As it is May the 4th I thought I would add my little piece to it.
Picture this: a long time ago, in a kitchen that feels like a galaxy far, far away, I was using my Panasonic DMC-FZ45 and later, a Canon 550d with the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens, to take pictures of Lego Star Wars figures. I had very little in the way of lights and equipment but I improvised like a true Jedi and came up with a genius solution. I taped two pieces of white card on my countertop to create a makeshift studio and positioned my camera at the perfect level to capture the figures' personalities.
I could not foresee the future these sets of images would look like so I just winged most of it. I wasn't trying to create photorealistic images that would fool even the most discerning Jedi. Instead, I took a more lighthearted and humorous approach to the project. After all, who says Star Wars can't be funny? My goal was to capture the essence of these lovable characters in my own unique way and have fun while doing it. And you know what they say - when in doubt, just wing it.
My first idea was to take a set of shots with multiples of the same figure, I had a few stormtroopers to play with and that is where I got the idea of Little Troopers.
Being in a kitchen with limited resources didn't stop me from getting creative with my Lego Star Wars photography. In fact, it was the opposite - I saw every object in the room as a potential prop or background. One of my favorite additions was using washing powder to simulate the snowy planet of Hoth. It worked surprisingly well, and I was pleased with the results. I also enjoyed experimenting with different lighting techniques and angles to create a unique atmosphere for each image. If you look at my early photos, you'll notice that I was a big fan of vignettes - those darkened edges that draw the viewer's attention to the center of the frame. It's a classic technique that can add drama and depth to an image, and I loved playing around with it.
As my Lego Star Wars photography sessions progressed, I found myself getting even more creative with my kitchen props. I mean, who says you can't use crisps, coffee granuals, and hot chocolate powder to enhance your galactic scenes? Looking back at some of the resulting images, I have to admit - they're pretty ridiculous but they still make me laugh to this day.
I decided to mix things up by combining different factions of the galaxy far, far away. That's how I ended up creating some hilarious one-panel jokes and situations featuring a mix of Mandalorians, Rebels, and even Imperial Snow Troopers.
I decided to try my hand at adding some vintage flair to my images. Inspired by classic films of the 1940s, I created a series of shots that looked as if they were taken in a bygone era. To achieve this effect, I used a sepia filter and added plenty of grain to the images. The result was a set of photos that had a timeless quality to them as if they could have been taken decades ago.
And then, I stumbled upon the droids I had been looking for all along: R2-D2 and C-3PO. These iconic characters from the Star Wars universe were just begging to be featured in my Lego photography.
It's hard to believe that it's been over a decade since I took these Lego Star Wars photos. Looking back at them now, I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for those early days of my photography journey. But at the same time, I'm excited to see how far I've come since then. In the years since I took these photos, I've honed my skills, experimented with new techniques and styles, and expanded my creative horizons in countless ways.
And so, as I look ahead to the future, I can't help but wonder what new and exciting images I'll be able to create with my Lego Star Wars figures. Will I take a more serious approach this time around, or will I embrace the same humour that made my earlier photos so memorable?
[ Star Wars and any characters mention in the blog post are TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd ]