Nah, man, you're definitely not a freak!

Tools, I don't really use much. I have my Nikon Coolpix camera, and two different tripods (one table top for those static shots down low), but besides that it's just my Joes, my Mac/Photoshop station, and whatever I use to build my sets.

I'm a little bit of everything you just mentioned. If I can use the real world to make something look effective, that's my preference, just because it always looks more authentic than a digital representation. But, I'm definitely not above trying to use Photoshop to make an impossible thought a real true-to-life image (or series of images).

I am in no way a professional or semi-professional photographer, I have a LOT to learn with picture taking as far as lighting and shot set up goes. I constantly see pictures used in newer dio's that are far better laid out and organized than mine, but try to take each one in as a learning process.

As for crazy things to get a shot done? Well...for Liberation, pretty much the whole chase sequence was a crazy thing. We were housesitting for a couple, and I basically brought 1/5 of my entire Joe collection with me to setup and shoot scenes at their house...people I barely knew. I also have buried my camera in some snow for some scenes in Bitter Cold...and I've dug myself a miniature hole in the ground to get down lower for some tight shots in other dio's as well. That's some of the fun parts for me...trying to figure out exactly how close I can get and how dramatic I can make a shot.

I'll say, though, some of the hardest stuff about shooting my dio's is that I'm absolutely anal about realistic human poses. That can make it quite a balancing act to get figures to stay and stand a certain way without visible footpegs, especially in fight scenes. It might take me 20 minutes just to shoot a single frame if I can't get the figures balanced just right.

Justin

__________________
www.GeneralsJoes.com
Figure Reviews and Dio-Stories
www.JoeSightings.com
News, Forums, and Toy Sightings