Photographer Profiles

A few months ago I had the great pleasure of interviewing talented photographer Edy Hardj, the creative powerhouse who become a red hot Internet sensation shortly after our story on him.

In case you’re unfamiliar with his work, Hardjo uses a selection of highly detailed collector quality superhero action figures (both Marvel and DC characters) to create imaginative (and wacky) images that appear to be real and life size.

His amazing and quirky sense of humor really shines in every photo and his work resonates with comic book fans around the world.

In this follow-up interview, we will discuss Hardjo’s sudden Internet popularity, its effect on his photography, his most recent projects and his plans for the future.

Shutterbug: Were you surprised to discover that your images have become so popular?

Hardjo: Indeed, it really did surprise me. I know some of my friends like my work, I just never imagined that my images would go viral like this. But I’m really happy and proud that people like my work, for an artist the important thing is being acknowledged and appreciated.

Shutterbug: Has the attention had any effect on your photography and has it changed how you feel about your work?

Hardjo: 

In some ways it did, because now I feel that people are “watching” everything that I create. Sometimes, even a small issue can trigger serious criticism from a number of people. But I’m not changing my way of thinking when I create a photo. I keep working the way I want to, but I stay fully aware of the feedback every time I release a new image. If a photo receives too much criticism I will retract it.

Shutterbug: How many “Likes” do you have on Facebook now?

Hardjo: I have around 77,000 “Likes” on Facebook and it’s a real blessing for me. And all this happened because of my first interview with you on Shutterbug.com, which allowed the world to notice me and my work. I really appreciate and thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Shutterbug: What kind of feedback are you getting from your fans and have any celebrities contacted you?

Hardjo: They have been very supportive of me. Some of them even became interested in collecting the action figures and some have been inspired try toy photography themselves. I’m really happy that I can get people to feel the same excitement I have about this fun hobby.

But the best of all is that three of my favorite actors -- Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Jackman -- have shared my photos on their official Facebook pages and via Instagram. Robert even shared some of my images five times.

Shutterbug: What other projects you working on and what are your plans for the future?

Hardjo: Currently, I have two ideas still in progress. The first one is a scene featuring Iron Man versus Batman—not in a fighting or battle scene, it’s more like a competition. The second one is a scene that includes my new action figure, Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy. Sorry, but I can’t describe it in more detail right now. I don’t want to spoil the fun before I release it. I’m also planning to publish a book of my photo collections, and I hope that I can do it within this year.

See more images by Edy Hardjo on his Facebook page.