What made you want to become a toy photographer/animator?
I’ve always loved action figures. They are like statues to be admired. However unlike statues, whenever you want to refresh your shelf you can repose the figures into a brand new position. As a young filmmaker (who had friends who couldn’t act), I decided to learn stop motion animation and use my figures for my future career.
How and why are you using Lume Cubes in your work?
I like my animations to have similar lighting to that of a show on TV. Lume Cube is the best small scale studio lighting for the figures.
Who are you inspired by?
My three amigos of inspiration include Walt Disney, Jim Henson, and Rod Serling. Rod for his brilliant storytelling, Jim for his creativity and Walt for working hard to make all his dreams a reality. I hope to reach the same heights they did in their careers.
If you weren’t an animator? What would you be instead?
Probably strictly a filmmaker. But if I didn’t have any creativity in my daily life, I think I’d go mad.
If you could only shoot with ONE lens-type for the rest of your life, which would it be? Fisheye, wide-angle, prime, zoom, macro, or a telephoto lens?
Zoom! In my animations, it’s helped me get the best dynamic shots
What is your go-to camera?
I’ve used a Canon 7D for a very long time now, but she still works great.
Any advice for new photographers?
Don’t stop.
How do you keep your photos fresh and new?
Thinking out of the box and trying to be as creative as possible.
What is the best part of your day?
Seeing the positive feedback that my work gets from ordinary people to companies, to celebrities.
Coffee or tea?
Hot Chocolate
You have been doing some extremely cool stop-motion videos with your toys, what made you decide to go that route instead of still photography?
Why do what a lot of people do, when I can do something that sticks out from the rest.
What’s your favorite animation you’ve done and why?
Popeye VS Thanos because I was able to capture the spirit of the original cartoon in less than 15 seconds. And of course, it was lit with Lume Cubes.
If you could photograph anything in the world (person, place, thing, etc), what would it be?
Myself at age 195 eating Filet Mignon the beach of the Hotel Del Coranado, so that I can make a record that I was the oldest person to ever live. But really I’m not sure. I think photography is the beauty that surprises you that you never want to forget or let go of.
What is your favorite thing about toy Photography?
That I can stay home and mess with new ideas.
What is your least favorite thing about toy Photography?
That sometimes I have to go outside to get more figures.😕
Describe your photography style in 5 words.
Creative, Unexpected, Action-Packed, Atmospheric, Fresh
What actor would you make an animation of or with (dead or alive)?
Andy Kaufman. I think he would’ve been the perfect person to star (and or produce) an animation
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