Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

A light box is something like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4 … Light.html

You don't necessarily have to buy something this expensive but the enterprising individual could make a light box just by using the picture as a guide.

You could make a frame using wood or, better, PVC/plastic pipe then cover it with thin, translucent white fabric.  The lights could be purchased from the hardware store so long as you get "daylight" lamps to go in the figures.

I have a light box that I made using materials and supplies that I purchased locally.  It works just as well as anything you can buy, ready made.

BTW:  The last thing about the picture of the camera was supposed to be a joke.  ;)
That's a 1940's vintage rangefinder camera.  The thing doesn't even have batteries, much less an LCD display.  ;)
Takes great pictures, though! 

SLR stands for "Single Lens Reflex."
That means that when you look through the viewfinder, you are looking at the ACTUAL image as it will be recorded by the camera when the picture is taken.  There is a system of mirrors and prisms that direct the light, through the lens, to the viewfinder then, when the picture is taken, the mirrors swing open and direct the light to the image plane.  It is true WYSIWYG.

Looking at the LCD screen on the back of the camera is not necessarily what you will see when the picture is taken.  There are electronic systems between you and the final image.

Photos might look good on the LCD screen and they might look good as previews on your screen but, if there is the slightest bit of blur, it will show up on the enlarged image.

I would say to use a tripod first.  Then check your lights and settings.  If that doesn't work, try using a camera like this...

It looks like a depth of field problem to me.

Get more light on the scene so that your camera's aperture can stop down more.
Experiment with using the camera's flash.
Try to back away from the subject more but don't use the zoom feature.
Set the camera to "Macro" mode.  There is a symbol that looks like a flower on the camera's controls.  Set the controls to that symbol.

Also, make sure that you press the shutter release only HALF WAY down before taking the picture.
When you press the button half way, the camera's electronic system analyzes the scene, sets the focus and determines exposure.  If you press the button all the way down, all at once, you don't give the camera a chance to analyze the scene and you can often get poor focus or exposure.

If you have a tripod, it would be good to use it.  This will reduce the possibility of blurry images due to camera shake.
Either use a remote shutter release or the self-timer so that your hands don't cause camera shake.

If that doesn't work, use a different camera, like an SLR, where you can look through the viewfinder to see what is in focus before taking the picture.

In that first picture, it looks like your Bears even have their own TV.

Now, THAT's livin' the "plush" life! 

Stealing Teddy Bears is the lowest of the low! 

Do you know how many people have been saying that to me?  ;)

Therapists, lawyers, clergy, friends, family and coworkers!
Just about everybody.

Do you know how long it has taken those words to sink in, through my thick skull?  ;)

Months!  Years, even!  It is only just starting to sink in and, I bet it hasn't completely soaked into my brain, yet.  ;)

Your encouragement is much appreciated.  :)
I'll do my best.

Even if Bears are "supposed" to come in groups of three, we never said that there couldn't be MANY groups of three.  Did we?

Oh?  You mean that blonde juvenile delinquent? 

Hey, SueAnn & everybody.  :wave:

Doing okay.  Still settling in but making it on my own, so far.

Time heals all wounds... or is it... Time wounds all heels...  ??  ...I forget which...  ??

Oh...  And, sorry.  I've got to protest...

After all the wrangling is over, I now have three Bears of my own, when they used to number over 1,000.

Now that I think of it, THREE BEARS is just the right number of Bears for me! 

Bears go best in groups of three!   

That's Big Pudge at the New River Gorge welcome center.
We just returned from our journey to the bottom of the gorge.  He decided he needed a rest.
I'm glad you like the picture.  Thanks!  :)

How do you pack a whole room?
It's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.

Everything I own has been packed into 18 inch cubic boxes.  As of today, most of it is still in boxes.  I have only unpacked the things I need to live.  Everything else is still packed up.  Whenever I open a box and unpack what's inside, it suddenly gets bigger.

What once filled a whole room, now fills a couple of boxes.  When those boxes are unpacked, the things inside seem to take up more space than they did when I put them in the box!

It sounds strange but, yes, it does seem like I can unpack a room! 

I think I am going to stay with three, for now.
Isn't three a good number for Bears?  ;)

I think the "Pudge" Bears might like to pose for some pictures but that will have to wait until I get settled and have time to unpack the darkroom.

I'll make sure I post pictures. 

Y'Know... The Bears have been a source of anxiety for me for many years!  I worried about them, sometimes daily.  Almost as if they were children.  They are sort of surrogates for children.  Aren't they?

I used to worry what would happen if there was a disaster or if the house caught fire or of somebody broke in... etc. ... etc.
It is very difficult to relate to you just how much work it is to take care of that many Teddy Bears and just how much angst that creates.

I love the Bears.  I love all Teddy Bears but it is a great relief to not have to worry anymore.  I am very happy to know that all of the Bears are reunited again and are happy in their new home.

There are many things that I can not talk about in the open forums.  It's not proper and it would be too time consuming to write about.  Let's just say that this is not a simple divorce.  Consequently, it is very important for me to live a separate life in order to heal and recover from emotional damage.  At the same time, I feel sad that the Bears are leaving and happy that I will be able to move on and reestablish my own life.  It's complicated...

I have my three Bears.  They live in my bedroom.  They seem to be happy there.  Maybe, when I get my house organized, I can rebuild my darkroom and start making photographs again.  If I get a chance to make some more photos of the "Famous Pudges" I'll be sure and share them with you all. 

Thanks for all your moral support!  You have all been a great help! 

UPDATE - Dec. 22, 2013:

The divorce is final and I have officially moved out of the house and am living in a new place.  I only go to the old house to make sure the mail is picked up and to check on the Bears who were still living there.  All Bears accounted for!

Today was Melanie's day to collect her things from the house.  You'll be happy to know that the hug has been reunited.  All the Bears are living together with Melanie again!  :)

I am not completely bearless.  Three Bears are living with me in my new home.  (Bears come in threes.  Right? )
I have a vintage 1988, "Toy Soldier" Bear from F.A.O. Schwarz, made by North American Bear Company and I have two Gund "Mocha" Bears (#6410 &#6411).  These are the famous "Pudge" Bears that I have shown you photographs of.  The Bears are sitting on the dresser in my bedroom.

Papers are all signed and I officially turn over the keys at the end of the month.  The last of the details should be done by the end of January.  After that, it's all over.

I am very happy to hear that all the Bears are reunited with Melanie again.  I was worried about them and how I was going to manage so many Bears by myself.  Yes, I am an experienced "Bear Wrangler" but that many Bears is a lot to handle for one person living in a small apartment.  I have received word that all the Bears are happy in their new home!

This Bear Wrangler is breathing a lot easier tonight!

Some could go to GBotW.  The valuable ones should not.

Our Bears run the gamut from OOAK, artist Bears to dime store and carival Bears.  Some of the Bears were adopted from bearmakers, right here, on Teddy Talk.

The Steiffs, the Herrmans, the OOAK need to go to special homes who know and understand their value and meaning.  The others could go to GBotW.

I'll think about it.

Having a hard day right now...  I just want to curl up in a ball and disappear.

Peter,

You have shown us some very nice Teddy Bear photographs.  You are an accomplished photographer who JUST HAPPENS to specialize in Teddy Bear photography.  Not only is that enjoyable for adults and kids, alike, it is a marketable skill.  If you are not marketing your photography, you certainly could if you wanted to. :)

I am also a photographer.  I specialize in landscape and nature photographs but I also like Teddy Bear photography.  I have several Teddy Bear photos that are framed and ready to sell if the right buyer comes along.

Check my Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/randystankey

Nobody could fault us for liking Teddy Bears.  Nobody has the right to.  Anybody who tries to fault us for liking Teddy Bears can just go jump in the lake.

My problem is not in the Bears, themselves.  My problem is that they represent an unhealthy attachment to a bad relationship that must end.  As long as I am with the Bears, I am in danger of being "reeled" back into a harmful relationship.  I can't explain it any clearer than that without divulging details which I should not discuss.

It is very sad.  It is very hard to do but I must.

I just need to make sure that I do the right thing so that I can go away with a clean conscience.
I want to make sure that, when I leave, if she doesn't take the Bears, they are taken care of.

I don't know how to explain.  I don't have the right words to say which would explain without getting specific.  Specifics would only cause trouble.

I don't want the Bears to leave but that is part of the trouble.  In order for things to get better, the Bears and I must part company.  At first, I wanted to keep the Bears and I was very adamant about it.  I have talked it over with a professional and we decided that detachment is the best thing.

In another few weeks, maybe I will be able to explain.

Thank you, everybody, for your moral support!  It is helpful in many ways!     

Thank you, everybody! 

Issues are very complex.  I can't really talk about them in the clear like this.
The simple answer is that the Bears will have to find a new home.  It is the best thing for everybody.

It has been very hard for me to cope with things that have happened and it will be difficult to get over. 

I don't know how much more I can say without getting into gory details which I should not share and which most people don't want to hear.  Teddy Talk is supposed to be a happy place and I don't want to be the wet blanket.

Your support means a lot to me.  Much more than I am able to express.
Thank you, all, from the bottom of my heart.  :rose:

I know that finding homes for all the Bears is not going to be easy but, if anybody has advice, I would be grateful!

Thanks! 

I'm sorry I haven't participated at Teddy Talk for such a long spell.
There have been many happy times in this Bear Den but, now, the happy times are all coming to an end.

My wife, Melanie, is divorcing me.  There is little more than some paperwork and some details to finish up.  Assuming no more snags, things will be wrapped up by the end of the year.  If all goes smoothly, we could be done by the end of November.  The house will soon be sold then I will be moving out and taking my things with me.  I am hoping to convince Melanie to take all of the Bears in order to keep the family together but, so far, she seems intent on leaving half to me.  As you may remember, our hug was over 1,000 Bears strong.  Even half that number is too much for me to care for.  I certainly won't have room for that many Bears in the small apartment I am likely to be living in.  I will need to do something to make sure the Bears will be taken care of.

There are two possible scenarios.  Melanie could take all the Bears, in which case, I needn't worry.  If she does not, I will have to find them a new home.  I am going to tell Melanie that she can have the Bears or else they will be going to a new home.

I need to get my ducks in a row, now, so that the Bears can make a smooth transition to their new home.

Is there anybody who would like to be their new human if Melanie doesn't take them?

Can anybody, at least, give me some advice?

Thank you in advance,

Randy S.
(ex-Teddy Bear keeper)

As the (former) human to a hug of 1,000 Bears, I can tell you that real beer or champagne doesn't do much for Teddy Bears.  They only get a little tipsy then they fall asleep.

The thing that gets Teddy Bears riled up is root beer or ginger ale!
Let them get a snoot full of root beer and all fur breaks loose!  Root beer for the boy Bears.  Ginger ale for the girl Bears.

There isn't any celebration in this Bear Den anymore but, in the old days, there were some frolicking Teddy Bear parties while the humans were away!

"I can't believe I ate the whole thing!"

The Grand Inquisitor!

"NAA-na-na-NAA-na!"

"I'm almost done.  Stop moving or your picture will make you look like a fluff-head!"