Live toy story

Miniature cars, dolls, action figures, superheroes and minion figurines strewn around, Sibi’s house looks like it comes straight out of the animation movie Toy Story. Being the house of a two-year-old boy, toys are no surprise, until one comes to know that it’s the dad who plays with it more than the little one! A toy photographer by passion, Sibi’s photos of the toy world are popular on Instagram. 

Toy photos by Sibi

Ask when he started toying with the idea, Sibi chuckles, “It has been over a year-and-a-half now. Photography has been a hobby for me and my cousin Midhun Jacob. We used to click everything we came across until we discovered this new realm on the internet. Since then, we have been obsessed with photographing toys.” Obsession is no understatement because whenever Sibi travels to any part of the world in connection with his trading business in Qatar, his luggage is sure to have a few toys and his Fuji XT-2.

 

Drawing inspiration from the photography skills of Instagram celebrity Kim Leuenberger, who is famous for Travelling Cars series, Sibi collects vintage car models and mini versions of motoring classics and clicks photos placing those in different backgrounds and landscapes.  As in childhood years, Sibi and Midhun, the 30-year-olds, still share their prized toys between themselves. “We usually purchase die-cast vehicles online, mostly from India, as it is pretty expensive in Qatar,” says the Adoor native, who lives in Doha with his wife Roshiny and son John. 

 

Ask if there are any special techniques for toy photography, he says he is no expert. “Many toys, though seem beautiful, don’t look good when photographed. It’s, therefore, a careful process. The lighting and positioning are very important. There shouldn’t be a dead space in the frame and always go for the golden hours,” says the youngster, who recently switched to mirrorless digital camera. An active member of various online photography groups, Sibi is glad that his photos have been featured in various magazines and online portals. His dream is to travel all over the world, like his idol Kim, and photograph toys with iconic structures in the background.