For our upcoming Japan trip I’ve decided that Gwendolyn Poole a.k.a. Gwenpool will be my “travel buddy.” Whether or not she’ll be with company is something I’ve yet to figure out.

They call it “travel toy photography.” It’s self-explanatory. Unlike other styles of toy photography, this one doesn’t require elaborate dioramas or fancy lightning or Photoshop know-how. One only needs a toy, a view, and an eye for the best angle. One can always choose to use professional cameras, but for me a simple phone cam will do.

I’m practically a noob in this whole toy photography thing, so I need all the practice I can get, and starting tomorrow I intend to get that in Japan, land of Cherry Blossoms, the Gundam robot, and bullet trains, where me and my family will be on a week-long romp. If all falls according to plan we’ll be visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and — fingers crossed — the foot of the famed Mt. Fuji. To say that I’m excited is a stark understatement…