Masters Class: Outdoors

 When discussing toy photography, one of the most awe inspiring genres is outdoors shots. Rain, hail, snow, or wind, outdoors photography has a way of putting the viewer right there in the elements. 

For this weeks Masters Class we are proud to offer a collaboration between two of the premier artists in the outdoor toy photography genre, @collectiblesnat and @toyartunlimited 

I have asked these talented gentlemen a few questions regarding the process behind their shots, their inspiration and vision, and how they come to produce their amazing works of outdoor toy photography. 

When it comes to taking shots outside, what are some tips and tricks you can offer to utilize the natural lighting while shooting in the great outdoors?

CN- “Id say you want as much natural lighting as possible, but if its all direct sunlight, then sometimes the figures become too bright in the shot! Shade is sometimes a friend! Haha”

TU- “We'll there isn't REALLY any trick to lightning in the outdoors other than knowing your location. Ansel Adams use to camp at a spot for weeks watching the light change from sunrise to sunset just to watch the lighting effect the environment throughout the day so he knew just what time he wanted to shoot. Now obviously I'm not suggesting we have the time to do that, but I like to shoot in close by locations such as that cool tree in your backyard with the exposed roots or the cool stone wall the neighbors have , look at those locations throughout the day and notice what the lighting does to those locations. Obviously noontime sun is brighter then sunset but most of it can be adjusted in camera.”

What are some tools that you utilize for outdoor shots to add ambiance or elements to your shot (rain, wind, fire, etc)?

CN- “I dont really use much for effects unless i edit them in! But I do use my vape for mist effects!”

TU- “The first is to hit up any fireworks tent you see and buy all their Crackling Balls fireworks. These are what you see in most action photos with sparkly Boca that looks amazing. They are relatively affordable and are pretty easy to use. The key is really just high ISO like 1600 or higher and using continuous or burst shots of like 7 to 10 frames. That's how you get that action. Other than fireworks there's the handy dandy BAM air gun that is originally used for cleaning drains. Pump it full of air and hit dirt or water with it and BINGO instant explosion. As for rain I use a simple pump up water sprayer that you can get at any garden center for 20 bucks , it has adjustable settings and gets the subject wet and not your gear. As for fog or smoke , the only thing I have found that work outdoors is the ol Atmospheric Aerosol. Misters are what I usually use but it disperses too quickly outside due to the wind.”

There’s a lot of talk regarding the best time to take shots outside (the magic hour), do you find it to be best to take shots outside at certain times?

CN- “I'd say if you see the sun out, get that camera! Anytime its not overcast is good to shoot in natural settings! Or if you have portable lights!”

TU- “I guess I kinda answered this question in the first question. I think it's really about timing due to location. If I'm shooting in the woods I need it to be bright like noon because of the trees blocking the light. But if I'm shooting on a beach or somewhere where you have a skyline then the sunset or sunrise makes for some amazing photos. But often those times also require assistance from other light sources to highlight your subject. It's really about the look your trying to achieve.”

When shooting outdoors, if the natural lighting is not enough to bring your shots to life, what are some tips you can offer to supplement the lighting to bring your vision to life?

CN- “Portable lights or a little photo edit/photo magic, works wonders!”

TU- “I almost ALWAYS bring lights with me on every shoot. There are different companies that make them like Lumecube which makes amazing ones but they are a little too pricey for my meager financial situation. I prefer the ones by Ulanzi , you can get them on eBay for around 20 bucks a piece and they are usb rechargeable and have settings for both white lights as well as the full rgb spectrum. If you've seen any of my work it's probably been those Ulanzi in the background. You can buy ring lights and all kinds of other lights at Walmart that probably work just fine but I like the Ulanzi because of the size and versatility. There is also the ol standby,handy dandy light reflector that can be purchaed pretty cheap but I seldom use them.”

When shooting outdoors, do you prefer to take shots that contain a bit of action? Or wider shots that showcase the scenery and splendor of the outdoors?

CN- “I love to showcase the scenery! I usually save my action shots for the in office studio haha”

TU- “I guess I tend to stay away from the long , panoramic shots. I find myself having a hard time with things proportionally if I put too much of the background in the shot. Sometimes if the background actually IS the subject I can get it to work but not if the figure is the subject of the photo. Also I have had a problem in past attempts at doing a wide shot , battle sort of picture and it always comes out to confusing. That's maybe one of the things I need to work on.”

And lastly, What are your favorite figures or figure lines to take pics of in an outdoor setting?

CN- “My favorites for outdoors would be Classified Series or any Halo figures!”

TU- “I personally think that a lot of it comes down to context. I don't really LOVE shooting a lot of the Marvel Legends or McFarland DC stuff outside because the Comic Book / animated look often looks out of place to me. Now that said I have gotten some amazing pics of Wolverine or Sabertooth outside, but again that's because those were characters that one would expect to see in nature. Star Wars Black Series stuff looks great in almost any outside situation. And with so many options, whether it's Tatooine or Endor there is a figure for every environment. My absolute favorite line in general though is NECCA, now I know a lot of people complain about the quality of Necca stuff but I believe that what I loose in fragility I gain in detail which is more important photographically. I LOVE the Necca Ninja turtles stuff which looks great in pics and I also have a Necca Bob Ross and a Richard Simmons that I love to bring with me everywhere because I like to take pics of them up to shenanigans. All the Classified stuff and Valaverse Action Force stuff is also super easy to shoot outside because it's believable and gives for the opportunity for action.”