The fact that I had to crop the photo to a ratio that isn't what my camera takes makes me vaguely uncomfortable, but it does remove extra things from the photo which was annoying. I really like this shot for some reason.

I think there's something nice about seeing some sort of context in photos, even doll photos. Clearly we aren't all living in the same kind of places, and the "messy background" in some cases are less of messy and more of a certain rootedness to the photo. I might be rambling/romanticisng this slightly, of course, but when done well, I like photos (with or without dolls) with some kind of context that shows the kind of place/environment people live in. I mean, there's only so much dolls in plain backgrounds or with temperate plants in background shots. And nice as they are, I don't live in a place where I have temperate plants/nice looking forests (the forests here, if they're even big enough to be called forests, are pretty scary and wet and overgrown, as tropical forests tend to be, with a huge amount of dull green leaves), and I used to think, ohh, that means I can't take photos like that. That is true, but I still have other stuff, the small skating area behind my flat, the houses that are distinct to Singapore (rows and rows of flats in a certain style)... sometimes I forget that whatever I have and is around is is exactly that, and I shouldn't always try to clean everything up to a nice neat context. I hope that made some sort of sense.

I'm not really good at taking photos with these contexts, but sometimes I think it's nice to. I might do it sometime...

Photos I took in the house yesterday and today. I've been pretty much stuck with my doll photography for a while, and not terribly motivated to do anything about it. Yesterday I was taking Tiyana out to change (well, to swap Freddie's head out), and decided to photograph her with the Resin-Aperture challenge for this month (low angled shots). I usually take my photos from whereever I am, which is usually seated on the ground, with my camera propped on my knees to better stabilise my hands, and leave my dolls standing (Pretty much works for everyone except Cypher cos he's a LTF). Low angle isn't my best angle to take photos because I use a 50mm lens in my house, so I tend to end up in a really awkward position and I can't take photos. Still, I tried for the challenge, and I'm glad I did. It may not have worked out the best in terms of low-angled photograph, but I definitely like the photo that turned out better.



And the one I took today of Zeke happened to be somewhat of a low angled shot too. I think I'm just trying to actively *not* take portrait shots for these 2 sessions because I want to do something different. Like, I actually got different bodies for all my dolls for their characters and it's not going to matter if all I take are portrait shots, cos no one but me would see their full body, you know?


And well, Tiyana's photo is kind of okay, I like the photo, characterwise I'm just like "yeah, it's okay". It might have to do with the fact that I'm thinking if I should redo her faceup, but I kind of like how I did this one, even though it's old and done with watercolour pencils instead of watercolour paints which is what I use now. So yeah, not too sure about that, we'll see what happens after I'm done with the coming semester of school.

But Zeke's photo, I just love it so much. There's a lot of things I love about this doll that's kind of just accidental things, by which I mean, things I wasn't actively looking at when I bought him. For example, his nose wasn't the main feature for why I bought his head (the lips were) and now it's really growing on me. And even though he has a default faceups (I generally don't like/keep my dolls with default faceups, but Zeke and Cypher both have default faceups, cos I like them), it is somehow just right for the character, even the tones of the blushing. I half wonder if it's a case of liking something more just because I own it now. Haha. But that's not the point - it doesn't matter why as long as I like it.

I also really like the solid feel of his body, even though the body was bought on impulse, on a new company I knew little about. And somehow it suits him, although sometimes I think his wrists are soooo thin, but he's pretty much in sweatshirts or oversized longsleeved tops anyway, so it doesn't matter. The Little Monica hands he's wearing (because the original Akagi ones were odd and had long nails) also look really nice on him (save for the thin wrists, but they do fit), and he actually wears the hands better than Hew who's on a LM body and also uses the same sized LM hands. I just feel like they suit Zeke better. Maybe I'm biased?

And Zeke has a SD17 length-ish torso but SD13 length-ish legs. He sits taller than most of my other dolls, even some who are taller than him because of that long torso. It's a bit accidental, since that wasn't my concerns when buying, but I just kind of like it. Make him different from the rest :) Oh, and I like that his legs lock when sitting. Yeah...

It's been a pretty rambly post, but I just felt like sharing what I like about Zeke because that photo shows so many of the details I like about him as a doll. And a bit of getting over (maybe) just taking portrait shots of my dolls.

Completely random, but I was searching for body comparisons when I came across this blog post by armelia on copy and inspiration of bjds. Definitely worth a read.

Also. After even more photoshopping, I think SD16G is the better choice. Ugh, why am I so undecisive :/ SD16G OK. SETTLED. Time to save.

After finding a bunch of photos to do some photoshopping on, I think it's probably best to get a SD16 girl body (the old one with the squarer shoulders) for Freddie. I mean I really like the Spiritdoll body, but it's a bit taller than I like, and even after everything, it may not fit right. :/ Ahhhhh. And I was super looking forward to buying that body too. Well, I guess it's time to look out for a old SD16G body on the marketplace that's at a price I'm willing to pay for the body.

...

GAHHH, no, damn it, I'm still so undecided. D: I clicked on the different layers a few more times and I'm soooooo stuck. What should I do ughhh...

The other day, I was walking around town area to buy clothes, and also looking for some sort of bag to put my LTF Pong Pong in, when I carry him around in my bag. I looked at so many things that could be carriers, including ipad cushioned holders...well, LTFs have to sit in it with their legs a bit bent but it was a weird size so I didn't get it. I also looked at pencil cases (those soft ones made with thick material that feels a bit cushion-y) but I didn't really like the design. I also popped by Sephora to see if their makeup bags might work (I think it would) but it was a bit big for what I wanted.

Basically I wanted a small pouch/bag that fits Cypher, a few of his clothes, maybe some other bits and pieces here and there for him (magic eraser, props maybe), which would be kept in my backpack when I do want to bring him out. So the bag itself has to have some cushion so he won't get roughed up while inside my backpack.

In the end, I got a pouch (makeup bag? toiletries pouch? I'm not too sure.) from Muji. It's labelled as "bag in bag" which just made no sense because this is just a bag, but hmmm. I don't know. I like the simple design and it feels really smooth inside unlike most of the random bags/pencil cases I was looking for. So yeah, Cypher would be quite safe inside.


Not sure if you can see it but there's a zip on the front which I can probably put his extra clothes in when I bring him out. Those little handles aren't really useful for me though.


Cypher inside the main compartment of the bag. You can see the other zipper here better. He has to bend his knees to fit in because the bag is just a bit small (Label wrote the bag's dimensions as 28cm across and Cy is 25cm tall, but I guess flat length doesn't work for a 3D object XD).


And just to show what he looks like lying on the bag.

I did actually bring Cypher out just to get a better idea of which bags would fit and all, and although this bag is *just a bit* small, it's a good buy and the best choice in terms of what I wanted. So yeah, now he has a bag to travel to Korea with me in. :D

Cypher has (finally) reached!

I can't remember if I ranted about it here, but I definitely was looking at his tracking number so many times, waiting for him to reach me, and I probably annoyed my friends and family talking about it >_< Anyway, Cypher has reached! He's my first tiny, a LTF Pong Pong, bought from doa's 2nd hand market.


The box :D My postman (post lady?) was dangling the whole box off her index finger with that part of the plastic over the invoice, hence the bump in the plastic over the barcode. I was a bit o.O when I saw that, but when she handed it over to me, the box wasn't too heavy so I guess it's okay. I'm so used to how SDs weigh a bunch compared to a tiny, haha.


Some bubble...packs? Instead of bubblewrap. First time I've seen something like this, and I've encountered quite some different things used in packing (packing peanuts that are flower shaped, haha. And other stuff, like huge ass bubblewrap for example)


The box! Quite a similar colour to Gabby's delf box actually. Now I'll end up associating CP with blue even though it's not true (female delfs were shipped in yellow-gold boxes) >_<


A shaky close up of the box. Excuse the camera at this point, I was using my point-and-shoot because my sister took the DSLR out, and I'm so unfamiliar with it now, lol.


And another blurry shot! The foam cutout makes the box heavier than it would be otherwise, haha. Which means Cypher is really quite light.


Straight from the box! He was sold with eyes but it's not the same pair he was shown wearing in the sales thread. Oh well, it's lucky I wasn't counting on that and bought eyes for him anyway, haha.


After changing out his eyes (the previous owner used some eye putty that smelled a bit oily like plasticine or something? I don't know what it is, but anyway, I had to clean all of it out before I put his eyes in with white tac (like blu tack but white), which is much less sticky than whatever he had before :\

His wig arrived just yesterday, from thereif. I love her wigs, and if she has more colours besides the natural shades for fur#4 or fur#5, I would be buying more wigs from her! This one's a fur#5 which isn't in her thread, and she told me the fur is shorter than #4 but she ran out of white for #4. I was like okay, since it's a tiny, but before Cypher came today, I was still half worrying that it might be too short for what I have in mind. NOPE. It's definitely long enough for him. A bit too long, in fact. I'm lucky #4 was out of stock, or it'll be even longer. ._.


Have another shot of his long wig, and cute nose. I was getting ready to cut his wig, but I had to eat lunch first, haha.


A bit later, I cut his wig, and posed him around for some photos, most of which was pretty meh, because lighting wasn't too good. I kept this one because he's doing a It'sGrace (used to be DailyGrace on youtube) pose. Also, he only has these hands. I should probably buy him some other hands because the fist hand is a bit hard to use in photos, hehe.


Sometime after that first bunch of photos, I sat down to make a necklace for him. I forgot to take a photo, but the back of the necklace has some parts that are magnetic, and they've flattened themselves against the magnets in his back (which are for resin wings, I guess?). He also has magnets in his head for putting resin horns on. And magnets in his hands. (Haven't check his feet). BUT, he's got no magnets in his damn faceplate. =.= I dunno man, so many magnets, and the crucial one to keep his faceplate actually on isn't there. I put some painter tape to hold it, but it'll be good if I can find magnets small enough for his faceplate. But technical issue aside, he's really cute, and ridiculously happy. Looking at him makes him smile for no reason, seriously XD (Also, I made his bracelets before he came cos I was bored, and wrist measurements are easier to find than neck ones.)


Trying out posing. He stands really well barefoot :D I've put boots on him now (see the next photo), because I like boots too.

The aforementioned boots. And Cy pulling on Jack's hair, haha. Cos he's a little cheeky thing. And I wanted him to do something with that fist hand. Or thumbs up hand, since it's more than just a fist with that little thumb sticking out.

He's so small, I feel like it's so different to photograph him, haha. And his white hair with my house's white walls isn't a good combination. But damn, white hair and purple eyes. I have to say, I chose the combination half because no other doll I have right now has either that hair or eye colour, half because white hair for Cy is like the opposite of Jack's black hair. Also, you can't see it in this photo, but both Jack and Cy have teeth! (Well, Cy has a tooth, but still).

Ahh, now to find a cushioned case for him so I can bring him to Korea with me. XD And maybe make him more clothes.

The Cousins

I think the only photo I have of Caillen and Gabby together is something on instagram, and stuff not uploaded that's still in my harddrive...BUT, I have a photo of them together now :D

They're cousins, and I actually have plans for Gabby's little sister but I've not gotten her yet (a dreaming Zaoll Luv). I like dreaming eye dolls, and I think this is my excuse for getting them, haha. Everyone in this family have dreaming eyes, haha. Also, Caillen and Gabby have similar colouration (skin, hair, eyes) except Caillen's darker than Gabby.

Also, damn, I made Caillen's bracelet but the elastic end is showing instead of the metal side, oh well...
And Gabby's the older cousin. He's actually a year older than Caillen but soooo much shorter, haha.

Have a solo shot of Gabby cos he doesn't have many shots nowadays (what's with all the new dolls, ehh).

He looks so happy :D

Nostalgia

I was reading the threads on doa about evolution of dolls/collections and diving through my photobucket library. Thought I'll share some stuff.

1. Kristolf's wig is getting better now that he has a beanie (or wears a hat when he's not wearing the beanie).



This is what his wig used to look like before I cut it. I really like the colour but it was a Leeke Limited colour, so unless they release it again, I will only have 1 wig in this gorgous colour. Also, he had a different faceup then. Made him too a bit kinder (but wasn't right for the character).


2. A bunch of shots, mostly unintentionally group shots of my crew over the years...oh man, those group shots are bad.
I got my first doll, Gabby, and he had the crappy first faceup I did ._. Oh man. Also, digital camera with super high ISO=grainy photo.


2010 - I got a head (DENNIS :D), and a body quickly after, making the collection 2:D Also, Gabby got sent for a better faceup. (There's a few more of my faceup attempts in between though)


2011 - 3rd doll, Nat! I think this was from box opening and back then I didn't really take group photos of my dolls together cos I kept them in boxes when I didn't play with them, so it was a pain to take them all out for photos.

Also notice how I seriously didn't know how to pose so many dolls...everyone's looking everywhere... (not intentionally!).


2012? I think... - Nat got sent for faceup but I got 2 more...my Miho twins :D :D By now my photograph has actually improved (seriously) but the quality of my group shots is pretty bad compared to solo shots... and I still can't pose too many dolls together for nuts. And horror, I think this might have been taken with my DSLR. o.O Definitely remember that this was a photo taken with bad lighting in the afternoon, though.


2012 - The first proper attempt at a group photo. Also, same spot in my bedroom as the previous photo, haha. I didn't expect them to take up so much space, hence the sadly inadequete "wallpaper" at the back. Also had floating heads but they're not in the shot. And getting *a bit* better with posing more dolls but still...


2014 - The most recent photo of my crew, minus the floating heads :D Most of them look relatively the same, except the twins got new wigs, and there's alot more dolls suddenly because I skipped 2013 (no group shots then, no idea why...school? Probably) And I can still get better at posing many dolls at once (or even just 1), but it's already an improvement >_<'''

Almost

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Come over here.













Almost.

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On a side note, these 2 have a more complicated story than this, but I felt like taking some loveydovey shots. Sort of, haha. But there's so much more drama before these 2 get together. And Freddie too. Gah. I wish I have the motivation to write their story/draw more of the manga that I planned of this story, but I don't really have the time/inspiration/motivation. :/

Despite the angst in the story, I think they look so cute in this set of photos, haha. Gosh. Caillen and Zeke and Freddie together is probably my OTP. Yesh. 3. A polyamorous relationship. 8D (But Freddie doesn't have her body right now so she can't be in the photos)

Full crew photo and updates

I decided I should take a photo of everyone before I leave for my Korea exchange (starting at the end of this month and until about late December), because I won't be able to bring any of them there, especially not with the amount of drawing things I have to bring for school already. (Oh, the woes of owning only SDs. XD If only I had a tiny...) So anyway, reason aside, I have a photo of everyone! Well, everyone who has a body. I have 3 floating heads (Freddie, my Volks Olivia. Joe, my Esthy Peroth. And my still unnamed Roderich head) who aren't in the photo (because I forgot I can take another shot of the full dolls with floating heads on their laps >_<).

They're pretty much in whatever they were wearing when I just took them out of my wardrobe to take this photo. Gabby has shoes on, which you can't see. He's also the only one still wearing shoes, cos they take up space and my wardrobe already just barely fits all 10 of them sitting inside, so I remove all their shoes if I have time. Nat's in uncolourful clothes cos he was lending his body to Joe for a while (and imagine that, I didn't take photos of Joe during that time...Ehhh D: ), but other than that, everyone's dressed quite in character, and I'm just so so happy to see them all together :D

Anddddd. The cloth to the right of the photo is something I used to use as background when taking photos of Gabby cos I used to use a digital camera and the background would be too messy otherwise. I had to use it for this shot cos 10 dolls take up way too much space. Kind of nostalgic. I have a bunch of other shots of Caillen and Zeke with this cloth cos I took it out, but I'll probably only edit them another time. Haha.

Also, after the bad photo of my unnamed Roderich head (I so need to give him a name. I can't keep calling him my unnamed head DX), I took some clearer shots of his faceup cos I'm pretty proud of it :D







Weeeee. I did the lines more cleanly this time. Usually I paint each hair a few times cos watercolour isn't as dark as I want it to be (especially the browns), so the lines end up a bit fuzzy... this time it's mostly black and dark brown hairs so I took care to get enough paint on my brush so that I could paint each hair in one stroke. I'm still not stable enough with a brush to draw eyelid creases, but at least my lashes and eyebrow hair are drawn better now.

He also has very very faint freckles but I don't think it's very noticeable in photos. His freckles are also a bit bigger than Kristolf's cos I used a different brush then, but it's not too bad so I don't think I'll be going over with more pastel and smaller freckles. His freckles are a bit easier to see in real life, haha. I really can't spot them on these photos, lol.