INTERNATIONAL COFFEE DAY

The first official date of International Coffee Day will be on 1st October 2015 which is today ! It is expected an occasion that will promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage in places across the world. No wonder those in Malaysia, if you turn on your radio, pick the Era.FM, you'll hear WONDA Coffee promoting their brand. If I'm not mistaken, they even selling it at RM1.00 per item. That's cheap !

The International Coffee Day will be launched in Milan, Italy. Later I'll google it to see how happening the event in Milan. Yeah, coffee is my favourite drink ! Something that I never get bored with.

HAPPY BATMAN DAY

Happy Batman Day !  I was told to make a post about Batman. Anything related to it. I'm a little bit busy with my work now, so here's a picture that I took months ago. Since this blog is new, its kinda a new picture even I've upload it somewhere before. May the Gotham City be at peace with the guardian.

Psst, love to see the arts posted by the Batman fans especially in Instagram. They look awesome !

ENERGY SAVING MODE

" I'm not lazy, I'm just on my Energy Saving Mode "

- Anonymous -

I think it's normal to feel your mind a bit slow after a long holiday. Everything seems to be, " I'm not in the mood to.. ". Things that supposedly can be done in five minutes, took me about half an hour. Sometimes I feel that, I don't have any work to do even there's a lot need to be settle as soon as possible. Mr Figaura, can you stop blogging and start working ! Finish your work, and later on, you can have a nice weekend without any worry. Haha

Actually its easy to get rid that "slow mode". It's simple. Get started. Once you start your work, you'll eventually building up the momentum and don't forget to start your day with breakfast. It helps.

STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST ?

Steal like an artist? I'm interested with what Shelly wrote at stuckinplastic.com. I don't deny it, at times, I copied some photographer's ideas and mix it up to create a new idea. It's not wrong to do that to be honest. But it's wrong if you copied it 100% and claimed it as yours. For me, I prefer to learn "Behind The Scene" rather than from the picture itself because you can do more with it when you know how it works. Thanks to those photographers that share behind the scene for every masterpiece artwork they produce. Here's some of the examples that I stole from them.

DIY

Before this I thought some of the professional Toy Photographers use expensive lighting, a big studio and other related expensive equipment. But as I blogwalking, I managed to learn that, most of them using DIY lighting and mini studio and several DIY props to make the pictures great. For example, I don't need a RM2000.00 external flash to get as per above picture, I'm using a LED light that cost me RM5.00 only. For the backdrops, it's just a DIY mini studio using a used box that I took from my office. I bought a white paper that cost me RM2.00 to wrap it.

Realistic Snow Effect 

I saw some photographers shoot Star Wars Lego with snow effect. I thought they were using Photoshop to make the effect. I was like, wow, nice skill of editing. I look at their Flickr Account, and I noticed that, its not a photoshop editing. They using props to make it happen. They used Baking Soda most of the time with printed background to create a wonderful scene. I also managed to learn how to create snow effect using an aquarium with baking soda. The effect is awesome !

Printed Background

I also learned how to use printed background for indoor shots to make a wonderful scene. Not everything you need to build (DIY) for the props to make a scene, sometimes printed background is more than enough.

Using Food

We can also use foods for the props such as poppy seeds to create a street look alike. 

That's some of the ideas that I stole from the professional photographers. Its not the artwork that I stole, its how to create it. Easy to say, it's the knowledge that I stole. For me, that's the true meaning of steal like an artist. We respect their artwork.

WHY BEING DIFFERENT

Why being different? Once a friend asked me that question. He also said, "You're an adult. You're married now. Not even a year. you're now a father. Why play with toys?"

There's been a lot of articles related to adult who buys and play with toys. If you go to Action Figure event/tournament like Gundam, or photographers who do Toy Photography, majority of them are an adult. They spend thousands of money on it. To be logic, spending thousands of money, is it toys really for children? Is it immature for an adult to buy and play with toys?

If you answer it as "yes", you're a bit misunderstood about it. First of all, adults don't play with toys like the children do. They don't play it like in a total fantasy. They don't make sound like children do when they play with it, such as the sound of laser gun "piu...piu piu", and they don't think they as the action figure. Yes, I can't deny it, there are some cases, the adults are totally "children", but what I want to talk about is a normal adult that being different.

Lets talk about from emotional feelings view. It is said that adults who play with toys show how much they love their childhood. Somehow they want to enjoy those moments. They really don't care what the world talk about them. They just be, who they are and it does not mean that the adult is not mature. Can we decide maturity with toys? Is like you're deciding a person maturity with candies and chocolates. Isn't candies and chocolates for children?

Lets talk about Lego. Lego is a brand for bricks that's very popular since years ago. When you buy the Lego, the box stated the recommendation age of user to play with it. Most of it are below 15 years old. But why the heck David Beckham enjoys playing with Lego? He's an adult. A famous figure in football. He answered it simple, because it calms him down. Is he immature?

For me, Lego is a toy for tinkerers, for designers, artists like photographers and storytellers. Just look at those selling Lego at the toy shop, its an adult that selling it. Look at the Lego Movie (2014), its adults that create that movie. Look at those master piece of Lego Photography, its adult Professional Photographers. The most important thing, who creates Lego? Its an adult from Denmark since the year of 1932. I don't think that Lego is only for children, its for adult too. But the way you play with it shows you're an adult or children. The bad perception is when people are looking it from a negative side rather than looking it from a positive side. 

Being different? Yes, I don't have a problem with it. Its ok to be different than others. Being different doesn't mean you're wrong. Its just that you're looking it at a different angle. Being different doesn't mean you're a weird. It means that you have your own stand in life. Being the same all the time is a problem. You're at a comfortable zone. Just be who you are. Lets enjoy it. Everything is awesome !

I COME IN PEACE

Finally, It's time to start the Art of Bricks. I come in peace. That's what the Spaceman said to the Fellowship of Lego World. I'm here because of my passion towards the Lego. Its fun to use it as my photography portfolio. Photography is universal, you can photograph almost anything. Its all depends on your creativity and Lego provides me more room for it.

" You know the rules, this isn't a toy ! It's a highly sophisticated inter-locking brick system "

THE FIGAURA

It is said that the beginning will always be messy. You need to think about almost everything when you start from nothing, from A to Z. The blog's title, the theme to be use, the flow of the blog, what to include and what not to include, the style of writing and the photo presentation, and a lot more. You need a long term planning and what you want to achieve. The most important thing will be the Blog's url. It needs something catchy, suitable with the blog's purpose and easy to be captured by others when you speak about it. For your information, this is my second blog. The first blog is more to personal things related to my life. Thanks to the first blog, I managed to learn a lot of things especially about the Blog's name. To change it now, it's not easy as you'll lose a lot of followers.

I made the decision to create a second blog because I wanted a blog that focus to my Art of Bricks (Lego). I even create second Instagram's account and soon will create a second Flickr's account. Too much account? Will it be easy for me to manage? Well, sure. It's not a business type of account that I need to monitor 24 hours per day. Its just purely photo sharing and blog posting. Its like you have a personal blog and another blog for your portfolio.

So here starts the first post in www.thefigaura.blogspot.com

Those who loves bricks, do follow this blog for more updates. Toddles !

PIRATE'S SMILE - THE PIRATES OF HASIF RAHMAN

© 2015 Hasif Rahman - The Pirate's Smile | Pirates of Hasif Rahman

" If you want to get my attention, wear a pirate outfit "

- Michelle Branch - 

Keep calm and say, Arrrrrr. It's September 2015 and one of the Pirates of Hasif Rahman turn 2 months old. She's dangerous, she's beautiful, and she's  cute. Introducing to you, Audrey Marissa ! Hey Ho, Hey Ho. What's the new skill this little pirate can do now? Now she's able to smile a lot, laugh a little bit, starts to concentrate when the Captain talk to her and sometimes, its like a conversation when the Captain talk to her, and she reply it with that cute baby sound. Aaa..purrrrrrr...kinda like that and the Captain started to "oh my ". Haha.

DARTH VADER EXCLUSIVE LEGO

© 2015 Hasif Rahman - Darth Vader| Lego Exclusive

" You underestimate the power of the dark side "

- Darth Vader, Star Wars -

I don't know why, I'm so addicted to Lego. The last time I bought Lego when I'm 10 - 11 years old. I still remember I bought a Space Ship Lego, City Lego and several small box Lego. I stopped playing with it when I'm busy with exams and somehow, my niece took all my Lego and you know when that happened...nothing left. Years later, I'm married, I started to love Lego again. It all started with the Lego Minifigure Series. The cute characters and the rare of it, really excite me. Oh. what the hell. Lets start making a collection of it. Starting late at Series 13, and currently collecting the Series 14, its kinda expensive to recover the earlier Series. The RM12.90 per packet (random) can be RM200.00 for the rare minifigure such as Bunny Suit Guy minifigure. 

At this age, Lego still make me addicted to it. But not all type of Lego. I prefer and fall in love with Lego Star Wars. Especially when it involve with Darth Vader and Storm Trooper. Its just...wow. Few days back, I saw this Exclusive Darth Vader Lego. About 30cm height, no time to think, just go and buy it before it sold out. I made up my mind, I want to start playing with Lego, but I'll be focusing on Star Wars and Minifigure Series only. Yeah, that's cheer me up. I found my life happy again for my personal hobby world. !

PIGGY GUY AND COFFEE

© 2015 Hasif Rahman - Coffeeing | I Am Lego Shooter

" I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it "

- George Bernard Shaw -

The worst trade you can make in life is to trade time for money

The best trade you can make in life is to trade money for time

And why is that? 

If you lose $100, you can always earn another $100

If you lose 1 year of yourlife, you can never "gain" another year of your life

- Petapixel.com -

THE CREW - THE PIRATES OF HASIF RAHMAN

© 2015 Hasif Rahman - The Crew | Pirates of Hasif Rahman

" Not all treasure is silver and gold "

- Pirates of The Carribean -

Aye aye Captain ! 

Years ago, I'm just a mere pirate. A pirate looking for beautiful moment to be photographed.  The only weapon that I brought was Canon 1000D with a 10-22mm bullet which can be shot at a wide range. At that time, the combination was kinda a strong canon to survive in the wild sea. I managed somehow to get a beautiful shot. Later, I'll spend my time to play around with the sand, relaxing while listening to the musical sound of the sea waves, sleeping on crystal look alike sea shells and the sea breeze playing around with your hair. That how I clear up my mind with the cruel Pirate's World.

27 years as a mere pirate, I made up my mind, I want to be a Captain. Like the Captain Hook of The Wonderland, or Captain Jack Sparrow of The Carribean. Wander the sea, looking for new adventures with my own crews. Ahh...I'm not that good at naming things as for me, naming things is hard. I'll always regret with the name that I choose. I'll just use my name than. Captain Hasif Rahman. Captain Hasif Rahman of The Toy Land. Yeah, thats kinda nice to say. Scary is it?

Its not easy to be a Pirate's Captain. You need a strong ship like the Black Pearl, or the Flying Dutchman, or the Interceptor. Something big. Not forgotten the crews, loyal to the Captain. I managed to get a beautiful crew. A girl name Enny. Yeah, I married her a year after. Not even a year, I managed to get a junior crew, a baby girl name Audrey. I have the crews, but still, I'm still looking for the ship. Its just a matter of time. One day. The day will come. Here's the photo of them. Beware, scary Pirates of Hasif Rahman ahead. We will take it all and give back nothing.

" Work like a captain, play like a pirate "

- Anonymous -

MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION IN PHOTOGRAPHY

© 2015 Hasif Rahman - Googling | I Am Lego Shooter

" It's not about ideas. Its about making ideas happen "

- Anonymous - 

Pedro Quintela, a talented photographer once said, " You should realize that, being creative individuals, motivation is a sort of short - term idea that comes from the outside while inspiration is a long - term goal that comes from inside yourself. That's why both are so important whether photography is your profession or just a hobby ".

For me, the way to stay motivated and inspired is by making ideas happen. 

A REVOLUTIONARY

© 2015 Hasif Rahman - Hero Never Dies | I Am Lego Shooter


" The seed of revolution is repression "

- Woodrow Wilson -

Che Guevara once said, the revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall. Sometimes being silent on almost everything is the best answer to avoid pointless quarrel. But then, at some point where things are out of control, you need to stand and be firm with your life's decision. I have my goals in my career. I have my goals in my life. I don't need to follow other people instructions in order to achieve mine. An advise, yes. I can accept it. But to use it or not, it depends. My wife supports me. Thats more than enough.

# But I'm not a revolutionist. I'll be quite then. 

WHEN MY MIND WANDER OVER PHOTOGRAPHY WORLD

© 2015 Hasif Rahman - The Spaceman Wander | I Am Lego Shooter


" Not all those who wander are lost "

- J.R.R Tolkien - 

Peacefull. That's what I feel when my mind wander over photography world. I imagine what I can do with photography even deep inside I know, I can never achieve it. Sometimes I play around with my mind just to get that "peacefull" in my heart. Usually Malays said it as "sedapkan hati".