Action Figure Photography #5: remember_the_clone_troopers - Joseph Vitadamo

Posted by Bret on 08/28/17 at 07:05 AM Category: Action Figure Photography

Our next photographer is Joseph Vitadamo. He can be found on Instagram as remember_the_clone_troopers.

We asked Joseph to share a bit about himself, and he was kind enough to answer a few questions he personally selected among those he is most frequently asked.

Remember us...... not for what we did as individuals but for what we fought for as a whole. We fought in the name of freedom so that people back home could rest easily never witnessing with their own eyes of what war is. We fight to win the battles that we must fight so that future generations will not make the same mistake. Remember us..... as soldiers!

Hi, I'm Joseph Vitadamo, also known as "remember _the_clone_troopers" on Instagram! I'm a U.S. Army Veteran turned toy photographer just this past March of 2017. I got into this hobby by just pure fate of coming across this article about galactic_warfighters on Facebook! I was immediately hooked into the notion of using Star Wars figures to turn stories of my past experiences in Afghanistan with the 173rd into fictional stories that I always wanted to see within the Star Wars movies and even the Clone Wars Saga. Everyday, I have taken a picture and told a small story with it, and I have really enjoyed every person willing to take time out of their own day to look at, and even comment on, my pictures! It's a real thrill to see people like what you have created. I always want people to feel that they just had an amazing experience every time they visit my page and read a story on there. When people send me messages and even comments, I'll always do my best to leave a personal message for them and answer questions that they have to the best of my ability! I really love the interaction with my followers! So here's a sneak peak behind the scenes with Joseph.

As gunships came in with reinforcements, I saw a lone Arc Trooper walking out of the dark battlefield. It was Arc Trooper Fives! He walked right up to one of the gunships as we were preparing for battle and muttered three words over the comms...... "sector is clear." Not a functional clanker for miles.....

So a few questions that a lot people have asked me in the past and I'll highlight a few. If people ever have a question please feel free to DM me!

What program(s) do I use to edit my pictures with?
I use multiple different programs depending on the shot I'm doing that day. But on any given day I always start with Lightroom! Lightroom for me has been a great and simple tool to give the lighting I want. I'll also use LensFX for any added effects. By "effects" I mean using digital smoke, fire, lightsabers, and a bunch of other effects! Way too many to list! On occasion I'll also use Photoshop Mix! That one is also a really great and simple program to use for any given picture! It just boils down to preference!

Happy 4th of July

When doing indoor shots, do you use artificial light or natural light?
I always use natural light next to a window or even a glass door! I have timed certain times of the day to do certain shots. That way it's not too bright or too dark. I like the way the natural light has the effect on my clone troopers and especially on their visors! The light gives the effects that I can play around with in Lightroom.

No mercy for any droid named Roger!

How and why do you do pictures everyday?
Honestly, I really like this hobby! When I started out on Instagram I made it my sole purpose to take pictures everyday and to post them! This has been my mission and hopefully will stay this way! I like to also challenge myself. When my family and I went to Florida for two weeks over this past summer I only had space for three figures: Capt. Rex, Commander Wolfe and R2-D2! I was like,how am I gonna do a picture everyday with three figures and keep people engaged? I ended up using my surroundings and turned out better than ever! Just use your imagination and have fun with each shot! There have been times I've been frustrated with figures falling over and repositioning them and made what could have taken 30 minutes into a 3 hour project. But...... the pictures I have gotten from those shoots were spectacular! There have been times I've had my camera and a clone trooper and have had a spontaneous shoot! Wouldn't trade anything in the world for those moments were you're setting up and people are just walking by and see a grown man posing a 12 inch figure lol.

Only by surviving a war does one only truly win.

Why do you use Sideshow figures for your shots when they aren't cheap to get!
I used Sideshow figures mostly because I love the fact that they are completely posable and detailed! They are just a bigger 3.75 inch figures! People get these figures and put them in glass cases where no dirt or dust will ever touch them, and that's completely fine! Mine have always been to help tell a story by taking a picture, whether that's getting sand and dirt blasted at them or even exposing them to rain! I know someone somewhere is having a panic attack reading this right now, like why! I'm just a big kid when I have these troopers getting a shot done!

Commandos

So what's in store for the future with remember_the_clone_troopers?
Well in the future I will be starting a YouTube channel to do behind the scenes for different shots and take the person watching on a journey with each video! The videos will cover topics and VLOGs for those out and about shots! This is a project that I'm really looking forward to doing and hope these will be exciting and fun to watch! I really appreciate Bantha_skull for this opportunity to do this interview and I hope the readers got something out of it!

After the battle was won, the evacuation of the injured began. Seen here in this picture is an injured clone trooper insisting on walking on his own. His fellow brother never leaving his side until safely aboard the nearest gunship. Soldiers will never leave a fallen comrade behind and will always look out for them. These wounded soldiers are heroes to their brothers and always will be!

Joseph was also featured in an excellent interview which can be found on Max Laing's Blog.

We thank Joseph for sharing his time and his talents with Banthaskull.com!

At the medical facility on Coruscant, the Shock Troopers were escorting this menacing figure to the awaiting shuttle. The troopers kept wondering who he was. All they knew is that the Emperor was waiting on him at an undisclosed location in space.