Masters Class: Marvel Legends

Here at the Masters Class we have been focusing a lot on styles and themes of action figure photography. While this has been highly beneficial, sometimes it is nice to take a step back and focus on specific characters or lines of characters in action figure form. Animals, space men, cowboys, babies, and super heroes have always been some of the most popular things in toy form to entertain children. The child inside every single action figure photographer has not forgotten this. While our toys may have become less about play and more about collecting, less about the immersion into imagination and more about nostalgic escape, we all still have our favored animal, baby, or super hero. 

In the early 2000s we saw our first iteration of Marvel Legends. Toy Biz released a wave of three heroes and one villain (Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man, and Toad). These releases were an attempt to piggy back off the success of the Spider-Man Classics toy line. Build a figure parts became a mainstay, articulation came and went and came again, chases and variants celebrated success. And then one day Hasbro nearly put the whole line in an early grave. Production had slowed to a point of speculation that the line was canceled, and figures became harder to find than Waldo. But do to the success of super hero movies, Hasbro returned to the Marvel Legends line in 2010 and the rest is history. 

And speaking of history, that is all the history needed for a blog about action figure photography. 

Optic blasts, mystic spells, snikt claws, cosmic waves, and dynamic poses. Whether it be Thor bringing down the lightning or Juggernaut being generally unstoppable, for as long as there has been action figure photography there has been incredible Marvel Legends shots. Today on the Masters Class your esteemed professors are two of the heaviest of heavy hitters in the game, none other than the Uncanny @Clintastic4 and the Mighty @FirstStrikeFigs

So take your seats, link to Cerebro, and prepare to learn from the Masters, because Class is in session. 

When shooting Marvel Legends, do you start out with an idea for the end result I’ll want? Or do you let the inspiration come to you just from handling the figure?

First Strike- “I like to start out with a rough idea of the scene. Playing with the camera settings, lighting, and angles is what I enjoy most about photography. So getting the overall idea as a base and building from that via moving around, changing lights etc is part of the journey. The end result is what I enjoy because sometimes it's a nice surprise when you get all those things just right and your end result is a bit different than what you envisioned. Sometimes for the better!”

Clintastic4- “I usually start with the idea. Either just a random idea, collaboration theme, a themed series or taking inspiration from the character. Most of the time to jump start ideas, I random generate a list of random figures from my collection and then start brainstorming my shots for the week. From there, I’ll refresh myself on that’s characters history and reread major comic moments to spark inspiration.”

What sort of tips and tricks can you offer the reader for how you establish the tone or mood of your shots?

FS- “I typically like to let tone be based off that idea I have at the start of my shoots. I try to understand my vision, and put myself into a frame of the storyboard of the scene. Is it a horror style shot? May use blue or green lighting. Is there a fight scene? What type of fight is it? Martial arts, or is Hulk pounding through a wall. That can help decide how I place the camera or the lights that help to add that layer of tone into the shot. I treat those like another character in the panel. My main tip... What emotion are your characters going through in your scene... Then build off that.”

C4- “Lighting and contrast are key to establishing tone. For action and serious shots, emphasizing shadows is key to adding drama to your shot while brighter colors and soft lighting work for more less serious shots.”

When you shoot marvel legends, do you prefer portrait style shots of a single figure, or an action sequence involving many figures?

FS- “I absolutely suck at group shots haha. So I prefer profile/portrait style mostly. Typically I have no more than two figures in a shot. It helps me stay focused on my scene. My anxiety and over thinking goes into overdrive when I involve many characters haha.” 

@FirstStrikeFigs Masters Class shot is an elegant yet powerful portrait shot of Kang The Conqueror. 

C4- “For me, it’s mostly portraits. A huge influence

for me is the 90’s Fleer trading cards with their dramatic lighting and posing.”

What is your go to lighting setup for shooting your action figure photography?

FS- “Inside shots... One overhead, a backlight for that rim, and  left and right light angled on the sides of the scene. That's just a base though. I will maneuver them for the scene if needed. Outside... Just the sun and a reflector mostly. Sometimes I'll have a panel light with me too.” 

C4- “I usually use a four-light setup, all Ulanzi

lights. Three of the lights will used in various positions around the figures. The last light I use for overhead lighting mostly. I normally use my free hand to hold it while I shoot. Occasionally, I’ll use reflectors to lighten some areas.”

The marvel legends brand features a massive collection of hero’s with spectacular power sets and abilities. What are some tips and tricks you can offer for creating the powers in use? (Optic blade, lighting, hex posted, repulser beams etc?

FS- “This I learned from so many other toy photographers as well as my own trial and error. If you are creating effects in post... Use a colored light in a shot to emulate the glow from effects, otherwise they can look very flat. Go look at my shots... You will see that far too often because I will forget while shooting. So remember that! But there are some great phone apps for power effects nowadays that work so very well as additional layers to your photos. When creating eye blasts etc gimp/photoshop makes it so very easy with some additional layers and gausian blur. So many tutorial videos out there for these. Have fun and get creative!”

C4- “Personally, I don’t like using the packaged power effect pieces in my shots. I usually create my own in post-production. To get the most effective effects, it’s best to

plan the lighting for them out in your base shots. It usually gives a more effective result than trying to add those lighting in post-production.”

Lastly, what is your most favorite figure to shoot and why? 

FS- “This answer probly changes with the wind. I'll stay on theme for Marvel Legends.  My favorite Legends figure to shoot is the Retro Black Suit Symbiote Spiderman.. You wouldn't think so as I haven't posted him much but I have soooooooo many shots I haven't posted of him. He is just so sleek, and has great articulation. I'm also very close to that costime due to it being the launchpad for  Venom, and he was my favorite growing up.  I also love the McFarlane run where Spidey went back to that costume. But as far as the figure... It captures light so well... And he just sticks out. He's probly at least in my top three of my favorite legends figures as a whole!”

C4- “My favorite character to shoot would have to be Colossus, especially in his classic costume. With the metal painting and imposing size, it lends itself to some impressive shots. Honorable mentions: 70’s Storm, 90’s Cyclops, Iceman (Juggernaut Wave), and Gambit.”

@Clintastic4 submission to the Masters Class is am inspiring edge of your seat team shot of the Uncanny X-Men charging into battle 

I would like to thank these two gentlemen for both taking part in the Masters Class Collab and for their innumerable contributions to the action figure photography community. Both of these gentlemen have galleries of amazing photography on their instagram pages that showcase their unique brand of shots and their dedication to their craft. It has been am honor to work with these Masters and bring to you all their insights and inputs. 

Until next week, Class is dismissed. 

~The Curator