Join me on this new journey as I photograph toys in different locations around California, the United States and the world. In this first episode I take my camera and toys to the stunning 17 Mile Drive, along the Pacific Ocean in Monterey, California, where I photograph toys in tide pools. And can I just add, "The sea was angry that day, my friends!" Check it out!
Why Destination: Toy Photography? Let me count the ways...literally!
For myself and most other toy photographers, it's usually one and done with the final edited image. The idea behind Destination: Toy Photography is to show that the image is actually a result of a journey, and to pay homage to the incredible locations I shoot at. For me, that journey is the real story, and the resulting image is the story within a story. This series will include environmental photography almost exclusively, taken on location in various locations around California, other states, and yes, the world. The goal for this series is to discover, not build or create, amazing locations to shoot toys in.
Destination: Toy Photography takes the beautiful philosophy of 'wondering and wandering' and applies it to toy photography. Getting out into different locations and environments to photograph toys forces me to think differently, and to see and observe my surroundings more intently and with more intensity.
The learnings and experience I gain outside of the studio will eventually make its way back into the studio in the way of newfound creative inspiration, new ways of seeing, and new ways of thinking. This new project is very much about creative rejuvenation.
In this episode, and in my soon to released second episode, I am shooting with my trusty (but heavy and bulky) Canon R6 paired with the Canon 24-70 f2.8L Mark II (also heavy and bulky). But I'm really excited to share that I've just finished assembling a completely new camera and lens kit for this new series. One that is far lighter, more compact and very travel-friendly, with no compromise on image quality. Stay tuned for more detail on my new setup in a future video.
About the toy photographed: the character is Javvik Mosa, a cold, calculating mercenary from the Saurozoic Warriors Collection, from Boss Fight Studio These are toys I wished I had as a kid, although it obviously hasn't stopped me from playing with them as an adult!
This new series will live primarily on my YouTube channel. Check out and subscribe to my YouTube channel to see future episodes of Destination: Toy Photography. https://www.youtube.com/@MitchelWuToyPhotography/videos
See more toy photography and learn more about what I do at: