So I’ve done a few outdoor photo shoots with my figures but never anywhere out in the open to the public. I’ve been dying to go out and do one in an open spot, this is my collection and my hobby i shouldn’t be ashamed to go outside and take pictures! So I decided to take some of my swimsuit figures to the beach!
I’m no good at doing indoor shoots, I’ve tried and tried again but I can’t seem to get the lighting to work. I have heard from many people that the best light for photos in sunlight so doing outdoor shoots on sunny days just seemed like the best idea. I have to say that doing this shoot makes me feel like I went up a notch in being a figure collector. I’ve met people who collect figures but are ashamed of their collection, they tell me they will do indoor shoots but never have the guts to go outside with them for the world to see.
I choose Tessa and Chidori since they are a set and I’ve had Chidori for a while now but it was becoming difficult to acquire Tessa.
I love this Tessa figure, I owned before the Atelier Sai Race Queen Tessa, and she was just a horrible horrible figure. It didn’t even look like her honestly, the outfit was something she would never have been caught wearing and it was completely out of character. I adore this Tessa so much, it’s so true to her character, she would be the kinda person to show up to the beach in a school swimsuit.
I was so glad to finally get Tessa so that way my Chidori wouldn’t be alone anymore. This figure is one of my favorites to be honest with you, it’s once again honest to the character plus she’s made so well. My only complaint is that on her right arm, it’s not all one piece it’s two pieces stuck together at the elbow. But since the gun pretty much covers that up i don’t mind it at all. Other than that small fault it’s practically prefect. She’s only on one foot but no leaning for this lovely lady. I also love how her hair just flows in the wind.
6:27 am on March 24th, 2008 1
nice photos Dancing Queen, although I gotta say, cleaning the sand off your figures after the shoot must be a real pain.
6:31 am on March 24th, 2008 2
Awesome shoot. I guess the non-fun part would be cleaning the wet sand off their feet and legs.
By any chance did you have to shoot them quickly considering the waves were coming in or you had to wait for it to subside?
Your choice of scenery is perfect. You can’t ask for any better. ^_^
7:27 am on March 24th, 2008 3
Nice pics. Some of us though have no chance to go out and take pics in open sunlight, like those of us here near the equator. Either clouds or weather get in the way, or worse, pollution. Would like something taken at the beach too, or something done in a nature reserve.
7:54 am on March 24th, 2008 4
Awesome dude. I’m def gonna go out and take pictures of my figures too, though the weather at the moment is insane. Snow, rain and wind.
For now, indoors have to do.
And, now you made me get these 2. (b・∀・)b
9:18 am on March 24th, 2008 5
@ marvinryan
No it wasn’t that hard to clean them up afterwards, they were barely covered in sand and i just had to rinse them off later t home since it is salt water
@ Optical
it was low tide so the water would barely come by and if it did the waves were light.
@ Panther
yeah weather is always a pain, so when i knew it was going to be sunny at the beach i knew i had to go, it’s never sunny at the beach here but usually overcast.
@ Timotei
you should considerer doing out and doing a shoot and using the snow to your advantage, go to a spot where the snow is fresh i guess and do a shoot with figures that are usually in snow, like Kanon figures.
10:18 am on March 24th, 2008 6
These are great pictures, and I like how you make the background match the figures, but, if you’re going to use the sun as you light source, it would be better to take the pictures with your back towards the sun and positioning the figures facing towards the sun. That way the light will be hitting the more crucial areas, like the face.
You did it before, with Makoto! ^_^
Are you going to do this for all your figures or just the ones you can find a scenery for?
10:21 am on March 24th, 2008 7
@ 53RG10
I would have loved to have the sun facing the figures, but then you wouldn’t have been able to see the beach, i would love to do it with all my figures, but for now i’m just doing the ones i can think of a scenery for
10:42 am on March 24th, 2008 8
–Yeah, I though of that after I posted it… -_-’
–Can’t wait to see how you’ll portray your other figures! ^_^
7:08 pm on March 24th, 2008 9
woah, love the shots. Good job ^^b
you did several low angle shots, did the water get into the camera? :O
I hope the salt water won’t rub the figurine paint
8:27 pm on March 24th, 2008 10
@ ron~
if you notice the water is kinda far away, since it was low tide the water rarely came even close to us. no water got on the camera and since i wasn’t there at long and the water didn’t really touch them much no pant rubbed off.
1:38 am on March 25th, 2008 11
It would totally be a kick in the pants if seconds after the shot a big wave comes in and takes the figure away from you hahahaha.
Nice shots.
4:13 am on March 25th, 2008 12
nice work, DQ; you are very skilful with a camera. I disagree with sergio on the light: full-on is OK, but I like how the shadows work, the way you shot it. and outside light is always better then indoors, unless you have a couple thousand to drop on special filters and equipment. I haven’t seen the ocean in 20 yeqars; I am envious!
5:07 am on March 26th, 2008 13
Ooooh, nice photos there XD
Full on sunlight on the front is usually bad as it creates harsh shadows. Sunlight from the back can make the figures quite dark, which is what I somewhat feel with these photos~
Have you tried a light reflector? Most of my early photos (I forget to bring it on later photoshoots…) uses it cause I found that it lacks light when you take a shot with the sun behind the figure (or above!)
I know what you mean about some people being somewhat ashamed about owning figures, but most of my friends are fine….I try to drag one or two along with me so I don’t feel left out XD
Keep up the good work, hope to see more outdoor shots :3
6:32 pm on March 28th, 2008 14
Wow, very nice pictures. I wish i had a larger collection of figures, but the dusting is always a pain T_T , need to buy a nice case for them .
Anyways… awesome job!
Im a new fan of your blog now ^^ .
12:40 am on March 29th, 2008 15
Great job! although the shadow suggests that the sun is on the wrong side and the front part of your figures becomes dark when shooting
11:16 am on March 29th, 2008 16
Awesome shots, I must say you have guts to take your figures to the beach especially with all the sun and mostly… people. Since the pictures seem to have been taken in the morning the heat wasn’t a problem I suppose.
Anyway….great pics ^_^
10:26 pm on March 29th, 2008 17
nice pics! i also do mainly outdoor shoots of my figures since i don’t have a decent setup at home for indoor shoots. >.<
early morning and late afternoon is the best time to do shoots where the sunlight is not that harsh.
btw, i have a question. is Tessa’s base buried inside the sand? if not i wonder how is she able to stand. O_O