When I first got started in toy photography one of the biggest challenges was determining how to create a scene for my photos. At first, it all revolved around the toys. It is “toy” photography after all. Which LEGO figures do I want to be together in this scene? Or …
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 …
If there’s one thing I could point to that makes the Star Wars aesthetic so unique is its gritty, lived-in quality. So, as a photographer of Star Wars toys, it should come as no surprise that I’ve started to experiment with achieving that look myself.
This portrait session with Catwoman just happened. I had set up for something entirely different, and when that picture did not quite work out, I just started toying with this action figure. While trying different poses and arranging the light, I had a couple of thoughts I would like to …
Four Bricks Tall takes us behind the scenes of this photo of the Byers house in the Upside Down with floating LEGO particulates of evil.
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 …
Awesome Light = Awesome Photos Amazing light has always been something that attracts people to photos.
Subtle differences in angle, light, pose, and crop can make a huge difference in the emotion and story conveyed by your photo.
One of the ways to add energy to a photo is to introduce a sense of motion.
Sitting at the bar down by our lake, drowning my sorrows, lamenting not making it to Utah this year, it dawned on me that I’ve never really taken many toy photos in the lake’s water.
I created my recent Endor series as a challenge to push myself and see if I could create scenes that were based in a more real-world setting compared to my usual brick-built backdrops.
”Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” (George Eastman) In parts 1 and 2 of this series I covered the design and building of a lighting stage and its associated lighting …
So over the last little while, I have been watching a lot of Teletubbies, I find it rather relaxing… No, actually my youngest has become addicted. Now whether you have kids or not, you are all familiar with Teletubbies. So after watching a few episodes, I noticed something had changed …
“If all the world’s a stage then I want better lighting” – Rob Coles If you have not yet read part 1 then this post may not make a lot of sense. Feel free to pop on over to part 1 then return here. I’ll wait, I promise. If the …
“All the World’s a Stage, and all the toys and figures merely players” (William Shakespeare if he was a toy photographer) Some time ago I was lucky enough to be able to visit an Aardman exhibition Wallace and Gromit and Friends, which introduced me to the behind the scenes world …
First of all let me tell you that I am not an expert on model kits, in fact it is exactly the opposite: I am a newbie. As you may know, my main subjects for photography are LEGO. However, I would like to experiment more with action figures. At the …
The toys inspire us to the search of the special places for outdoor pictures and creation of our own micro worlds. Would you like to make a shot of lightning without looking through the window? Is it possible to shoot a jellyfish without water and light? That’s what we are …
Ask anyone who has ever picked up a camera, whether they are a professional or just snapping on their smartphone, what is the most important thing in photography? I’m hoping that 99% of the responses say light… Without light, there is no photo… period… Now for those of you who …
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 a photographer I’ve always been seeking a kind of cinematic style that’s hard to describe. I just want my photos to have that “movie look” to them. Over the years I’ve come close but never felt like I really figured out the formula. Until now.
