Say It Loud...

It's not easy being a toy photographer. 

If you happen to take photos of Lego outside I'm sure you've had a few awkward moments. You know the ones I'm talking about, the ones where people look at you in that weird "What are you doing?" sort of way. Or how about the time you told your friends (or family) that you photograph toys and there only response was a blank look. 

We have all been there. 

Instead of feeling ashamed of this wonderful hobby, each one of these interactions is an opportunity to engage, educate and  hopefully create a connection with a like minded individual. The trick is finding a way to connect in a way that is both accessible and informative.  

I've been rather glib when people ask me what I do, I simply respond that I take pictures of Lego. They immediately give me that blank look indicating a total lack of understanding until I whip out my iPad and show them. Generally their response is enthusiastic and we have a great conversation. 

After reading "Show Your Work!" by Austin Kleon I realize I have to do a better job. I need to be respectful of my audience and myself by providing an answer that better describes what I'm doing, is brief and accessible. I was considering going with "I'm a bookkeep that takes pictures of Lego mini figures in the wild." This is not entirely accurate but it would certainly start a conversation.

I'm proud of the toy photography community I am a part of. I want the world to know what an amazing art movement this is. So I am going to stop being glib and take more time to help people understand what is going on. 

In the mean time, the next time you're lying on the ground and getting "that look" from some passerby, know you are in good company. 

~ xxsjc

Have you ever been stopped on the street and asked what you are doing?

Do you feel foolish lying on the ground to get that perfect shot?

How do you describe your photographic hobby to you family?

A behind the scenes photo of me in action today. 

Is it Worth Doing?

It seems Me2 isn't the only one fond of posing questions: 

"Writer Henry James once proposed three questions you could productively put to an artists work. The first two were disarmingly straightforward: What was the artist trying to achieve? Did he/she succeed? The third`s a zinger: Was it worth doing?" ~ excerpt from Art & Fear

And that is the crux of the problem right there. I think I ask myself this question in some way everyday. Art isn't about making pretty pictures, it's not about perfect technique...art needs to go behind that. 

Certainly by embracing a small plastic toy peddled by one of the largest toy companies in the world makes me suspect my own abilities to move beyond these impediments. How do you challenge the status quo or capture a moment in time when you are essentially free advertising for Big inc.

Me2 posed a question awhile back that hit me hard and I've been unable to answer: would I exhibit my work in Shell Oil`s boardroom?  Honestly I don't know?  I'd like to think I have high moral standards, but I'm a realist. Would it move my work to the next level? Could the work be a form of protest? Could I generate controversy and get the work to a larger audience? Or am I just fooling myself and selling myself to the highest bidder?

Right now I know I'm not challenging myself enough in terms of content. I've achieved my original technical goals and can confidently capture whatever scene I set up. But it's time for me to take the next step and challenge both myself and the viewer. 

When I look at a finished image I want to be able to answer "Yes" when I ask that third question: "Was it worth doing?"

~ xxsjc

How a Lego Photo is Born

My son and I were fooling around with lego the other day and looking through his Master Builder Academy books and I came across this mini build for a cool camera. Needless to say, I whipped one up pronto.  It immediately reminded me of Weegee, so I made him too. Now if you're going to make a Speed Graphic camera and a figure who looks like Weegee out of Lego, then the next logical step is to set up murder scene.

...and that is how a lego photo is born.  

I'm sure this is going to lead somewhere interesting, I hope you will stick around to find out where.  

- xxsjc 

Toy Photography…an incomplete history

I was talking with my toy photo buddy Bricksailboat yesterday about the history of toy photography. We have both tried to research this topic and have found there is very little information about this movement on the internet. I thought that now is a good time to start pooling our knowledge and writing a brief history of toy photography.

What began as a few people posting images onto Flickr (and more recently onto Instagram) has grown into a huge world wide community of toy collectors and photographers sharing and supporting their passion. I have heard more times than I can count the experience of some new member of the community say that when they came to Instagram and discovered that there were already people taking photographs, how happy they were to know they weren't alone.

It has taken social media to bring these very far flung, disparate people together to feed off each others energy and grow this community into what we see today. Lately this movement seems to be taking on a life of it's own. I see other photographers, like myself, showing their work in galleries. Most recently Zahir Batin who will be exhibiting his excellent storm trooper pics in Malaysia. I truly wish him well because his success is all of our success.

I remember the first images that I saw that showed me what the possibilities could be. These were by Vesa Lehtimäki, better known as Avanaut. Since Vesa has been shooting toys since 2009 I like to think of him as one of the founding fathers of our movement.

But toy photography is not only a social media phenomenon. There is already a variety of photographers showing their toy photography in the more traditional art world like Brian McCarthy. His Art-Toys and War-Toys books are incredible.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of people all over the world using toys to express themselves and create amazing art. I look forward to continuing my research and seeing who else is out there.

~ xxsjc

Who was your inspiration to take it to the next level?
I'd like to start a list of influential toy photographers, who should be on it?

image by Vesa Lehtimäki

The Basics (pt 2)

I did a post for the Instagram Group Brickcentral a few months ago passing along a few tips for better outdoor macro photography. I thought it might be a good idea to go over these tips again to make sure we are all on the same page as we move forward to better photography. 

1) Pay attention to scale - the beauty is in the details. This is especially true with macro photography. You can reveal a new and fresh look at our world by getting up close. 

2) Keep your composition simple. To place maximum attention on your subject you will want to eliminate unwanted clutter. This includes small leaves, pine needles, bits of garbage, stray grass…these seemingly little things will distract from your composition. You want to emphasize what is important, minimize everything else. 

3) Take your time. Take lots of photos of the same set-up and check your view screen to make sure you got what you were looking for. Great photos can't be rushed.  

4) Keep the camera level. Ok I admit it, this is a personal pet peeve. In my opinion crooked horizon lines are only interesting once. 

5) Use the "rule of thirds"to help your composition. (Please see earlier post for a full explanation.) 

6) Use a tripod. Even though hand held is convenient, you can't always maintain good focus. You will also want to use the manual focus setting on your camera. Most cameras have a very hard time finding the correct focus point much less maintaining that focus on these small figures. If you have the money, invest in a lens with Image Stabilization.

7) Change your perspective. If you're struggling with your set up, change your point of view. Sometimes an unforeseen angle is the best one. Also try to get below your figure. When shooting these small toys, I find that shooting up at them seems to help them feel more majestic. 

8) Take advantage of the "golden hour". This is the hour right after sunrise and right before sunset. Amazing things can happen!

9) Experiment. Try different things, try things that make you uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to push yourself. 

~ xxsjc

Do you have any tips you would like to pass along?

Where is your favorite place to photograph your toy friends?

Next up I will share a few tips especially suited for macro photography. Stay tuned…

The Basics (pt 1)

Sometimes when I am on Instagram and I see people use certain photo terms I am occasionally left scratching my head and going "Huh?" I never know if it is a case of ignorance or if something is simply lost in translation. So in the interest of clarity I thought I should do a quick explanation of a few basic photo terms so we are all on the same page.

Rule of Thirds: Is simply a guideline to help you compose your photograph. If you view each frame as if is divided into nine section (almost all cameras and phones come with these guidelines that can be easily turned on or off) composing a photo is easier. There is a top, middle and bottom third as well as a left, middle and right third to each phot. The points were these lines intersect are referred to as "power points". When you are composing an image you want to align your horizon line along the top or bottom third line as well as place your subject near one of the power point intersections. This is simply a guideline and a nice place to start when learning to compose a photograph.

Depth of Field (often refered to as DOF): DOF refers to how much of your image is in focus. If you are using a small aperture (think Ansel Adams and Group f/64) the entire image from front to back will be in focus. This is referred to as a large depth of field. If you are shooting with the lens aperture wide open, like f2.8 - f4 you will have a short depth of field. Blurring the background by using a short DOF is a great way to draw attention to the subject and minimize distractions. (If you are taking photos on your phone check out the app BigLens to achieve a short DOF.)

Leading Lines: Is a strong line within the photograph that leads the viewers eye from an outside edge to the subject matter. You will often see railroad tracks, roads, tree branches used as leading lines. When you are shooting macro photos outdoors there are many interesting options.

Bokeh: Is an effect most often caused by reflected light in out of focus areas of a photograph. Bokeh is common when using a short depth of field. Bokeh can appear circular or hexagonal depending on the type of lens aperture your camera has. (If you are taking photos on your phone there are several apps that you can use to fake this effect like Lenslight.)

Macro: This simply means taking photos of small things close up. A macro lens is a lens that lets you get really close to your subject.

I am sure for most of you this information is not new and I appreciate your patience as I review some basic terminology. Toy photography is a wonderful hobby and for many kids and teens it is a great introduction to a lifetime love affair with photography. I hope that we each can pass on our passion as well as some basic tips and tricks to those new to the hobby so that the internet will be filled with even more great toy photography! 

~ xxsjc

How did you learn photography: trial and err or take a beginning photo class?

Have you ever shared your passion with a beginning photographer? 

Can you recommend any specialty phone apps that emulate the effects of a full size camera?

My next post will be an expanded version of a post I did for Brickcentral on the basics of outdoor photography. Stay tuned!! 

The Fallacy of Validation

"Validation is for parking" ~ from Steal Like an Artist

This made me laugh, because it's so true! I often see people grousing that their posted photos aren't getting enough likes or comments on Instagram. Another popular complaint is that their photos never get featured by any of the toy groups.  All I can think to say to this is that you shouldn't look to Instagram, Flickr, Google, Tumblr or anything else for validation. Because you aren't going to get it.

What people like or don't like is a very fickly enterprise. It is based on their own tastes coupled with their own experiences and occasionally these will intersect with what you are creating. Think of it like a vin diagram with a very small sliver of overlap. Whether or not what you are creating is good enough, has nothing to do with it. Being good is only half of the equation.

Oh did I mention luck is the other half? It's that weird intangible that separates those that get recognized and those that toil away in obscurity. Life is fickle and art is a temperamental task master. So don't get frustrated, roll with it, and make some art. Trust me, you will feel better.

So get out your toys, have some fun, take some pictures and look for your validation inside yourself. If it makes YOU happy, then it is good enough.

Did you take any toy photography pictures this weekend like Me2 did?
When was the last time you got a parking ticket?

~ xxsjc

I've bored you all enough with my philosophical ramblings. The rest of this week I will be posting on technique. I didm't play with my camera this weekend, but I did play with my printer. This was almost as good!

Challenge Yourself!

This month I took on a 30-day photo challenge offered up by one of the many toy groups on Instagram. I have always resisted the 365 photo-a-day project or other challenges. For one thing, I knew I did not have the discipline to post a photo a day and I also wanted to do my own thing.

But lately I have been feeling lost and unispired.

This challenge has been the perfect antidote. I spend most of my waking days rolling the various words around in my head to see what images come up. Basically this has become an all encompassing pursuit. Of course I will conveniently ignore the fact that I was stuck on the phrase "too much" for three days and be happy for the image I did eventually create. Sure I pulled a couple of photos out of my back pocket (so to speak) that have never seen the light of day, but thats ok. Some times images sit on my iPad until the right time to post reveals itself.

Personally if I end this challenge with nothing other than the image below, I will consider this a month very well spent. One good image in a month of shooting seems like a pretty good ratio to me.

So, if you are feeling blah about your photography or need a little poke in the butt - then sign up for a photo-a-day challenge. You might surprise your self, I know I did.

If you decide to take on a photo-a-day challenge, I will be there to cheer you on!

~ xxsjc

The Toys Are Alive

One thing that +Me2 and I agree on is that a good image is one in which the viewer makes an emotional connection with the image. As I look back through the last six months of my images I wonder if I can tell the difference. What makes one image of a small plastic person look more alive than another?

Is it the tilt of a head, is it particular movement of the legs, a small gesture of the curved hand or maybe just a trick of the light? It's not like Lego is a particularly moveable, expressive toy figure. Yet some images seem alive while others just lie flat on the screen / paper.

+Me2 and I also agree on the importance of the eyes being in focus. Yet, not all the images I deem to have been successful include faces and in some the eyes are obscured. So while I know this is a part of the equation, I don't think it is the answer.

This may seem like an inconsequential question but I have always approached my toy photography as an attempt to "bring the toys alive". As a young girl my toys were very real to me. We chatted, they listened, they went every where with me and for lack of a better description, they were my friends. I want my viewer to feel what I feel while I document the lives of my little plastic friends.

As always some images are more successful than others and I cherish the ones that achieve that emotional element. I think I would be happy if I could crack the code and help people see how alive my little plastic friends are to me. Until I do, I will keep taking photos and hope people will connect with them as I do.

If you have any tips to help bring the toys "alive" I would love to hear them.

~ xxsjc

The Green Room is Humming

I can't tell you how thrilled +Me2 and I are that several awesome fellow photographers have joined our Green Room, introduced themselves and metaphorically lashed their boats too ours. It feels great to begin this journey, where ever it will lead us.

The door is still open for any like minded photographers to join. Check out the Green Room and see who your fellow travelers will be. It's a chatty and varied group. 

In the mean time I hope you will give some thought as to what you would like to be doing with your photography that is not Instagram / internet related. Would you like to learn to print your images? Would you like to exhibit your work? Are you interested in selling or licensing your work? Would you like editing or shooting tips? Do you need help setting up a web site? 

Please leave your comments below and I can focus upcoming blog posts based on your interests. 

- xxsjc

Fake It 'Till We Make It

I've been a photographer for a long time; some might even accuse me of being an artist. I don't like labels, so I will continue to resist these labels and settle for being just a photographer. But one thing has remained constant throughout my life as a photographer: the struggle to create art. Even after 30 plus years I still struggle with the question: "Am I a real artist?"

As I was reading Steal Like an Artist, I realized chapter two had some pretty insightful things to say on this phenomena. Even if you follow there advice and look to your heroes to study, copy, emulate, attribute, transform, remix their influences until your source material becomes your own. Even if you do all of this successfully, then what? If you are like me you may still feel like a fake. I ask myself all of the time: Am I a REAL artist?

It turns out I am not alone in this feeling and they even have a name for it: impostor syndrome or the "psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments." It means that feeling like a phony, a fake, a charlatan, is perfectly normal.

Earlier this year the EMP asked me to be apart of a one night only panel of experts on different areas of the Lego community. I was billed as the "expert" Lego photographer. I laughed and told people I was an "expert in my field" (complete with air quotes). But little did I realize that maybe I am an expert in my field. Ok, I will admit it's a very small field, one that has just a handful of participants. But hey, I am an expert! If the EMP called me one, I must be one! I'm going to go out on a limb and call Me2 an expert too. (I hope he doesn't mind.)

Which leads me to the most important question: Are you an artist? Are you an expert in toy photography? If so, let me know. Let's be experts together, we can fake it until we all make it…together.

- xxsjc

Steal Like An Artist!

As I wait for me2 to recover from his latest secret mission I have been struggling to find interesting topics to write about. This blogging business is not easy. 

As I have been casting about looking for topics, a particular book title kept popping into my head: Steal Like an Artist. This little book made its way into our house a couple of years ago and even though it has an awesome title I never read it. In my desperation for a blogging topic I tracked it down and cracked it open. Eureka! 

With chapter topics like:  "Don't wait until you know who you are to get started" and "Side projects and hobbies are important" this book was speaking my language. 

The first chapter alone is worth the price of admission. Somehow the author makes over used nuggets like "Nothing is Original" and "Garbage in Garbage Out" seems fresh and original. My favorite quote he chose to illustrate this chapter was by Jim Jarmusch. 

"Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be a authentic." 

In the world of toy photography where everything is emulated and much is passed around without attribution, it's important to note that by using the world "steal" the author is encouraging you to be inspired by everything you see, but don't plagiarize.

Unless me2 suddenly shows up, I'll talk about some of my other favorite chapters later this week. Stay tuned! 

~ xxsjc

Homage to Robert Mapplethorpe

Faking it or the art of photo editing.

One thing I learned while I was getting my BFA in Photography was that I am really bad at black and white photography. Color is my medium. And if you don't believe me check out my pre Lego work here.

One of the first apps I looked for after a good basic editing app for my iPhone/iPad was a good black and white photo editor. I was thrilled when I discovered Noir Photo. This little single use photo app is great for quickly creating dramatic black and white photos. It has an easy to use interface that lets you quickly turn your photos from this

into this

So if you are looking to branch out with your photography and want to try to creating some dramatic black & white photos, might I suggest you give Noir Photo or Dramatic Black & White (another good black & white editor) a try. If you are like me and are black & white challenged, an app like this will fool people into thinking you know what you are doing. And isn't that what it is all about, faking it?

~ xxsjc

Banksy is My Hero!

Weird things happen when Me2 disappears into one of his top secret assignments. I tend to go off topic...like now. 

“The time of getting fame for your name on its own is over. Artwork that is only about wanting to be famous will never make you famous. Any fame is a by-product of making something that means something. You don't go to a restaurant and order a meal because you want to have a shit." - Banksy

This quote was included in the comments in one of my previous post by the talented @mister_bricks. He altered the quote slightly by replacing "fame" with "likes".  This quote resonated with me and I felt it was appropriate to revisit the topic "Is Their Life Beyond Instagram?". 

I'll be clear, I'm not looking for likes for my photos. I create them for my own pleasure. I enjoy the Instagram community that has nurtured and inspired me for the last two years. But posting pictures on Instagram can only be satisfying for so long. 

I believe that one of our goals here at Stuckinplastic is to unite like minded photographers who would like to take their toy photography to a new level. Specifically, showing them in real life. This could include displaying them at a cafe in your neighborhood, creating a pop up art gallery or some version of gorilla street art a la Banksy. Whatever or wherever our imaginations take us is fine by me. 

Let's storm the gates, let's create an art movement, let's rejoice in the fact that we are brothers in arms that just happen to be stuck in plastic!

- xxsjc