This Artist Uses Fire and Explosives to Bring Action Figures to Life, and His 68.2k Followers Love It

Think toys are just for kids? New York-based artist Jared Middleton is here to change your mind. Known to his 68.2kInstagram followers as Sirdork, he's a toy photographer who crafts stunning, cinematic scenes with popular action figures, making lifeless plastic look impossibly alive.

Practical Magic in a Digital Age

What sets Middleton's work apart is his commitment to practical effects over digital manipulation. He uses everything the world provides—water, dirt, snow, and even actual fire and explosives—to create authentic textures and atmospheres. His photos look less like manipulated images and more like genuine screencaps from a blockbuster film. "I started out using mainly practical effects instead of digital because of my lack of knowledge," Middleton told Bored Panda. "Over the years, though, my skills with digital effects have gotten stronger but I’ve come to really love... getting dirty is just too much fun!"

From Collector to Creator

His journey began as a passionate collector. "I had been collecting action figures for years and eventually started taking photos of them outside for Instagram," he said. "Eventually the art of taking photos became more important to me than the collecting!" His collection is massive, featuring figures from lines like Star Wars Black Series and SHFiguarts, though he now primarily buys figures he specifically wants to shoot.

Inspiration, he says, can come from anywhere. "It could be a new movie or TV show I see, or even a small puddle I see that could become a massive war swamp in a toy photo!" He also pointed to the large toy photography community on Instagram as a constant source of new ideas and motivation.