My photography is focused around people. I love it when people ask me what I photograph, because then I get the chance to say:

"I love photographing people. When I'm not photographing real people, I'm taking portraits of little plastic people."

I've been working on my "Portraits" series since 2003, but in-between working on pieces for my series, I've amassed a bunch of toys that don't fit into my theme, but I still love to take their pictures all the same.

I've been collecting toys that have something to do with my childhood for a very long time. Most center around comics, or the old 1970's anime shows like "Starblazers" or the Force Five Variety Show. Toss in lots of videogame toys over the years, and now I've got a toy chest that is chock full of robots, superheros and half-nude anime toys.

Whenever I'm falling into a rut, or need a little pick-me-up, I open the chest and grab a few toys and set up some lights and just play; something that I've never grown out of. I like to think of them as my little lighting assistants; helping me work out lighting problems on a tiny-scale that I can then enlarge to real size when the time comes.

I spent a few hours today just playing with lights and with some toys from the toybox. I don't think I'll ever really grow up. I'm not sure I ever want too.

Cheers, Sid