SPAWN : Path of Darkness

[jayhan]

Im sure many among us have action figures for a collection - and shooting these would be real cool. Somehow, I feel that the normal method of shooting these cool plastic figurines (especially those from MacFarlenes) just dont do them any justice! I recently got an idea of how to make such shoots to look more cool. Here's how the evolution of how I shoot (or used to) action figurines:

NORMAL AMBIENT LIGHT ---> FLASH POPPING ---> MINI STUDIO LIGHTBOX (DIY) ---> OFF SHOE MULTIPLE FLASH --->

and finally... OFF SHOE MULTIPLE FLASH WITH A NICE BACKGROUND :)

The suitable background is what make such character look more cool. It brings out more character to Spawn. I'll just let you guys wonder for a while where I got such background :P

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/465487535_b412c3a243_o.jpg

[ckchowov]

Aikkkksss....more pls, i like horrible comic characters

[asyraflee]

Cool photo weh :)

[noruazumi]

this is cool, jay.. i've been looking for frank miller's hellboy action figure. :D

ok2, about the background, at first i thought it is from your monitor screen but u use notebook, and notebook monitor are not big, unless your spawn is small too...
aaahh... i dunno what else to guess. tell laaa... :P

[jayhan]

Aikkkksss....more pls, i like horrible comic characters

Cool photo weh :)

Thanks for appreciating guys. Unfortunately, I've decided to shoot only 1 pose per background... and I've yet to shoot the rest. So this is the only I've got. Will try one with Spawn emerging from the graveyards later when I have the time. :)

*Still no one guessed how I shot this??* :?

[jayhan]

about the background, at first i thought it is from your monitor screen but u use notebook, and notebook monitor are not big, unless your spawn is small too...
aaahh... i dunno what else to guess. tell laaa... :P

Haha... you answered then you hesitated pula...
My spawn figurine is about 7" in height from end to end. So try go figure it out. I'll be posting my setup pic pretty soon... so dont worry. ;)

[noruazumi]

my next guess would be from your TV? :?

[aaronfoo]

Hey I like this shot alot! LOL looks as if it just came out of the movie lol

[jayhan]

Hahahaha ok ok... dun wanna play hide and seek anymore... Will just show you guys how I made it. I'm not writing any kinda description on the setup shot this time... so maybe you guys would have to go figure it out yourself :P

Here's how it was done.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/192/465491786_c586db3392_o.jpg

[qqmeng]

huh? is only a toy ka.

from the 1st photo i thot you actually met him (it?) in person.

wah...nice just like the Hollywood movie effect.

[seethoe]

jay: nice nice!

[lanatir]

cool stuff!

[alancheong7]

Check out the snoot! :D:D Waaaaay :cool:

[jayhan]

huh? is only a toy ka.

from the 1st photo i thot you actually met him (it?) in person.

wah...nice just like the Hollywood movie effect.

Haha... yeah QQ - its only a 7" action figure. Not a toy! :P


jay: nice nice!

cool stuff!

Thanks Seethoe and Lanatir.


Check out the snoot! :D:D Waaaaay :cool:
Less gear. Save money. Better Light. :) And a few rounds of punchy chips too. ;)

[noruazumi]

this is seriously nice work, jay.
why?
u able to reproduce the same light as in the background picture.
the yellowish light on the SPAWN really blends in with the lights in the background picture.
nice work! :D

[noordin]

You are creative! :thumbs_up:

But how to get more details in the shadow? That'll be great.

[blur]

That's a cool setup, and a really nice outcome! The pic really looks like some poster.

[jayhan]

Thanks guys. I think the most challenging part of this shoot is to get that perspective as though the figurine is in-line with the perspective of the background. Then, the other challenging bit would be to try recreate the lighting angle to simulate accordingly to that which exist in the picture. Basically it's trying to recreate the realism... not easy.

Here's another effort I did just about a while ago.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/217/465775700_8b4747565a_o.jpg

[mobbes]

Wow wow wow ... goes to show what a little out of the box thinking and recycling can do. Darn nice moody efx :) As always, thanks for sharing these tricks & techniques :cheers:

[qqmeng]

yat lau ...

but the light tht fall onto the action figure (excuse me, is not a toy ok? :D ) would be better if it has some blue color cast

[siew]

Neat :thumbs_up:

[foxxy]

Wow!...really nice, best part is the method you use to shoot it. Bet you have moved the lights all around to get the effect..:D

[jayhan]

You are creative! :thumbs_up:

But how to get more details in the shadow? That'll be great.
Thanks noordin. I choose to let some areas remain in the dark shadows as I thought Spawn is a character with dark sides as well... so have to let it swim in the shadow a bit. :P


Wow wow wow ... goes to show what a little out of the box thinking and recycling can do. Darn nice moody efx :) As always, thanks for sharing these tricks & techniques :cheers:
Glad you like them... and yes, DIY options are always around the stuff you throw around the house ;)


yat lau ...
but the light tht fall onto the action figure (excuse me, is not a toy ok? :D ) would be better if it has some blue color cast
Yes it would have been better QQ. Will try again the next time. :)Thanks


Wow!...really nice, best part is the method you use to shoot it. Bet you have moved the lights all around to get the effect..:D
Yes foxxy, i did move the lights around a bit to see the lightfall, then shoot the one which I wanted. Its basically one main light and one fill light setup.

[raclette]

I love pringles :D:D Both of ur pics are really nice :)

[hanuman]

Love the Pringle can snoot. Sweet use of low technology :D

[nonblood]

wow...look like u tested all the lighting methot le bro..the lighting are all well done...thx 4 sharing ur works and the setting... :drunk:

[jayhan]

I love pringles :D:D Both of ur pics are really nice :)
Dont we all just love pringles! :D
So next time make sure you dont throw away the cans after you are done with the contents!

Love the Pringle can snoot. Sweet use of low technology :D
Yeah low tech and cheap... this is another one of those El-Cheapo series of DIY which anyone can make :D. You want it to look pro? No problem... just spray the outer surface in flat black and you are off looking pro already! ;)

wow...look like u tested all the lighting methot le bro..the lighting are all well done...thx 4 sharing ur works and the setting... :drunk:
Cheers mate! But I've yet to really test out lighting techniqes... there's always something new I learn everytime I try lighting stuff... :)

[noordin]

The back light does it for me. Makes him look more mean and menancing! :)

[vladimir]

good sifu~ your pic really made too real. i thought u went to USA to view it :D

[jayhan]

The back light does it for me. Makes him look more mean and menancing! :)
Yeah I've got the same feeling on this backlighting setup too. His dark shadowy front kinda remains a semi-mystery as to what he's capable of inflicting upon his enemies. And the outlines from backlight adds some mean and menacing look - just like what you said :D

good sifu~ your pic really made too real. i thought u went to USA to view it :D
Please dont call me sifu la... still far away from that level. And, no I didnt go to USA for this shot... haha...Thanks for appreciating my work though.

[ixusmys]

Very good lightning control.... nice work Jay Han
Don't know that pringles also can use as difusser anyway nice try

[jayhan]

Very good lightning control.... nice work Jay Han
Don't know that pringles also can use as difusser anyway nice try

Thanks Ixusmys for the compliment. The pringles canister does not function as a diffuser (at least in this case). I made them to function as, what we call, a snoot. The function of a snoot is to limit lighting fall on the subject, to create a transition between highlighted areas and the shadows.