One of the largest issues with toy photography, especially for those of us who shoot primarily in a studio, is finding suitable backgrounds. I recently tried to build my own background using foam and some craft paints. This is the result. I got this idea from a channel I stumbled …
As I write this, the world is rapidly shutting down due to COVID-19, the so-called coronavirus. Like many businesses, my office closed to encourage social isolation, and I am now working from home for the next month. My first thought was, “Woohoo, I don’t have to wear pants!” My second …
It can be intimidating to create art in public places. It can be doubly difficult when that art is a niche thing like toy photography. This post is about how I gained confidence with shooting toys in public. If you are like me, the most intimidating aspect is a fear …
Many of the characters who inspire me come from the pages of comic books. Beyond the characters and stories, comic book covers have a life of their own. Some covers have become iconic and many are proper art in and of themselves. Recreating these covers seems like a natural extension …
Dave’s Log: Toydate 20191114 I preordered a sweet new Optimus Prime action figure from ThreeA Toys today. I can’t wait until it shows up! Dave’s Log: Toydate 2020128 Good News! My new Optimus Prime action figure arrived at my studio today! I don’t have time to play with him right …
The background I want for an image depends entirely on what story I want to tell. Sometimes I want an elaborate, realistic image. Other times I want something simple. Sometimes I want pure black. Pure black has all sorts of benefits. I like it because black sets a certain mode …
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2020. A lot of people use this time of year to to reflect on the past year and set goals for the new year. When it comes to my creative self, I dislike setting goals. Art is too much of a fickle mistress to plan …
A Very Special Deadpool Christmas
Sometimes my inner vision is stronger than my real vision. Where one may see a pleasant beach scene, I see an Imperial invasion.
With the right tools complicated shots become easier. Take a peak behind the scenes taken with a Platypod, Lume Cube, and bee smoker.
Over the past few years I’ve really come to love Photoshop. It is an amazing photo editor and allows me to create any world my demented little brain can imagine.
For my entire toy photography career any non-LEGO shot I took used pre-made models. Aside from some props, what came in the box gets put directly in front of the camera. I was inspired to try something new, and I ended up with this image: This post is a behind-the-scenes …
Adam Savage, the famous MythBuster, is fond of saying, “I reject your reality, and substitute my own.” With clever use of toys and Photoshop, substituting one’s own reality becomes child’s play.
The profile of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle is a classic sight on American highways.
A while ago I was browsing all the options at the LEGO store, and I noticed something intriguing. I had an idea, and I had the strongest desire to see if I was correct. So I ordered a Technic BMW Motorcycle, and a Boba Fett buildable figure. I really didn’t …
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon. How did he get there? In the most powerful rocket ever made by mankind, the Saturn V. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first time man walked on an extraterrestrial surface, and brought …
Over the past month I have had the privilege to receive a couple significant awards for my photography. Despite being pretty cool from a personal perspective, I think they have significance for toy photographers being seen as a legitimate art form. But first, let me go over the awards. Guru …
I may have created a toy photography monster. Last week I travelled to Orlando to hang out with an amazing group of photography friends that we refer to as the Scavengers. This is the group of awesome folks that got me into photography in the first place, and many are …
I am always looking for interesting ways to add light to my images. So when I was walking thru Ikea and saw a multi colour LED kit, (called Dioder, cause Ikea is awesome with product names) that is designed for lighting shelves and display cabinets, I figured I’d see how …
One of the ways to add energy to a photo is to introduce a sense of motion.
