Toytography Magazine (Summer 2023)

JUNE 2023

FROM SETUP TO FINAL IMAGE, WE'LL SHOW YOU THE ROPES.

TIPS FOR WORKING WITH THE ULTIMATE LIGHT SOURCE.

THE BENEFITS OF USING THE CAMERA THAT FITS IN YOUR POCKET.

FROM A LIFE CHANGING INJURY CAME A PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHING TOY CARS.

TOYTOGRAPHYMAG.COM

2 PHOTO TOYTORIAL 3 FEATURED TOYTOGRAPHER 11 CELLTOGRAPHY 23 NATURAL LIGHTING 27 TOYTOGRAPHY WALL 24 39 C O N T E S T W I N N E R A Message from Brian Carr

A step by step Toytography walkthrough

Nicography - Nico Ongena

The art of cell phone photography

How to use the sun to your advantage

Inspiring work from our readers

Themed Contest #Friendship

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CONTENTS

TABLE OF NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER

A Note from the Founder

Sometimes life throws you such a curve ball that your aspirations and goals literally switch to another direction.

We don't always know what lies on the road ahead, but we do have the ability to learn, adapt and move forward.

As long as we keep ourselves open to learn new things and keep our minds ready for new perspectives and ideas, we will always be ready to embrace improvement.

r r a C n a i Br Founder

In this issue We have heard your requests and in this issue we will give you a tutorial on how to do Toytography. We'll show you the ropes on working with 1/6 scale and 1/12 scale figures.

Our feature interview showcases the phenomenal photography of Nico Ongena.

He explains how and why he shifted his passion from sports to photographing toy cars.

Don't forget to check out our artist wall and this issue's themed contest winner.

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LIGHTING SPACING

PROPS STORY

POSING STANDS

TRIPODS

PHOTO

TOYTORIAL By: Brian Carr

Your imagination is the only limit when it comes to Toytography. Everything from how you set up your subject to where you put the set pieces can change depending on what you're working with and what you have in mind.

In this guide, we'll go over photography advice for 1/6thand 1/12th-scale figures. A DSLR camera will be used for both tutorials. The utilization of natural light will be discussed at a another time. For the time being, we'll walk you through the setup and give you a few quick ideas to make your photo setups a bit easier. We will discuss positioning, lighting, props, posing, figure stands, and tripod use as we put our story together.

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t r Pa 1 For our 1/6th scale setup, we'll begin by creating an alley scene. When creating a scene like this, you should make an effort to picture everything you think you would see in this kind of scenario and then arrange those things from there.

Some people are skilled at using insulation foam (XPS) to make a "street" surface. For this scene, we will use a piece of ceramic tile. A hardware store offers a variety of them that you can use for all different types of scenes.

Once all of your components are in position, you may realize that there is not enough room to cover your scene. A black background can be helpful in this situation. You can use the black backdrop to fill in any gaps in your frame and to block off any light that could reflect from nearby objects.

After that, we'll pose our figures. We are utilizing these 6" stands to aid with keeping the figures in place. They almost disappear from the viewer's view when they are arranged correctly behind the figure. A stand that matches the color of the used figure the closest is also helpful. Typically, a black stand works best because it complements most hues.

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The leg that will be posed the straightest provides the finest cover for the stand.

Additionally, you should cover the region of the stand that is about the figure's waist with any piece of clothing.

When your character is facing the camera, the stand won't be visible if it is placed correctly.

The next thing we want to do is give the appearance that our villain is being lifted off the ground. We achieve this illusion with the use of bendable wire.

Wrap one end of the wire around the hand (or wrist peg) and the other end around the neck of the figure. Make sure that these areas are hidden as best as possible from the view of the camera.

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After placing out lighting, you are now ready for the final image. Where you place your lighting is up to you and your imagination.

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t r Pa 2 Let's now move on to our final two scenes using two 1/12 scale figures. For these particular photos, we will use a large diorama for our setup. It's fun to use these types of dioramas because they give you the ability to take photos from multiple angles and created different scenes.

Since our diorama has windows, we need to have some type of background to cover any visible areas. We are only going to use one window at a time for each photo, so this small strip will do the job.

Since our diorama has windows, we need to have some type of background to cover any visible areas. We are only going to use one window at a time for each photo, so this small strip will do the job.

We now have our "nosey neighbor" in place. He's a big guy, so adjustments were made to make him fit properly in frame.

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With the use of our background and proper lighting to match the outdoor setting, it now helps to create the illusion that our subject is actually outside.

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Our final image puts our two characters in to a bit of a brawl. Since we're working with two characters that are different heights, we're using it to our advantage to create a little humor by having the little guy leap over the table for the punch.

With the use of thick enough wire, we can position our figure on the table and hold him up to give the appearance of the leap. We're also using that wire to hold the chair that he is leaping from. Once everything is in place, we're ready for our final image.

We hope you use these tips to create your own great images. With all the options you can use, your possibilities are endless. Be inspired and let your imagination soar!

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Toytography Magazine: What inspired you to start doing toy photography?

Nico Ogena: I saw a little tutorial by an American from Chicago, Jerry Business. He takes little toy figures, and I thought “That looks nice to do,” so I went to the shop to get some little Hot Wheels, very cheap Hot Wheel cars, and I tried to do the same.

When I look at those pictures, from then… Haha! I wouldn’t post them again, now. I went on the street, I took my cell phone, I took some simple pictures with those cars, and I was pretty proud of it. But, like I said, when I look at them now… Haha!

TM: How long ago did you get started?

Nico: I started 3 or 4 years ago, but I didn’t have a camera. I didn’t have a photography background.

Nothing, actually. It just started with a tutorial on YouTube, but that’s something in my character, I think.

When I want to do something, I want to do it well. I started learning from YouTube tutorials, watching other people who are doing this hobby. In the beginning, I took pictures, and I just held them for myself.

Then, I went to work, and I showed them, and one guy said, “Oh, you have to put them on Instagram.” But, I didn’t have an Instagram page. So, I made one called "iPhone Diecast Pictures", and I started posting them. I remember, when I was at the shop somewhere, I looked at my Instagram and I had 300 followers. I showed it to my girlfriend, “I have 300 followers!” I did a special post, because I had 300 followers, but yeah, that was the start of my hobby.

TM: So, when you saw Jerry with the little miniature toys, what made you decide to take pictures of cars instead of figures?

Nico: For me, it was the easiest thing to get in the shop here.

I remember, I sent him an email, and I asked him where he got his figures, and he said it was mostly secondhand stores.

For me, the easiest… Here in Belgium, it’s hard to buy them in shops. The basic Hot Wheel models, no problem, but the more special ones, I have to order them all on the internet.

In the beginning, it was just simple Hot Wheels, and I would just put them somewhere on the street. I look at it now, and the scale doesn’t fit. Haha!

"I didn't have a photography background. Nothing actually."

So, this was the beginning, then I started evolving by looking at other guys, especially tutorials on YouTube. After a year or so… Because, in the beginning, I used to take pictures of those cars with my iPhone and some simple dioramas, like stones or moss, but it wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be. So, I started looking at how to make dioramas. YouTube is a very useful way to learn.

After that, I bought myself a DSLR and I started working with Photoshop and Lightroom, but all by myself. I didn’t have any lessons or anything. I learned by myself.

TM: I saw your earlier photos and saw the small, little pieces that you started with. Over the course of time, I saw the dioramas really evolve and get bigger and wider. You learned all of that from tutorials?

Nico: Yeah! In the beginning, I started working with 1/64, Hot Wheels and those things. Then, I bought more detailed 1/64 models.

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Now, I don’t have any. I sold them all, and I started with 1/43 scale. It was a little bit easier for me to make dioramas, and it was easier to work with. You can see it on my Instagram also. The first year is 1/64, then it’s 1/43… Now, I think I have, maybe 10 1/43 models, and all the rest are sold. Now, it’s all 1/18, actually. You can put a lot more detail in the diorama, but they are very big.

Nico: No, I know how the location works. For example, the harbor. I don’t have a harbor close to my neighborhood, so I have to drive a little farther.

But most of my dioramas, I use more than one time.

Like the roads. I can use the roads more than one time, and I can add some things. You can see the same dioramas in another environment with some other details.

TM: That brings me to my next question. The dioramas that you build, do you build them with a specific location in mind? Or do you just make the dioramas and go look for a spot?

TM: Yeah, I’ve seen some of the dioramas you have that look like regular parking lots, and you can just use that same one in other areas.

Nico: To start, I look a lot at normal cars. I think my phone is exploding from all the things I want to make, but I won’t have time to make them all. But, yeah, I pick one and I mostly have a location in mind.

Sometimes, I have to go as far as 50 or 100km to find the perfect background.

TM: Oh, wow! Do you drive all the way out to that location to get your idea, then you come back, and you build the diorama?

Nico: Yeah. But, in the beginning, when I took the pictures of the smaller cars, the parking lot was too big. So, in photoshop, I enlarged my car, so it sits in the parking lot. But that’s why I started with 1/18. I don’t need to do this. It’s more natural. For me, I want to make my pictures as realistic as possible. By using the 1/18, I can focus more on that, and it’s more natural to put them in the diorama and blend them into the environment. . I know it would be possible to photoshop a background, but that’s just not my style.

"Sometimes, I have to go as far as 50 or 100km to find the perfect background."

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"...for me photoshop is more for the little details.

To erase some errors, or to play with the colors."

TM: It just makes it look more believable, if you’re using a practical, natural background, instead of trying to photoshop the whole thing.

Nico: Yeah, and I have a lot of inspiration from other guys, and it’s unbelievable how they can make those pictures, but for me photoshop is more for the little details. To erase some errors, or to play with the colors.

TM: So, you don’t want to do an overkill, where the whole thing is photoshopped. I understand that takes a lot away from it just being a car, because you’re using so much photoshop.

Nico: Yeah. That’s not my kind of style, and to be honest, I don’t have the skills at the moment. I work with photoshop, and I can do the things that I need for my kind of style, but I didn’t make a lot of effort to learn more photoshop. I love to take pictures of racing cars, Formula 1 cars, and I thought a big crowd in the background would be nice.…I will do that one day, but at the moment, I want to use real things and the environment.

TM: Since you have only been doing this for about 3 years or so, have you been approached by any companies?

Nico: For the past few months, maybe a year, it has really changed for me. I have this one car, It’s an F1 car. It’s from LookSmart, and it’s one example I got from a German shop. They sent me those cars for free. My latest post with the green Porsche (RUF) ....there’s also a car from Almost Real. They send me those cars, I take pictures and send them through, and they can use them for their promotions. Two weeks ago, I was approached by an advertising bureau in Paris, France. They asked me to take pictures on the Circuit of Le Mans in France. I also get approached by shops who provide me with the materials to make my dioramas. That’s an important one.

I think, you know, it all costs a lot of money.

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TM: Yes! And they can look at your photos and they’re seeing the materials that you use. “Yeah, he used our materials to make these photos.”

Nico: Yeah, I name them in my posts, in my captions. It’s mostly shops from the Netherlands.

They give me all the building materials, the paints, the static grasses and the greenery.

TM: I know you transitioned from your phone to your DSLR camera. Do you have multiple lenses that you use, or just one?

Nico: I mostly use the same one, and it’s not a special one. I get a lot of questions on Instagram in private messages “Which lens do you use?”, but you can use your phone also. It's not always important to have the best gear. For me, it’s not about a special lens. I have two lenses, and I always use the same one.

TM: I’ve noticed that as well. For people who are just starting out, they go to someone like you or another photographer that they’re inspired by,

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and they start asking about their camera and their lens. It’s almost like they’re thinking “If I have these things, I’ll be able to produce what they create”, but really, it has to do with the person themselves, what they want to do, and get their own results.

Nico: Yeah, they also ask, “Which settings did you use?”

TM: Which is just for that specific photo.

Nico: Yeah! If I were to tell them, it was made with this setting it's not really going to help you.

TM: Yeah, your photo would only look that way, if you were creating the exact same photo, in the exact same setting.

Nico: Yeah, the same circumstances, the same light… It doesn’t work like that.

TM: Yeah, you’re basically saying, just do like me.

Just start taking photos and watch yourself improve.

"It's not always important to have the best gear."

Nico: Yeah, I told you the whole idea. When you look at my first pictures, then my pictures from 2 years ago, then from 1 year ago, there is an evolution. You have to learn and learn from your mistakes.

Sometimes, I post a picture, then I see a fault, or something that’s not correct, then I’m not happy. I try to avoid it, but sometimes it happens. Mostly, no one will see it, but I know.

TM: Right! It's like having a flaw that is in your photo, but no one notices it until you point it out.

Nico: Yes! It’s like that!

TM: Yes, and we kind of beat ourselves up, but it’s mainly about trial and error. You’re proof right now, that it doesn’t take long to get better. You just keep doing it and you watch it evolve.

Nico: Yeah, if you want something, and you’re a bit creative, you can be better and better all the time.

TM: When you started, how often were you taking photos? Every day? Every week?

Nico: Ha! Too many times. For me, it’s a bit of a problem.

Before this hobby, I did a lot of sports. I don’t do a lot of sports anymore. I had an operation, and I had to quit sports. Now, with time, it will be possible again.

But I spend so much time in this hobby...my girlfriend, she said, “You can do 2 days of photography and 3 days sports.” But for me, when I do something, I like to do it all the way. I’m not happy to ride my bike 2 times a week. I want to ride it 5 times a week. It’s a problem, because I spend all my time in this photography hobby. To be honest, it’s a bit too much, because I wake up with it and I go to sleep with it. And not just that, but to be always thinking. When I drive somewhere with my car, or walk somewhere, or when I look at Facebook and I see a picture of a car and think, “Oh, I want to do this.” It’s always in my mind, this hobby.

TM: So you could say, when you really got into this hobby, you really conditioned your mind. Every area that you see, every setting that you see, it’s automatically a photo idea in your head.

Nico: Yeah, but then I have to wait for a good moment, considering the weather conditions. I have to make a diorama.

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"When I do something, I like to do it all the way."

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"...for me photoshop is more for the little details.

To erase some errors, or to play with the colors."

I have to look for a setting, a place to take the pictures. This is something I have to work on, because I can’t make a picture with every idea I have in my mind. I have to skip a few.

TM: True, it's like, when you really start getting into your photos, no matter what it is, cars, figures, or things like that, especially if you’re going outside around your neighborhood, you automatically start looking at settings and environments. You start thinking, “Oh, that would be a good spot for a picture.” It really changes your perspective on the world.

NO: Yeah, but most of the people I meet in my normal life, they don’t know what goes on behind those pictures. When I show them a picture of my car with a flower on it, they think, “Oh, those are real flowers.” I can’t tell them that a real flower is too big for the scale of my cars. It’s very hard to explain. And in Belgium, it’s not something that’s very regular. I don’t know another guy that does the same thing.

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"I always work on a table. When people are looking, they’re not used to seeing that."

TM: Oh! There’s not a lot of toy photographers in your area?

Nico: No, no. Some will put a car on a table and take a picture, but it’s not the same as what I am doing. I think the Netherlands is better, but not really Belgium.

TM: I guess that’s what makes you unique, being in that area. When you’re out doing your photography, and someone else sees what you’re doing, do they come by and check it out?

Nico: Yeah, that happens a lot. “What are you doing?” I will always have to show them some pictures of my car, that I have already made, to show them. It happens quite often. Especially in the beginning, when I was laying flat on the ground, taking pictures with my iPhone in the center of the city, or something. People were looking at me strangely. But now, I don’t do that. I always work on a table. When people are looking, they’re not used to seeing that.

TM: People are going to really take notice as you keep growing, now that you have companies reaching out to you. So, what were you doing before? What sport were you playing?

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Nico: I did a lot of sports. I played soccer, but I had to stop when I was 17, because of a serious injury. This was a long time ago. Then, I did mountain biking with a racing bike. Also, running. I did run a lot, but my body… I have already had 9 or 10 surgeries on my knees and my neck. Yeah, my body is not made for sports. My mind, yes, but not my body.

TM: So, this a turned into a good thing for you. You did the sports, and now, because of all the injuries, you have found something new to fill that gap that you can dedicate your time to.

Nico: Yeah, everyone has some issues sometimes, in their private lives, and for me, this was something that took me away from the real world. I had to think of everything, I had to craft my dioramas, so I was always busy thinking about those things. That helped me to take my mind off problems and other things. This was a perfect hobby, actually.

TM: That’s good! So when you’re dealing with personal issues, because toy photography triggers the imagination, you can’t help but let the other stuff go, so you can focus on your "camera settings" or whatever

"I always work on a table. When people are looking, they’re not used to seeing that."

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figures or cars you have in front of you. You’re almost forced to let the other stuff go so you can think about what’s in your imagination.

Nico: Yeah, at the moment of the picture, you have to keep your mind on it, because you have to shoot them at the right angle or something, and you want your pictures to be good. You don’t want to have to take them again.

TM: It’s true. No matter what you’re thinking of on your way to taking that picture, in that moment where you’re setting it up, the image is all you’re thinking about.

Nico: Yeah. Also, my inspiration comes from you guys. From the real toy photographers with the fireworks and things, Like SirDork. He’s a master with the fireworks. This is something I want to involve more in my pictures, but it’s not as easy with cars. I like the effects you can create with the fireworks.

TM: Yeah, he was the person we interviewed for the first issue of Toytography magazine. I was telling him the same thing. I really enjoy the fireworks, it’s really cool that he's able to include that in your photos, but some figures have real fabric for clothing, Like Hot Toys figures, and it can be a challenge to set off fireworks next to that!

Nico: Haha! No! Those are also expensive, right? This is also my issue, because the models I use are mostly very detailed. They cost some money, so I have to be careful with what I do with them. My effects are always real. I use real dust. I use real water. I have to watch out for my models. I love the pictures of F1 cars with the sparks, like when a car hits the ground, sparks are going everywhere. I already did a picture 2 or 3 months ago, but I want to do more, a different way. But I’m still thinking of how I can do that effect, without it doing a lot of harm to my models.

TM: Haha! Yeah, that is definitely important. I understand that. Well Nico, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us.

Nico: Yeah, this was good. Thank you.

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Echo base toys www.echobasetoys.myshopify.com Currently residing in Irwindale, Ca (Southern California, Los Angeles area)

Also located at Frank and Son's Collectible show Booth 612/Row 6

Great Scott!!

Doc, where's the ad?!

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Celltography By: Dan Hickman CAPTURE AMAZING PHOTOS WITHOUT A DSLR! Everyone carries a camera these days, it just happens to be disguised as your cell phone. Whether you're an iPhone or Android user, cell phones today come equipped with some incredible photography technology and can take some of the clearest pictures out there. They are easy to carry around and can make for an instant photo shoot at the drop of a hat. Setting up shots can be done quickly and taking a series of pictures has never been easier. Plus, let's face it, the memory space in phones is nothing short of spectacular, so why wouldn't you want to use your phone?

The bulk of the photos I take for action figure reviews is done on my phone. I can set up my lightbox, stage my subject, pop my phone on its tripod and off I go. The settings are automatically detected and with but the tap of a finger, I've got several photos to choose from. Does it mean that they all turn out exactly how I want them? Not at all but editing them on my phone is easy and can be done relatively quickly.

With that in mind, let's take a look at some basics that are necessary to keep in mind when using your phone for Toytography.

The same principles we apply to taking photographs with a full DSLR Camera set up are also useful when using a cell phone.

First and foremost, make sure you understand the equipment you are using. Cell phone technology today makes it really easy to just "point and click" for a good shot. Do your homework though. Learn about the camera features on your phone, study the different settings and then select the set up that is going to best suit your photography purposes. I own a Samsung Galaxy S21+ and spent quite a bit of time looking through the camera settings when I first started using it. In fact, all images in this article were taken with that phone. Are you aware that with the simple swipe of the shutter button, your phone may be able to take "burst shots" or create a GIF? So many times, we miss out on all the great features our phone cameras have, make sure that you are familiar with the tools you have in hand.

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Our next principle involves setting the shot. As with a DSLR, the proper set up can make all the difference in the world. Probably the biggest difference you'll see is in the background. With a DSLR, choosing aperture settings allows you to blur your background, thus making the subject of your picture the focal point. With phones though, the images are meant to be very crisp as ideally, you're using the phone to capture long-term memories. However, with toy photography, you don't always want the tightly focused background details.

Your phone should allow you to tap on the subject, bringing it into focus and putting background objects into a slight blur.

You can see the difference with these two Spider-Man/Venom shots. Notice the focus is on Venom in the foreground, blurring Spidey and the buildings, while in the second photo the focus is on Spider-Man and the background. This is an easy trick to help bring the viewer's eye to where you want it, but you have to remember to tap that focus button. We know that getting the "perfect" shot takes time to set up, so after you've positioned your figures, take the time to make sure you are focused on the proper subject.

There's nothing worse than blurring the wrong part of the image... or having something in crisp detail that you really don't want included!

Lighting is, of course, our next focus. I'm not going to spend too much time on it though as there is an excellent article in this very issue on lighting tips and tricks. Just remember that even when using your phone, lighting is going to play a major role in how your picture looks. Additionally, phones do tend to capture more ambient light, so you may think your picture is dark enough, when you've set it up, but after taking it, you find it's easier to see than you thought it would be. Many of the new phones have multiple camera lenses, designed to enhance the crisp look of your pictures.

Keep in mind that working closely with lighting to get the exact effect you want is going to be even more key than when using a DSLR!

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In our last issue, we discussed using tripods when taking photos. There are a great number available for cell phones as well. I was thrilled to discover that the lightbox I purchased came with a cell phone tripod. This has made my life so much easier, especially when taking photos for action figure reviews. As mentioned before, the stability provided by a good tripod helps keep focus tight and pictures still.

Well, now you've taken your photo and though you like how it turned out, it could still use a bit of editing. Many phones come equipped with a photo editor app built right in. I use mine frequently to get different effects, adjust the lighting, brightness, contrast, etc... You can change your exposure, saturate the picture with color, increase or decrease shadows and highlights, crop, rotate and even erase objects with most all of the built in photo editing software available. That being said, if you are a fan of Photoshop on your PC, you can also download a couple of different Photoshop Apps for use on your cell phone too!

I have Adobe Photoshop Fix, which is great, but to be honest, I'm more comfortable with the built-in photo editing tools. The reality is you should work with the tools you are familiar with. I have to admit that I was surprised with all of the different things I could do to the pictures on my phone. For example, using different filters to change the tone of my pictures is a lot of fun to play around with.

Use the black and white filter, but slowly bring up the saturation to add just a hint of color, leads to some amazing looks for your pictures. Adjust the tint to give characters a radical new look or play with the temperature settings for a "cool" or "warm" look to the color scheme of your photography.

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Well, now you've taken your photo and though you like how it turned out, it could still use a bit of editing. Many phones come equipped with a photo editor app built right in. I use mine frequently to get different effects, adjust the lighting, brightness, contrast, etc... You can change your exposure, saturate the picture with color, increase or decrease shadows and highlights, crop, rotate and even erase objects with most all of the built in photo editing software available. That being said, if you are a fan of Photoshop on your PC, you can also download a couple of different Photoshop Apps for use on your cell phone too! I have Adobe Photoshop Fix, which is great, but to be honest, I'm more comfortable with the built-in photo editing tools.

The reality is you should work with the tools you are familiar with. I have to admit that I was surprised with all of the different things I could do to the pictures on my phone. For example, using different filters to change the tone of my pictures is a lot of fun to play around with. Use the black and white filter, but slowly bring up the saturation to add just a hint of color, leads to some amazing looks for your pictures. Adjust the tint to give characters a radical new look or play with the temperature settings for a "cool" or "warm" look to the color scheme of your photography.

Cell phone technology, especially where cameras are concerned is really incredible. The opportunity to take incredible pictures, using only the phone in your pocket has opened the door for so many people to really improve their photo skills. You've got a camera on you at all times so, the only thing left to say, really, is... now there's no excuse for missing out on a great shot! Throw a couple figures in the car and whip that phone out when the photo presents itself!

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By: Brian Carr The sun is the most difficult but beneficial light source to use in Toytography. With the right settings and conditions, natural light can be used to take great pictures. It all depends on the angle, shade, and/or time of day. Personally, some of my best photos have come from using a natural light source.

So let's discuss a few tips you can use to your advantage and what you need to be aware of when working with natural light.

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If you're not careful with your settings, this method can become quite challenging. You run the risk of having your pictures appear "washed out" (too bright) and overexposed. There are accessories you can use to your advantage if you're using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, such as a UV filter for your lens and/or a lens hood. You can reduce some of the harsh light that the camera picks up by using these practical accessories. You shouldn't worry too much about having the sun behind your subject if it is directly overhead. You must, however, be mindful of your aperture and F-stop settings. A diffusor is a cool accessory you can use. This will help to even out the lighting in your picture and reduce a lot of the harsh light. It's similar to taking photos on a cloudy day

Working in shaded locations (indirect lighting) is a great way to avoid having harsh, direct sunlight on your subject. The best locations for this method would be close to a wall, close to plants or trees, or employing a deflector.

However, you don't want to make it obvious that you're utilizing it unless you are deliberately trying to show that your topic is in shade. For instance, you don't want the backdrop light to look brighter if your subject is in the shade. This also refers to sunlight beaming directly on background items, so it's not simply about having the sun shining behind your subject. If your subject is covered by a light reflector and there is bright light all around it, this may also appear unattractive.

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Using angled lighting is when you have your light source reflecting off another surface. For example, you can also use this type of lighting when you’re using natural light from a window. Another example is reflecting light from a mirror, foil or water source. Angled light is also great when you want to cast shadows. This is one of the trickiest parts when using natural light. On one hand, you’re (for the most part) using indirect sunlight for shadowing. On the other hand, your light source is constantly moving and it can be a challenge to get a good photo at the desired angle while working against the clock. However, when done properly, you can get some phenomenal images.

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Time of day – Taking a photo during sunrise or sunset is my personal favorite time to use natural light. As some would call it, the “Golden” or “magic” hour, it’s during this time of day when your photo will be rich with color. But just like other challenges when using natural light, you’re on a time limit and you must work quickly to achieve your desired settings. But again, when you finally get that shot, the results are satisfying.

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The best way to understand what works best for you and what time of day gives you the best results is to try for yourself. Take photos of your desired toy at different times of the day. Find out what part of the day gives the best results. Discover what time of day makes the colors on your toy really pop!

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Name: Jay Boaz Instagram: Jbotography Country: Canada Camera: Canon m50 Taking photos since: 2020 Camera: Pixel 7 Pro

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About the photo: When I originally conceived of this photo, it was a part of a series I did mashing up different time travelers or time traveling properties with the Tardis from Doctor Who. This series was also my first real foray into shooting with a digital background. My objective whenever I do an image is to tell a story. When I look at this photo, I imagine Booster Gold and Blue Beetle on a best friends madcap adventure through time! It puts a smile on my face thinking about it and it's definitely a comic I would want to read!

Next Contest Theme: The theme for our Fall issue contest is SciFi. Create an ORIGINAL photo that has a Science Fiction theme.

To submit a photo for the next contest, just post your photo in the Toytography Magazine Facebook group and use the hashtag #SciFi. The photo with the most votes wins. You must preorder the coming issue for your image to be accepted.

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Photo Submission To submit a photo for the Toytography Wall in the next issue, post your photo in the Toytography Magazine Facebook group and use the Hashtag #issueno4 You must preorder the coming issue for your image to be accepted.

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