My Toy Robot Photo Project - Looking for Volunteers

[tuck2197]

Howdy all,

In brief, I am a photographer (at least a serious hobby photographer, not my day job) and I have started a project photographing Japanese Toy Robots. The goal is to have a show and self-publish a book. As the project has developed the book has evolved from a photo mongraph of toy robot images to a look into the world of toy robot collecting and those who partake (as the project has evolved I of course have become a collector). My roots in childhood with the world of Macross started with the Robotech Comic books. So what I am looking for are volunteers to answer a questionaire about their collecting to help my research. Please PM me if you are interested.

Here are some links:

These are over at Robot-Japan where I have already recieved quite a few volunteers.

http://robotjapan.proboards12.com/index.cg...amp;thread=6531

http://robotjapan.proboards12.com/index.cg...mp;thread=12333

Here is my webpage (there are a few of my inital images posted, while there is only one Macross related toy so far I do have quite a few waiting to be photographed):

http://www.greenstphotography.com

Please feel free to ask me any questions and I hope to hear from some of you.

Andrew

[VFTF1]

Hi,

My first recomendation would be that if you're going to make Japanse Robot photos that you use Japanese robots

Case in point: Classics Masterpiece Optimus Prime.

Bleh

Better to use the original MP-01.

A very different and much better looking - and Japanese - robot. The one you've got there is truncated by Hasbro.

VFTF1

[tuck2197]

Part of the point of this book is to explore toy collecting in general and that includes toy collectors in the US and that often means having to choose to purchase the US version (or another KO ike Godtron or Godbot) of a specific toy because of the cost. So while I understand your point I don't feel that including the US version of a toy is inapropriate. Plus I just can't afford to purchase the best vesion of each toy. I am hoping to complete this project within a year (two at most) so in that case I often have to make a decission based on what I can afford. Plus since I am shooting in B&W the color differences won't show up.

That said I have been keeping my eye out for version of the toy suggest, if I can find a decent price at a time I can afford it I would love to have a comparison shot.

Thank you for you suggestion. Please let me know if you would be willing to answer my questionaire and take part in this project.

[tuck2197]

For anyone interested here is the questionaire I am passing out, please feel free to answer it and PM me your answers (or if you all would like to see each others answers go ahead and post to this thread).

I would really like a significant Macross collector response as these are the toys I most relate too from my childhood. Lately I have been working on getting a sampling of Macross and Robotech related toys to add to the photo project. These are also the toys I am most likely to keep once I am done with the project (if I ever am). While I have recieved response on Robot-Japan from some who do collect Macross toys I would love to hear from some on this forum who may be more heavily into the toys and anime. I hope to hear from some of you and please ask me any questions about the project.

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Toy Robot Questionnaire

Please answer as many of the questions below as you feel comfortable with. Please go into as much detail as you want. If you have any questions please contact Andrew.

1. Name and or Robot-Japan/Macross World Screen name:

2. Where do you live?

2A. What is your occupation?

3. How old are you:

4. Gender:

5. What types of Japanese (or non Japanese) toy robots do you collect?

6. How did you get started collecting toy robots and how old were you?

7. Why do you personally collect toy robots?

8. Describe any positive and or negative impact on your life collecting toy robots has had.

9. Describe the reactions your family and friends have to your hobby.

10. If possible have a close friend or family member describe what they think of your hobby.

11. What is your favorite toy robot and why?

12. Please add any additional comments here:

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If you are 18 years old or older please sign below. By signing below you are indicating that you are 18 years old or older and that you agree to let Andrew Phillips (GreenStPhotography) use any portion or all of your answers to the above questions for any purpose, whatsoever, pertaining to his artistic project studying Japanese toy robots with out compensation to yourself. All of your comments will be credited to you unless you indicate that you would like to remain anonymous.

NOTE: since these questions are being transmitted electronically if you can not scan a copy with your actually signature a digital signature will be accepted, just type your name and date and that will be considered your signature.

__________________________

Signature

________________

Date

If you are under 18 years old please have a Parent or Guardian sign below consenting to terms stipulated in the previous paragraph.

___________________________________________

Signature

____________

Date

Check here if you would like to remain anonymous (this means any quoted material of your will be attributed to an anonymous source): ________

Check here if you want you want comments attributed only to your Robot-Japan/Macross World screen name (make sure you provided your screen name):_______

It is the intent of Andrew Phillips (GreenStPhotography) to study and eventually have a formal show of photography and potentially a book published pertaining to the hobby of collecting Japanese toy robots. If you would like to have your name and contact information published in any of the acknowledgement sections of the book or any publication relating to this project please provide your information below.

Name: ___________________________

Website:__________________________

I would also encourage you to include a picture of yourself with your robots (or favorite robot). Please limit your pictures to 1 image, 72dpi, no bigger than 800 pixels in the longest dimension. Please note that by including a picture you agree to allow Andrew Phillips (GreenStPhotography) to use the image in any publication pertaining to this project with out compensation to yourself. These publications would include, but not be limited to; a book, publications relating to a show of photography (i.e. flyers, and any written documents used as part of the show), the website greenstphotography.com. Any image you provide will be credited to you.

If you would rather submit your forum icon rather than a picture, size it the dimensions I indicated above.

[yellowlightman]

Not sure if I see the logic in photographing notoriously colorful robots in black and white. But I suppose black & white + soft focus = art.

Edited May 27, 2008 by yellowlightman

[tuck2197]

I see your point, and it was something I thought long and hard about, but if you had read some of my desription of the project on my website you would have seen my explanation of why I am doing B&W. One because I am primarily a B&W film photographer, and two when you strip away the bright colors and use the techniques I have employed I feel I can work towards capturing the esssence (souls if you will) of the toy robots. Finally logic and art rarely occupy the same space at the same time. My goal is to produce images that are almost more portrait than anything else. Plus there is no shortage of great images in color of these toys not only here but all over the web, I don't feel that I have anything to add there. I realize this can come across as artsy crap, but hey its my project and frankly I am having a blast doing it.

I do realize that not everyone will like the images I produce, but you never can please everyone. Yes I am attempting to use these crazy toys to produce what the art world calls fine art prints, these are not digital images (not that there is anything wrong with digital), they are all film images developed and processed by myself in my own darkroom. I do produce both traditional wet processed silver prints as well as archival digital prints using the finest papers and inks. This is just how I personally like to print my work. What you are seeing on the website and on R-J are scans of the negatives post processed in Photoshop.

The other aspect to this project is learning about toy collecting and those who take part. Thus the questionaire, thus I have immersed myself in this world first buy buying and selling the toys on e-bay, then by scouring this forum as well as robot-japn, then by starting to take part and ask questions so I can get smart about the toys so that when I write about them I don't sound like an idiot. This project is both fun and very personal for me. I know it may seem as a little weird and that I am very new to the forum so there is a trust issue. I am hoping to get 5-10 MW forum users to participate and add their story.

I welcome any help, suggestions or critiques (good and bad).