Action Figure Collecting & Photography — It’s All About The Details

This is a short article written in response to a question I received from a reader. They noticed a pair of white cotton gloves in the background of one of my behind the scenes shots and wanted to know how I use them.

Since I work with small objects and often photograph them close up, my fingerprints (or skin oil, dirt, etc.) can transfer to the action figure. If it’s lit just right, that stuff shows up in the photograph. I then have to try to remove in Photoshop and that takes extra time, so I wear the gloves. I only wear them when I am actually handle the action figure. There’s almost always still enough hand feel and needed dexterity to get the figure into the pose I want — even with the gloves on.

I get my art gloves n Amazon — but they are available at most art stores like Dick Blik.

Another reason to consider wearing the gloves is that some of the rare or expensive figures deserve extra TLC.

Every time our hands touch the plastic, we run the risk of leaving deposits on the action figure that over time will degrade it.

For run-of-the-mill stuff like the $20 figure from Hasbro, I wouldn’t worry about it if I weren’t also photographing those figures as well as displaying them.

But for stuff like this: Tamashi Nations — Star Wars: The Mandalorian — Ronin Mandalorian & Grougu — I would absolutely use the gloves — even if not making photographs. It’s an expensive piece that may end up being valuable to the next generation.

Am I too picky? You bet. But the action figure hobby is all about details so for me, no detail is too small. Having respect for these toys makes sense to me because they bring me so much satisfaction.

Remember — toys are joy.