My Nuffnang

Saturday, December 31, 2016

HOW TO START THE YEAR OF 2017


© 2016 Hasif Rahman - Lego Photography | Benny Loves Photography

Canon 6D with 40mm F2.8 plus macro lens converter

" Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results "

- Willie Nelson -

Today will be the 1st January of 2017. Its New Year ! I bet most of us have set a new bucket list whether a new set of list or carry forward the unfinished business from last year. What ever it is, how do I start the new year? Yes, the first thing that I need to do is to punch away all the negative things. It can be people, thoughts, surrounding, habits and others. It's because last year in 2016, the main thing that dragged me was negative thoughts. Well, the list was like :-


  • I can't do this
  • I'm afraid to
  • Its too much to handle
  • I lost my touch
  • I don't have time
  • I don't have proper equipment
  • I can't be that good
  • It's not easy
  • I'll do it later
Yeah, I can add more to the list but I need to stop it. It's not gonna happen in 2017. I'll start the year with positive things. Lets be brave and start working. Let make things happen ! I punch away all the Negative Things ! BANG ! 



PHOTOGRAPHY | THE WHY FACTORS



© 2016 Hasif Rahman - Lego Photography | Benny Loves Photography

Canon 6D with 40mm F2.8 plus macro lens converter

" Without obsession, life is nothing "

- John Waters -


The one question starting with why, "Why are you taking photos of Lego and toys". Its the question where if I'm too lazy to answer it, I'll just answer "because its fun !". Well, is it the only point why i'm taking photos of Lego and toys? Sure no. There's a lot of factors why I'm into Toy Photography. Fun is one of the points of the Why Factors. But first, to be honest, I'm not actually a Lego Collector. I'm more into Lego Minifigures and toys that looks cute to be photographed. That's why I don't bother to have all the previous sets that is "retired set" unless the set is important for my photography. But hey, I do collect Ultimate Collector's Series (UCS) for Lego Star Wars. But still, the set which cost me a lot of money like the Death Star with the price of RM2500, I'll skip it. Yeah, I know, there's Lepin, Lele and others that cost cheaper around RM500.00, but in my personal view, the feel of the bricks is totally different. Lego feels better. But hey, if you want to buy the other brand, go ahead. I'm ok, we're still friend.

Lets get back to the main topic. The Why Factors.

1. Avanaut and Zenith Ardor

It was like 2 years ago, while I was scrolling my Instagram, I found the Instagram's Account these two photographers, Avanaut and Zenith Ardor. Honestly said, its the kickstart for me to fall in love with Toy Photography. I just love the way they use toys (mostly Lego minifigures) as a subject in photography. There's a story in each photos, its like the photo is alive. Because of them, I started to buy Lego. Yes, just started it, just because I wanted to use it in Photography and since that day, from just buying certain sets, Lego is now one of my hobbies.



2. Learn New Things in a fun way

Toy Photography helps you to learn new things in a fun way. While learning new techniques, you're also playing with the set. Toy Photography is not different from Portrait Photography, Food Photography and Product Photography. It requires you to set up a proper lighting, the background, the subject, and your creativity to set up the scene. You can even play around with the lighting as if during portrait / fashion photography such as using colour gel and others. The different will be the size of the subject. I did use some of the techniques from portrait photography in Toy Photography. It's not easy at first as you need to DIY for certain set up. But its fun !



3. New Friends

Toy Photography is like an international language. You can be friends with everyone from around the world even you only met via virtual. Just by 2-3 comments on Instagram at every post of the person you follow, later on, you're officially a friend that shares the same hobby. I have friends from Indonesia, United Kingdom, United States, Brunei and a lot more. Just by having the same hobby, Toy Photography.



4. Time

Last but not least, it's time. Being a person with most of the time during weekdays at the office and being a husband and father during night and weekends, time seems to be my enemy. During the days where I'm a Portrait Photographer, a Wedding Photographer, and a Street Photographer, I rarely have the time to do it. There were times where I can't pick up my DSLR for one to two months. I was like, that's it, I give up in photography. But its not easy to stop for the things that you love. At last, Toy Photography is the answer. Time is my bestfriend now. I can do it anytime I want.


Whatever the Why Factors, the main thing is that I'm happy with it. Me as an adult, playing with toys? Well, age is just a number. Nothing to be ashamed with. As the quote in Lego Movie :-

" You know the rules, this isn't a toy. Actually it's a highly sophisticated inter-locking brick system. "




Friday, December 30, 2016

PERSONAL | THE START OF SOMETHING NEW



© 2016 Hasif Rahman - New Year 2017 | The End of 2016

Canon 6D with 40mm F2.8 plus macro lens converter

" The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals "

- Melody Beattie -


Pheeew, lagi beberapa hari sahaja kita akan masuk ke tahun yang baru, tahun 2017. As usual, setiap tahun sebelum melangkah ke tahun yang baru, kita akan lihat kembali wishlist yang kita rancang, adakah berjaya atau gagal atau masih dalam proses. Apapun, years and age are just numbers, but setting up goals will help us to focus. Sebelum ini bila sebut pasal wishlist, diri ini sekadar perlu ada sahaja. Dapat atau tidak, itu lain cerita. Tetapi bila dah jejak umur 30 tahun ni, terasa juga diri sudah tua dan tahun 2017 dilihat, change must be made. Wishlist must be completed or worst case scenario in progress. No more failure. No more lame excuses. No more feeling giving up. Lets all out !

Kita lihat beberapa perkara yang berjaya disempurnakan pada tahun 2016.

  1. Berjaya bertukar ke Putrajaya daripada SUK Negeri Sembilan setelah berusaha dengan pelbagai cara. Akhirnya dapat tukar suka sama suka with someone yang diri ini tidak kenal. Terima kasih atas bantuan rakan yang turut sama viralkan permohonan untuk bertukar.
  2. Berjaya dapatkan rumah untuk tinggal bersama isteri dan anak secara privately. Alhamdulillah, till now, its a nice place with wonderful environment. 
  3. Berjaya untuk naik pangkat 
  4. Berjaya dapatkan set Lego Star Wars UCS Slave 1 yang telah lama menjadi idaman 
  5. Berjaya mulakan project photography and will keep on doing it
Well, thats the big thing for my 2016, seems not much sebab baru tahun pertama dapat tinggal bersama isteri dan anak sepenuhnya dan bukan lagi weekend husband. Tidak dinafikan terasa sedikit lost dari pelbagai aspek. Namun berjaya dikawal sepenuhnya and yes, we survived. Janji Allah itu benar, bila dah berkahwin, ada anak, rezeki itu pasti ada. Secara keseluruhannya, Alhamdulillah for 2016, and lets do better and more for 2017.

Bagi tahun 2017, rasanya lebih baik jika perancangan dibuat dengan lebih teliti agar dapat fokus dengan lebih baik. Wishlist boleh dibahagikan kepada kategori dan setiap kategori akan ada pecahannya. 

  • Photography
  • Travel / Holiday
  • Financial
  • Asset
  • Personal

Lets start the 2017 with a positive thinking. Hey Ho, Lets Go !




Monday, December 12, 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY | PORTRAIT OF C3P0


© 2016 Hasif Rahman - Star Wars Fever | A New Hope

Canon 6D with 40mm F2.8 plus macro lens converter

" We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life"

- C3P0 : Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope -


Sunday, December 11, 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY | PORTRAIT OF R2D2


© 2016 Hasif Rahman - Lego Star Wars | R2D2

Canon 6D with 40mm F2.8 plus macro lens converter

" Beep Bloop Blop Bleep Boop"

- R2D2 -



Sunday, December 4, 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY | THE CLASSIC CHROME C3P0


© 2016 Hasif Rahman - Star Wars Fever | A New Hope

Canon 6D with 40mm F2.8 plus macro lens converter

" We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life"

- C3P0 : Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope -


Semalam, ada satu event Star Wars daripada Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club (SWMFC) di The School Jaya One, Petaling Jaya. Event tersebut berlansung selama 2 hari iaitu pada 3 Disember - 4 Disember 2016. It's all about Star Wars from Toys (Figure, vintage toys, Lego, Bootleg), Cenderamata, Cosplay competition, Star Wars Show, and a lot more. Memandangkan bulan bajet diperlukan di tempat lain, maka hanya dapat membeli dua brick seperti gambar di atas. Gold Chrome Colour C3P0 dan Silver Chrome Colour T-14. Yeah ! Love the shiny minifigures !

Boleh dikatakan, sesetengah minifigure lebih sesuai bila dijadikan chrome terutama jika dari movie asalnya sebegitu. So, apa lagi, ada masa hari ini, terus buat portrait.


Bagi saya, set - set figure dan minifigure daripada Star Wars Episode IV, V dan VI adalah set yang terbaik. Set - set tersebut lebih menarik perhatian para collector daripada set - set daripada Episode yang terbaru. No wonder ramai collector sanggup mengeluarkan ribuan ringgit bagi mendapatkan set - set classic tersebut. Contohnya, edisi pertama UCS Millenium Falcon Lego kini dijual dengan harga RM15,000.00. 


The Force Is Strong With This C3P0 !


Saturday, December 3, 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY | A NEW HOPE


© 2016 Hasif Rahman - Star Wars Fever | A New Hope

Canon 6D with 40mm F2.8 plus macro lens converter

" Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness"

- Desmond Tutu -

Nampaknya kita telah tiba pada bulan Disember 2016. Bulan terakhir bagi tahun 2016 dan kebiasaannya ini merupakan bulan dimana kita melihat kembali wishlist atau impian yang telah kita rancang. The truth is, I'm in darkness especially with my Photography. Secara kasarnya, gagal. Ketiadaan peralatan yang penting menyebabkan segala yang dirancang seperti tidak bermula selangkah pun. Ditambah pula dengan peralatan sedia ada diserang virus, yup..my laptop, habis semua template dan gambar - gambar sokongan semua rosak. Hanya Dia tahu bagaimana perasaan tersebut.

Somehow, I'm looking for hope..