Hey,
I thought i'd throw this question to everyone on this forum, we are all capable of producing some fantastic stories with our little plastic soldiers and heroes of might. But i specifically want to talk about challenges, here on the forum you can take part in weekened warriors and various other themed contests.

However, when your doing an action figure sequence, do you challenge yourself? Is there areas of action figure story/dio creation that you don't feel best at, and if so how do you challenge yourself?

One of the many aspects of this hobby I enjoy is constantly thinking of new poses or stances for the figures to be in, when that scene is in my head i try best to recreate it as closely as I can with the figure, but thats not the end of the line is it?

What about after the scene is there, do you just point the camera and shoot? do you shoot from up top? from below? from either side or just from the front? What about the lighting?

So much to think about, just recently i've thrived on swapping out my initial ideas and scenarios camera angles, trying my best not to shoot every scene from the same angle, now obviously, when you do this you can change the angle of lighting, which could increase or decrease the shot,. hmm. I guess thats the price paid.

So. My question is, how often do you challenge yourself when taking pictures, and if you do, is it purely pictoral with the camera or more with the scenes themselves and the action figures involved.

In friendship
Rich

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I tend to shoot from a comfortable area and source. But I'm slowly picking up more sources inspired by others on here so that my shots are *hopefully* growing unique and beginning to take form

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I want to challange myself and I know I can take better shots. My problem is organization,space and location. I have alot of ideas dog piled in my head. So many it fustrates me. I want to do them all!!! The problem is bring the imagination forth. Its not that easy. When I get the urge to take a pic my area becomes a pig stye. This is due to me being unorganized. I start pulling sh1t from everywhere and by the time I find what I was looking for, the mood is distrupted!!! This is why I take simple pics. I feel its more about having fun and enjoying your hobby then challenging yourself.

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Whos Da Masta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrXSWI0oWHg

My challenge for the past few years is steading my hands so I don't need a tripod. Beleive it or not the past 2 years have been without a tripod.

My constant challenge is tossing characters that have no business being together and figure out what they might talk about. That doesn't always work of course. Also changing up the backgrounds once in a while, I have a bad tendancy to sit in front of the Comic shop and video store.

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http://www.zedsjoesite.com Home Scale Wars updated Mon-Fri Every Week

I try to get some inspiration to a scene mostly, otherwise it is what i can think of at the moment. I typically shoot from the angles I want to try for first then after that I go and snap them from all over just in case there is a better shot not thought of before. My biggest challenge is getting elaborate scenes put together but I am using a trial and error method of success. I try to picture the figures in movie scenes/situation then adapt it to something I can create for them.

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Schultz: Jawohl, Herr Kommandant.
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Hogan's Heroes" (1965)

I'm still pretty new to this form of story telling. I usually just write but now I am working on Dio Stories ( http://cobrahq.freewebspace.com ). As my challenge comes from the actual story telling, my pictures are pretty generic, but I do try to change them up a little here and there.

So, there, now you have my challenge

Im a hard arse on my self all the time. From my art work to my screen printing and diographies. Im always pushing myself to the limit. if I can't spend the time to take a shot correctly why bother. why waste that energy you know. My challenge is organization kinda like sic! lol but mine is backwards. I have so much space that all my stuff gets scattered around in my basement joe room.

Every time I shoot I think of how the scene will be portrayed through the camera lens. Dave vader9900 told me a long time ago, to look through my lens while i set up so I can see whats blocked and what needs to go were. I as well push myself in my dio building. I try and push myself to the limits I have. which are time and money! lol
I have as well been Challenging myself with the quantity of shots I shoot. I try and shoot every pic like its the last one on the roll. So in doing this I make myself work harder and I control every facet of my shots. From the lighting to the camera,tripod and timer. This way to me I feel like I get better shots. I used to take 80 pictures but with the method I use to shoot now. "painting with light" all my shots come out how i want them. Don't get me wrong I still have lots to learn we all do.

Cheer DD

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I am trying to make sets that help fit my collection. Some have really stunk. I am using Military Modeler magazine to help guide me through! It's gonna take a while!!

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yes its a challenge,i didnt know i sucked so much at taking pictures.
i find it hard to convey the vision in my head.
its really a whole different world taking pictures of scenes using small plastic figures compared to regular snapshots of people.

i dont try to compete with other members of joedios i think its the wrong turn to take.

im trying to create my own joeverse and i want a certain mood..im trying to warm up to it so the diostory becomes of quality enough to actually be worth reading when its done.

the challenge to me is not to outshine anyone else but to learn from every picture i take so i slowly can think in 3d and 1:18 scale.

to reach some kind of basic quality level i guess.