I Photograph Small-Scale Action-Packed Scenes Made With Toys (30 Pics)

I started toy photography 7 years ago. My first post on Bored Panda was my first LEGO photo series. I am really into the cinematic look and creating mini-worlds! That's why I've fallen in love with toy photography because, with this, I can do anything! Photography was a part of my life much earlier, I started my photography journey in 2007 when I was 12yo. I love the different genres of photography, but the one which I feel is my own is toy photography.

About approaching the process of setting up a scene, I both plan everything meticulously and prefer to experiment and see what unfolds. First, I have to see the picture in my mind. I have to visualize the whole image, once it's done I can start to make it real. Many times it is found out my original concept doesn't work, in this case, I have to re-plan my setting. The best scenario is when my concept is working as I planned. It means serious hours of work if something works as it should.

Getting more into the challenging part of using practical effects instead of relying on Photoshop manipulation, there is so much! I always want to do more spectacular, more difficult images, so it doesn't matter how long I've been doing this, I always have to deal with challenges. Before the details, let me clear up one thing to avoid misunderstanding. I'm using Photoshop. I'm doing retouching as every photographer does. Sometimes I also need to put in sky textures in the background. But the main spectacle, the essence of the photo is always real! Many times the sky too, when I'm shooting outside. So, when I'm using dust, water, snow (flour, powdered sugar), dry ice, and stuff I always need to do many experiments and attempts to get a final result. One of my biggest challenges was the Hogwarts Express. Since the smoke and steam are an important part of a steam machine, I had to solve that in reality. This is the type of image element that I never do with Ps. I figured out the dry ice would be fine, but I had to make a simple tool that I could put beside the train's chimney, and the turbulent dry ice steam resulted in the perfect steam effect.

The first memorable challenge was related to the Apollo 11 project. At that time, the Saturn V rocket was the largest LEGO set I had ever photographed, and its size caused me a problem. After several unsuccessful attempts, it became clear that it wouldn't work in the house, so I rented a studio where, based on previous experiences, I managed to complete it within an hour. The most recent significant challenge was with the DeLorean, where I had to capture the moment of a time jump in real life. I achieved this by using real fire flame and a long exposure. I even ended up smudging the car a bit in the process.

To talk about the non-LEGO-themed topics, the model car images are always extremely challenging because they have to be super realistic. To represent movement, motion blur is a basic visual tool. Of course, because it's a main source of the image spectacle, it's crucial to make it real. For this, I usually build a moveable rolling platform and fix the car. When I roll the platform and everything else on it - but the car still holds its position - the result will get a nice dynamic motion. God, I am always struggling a lot with this method, perhaps I should develop this a bit more.

When I'm starting to plan a photo, I always have to think about what will be the background, and if this background can be outside or easier to build inside. Usually, when I capture an easier setting, and I just need a sky behind it, I bring it outside. If my object is too large to shoot inside, I bring it outside. But when I have a middle-sized - or smaller - object and I need detailed/difficult scenery with consistent light, I always work in my studio room inside.

When I started toy photography, it was just a hobby. I never thought it could be part of my work. At first, in 2017, I collaborated on a project with the Hungarian office of LEGO and am working with them currently as well. Later the Danish mother company hired me to participate in their global campaigns. Most recently, this June, I was in Prague to shoot a global LEGO advertisement film and got involved in an extremely exciting project. This is my dream, working for LEGO as a toy photographer is the best thing that I could imagine from a career point of view. I am really lucky and thankful for these opportunities and will try to do my best to walk on this path in the future too. :)

Last but not least, don't forget the people who I met through these projects and my community who follow my social pages and give me so much positive energy! Really, LEGO fans are awesome!