PETROF GALLERY

Czech Republic, Hradec Králové
06. 09. 2024 – 31. 10. 2024

For the exhibition, we have carefully selected photographs by ten photographers from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and the United States. Through this exhibition, we hope to introduce this lesser known genre and the specifics behind the creation of these photographs. The exhibition primarily focuses on BJDs (ball-jointed dolls).

Among the photographs, you will find scale figures by photographers Ateens and EXkurogane, while the rest feature dolls. Photographers who focus on scale figures (approximately 15–25 cm in size) often enjoy placing them in dioramas that they build themselves. EXkurogane is one of the most renowned photographers in the global community in this field. On the other hand, Ateens demonstrates that dioramas are not always necessary, thanks to the sensitive placement of figures in natural landscapes (often in combination with the night sky). These figures are typically based on characters from Japanese animated series (anime) or comics/graphic novels (manga). These figures are static and cannot be posed.

When we talk about doll photography, we are usually referring to photographing vinyl articulated dolls from the Japanese companies like VOLKS or SMART DOLL. There are various versions in terms of design and size, but the most common are 1:3 scale dolls (about 60 cm tall). The advantage of dolls lies in their articulation, the ability to change clothes and wigs, and their size, which makes it easier to place them in natural environments during photo shoots. Dolls usually need to be fixed in place using special stands, which can also be used to style their hair. The photographer must then retouch these distracting elements in post-processing.

Below you will find comments from the photographers themselves. At the end, we provide additional information about scale figures, dolls, and action figures.

ATEENS

HONG KONG

The truth is that my father and I are both professional landscape photographers, and this has had a significant influence on my figure photo style. I work almost exclusively outdoors, and I usually take two or three “safe” figures (safe means small, not too many small items, easy to pack, and less prone to damage) with me during my annual trip to different parts of the world. I usually take two camera systems with me, one (‘camera set B’) for my landscape work, the other one (‘camera set A’) for environment checking, composition experiments, and more often for shooting figures. These two sets of equipment are important since they are connected to my technique in figure shots.

Place: New Zealand, South Island, near Cape Saunders

Photographed by a Nikon D810 with a PC-E Nikkor 24/3.5D lens, consists of 25 pictures.

Place: China, Hong Kong, Kau-lung (九龍)

Result of collaboration between Ateens and Wind_Mind.

EXKUROGANE

MALAYSIA

I’m a photographer from Penang, Malaysia, who specializes in photographing Japanese anime figurines set up in scale model dioramas.

I have been a figurine collector since the late 2000s, but became interested in photographing figurines after being inspired by other toy photographers online who brought their figurines to life. Eventually, in late 2013, I would purchase my first DSLR, with the goal to give the figurines I collect a story of their own.

The main trademark of my photography style is to complement each figurine with a custom-made scene – a diorama. Full attention is given to composition and lighting while the end goal is to make the figurines look human, as if the photograph originated from a scene in an animated film, a movie, a game, or a movie poster.

Imagine you are a fashion photographer in charge of a female model dressed up as a race queen. You would like her to pose next to a motorcycle in a mechanic’s garage for a magazine shoot.

This photograph is the result of a pursuit of the impossible: I wanted the entire motorcycle to be in focus, together with the main subject, Rin. This is impossible regardless of what f-number you use on your lens.

The character represented by this figurine is Nero Claudius from the mobile game Fate Grand Order. Yes, a fictional version of the Roman Emperor from AD54. This photograph took more than 3 years to complete due to a lack of vision.

The diorama scene was built from a laser-cut polyfoam board, which was then spray-painted, the floor made of real wood tiles, while the sculptures on display on both sides were 3D printed. This was the easy part. The difficult part was getting the lighting done right, as well as the editing and color grading later.

BeforeAfter

The difference between the original and final photos.

The diorama before shooting.

FSDLINGR

CHINA

Since accessing knowledge has become very easy in today’s world, landscape photography, once seemingly mysterious, has seemed to be almost transparent lately. The quality of photos depends on the degree of personal practice and aesthetic level. Nearly all of my pre-and post-photographic techniques were acquired on the Internet and used in actual photography.

For the doll shooting-related technique, the most important thing is to ensure that the doll looks like a real person, which is something I learned from other experienced photographers, and thanks to which I gradually developed my own style of shooting.

Place: Singapore

I also tend to come up with a series of themes that usually take a long time to complete. In 2019, I conceived and basically completed the first phase of the series that combines dolls with famous city landmarks. The photo sessions took place in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shenzen.

Place: Tibet Autonomous Region, around Langmusi Town

There is an ongoing project on which I am collaborating with a talented tailor of doll costumes in China. By combining dolls dressed in the traditional costumes of China’s ethnic minorities with the natural and human landscapes of the region, we are trying to showcase the amazing and diverse customs and cultures of China. We have been carefully examining the cultural customs of each ethnic group and recreating the clothes of the dolls to the greatest extent possible, and traveling to the places where these ethnic groups gather to photograph the dolls to reflect the local culture and customs.

At present, we have completed the production of one of the branches of the Tibetans in China, Jiajun Tibetan doll costumes, and filmed in the Sichuan Tibetan regions of Aba and Ganzi, where most Jiajun Tibetans live.

KINAKO

HONG KONG

My journey began in high school when I started collecting figures and Nendoroids. Seeing amazing doll photography online inspired me to capture my own collection through the lens. I sought advice from photographers who inspired me, which led to valuable friendships and improved my skills. Over the years, I participated in various exhibitions around the world, sharing my work alongside talented photographers.

Place: Japan, Tokyo Prefecture, Tokyo Metropolis

This photo was taken in Tokyo while travelling with other photographers. The fallen leaves effect was achieved with the help of a friend who tossed the leaves on the ground, creating the perfect scene for my shot.

KIYUROHI

JAPAN

I do photography as a hobby. My subjects are dolls, trains, and cityscapes. I am also interested in street snapshots, but they are not as good as I would like them to be. Since I added dolls to my subjects, I have enjoyed photography even more and have learned a lot. For me, dolls are my photography teachers.

Place: Japan, Gifu Prefecture, Hida City, Tsunogawa train station (角川駅)

This photo was taken at Tsunogawa Station, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan and the first step was to find a location that would match the finished image of the photo. In this case, the point is that it is curved. Secondly, the point is that there are a few users. This is because it is a public facility, and it would be a nuisance to take pictures in a location with many people. This location satisfied all of these requirements. In order to shorten the shooting time as much as possible, we rehearsed the poses in advance and took on the challenge. The timing of the release is also important to match the scale of the small doll and the realistic train. If the train is too close, the doll’s small size will stand out. Therefore, I took a series of shots and selected the best one. In this photo, the doll and the train were photographed separately and combined later.

Place: Japan, Gifu Prefecture, Ena City, near Yahagi Dam (矢作第二ダム)

The evening photo was taken at the park at Yahagi Dam, Ena City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. This is my favorite place in winter, where the sunset shines beautifully. Since I started taking doll pictures outdoors, I have noticed that the sun moves faster than I thought it would. Good light is fleeting. So I don’t have time to spend time setting up. Sunset photography is a race against the sun. Even in such a severe time, I was able to take a photo with the movement of the hair. This is one of my favorite shots.

MANJUU

TAIWAN

I’m Manjuu (まんじゅう). I’m from Taiwan. Taipei. I started experimenting with doll photography in 2004. In 2011 I was in Japan to study abroad. I began to want to combine my dolls with the local scenery. It’s not just about taking commemorative photos, but I hope that doll is one (or more) of the residents living here. Their stories should interact with the background. And I was just a lucky photographer who happened to be passing by. So I started using more detailed 1/3 or 1/4 dolls for such photography and I have been using them to this day. There are still many places I have not visited. I hope I can continue working as a “recorder of beautiful local girls” in the future.

Place: Tokyo Prefecture, Tama City, near Seiseki-Sakuragaoka station (聖蹟桜ヶ丘駅)

The girl holding a translucent umbrella was photographed at Seiseki-Sakuragaoka in Tokyo. In Tokyo, it only snows for about two or three days a year. The snow usually melts the next day. So it’s more difficult to photograph snow scenes. I’ve always wanted to try holding an umbrella and swinging it. Therefore, in addition to supporting the doll itself, I also had to bring an additional camera tripod to support the umbrella itself. And to make the waving look more realistic, I used a small sprayer to create water droplets.

Place: Japan, Kyoto prefecture, Kyoto, near shrine Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)

The girl holding a paper umbrella was photographed in Kyoto, near Kiyomizudera Temple. If you are an expert on Japan, you should know that this place is very famous. Every day, the narrow roads around here are packed with foreign tourists. In addition, there are not many days when it snows in Kyoto. So I took the night express bus after getting off work the night before.

We arrived in Kyoto at 5 am after 7 hours. Surprisingly, at 6 a.m., many photography enthusiasts were already taking landscape photography in the local area. Actually, it didn’t snow a lot. But less snow is enough for the doll.

BeforeAfter

The difference between the original and final photos. In the photo, some visible holders were used to secure the doll in place.

NISSHI

JAPAN

I am a photographer from Japan, and I am passionate about capturing dolls in both urban and natural settings. I also focus on crafting accessories for the dolls, and I regularly attend the I-Doll fair.

Place: Japan, Nagano Prefecture, Koguma Mountain (小熊山)

I pride myself on this photograph since it is my favourite one. There are two dolls in the photo that come from a cooperation with the doll manufacturer Volks and the Idolm@ster franchise. To be specific, they should depict the character Miki Hoshii. I borrowed one of the dolls from Kiyurohi, who is also a member of the Figubo project. Unfortunately, the photo did not make it into the Miki Hoshii photobook; however, it was included in the Nagano collection.

NONO

JAPAN

I started collecting dolls back in 2012. About six months later, I became fascinated by pictures of natural scenes and dolls purchased by my friends, which motivated me to buy a camera and start taking pictures.

The main reason I pursue doll photography is to meet new people with the same hobby. During the last nine years, I have managed to meet this goal sufficiently / to a certain extend. Thanks to doll photography, I met several people whom I had wanted to meet, and I was lucky to succeed. That is why I want to continue photographing.

Doll photography is a communication tool for me. Through sharing my pictures, other people from the Figubo project could get to know me, and I can enjoy my hobby together with my friends, not only in Japan but also in China and Korea, which is something that makes me very happy.

Place: Japan, Kyoto Prefecture, Yawata City, Sewari Dam (背割堤)

My goal was to portray a doll enjoying the fresh spring air blended with sakura blossoms. I kept checking the weather forecast to catch the right moment when it was sunny and the sakura trees were in full blossom. I took a day off from work and travelled to the place. Since this place is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Kyoto, it would have been impossible with the increasing number of people arriving there. Therefore, I had to arrive before dawn, which meant the biggest challenge of the task was to get up early (laugh).

Place: Japan, Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka City, Nata Beach (奈多海岸)

My goal was to capture the doll walking along the coast during the sunset. I had to pay close attention to preventing the doll from getting washed away. That is why I looked for a place where the coast was shallow and relatively calm, and chose this place. The I chode a day with a big high tide and low tide, when the low tide collided with the sunset. The key to taking the photo was to photograph at the moment when the high tide, not the low tide, started. It is because during the low tide, the water level keeps growing, which makes the doll’s pose more difficult to keep.

Place: Japan, Kagoshima Prefecture, Minamisacuma City, Kamegaoka (亀ヶ丘)

This photo is very special to me because I took it during a family trip. Even though it was foggy and cloudy that day, I trusted the weather would improve, so we waited for three hours. In the end, the sky cleared up for about five minutes, and that enabled me to take the picture. It is one of my favourite photos ever. Most of the time, it was extremely cloudy!

Most of the time was really cloudy, but it was worth the wait!

SEAUMI

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

I started my photography hobby about 5 years ago. It all began when I learned about “BJD dolls” from a friend. Initially, I was satisfied just looking at the dolls, but soon I decided to buy an affordable camera to upload pictures on social media. As I began to style the dolls more elaborately, I realized I wanted to take even better photos. This passion has driven me to continuously improve my photography skills.

This photo of ‘Alice’ was taken when I first started getting serious about photography. It was shot in a studio scaled for dolls. To make the photo more dynamic, I focused on creating lively poses and capturing the wig flying in the air, giving the impression that the doll is in motion.

Place: Japan, Osaka Prefecture

This photo, titled “Spring Breeze,” was taken in Osaka in April during a trip to Japan. With permission from a Japanese shrine, I was able to shoot briefly. Unlike in a studio, outdoor photography presents many unexpected challenges, requiring quick focus and execution. In this case, the strong wind made the doll sway, and my goal was to capture that vivid moment in the photo.

THE TRAVELING SEE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

My name is Brandon Vu from California, USA, also known as ‘TheTravelingSee.’ I started my photography journey back in 2017 when I was an intern at an optometrist clinic in college. I was asked by the doctors there to photograph glasses frames for their social media. And because my father already owned a camera at the time, I agreed. I have always wanted to have an artistic hobby and learn how to use Photoshop to a serviceable level. Although I started with toy photography early on, I have since expanded my interests to encompass weddings, portraits, food, and astrophotography as well.

Place: USA, state of California, Imperial Sand Dunes

This photo was taken in the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southern California. The nature of doll photography usually requires the photographer to be close to the ground while photographing the subject. That day happened to be extremely hot and windy. To this day, I still have sand in some of my equipment.

A glimpse into the backstage.

DOLL ROKUTA

JAPAN

Doll Rokuta usually creates promotional videos related to mountains and nature. Ten years ago, he worked for a video game company, where he produced promotional videos and television commercials. He now uses the experience he gained to bring dolls to life through his short videos, which are available on his YouTube channel.

FIGURES AND DOLLS

Scale figures

As the name suggests, these are figures made to a specific scale. The most common scales are 1:8 and 1:7. However, exceptions exist, such as 1:10, or on the opposite end, 1:4 or even 1:1. Scale figures are not poseable, although they sometimes have interchangeable components (face, hands, etc.).

Dolls

The dominant player in the doll market is the company Volks with its Dollfie Dream series. In the eyes of collectors, these dolls are highly attractive due to their precise craftsmanship, interchangeable components, and the availability of numerous accessories. Dolls are most commonly produced in a 1:3 scale (approximately 60 cm tall), and their price is around 60,000 Japanese yen. BJD (ball-jointed doll) is the abbreviation used for articulated dolls.

Action figures

This type of figure can be posed thanks to articulated joints. As a result, action figures offer a versatility in appearance that scale figures cannot achieve. However, some may find the visible joints aesthetically distracting. Action figures include figma, a product line by Max Factory distributed by Good Smile Company.

In 2006, Good Smile Company introduced the Nendoroid line, and in April of 2023, the 2000th figure in the series was released. Nendoroids (approximately 10 cm in size) are characterized by a large head compared to a small body, giving them a cute appearance. Each figure is composed of several interchangeable parts, allowing users to customize their Nendoroids (most parts are compatible with other Nendoroids as well).