Lights, camera, action!

photographer who has made a career from Mitchel Wu is an LA-based toy

Growing up, my favourite TV cartoon was Popeye the Sailor Man. Popeye’s nemesis was a bully named Bluto. When Bluto pushed Popeye to his limit, Popeye would pop open and gulp down a can of spinach, suddenly gaining superhuman strength. This had such an impact on me that spinach quickly became my favourite vegetable.

Two years ago, I learned that a toy company called Boss Fight Studio was creating a line of Popeye toys based on the early comics of E.C. Segar, comics that the TV cartoon would eventually be based on. I made it my mission to create images for Boss Fight Studio, a collaboration now in its second year. The toys they make reflect their passion for the properties they create from like Popeye, Strawberry Shortcake (and yes, she is strawberry scented!), The Little Prince, The Umbrella Academy and many more.

What all of this means to me is I have a wonderful range of toys to create with. One day I will be creating a fun image with Hagar the Horrible and the next day I’ll be creating an action-packed battle scene of good vs evil. Never a dull day.

I create my stories and images by looking for key characteristics or iconic moments of the characters. For example, many Popeye episodes revolved around Popeye having to rescue Olive Oyl from a menacing situation Bluto put her in. So I knew I had to capture that in my image. And a big part of the fun for me is creating different worlds for my stories in the least expected of places. For example, both the Little Prince image and the Phantom image were created on the narrow railing of my porch! And the image of Hagar the Horrible, standing triumphantly amid angry, churning seas, was created in my back garden, on my stone patio. With toy photography you are truly limited only by your imagination. I’ve learned that if I can imagine it, I can create it.

Have you tried toy photography yet? What toys did you use, what stories have you told and what worlds have you created? Haven’t tried it yet? Go grab your favourite toys and snap some pics around the house or in the garden. You just need a camera (any camera will do) and your imagination.

Based in Los Angeles, California, Mitchel Wu is the founder of Mitchel Wu Toy Photography (mitchelwutoyphotography. com). He uses toys to create stories with motion and emotion. Clients include The Walt Disney Company, Marvel Entertainment, Boss Fight Studio, Hasbro, Mattel and others. His work has been featured extensively in print, online and on TV.