Every DSLR camera owner has his or her preferred camera settings. Many photographers swear by the Manual setting, while others love to use Shutter Priority or Aperture Priority. They each have their advantages depending on what your personal creative vision is. Continue reading “The Basics – Exposure Compensation”
The Basics – Exposure Compensation
Shelly - 11 Comments 
Forced Perspective?
brett_wilson - 1 Comment 
Um, I think it’s just perspective when you’re lying in the dirt photographing toys?
The forced perspective technique sways our perception with the use of optical illusions to make objects appear larger, smaller, further away, or closer than they actually are. It manipulates perception through the use of scaled objects and the correlation between them and the vantage point of the camera. Continue reading “Forced Perspective?”
A Reminder To Remember
brett_wilson - Leave a reply 
Baader-Meinhof? I’ve been seeing a lot of that lately?
Your friend tells you about an obscure “mathcore” band they’ve only just discovered.
Later that afternoon, you stumble onto one of their albums as you flick through vinyl at your local record store. Then you see a poster for their upcoming tour through the train window on your way home that evening. Hang on a minute, that’s them playing in that car commercial on TV, too! Continue reading “A Reminder To Remember”
The Basics – Working in a Series
Shelly - 9 Comments 
series
(ˈsɪəriːz; -rɪz)
n, pl -ries
1. a group or connected succession of similar or related things, usually arranged in order
What happens we you apply this concept to photography? What happens when you decide to create a Photo-Essay? Continue reading “The Basics – Working in a Series”
The Basics – Rule of Thirds etc….
Shelly - 2 Comments 
In this series on The Basics I’ve already touched on Leading Lines and Foreground Interest, two methods that help you create a visually interesting image . Another classic method you can use to balance and organize the visual elements in your photographs is The Rule of Thirds and its compositional cousins The Golden Ratio and the Phi Grid. Continue reading “The Basics – Rule of Thirds etc….”
The Basics – How to Buy a Camera
Shelly - 23 Comments 
I can’t believe I’m writing this post. But I was asked nicely, so how could I say no?
Before I get started I want to be very clear, I’m not an equipment geek, I don’t collect cameras and I don’t like to sit around and talk gear. I’m sure it’s lots of fun, but I would rather talk content than technical specifications any day. Continue reading “The Basics – How to Buy a Camera”
The Basics – Depth of Field
Shelly - 10 Comments 
You’ve probable heard the term ‘depth of field’ or DoF thrown about a lot in respect to toy photography. If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s simply how much of the image, from front to back, that is in focus. The size of this plane of focus is determined by how big or small your aperture is. Continue reading “The Basics – Depth of Field”
The Basics – Foreground Interest
Shelly - 15 Comments 
Foreground Interest is yet another tool in the photographers bag of tricks that helps to draw the viewer into your world as well as to create depth in an otherwise flat two dimensional space. Continue reading “The Basics – Foreground Interest”
The Basics – Sticky Tack
Shelly - 20 Comments 
Sticky Tack or Blu-Tack can be a toy photographers best friend. If you’re not familiar with this amazing substance, it is a little piece of removable gummy substance you can attach to your toy to help with a difficult pose, an uneven surface, an uncooperative accessory or a stiff wind. Continue reading “The Basics – Sticky Tack”
The Basics (part 3)
Shelly - 3 Comments 
By popular demand (read one request) I was asked to review the basics of macro photography. If you don’t know what macro photography is…it is simply the art of taking pictures close up of small objects.
The Basics:
1) Use a tripod or equivalent: When you are focusing on such a small object, camera shake will ruin your focus.
2) You will need additional lighting: Whether you are shooting inside or out, having some additional lighting will allow you take advantage of your full range of f-stop. A ring light, flash (not necessarily attached to your camera) or two small auxiliary lights are all excellent options.
3) Use Aperture Priority mode: when you are shooting closeup you will want to play with how much is in focus for the best effect. A slightly blurred background is a great way to set off your subject and minimize distractions.
4) Use Manual Focus: You should be in control of what’s in focus, not the camera. When you are going for pinpoint accuracy, there is no substitute.
Other Tips:
5) Vary the background: You can only have so many shots with blurred green foliage. Be cognizant of your color range.
6) Use a Third Hand: A clever device to have in your arsenal, it can help position a toy or help to add additional interest to your background with color or texture.
7) Use Reflectors: These are easy to make and small enough to carry around. They are a great way to bounce available light onto your mini figs face to minimize shadows or reflective lines.
Toy Photography Specifically:
8) Clear your surface: Stray leaves, grass, pebbles, pine needles etc may not look like much when you are shooting, but once you enlarge your photo they become huge distractions.
9) Minimize your figures: When shooting Lego, 1-3 mini figures is more than enough to fill your frame. More than three (which is itself pushing it), can be over whelming.
10) Be aware of where your toys are looking: The slightest change in a head tilt can signal dramatically different emotions. Don’t forget to make sure the face is in focus. For most people being able to connect with the subjects eyes is a way to connect emotionally.
11) Take your time: More than a few photos have been tossed because the hair wasn’t lined up correctly or the pants where a little askew. Review your photos on the screen before you move on and make sure you have caught these little errs. It can be the difference between a beautiful photo and another image on the virtual trash heap.
12) Change your view point: If your photo is just not coming together change your view point. Move above, below or even to the other side of your set-up. Often the image is there, you just have to get the right angle on it.
13) Have fun and don’t be afraid to take risks. This isn’t brain surgery.
If you have any questions or anything to add to the conversation please leave a comment. We are all here to learn from each other.
~ xxsjc
The mask isn’t on straight in this image. I didn’t realize it until I had returned home and upload the image onto my computer. I let it fly since I like it so much. In the future I will need to follow step 11 more closely. ~ xxsjc