There is no real ending….

“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.”
― Frank Herbert

This is my final post for the Stuck in Plastic blog. It is where I stop this chapter, but not the story. I’ve been blogging about toy photography in all its silliness and creative ambiguity for too long to stop now. I’m simply moving to a new home – The Toy Photographers Blog.

When Boris and I started this blog three years ago I had no expectations about what we would create or even what our goals would be. Sure we had a few ideas: get our work seen on gallery walls, include a few high profile friends and build a following. We accomplished all of those goals and so much more. All I have to do is read the comments you left on HOLY GIVEAWAY, BATMAN! to realize how much we’ve done, the lives we’ve touched and the friends we’ve made. I see another measure of our success when I look at the quality of the work being created in our community. I like to think that many of you have taken the lessons we’ve learned and shared here on the blog and used them to improve your own photographs.

To say that these last three years have been an amazing ride would be an understatement. But now its time for me to move on.

When I decided to shake up the blog a few months back by including a lot more choices from the community I didn’t realize where that would lead me. I’ve really enjoyed working with the many guest artists and I would like to keep doing that.

My own personal goals as an artist / blogger have diverged from the goals of the collective. I’m leaving this beautiful blog and my friends to start a different stage of my journey by running my own toy photography blog in conjunction with Brett Wilson.

The many wonderful comments / contest entries on Brett’s recent post regarding the batman figure give away has made this decision all the harder. Your comments have really showed me that what we have built has touched so many lives. That we’ve inspired you to take your photography to the next level. That we’ve all learned that our own journey may be unique, but that we all share so much in common. That we can revel in finding beauty in the small things and we can be annoyed at Instagram. That the classic LEGO face is an over looked treasure. That Avanaut continues to inspire the next generation of toy photographers ( trust me, we all want to know his lighting tricks!)

Most of all we learned from each other.

I have to thank Boris for being such a fabulous visionary. Three years ago he saw the possibilities in toy photography. He wanted to create a blog to champion our art form and create a community alongside the blog on G+ to share and learn in. He wanted to showcase toy photography on gallery walls and he wanted to get the attention of our lego overlords. We’ve done all of that and so much more. Thank you Boris for your vision and allowing me to partner up with you on this amazing journey.

I want to thank Mike for being our steady rock. Thank you for being so ready and willing to share your extensive knowledge of studio lighting and thank you for being a fabulous editor. Your photography is as quirky and meticulously as your are. It was my absolute pleasure getting to know you over the past two years and I wish you all the best in your own creative journey.

I would be remise in not thanking my good friend Avanaut for always being my cheerleader, mentor and friend. I look back at my earliest blog posts and they’re filled with so much doubt. I was intimidated by the addition of the great Avanaut to our blog! I wondered how my own work would measure up when hung side by side with one of my heroes? My fears were obviously unfounded. I’ve learned that we each create the work that comes from within. Boris, Vesa and I shared one of the greatest weeks ever and through our many other shared experiences we will always be friends.

A special thank you to Brett who joined our little group only this year but left a lasting impact.  I will forever be in his debt for his regular posts, his unique voice, his readiness to help whenever needed and especially his willingness to get up at 5am on Monday morning for our frequently hangouts. Brett you’re amazing!

I’ll miss StuckinPlastic, but I’m leaving filled with tremendous pride for this wonderful community, lasting friendships with my blog mates and a commitment to keep growing what we’ve started in new and interesting ways.

I will always treasure this chapter of my life. Thank you all for an absolutely amazing experience. Now I need to get busy writing the next chapter, because the story isn’t over.

Shelly