slump. …
Turns out your mom was right, and you should watch your posture. Well, your action figures posture. This was underlined with an experience I had shooting a new action figure over the holiday break. I thought I would share it with you fine folks. This year I took the family …
Deadpool has become one of my most favourite characters, both on screen and in front of my camera. The character will do anything, say anything, and switch from ultra violent to ultra caring in the blink of an eye. All with a quick wit and highly sarcastic send of humour …
Self portraiture is an art form where a photographer puts themselves into a scene. This isn’t a duck-lipped bathroom mirror Instagram selfie, but true and proper art. The kind of art that hangs in an art gallery, except the photographer uses themselves as a model. Self portraiture is the type …
This is a review of the book Welcome To Marwencol. The story, and the artwork, of Mark Hogancamp. I recently had a chance to get my hands on the hardcover edition. These are my thoughts about the book. Fair warning: Due to the realism of some of the scenes, some …
This post is a two-for-one extravaganza. First is a behind-the-scenes exploration about how I captured the shot of the Hulk figure from Thor Ragnarok I created in my last post: Building A Hulk. The second is to describe a new way of generating action figure scaled smoke for my shots. …
I’ve been on a big Incredible Hulk kick lately, which surprises me as I normally am not that much of a fan of the Hulkster. However he seems to be tickling my muse, so I am running with it. I recently watched Thor Ragnarok with my son, and I was …
Today in the United States of America is Thanksgiving. A national holiday where Americans pause and give thanks for the good things in their lives – family and friends, food and cheer. During Thanksgiving it is common for people to list things they have been thankful for during the previous year. …
Depression is a big nasty powerful beast, and it had me firmly in its claws, dragging me down. Toy photography helped me escape its grasp. This is how. One of the most common diseases in the world that is not talked about much is mental illness. It is hard to …
Taking a peak behind the scenes is a great way to learn about how other artists get the types of shots they do. To get tips, tricks, and see the madness behind the genius. That’s the goal of this post: to give you all a peak behind the scenes of …
Sometimes investing in a photography prop opens doors that you couldn’t have thought of ahead of time. A case in point: Several months ago I purchased the largest LEGO set ever released for retail sale: The Ultimate Collector Series Millennium Falcon. At over 7500 pieces, this is a monster of a …
I know what you are thinking: “What is DEIMOS, and why does it have rules?” Furthermore your thoughts likely lean towards “Why do I care?”, and “anything on Netflix?”
As I travelled on my journey as a photographer and digital artist there was one concept that took me a long time to fully grasp. That is the importance of the photographer’s vision, and the lack of importance of the camera. Once I fully grasped this concept it became one …
