Practical Effects in Professional Toy Photography!

We spend a day with toy photographer Johnny Wu (aka SgtBananas), whose beautiful photos bring toys to life and have gathered a big following on Instagram. Johnny shows us how he stages scenes in his miniature studio, lights his figures, and uses practical effects to add weather to his photos!
Find more of Johnny's work at / sgtbananas
Shot by Gunther Kirsch
Edited by Norman Chan
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Follow us on Twitter: / testedcom
Get updates on Facebook: / testedcom
Tested is:
Adam Savage / donttrythis
Norman Chan / nchan
Simone Giertz / simonegiertz
Joey Fameli www.joeyfameli.com
Gunther Kirsch guntherkirsch.com
Ryan Kiser / ryan.kiser
Kishore Hari / sciencequiche
Sean Charlesworth / cworthdynamics
Jeremy Williams / jerware
Kayte Sabicer / kaytesabicer
Bill Doran / chinbeard
Ariel Waldman / arielwaldman
Darrell Maloney / thebrokennerd83
Kristen Lomasney / krystynlo
Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Set design by Danica Johnson / saysdanica
Set build by Asa Hillis www.asahillis.com
Thanks for watching!

[@Hippiewolf42]

It's so fascinating watching him explain something I had no interest in previously. His passion and enthusiasm is contagious.

[@lsinner80]

Johnny Wu is everything. Love his works and his passion. Can I just sit in his workshop and watch the whole entire process? 😉

[@justaddmusclecom]

Oh man, now I want to embark on another hobby after watching this. It seems like so much fun to create these really cool images.

[@TheGlassSword]

Healthy Recipe Channel Same I build Gundam models now I really want to try this with them

[@JelloFluoride]

@@TheGlassSword Do it! I want to do the same thing.

[@beckymurphy4714]

I snagged Hela, Thor & Loki on clearance, and had a blast doing photo shoots with them. I took about 30 pictures of Hela alone - with and without her cloak, headdress and "regular" head. Outside with a snow bank background. Right now I have Hela & Loki standing on my dresser, and Thor doing a "power jump" behind Hela (He's suspended from the wall on fishing line). I love coming up with different scenarios and angles.

[@lorcannagle]

@@TheGlassSword there's a great Gunpla blog called kusakusa, the guy does these fantastic long-exposure photos with laser pointers, lighting and clear plastic weapon effects to give naturalistic photos of gundam kits in action poses.

[@androgeniko]

I started recently take photos of my Saint Seiya figures with natural light and the gold cloths with sun light look really amazing I falled in love taking photos of them

[@BarManFesteiro]

I absolutely loved the lights, i work in theater stages and these lights are just like miniatures of the ones we use really cool.

[@hazonku]

I think my favorite part was just watching him & Norm geek out about photography and lighting itself. LOL The photos & process are super interesting too but watching them geek out was the best part.

[@coregeek]

Been following him for years. He’s such an incredible artist. Thanks for highlighting him here.

[@thefatman69dude]

I really like this action figure coverage you guys are doing. Please please do more. Do some diorama building vids, do more stuff like this please. I would love to see more action figure stuff. As a collector and diorama builder myself I am loving these toy vids

[@tcb9775]

Miniature model cities would also be rad!

[@jasonyang6418]

CONGRATS JOHNNY! Really proud of you, my friend!

[@DeeL2003]

Congrats Johnny! It's so cool seeing toy photography getting some exposure. Great job Norm and Tested!

[@BoogNice]

Also, Lume Cube PAY this man! That was God level promotion.

[@mossvf6706]

Nice to see toy photography getting some love ! Nice work johnny

[@2ruthfox82]

You got love to bro, I thought of you when I seen this.

[@brickstopixel2324]

and what's exactly the problem with that?

[@brooksysdead]

😂😂😂 yes he is an ambassador for the company and he should be... He is basically selling their product to a community that otherwise may not know about the product and how well they would work for them.good for johnny

[@BoogNice]

I don’t see a problem at all. It’s win, win.

[@iPhonedo]

Great interview, I love this video.

[@TheSalemCrow]

As an artist in the same hobby, I appreciate Tested showcasing it, and such an amazing artist.

[@rowleysyukur8438]

Johnny Wu, u rock! Awesome artwork n crazy photography. This guy is talented.. 🤘

[@gpholtz]

Toys, dioramas, miniatures, railroad models......Love them all!!!!

[@tcb9775]

Same. I always wanted to see micromachines in a diorama.

[@thefatman69dude]

Also Johnny wu is awesome. What a great photographer

[@SuperSpeedMonkey]

Norman is easily one of the best interviewers in the business.

[@PunkerMike]

Congrats Johnny!!

[@gungagalunga7761]

I really enjoy listening to an artist describe their process of creating. Sgtbananas... great work.

[@LeeGinSing]

So nerdy. So awesome.

[@jsdrummer91]

I needed this.. Excellent choice in having Johnny Wu on your channel. Huge fan. This lights a spark inside me to get back to the grind.

[@Wicket_78]

so much talent! and great that he's doing something he's passionate about.

[@BGsModelWorkshop]

This was so cool guys! Thanks to Johnny Wu for sharing!!

[@TheEternalExperience]

My boy Johnny! Congrats dude this was so awesome to watch. Big inspiration to all of us toy photographers! God speed!

[@buzzmooney2801]

I haven't done NEARLY as much figure photography as I've wanted, over the years. I'm intrigued by the simple setup!

[@anchorbait6662]

Thanks SgtB! Great Tested episode as well.

[@jimmythx1]

My personal favorite toy photographer , tones of movement and life in his work.

[@ericbadder1552]

You are a loser man. Did u really just say that

[@dr.doppeldecker3832]

Too much green for me, i actually liked the original photo more.

[@madgenus]

I feel the same way honestly, though removing the raindrop on the forehead and the unfocused thing to the right seems like a good choice to me.

[@offsetstudio5673]

Agreed, before looked much better, after felt very artificial.

[@55johnkid]

Looks realistic to me. Some light produce a different hue.

[@madgenus]

@@55johnkid Gonna have to disagree there, i don't see any sort of lighting on that scene (rainy forest during evening/night) producing that green tint realistically.

[@mikesartorii234]

Too me...she is on an alien f$cking planet so who knows what the hell it's supposed to look like! It's all subjective guys! Too me...I would've like to seen more of the gun barrel if we are being nitpicky about what "we" would like to see ;) This guy does great work and is inspiring to say the least.

[@infinitegodman]

Seriously great vid Tested. Love the artist work space/flow tour! Keep these coming XD

[@thephotoviper]

Great spotlight on an awesome hobby!!!

[@AWARHERO]

Awesome... Nothing less then AWESOME!

[@nicoledamiata4810]

I’m trying to learn as much as I can to improve at this, thank you so much for this post 😊

[@warlord13000]

Wow SgtBananas is on Tested!!

[@toypocket6871]

Soo awesome! Super excited to get to see Johnny on here! I’m a big @toymigos fan

[@cftyler5041]

What an amazing guy and an awesome job/hobby

[@OneSixShooter]

Congrats, Johnny!

[@legoat8747]

I always thought toy photography was awesome, but ever since I started loving photography and getting into it then also watching this video. Boy did it spike my interest even more!

[@JoelsterG4k]

This was so awesome, thank you for this video.

[@damonwestenhofer44]

Haha I love how Norm just invites himself back at the end. Didn't know about Johnny Wu before, definitely going to follow. Great video guys!

[@GurnningGunners]

As an artist I find his work beautiful, amazing stuff

[@ColdsideRamrod]

It's reassuring to know that there are still people who can afford, temporally and financially, to have hobbies like this.

[@sadeaton]

That is a cool form of art, thank you for sharing.

[@djmajiktuch82]

I swear, if someone was to show me these pictures before I knew that these were toys or action figures, I'd swear these were pictures of real live actors posing for him. This guy is a true artist.

[@NecroDingus]

This one's a banger. Great job.

[@ryecmd]

I like his pictures thanks for sharing because I collect figures and started taking pictures recently.

[@rickjasonaloro5632]

One of the Best!!

[@leesway]

i really love his story

[@shelleynobleart]

Killer fantastic episode! Lighting goals. Brilliant work! Thank you so much for the tools and process share.

[@Artist_196]

Fantastic, so inspiring!

[@NeverNotMaking]

Wow! Truly inspirational work!

[@iBurnedaHouse]

This was so cool to watch, it really makes me want to do stop motion again. Or at least build stuff, so much fun.

[@tcb9775]

Go for it! And share it on YT Stop motion is way better than CGI

[@mrgizmo182]

Yes!! Johnny is my bro!

[@WCIN]

Amazing!

[@KidToyTesters]

That was an awesome insight into your process. Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@undergroundtrainone]

This is so awesome!!! Dope as hell

[@JoseLopez-87]

Gran trabajo!

[@christopherwashington2460]

This is absolutely fascinating Edit : the level of detail he pays to each part of the shot is amazing

[@53660winston]

WOW amazing work!

[@BlackfyreProductions]

I just stumbled upon these videos and I love them! I plan on doing some photography of some of my miniatures to tell a narrative story, and this is very inspirational and educational. Thanks for sharing.

[@sdjohnsononyoutube]

This was so awesome & inspiring

[@Shilly_JD]

Thanks! Norm and Tested!! Very cool!

[@jordynscreams1614]

I love the mini forest...

[@creatingwithcatherine8680]

That’s so cool! 💕

[@NotThatBob]

Here's a guy who knows how to play with toys! Brilliant.

[@MENUDENCIAS2]

This is AMAZING!

[@dponpon6929]

so inspiring!!

[@victorcarneiro7256]

amazing one ! this dude got skills !

[@gilbertcharpentier4938]

Very very good job sir i love !!!

[@MrChief101]

Now that was fun-- good guy. Thanks, Norm!

[@SeSeMittens]

Wow, this is so cool! I want to try this myself 😊

[@Bassquake76]

In the words of the Nerd Crew.. veery cool!

[@BigManila]

Love it, nice work! This video inspires me to get better 🤩

[@eastcoastfigs5706]

Thank you so much for this video!!!

[@CMCustom112]

Love it.

[@snoopu2601]

This is way cool I always like toys, I always go to the toy section in the store to see what they come out with new.

[@gratefuldoge8598]

Man these photographers are everywhere it's been super trendy 2017 and shit

[@whodatovadair1593]

This guy is a cool cat! True artist!!!

[@terrywbreedlove]

Super cool

[@vladimirgreen124]

Very nice fotos 👍 Good job 👏🏼

[@ZapytajFotografa]

Inspiring! Thanks

[@ElliotLynch]

Thank You!

[@revjagar2961]

This just inspired me!!!!

[@PsimanUK]

Fantastic video. A great insight into what it takes to produce such high quality photography of miniatures. I think I might have a go and see what I can produce with some of my old Star Wars figures. Thanks for making the video.

[@ColombianCasanova]

its not miniatures, its action figure photography, miniatures is something else

[@samwilson417]

So Sic love the work

[@mamangcamping]

Wow the man behind sgt bananas! Great video

[@vladepast4936]

The guy is an artist...

[@simonblackwood4672]

Awesome... I went straight over and followed

[@NetGawker]

A man after my own heart!

[@Xiox321]

I'm amazed at how real her face looks.

[@jessical4866]

Working with a physical object to recreate a mental image has the potential to be so frustrating, it seems. Like what if you want an epic shot, you get so excited, but then the toy itself isn’t physically capable of adjusting to that position? Definite props to Sgtbananas.

[@BoogNice]

Salute!

[@MauroRaptor86]

ACBA in a 4,3 millions subscribers channel. It should be like a dream for you Boog!

[@sebastianhoyos1961]

My man boog is loving the plug lol awesome

[@BushidoPhoto]

I'm a professional photographer and this was inspiring even to me!

[@maestro0428]

Amazing photos! Love this. Smashed the like today!

[@Biofan813]

Really love his book! So happy darkhorse made that happen!

[@Ben-pr9ew]

So interessing! And good vibes un these video👍🏻..

[@waynesbutler]

Johnny definitely has his chops together when producing these great shots . My personnel favorite though is Deanknight 333 , his photography is poster worthy just like this guy ..

[@garybarnett7284]

Johnny: Why aren't you in Hollywood and/or working for Mattell? You sir are truly awesome!

[@andrian_putra]

Always like it.

[@PD-ku5xo]

Johnny Wu (aka SgtBananas) needs his own KZbin Channel lol

[@miketech2]

Super cool to see the process that’s going on in his mind during a shoot. 🤙🏼 #wantlumecubesnow

[@Anonymouscloudzero]

Ahhh i see you've changed the channel name, nice! Love it!