Through the Ages

So I was looking through my Flickr while finding pictures to insert into an interview that I’m doing for Tomopop and it’s interesting to see the evolution in photography styles over the past year.

My first figure, obtained in April 09. Looking at this picture is pretty baffling. See that pig in the background. That’s my stuffed pig I have since I was a kid. I still use the iPod the calculator, the cutting mat, but not the computers. In fact, this has to be my first shot of a figure. She loves me.

I like this shot, so detailed. And during those times, I’ve had some people ask me what lens did I use. It’s the über 18-55mm kit lens that comes with any Nikon camera, taken with a D40. Don’t let anyone tell you that you need some insane lens to get sharp shots.

Boy O boy, so noisy. Truth be told, I’m pretty sure that at the time when this picture was taken, I’d no idea what in the world ISO does.

The next few months were shots experimenting with the different settings on the camera. I’m a kinesthetic learner and I learn better with a hands-on approach. I tried reading stuff about photography but I fell asleep.

The background also never changes. I don’t recall what I used for the background. I think it was black sponge?

Kyouka came with the little puchis which had more love than the scaled figure.

All figure shots were practically boring and yawn-ish until Drossel came along. It’s one of those life changing figures that makes imagination go the other way.

And thus, outdoors began. BTW, if you live in Singapore and you read this. If you have Fusion Rin. I want to borrow and shoot her where Drossel is in this picture.

Then some months later, I’d figured that figure accessories deserved some love and how we view figures should be more than just a face on straight shot that’s really boring.

This is boring.
(Looking at this picture, feels good though, Moka’s chains are rusted now)

But if you add 2 figures, things get a little interesting. Throw in a little typography and there’s some character to the picture now. But still boring in today’s standards.

So we experiment in fun backgrounds and lighting. P.S –   Djibril is my 3rd most favourite figure. 2nd is Moka, 1st is Narika.

Then Narika came along. Narika is one of those figures that totally WOW-ed me and it’s that awesomeness of the figure that makes you want to do something really special for her. So she gets a pass to go out. I still vividly recall melting her base. This is one of my most favourite shot ever.

The good thing about outdoors is that the lighting is fab and the background and environment is so unique; And if you find a great place, it synergises with the figure and it’s just chemistry! This is actually the engine of a truck.

But not everyday is Sunday and not every shot works. Had high hopes for Sanya on the beach, but the only thing I got was breaking her stand. But now that I’m more experienced, I should have went during the dawn or dusk instead of high-noon.

FACT – Sanya is one of the 2 figures that lives in a box today.

Saber was the turning point too. There’s a time when you can’t find what you want so you end up making it. It was so fun making her wings. Should have seen my room. It was like I just murdered a pillow.

FACT – Saber was sold because she took too much space and her sword kept poking other people.

And the rock used to keep Excalibur, or was it Caliburn. I’m sure the Saber-gurus will correct me. I heard the rock got lost when I gave it away. Sad.

FACT – the last known location of the rock was in the possession of Scorch

No more black backgrounds. And I love Moka. She so sexy.

FACT – She’s so sexy

Miku, where I got serious with typography. I didn’t like her base anyway, replaced it with red cloth. The base of the figure was simulating cloth anyway and a general rule is that if you can swap out the artificial wannabe parts of a figure and replace it with real stuff, shots would look better. Like replacing wires with real ones!

FACT – I experimented with a black border during this period but I moved to another computer after that and was too lazy to remake the ACTION that made the black border in Photoshop

I had lots of fun shooting this one.

FACT – I wanted to steal this figure.

Reason being was that this was the first figure which I played with fire. The joys of smoke.

FACT – Bottom right corner, you can see the incense that causes the smoke.

I liked this shot. Was the effort of 1 photographer and 3 feather blowers. A 4 man team! Wouldn’t have done it without Nutcase23, Scorch and Yukito.

FACT – Cleaning up was a pain.

No idea where this goofy background came from. I think one of the things I would like to figure out is how to make concert settings. Still figuring. Rina is hot though, I bought her because of her zettai ryouki.

FACT – The mike which she comes with is not displayed with her. I keep in the the NENDO accessories box.

I would have used a metal net or the checkered pattern as the background if I had a second chance. The background feels flat and uninteresting.I melted her base too by the way.

FACT – I had problems taking her because of her white skin and black leather. Dynamic ranging problems.

Most proud of this creation. Pictures didn’t do them justice though, the whole thing was too big and there was not enough space. If you ever come to my room, this is lying in the corner, still deciding what to do with it. Something happened to it though, it’s pretty damaged. Lets just say it was an accident with fire.

FACT – 4 days 3 nights worth of work for this diorama.

Took 20 shots and only this one made the cut. However I like it a lot. How I did it is pretty simple. Lights behind a circuit board.

FACT  - Intended to take her with her big white hand things, but forgot.

Momohime’s colors, I like. A figure this colorful comes only once in a blue moon. Had to shoot her.

FACT – During this photoshoot. We spent around 30 minutes trying to take good shots of her pantsu but it was too difficult because we could not find anything to elevate her.

And the latest is Saber in facesmashmode.

FACT – Saber’s pose is inhumanly impossible; you have to break your arms to get them in that position.

So there you have it, the evolution of picture taking for me. I hope to be more interesting in the future. I think I’ve mentioned it before, that I like to show how sexy, pretty, awesome the figure is. For those whom I go out and take pictures with , you’d know that I don’t like showing the figure’s bad qualities on pictures, there are review sites that scrutinise that already. Got to show the world the pretty side of them! And most importantly, make people regret not buying them ^^

And for those who want to tread down the expensive path of figure photography, equipment isn’t important, making friends whom you can steal figures from is the most important. I won’t be able to take most of these if I did not have a bunch of generous buddies who are willing to entrust me with their figures. I kill and damage nendoroids for those who don’t know.