Toy Stories

Georgia Doherty :: Class of 2023

Remember when you were a kid and you could make up entire adventures for your toys? We all did this, that's why Pixar Animation Studios made a whole series of movies literally based on the secret lives of toys...enter Toy Story.

So going back to your own toys from when you were a kid (or maybe using new ones) how can your toys get into some mischief today? Are they more mature now—swimming on the top of soda cans, or making snow angels in your driveway, maybe they are trying to brush their teeth with a human sized object. Think about how to make your toys come to life and give us a peek into the secret life of the toy. 

Assignment:

Create a series of images using old toys. You can make up adventures and photograph them in interesting scenarios. This can be a series of 6-8 images, or 6-8 separate scenes with the same or different toys. You may want figurines instead of stuffed animals as it will look more real. Lego characters can work, as do Barbie's, action figures, or doll house characters. You can also purchase miniatures and even have more fun as they are tiny figurines. 

Steps:

• Check out this "behind the scenes" of a toy photographer
• Think of ideas—how can we have the most fun with these toys?
• You are creating 6 images at minimum
• Pay attention to focus and make sure you can get close enough to make these interesting. Blurry photos will not help your audience to be interested in your photos

Artists:

• Mitchel Wu
• David Gilliver
• David Levinthal

Objective: To use your imagination using tiny toys and bringing them to reality by the way you photograph them.