DIY LIGHTING FOR MINIFIGURES

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© 2017 Hasif Rahman - Toy Photography | The Trooper Is Here

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

" Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep "

- Scott Adams -

One of the most important things in photography is light. Light plays the most important role in any role of photography. From wedding to fashion to street to foods to macro and any type of genre, light is always there to be the main character. It is a photographer's job to control it or with creativity make the light become something interesting to play with. When I first involve with Toy Photography, light is the first thing I'm having problem with especially when it involves with Lego minifigures. The thing is, the flash that I used before was not suitable with the small size of minifigures. It ends up the photo becomes a bit plain.

In order to make it better, I need to DIY the light source. I did try several times, from using a small bulb with wiring, create a silinder to focus the light and a lot more and believe me, I've failed a lot. Then I remember, I did bought a book Small Scene in a Big Galaxy by Avanaut. So I read it again, and I learned something. At last, it works ! Its a step for a better days. Will try to be creative about the lighting stuff. Keep moving forward and never give up.

CURRENTLY MOOD STAR WARS IV, V AND VI

© 2017 Hasif Rahman - Toy Photography | Imperial Speeder Bike

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

" The trick is to be grateful when your mood is high and graceful when it is low "

- Richard Carlson -

I grew up with Star Wars episode IV, V and VI. That was the first Star Wars Trilogy that I watched, yeah I know, the Star Wars starts with that episode and later on continued with episode I, II and III and the latest one is episode VII and Rogue One. I'm not here to review each episode but simply to tell that for me, I think the best sets for Lego Star Wars comes from the first trilogy. Even most of the UCS Lego Star Wars comes from there too. The Super Star Destroyer, The Slave 1, The Death Star, The Ewok Village, The Sandcrawler, The Millenium Falcon, The Assault on Hoth and a lot more. Not much comes from Episode I, II, III and VII yet.

Currently I'm in mood for that earlier trilogy. Wanna save some money to buy certain UCS sets for my photography. Especially for my project, once I have a proper lens and lighting. My target is before the year of 2020, I can publish my project. Eh? Haha. It's just an idea of what I wish for. Wanna say a lot about it, but I'm gonna do it. As Yoda said, do or do not, there is no try.

WHEN YOUR BABY BECOMES YOU

© 2017 Hasif Rahman - Toy Photography | When Your Baby Becomes You

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

" When I grow up, I want to be like you dad...a Storm Trooper "

- Anonymous -

The day will come, when your kids grow up. From a little baby and now a little girl who wanna play things with you. My story is, Audrey Marissa started to play Lego too. Yes, of course, I let her play with Lego sets that is not expensive. Mostly the minifigures, and not the rare ones, haha. No way I'm gonna give her the expensive sets. Its UCS ok. Ultimate Collector Series. Haha.

My wife even bought her DUPLO for her to play. One of the Lego sets for kids like Audrey. The bricks are bigger and safe for children to play. I don't mind if Audrey loves Lego too. I'll buy for her when the time is right. Together we shall rule the Lego world. Haha. Talking about Audrey, I realized it's been a while I didn't post any new photos of her.

Hoping Audrey will love Star Wars too. 

NO IN VIOLENCE

© 2017 Hasif Rahman - Toy Photography | Say No To Violence

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

" Nothing good ever comes of violence "

- Martin Luther -

It doesn't seems right. Yeah, I did read a post about Violence in Toy Photography in www.stuckinplastic.com. A blog which I follow and read all the latest updates everyday. Nothing much to say about it, but it made me realized, it's not a good idea to spread violence especially through Toy Photography. Well, at first I was into Toy Photography because of the creativity in creating cute scene with Lego minifigures. Somewhere in the middle, I took the wrong path. It's not too late to turn around. Toy Photography should be a fun thing to do. A peaceful type of photography. Lets make a better world !

THE RETURN OF THE JEDI

© 2017 Hasif Rahman - Toy Photography | Star Wars Disney Infinity Set

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

" The force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet... "

- Darth Vader -

Darth Vader : There is no escape. Don't make me destroy you. Luke, you do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.

Luke : I'll never join you !

Darth Vader : If you only knew the power of the Dark Side. Obi - Wan never told you what happened to your father.

Luke : He told me enough ! He told me you killed him !

Darth Vader : No. I am your father

Luke : No. No. That's not true. That;s impossible !

Darth Vader : Search your feelings, you know it to be true

Luke : Nooooooooo.....

LEGO BATMAN FEVER !

© 2017 Hasif Rahman - Toy Photography | Batman Fever !

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

" It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me "

- Dark Knight -

It seems that 2017 will be Batman Fever ! With the new Lego sets at the shops, new box of Lego Batman Minifigures Series and the upcoming The Lego Batman Movie, Batman will be the Toy Photographer's subject for few months. I've seen some of the Lego Batman Movie sets, and the sets looks awesome ! The cheapest will be the Batman chasing Joker flying with balloons around RM69.00. Yeah ! That's will be the first set to buy.

Ok, forget about the sets, lets plan ahead using Batman for my Toy Photography. Hmmm..so..I think I'll start with....

PLAYING WITH LIGHTING PART 2

© 2017 Hasif Rahman - Toy Photography | Star Wars Infinity 2.0 Set

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

" Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you "

- Yoda -

Yet another set up for me to play around with the lighting. It's now Yoda's turn to show the true power of the Jedi. One of the most respectable Jedi in Star Wars history. Still using the same black board and two source of lighting, here's the result. Other than Darth Vader, Yoda is one of the character that I love to play around.

And here's how the set up for the photos.

It's not hard for the set up but it takes a little bit of work to do it since you need to DIY certain things. But hey, when there's fun, everything looks easy ! Next, I'll post Luke Skywalker !

PLAYING WITH LIGHTING PART 1

© 2017 Hasif Rahman - Toy Photography | Star Wars Infinity 2.0 Set

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

" Be careful not to choke on your aspirations, Director "

- Darth Vader -

Its fun when you have the idea and working hard on it in order to make it happen. The idea I get is from a fashion magazine. The photographer plays with lighting, using colour gel I guess. Lucky I do have 2 colour gel in my room. The red and blue. At first I wanted to use with my Lego, but while searching for the right minifigure, I saw my Star Wars Infinity 2.0 set. There are Darth Vader, Yoda, Luke Skylwalker, Boba Fett, and Obi Wan Kenobi. You can take a look at the set at this post :- Star Wars Infinity Set

I was like, hey lets try using that set to play with the lighting, starting with Darth Vader. Using with some black boards, 2 source of lighting, 2 colour gels of red and blue, and after some adjustment of the light position and the black boards, here's the result. Its Straight Out Of Camera. Almost, haha. Ya, the lightsaber I used photoshop to make it "laser look alike". I need to sharpen my skill with the photoshop. The lightsaber seems a bit dull. Well, it's homework I guess. Lets try with a different set up with the next figure. Yoda ! See you soon !