My Take on Classics In Legos

[blackcloudbrew]

As part of a project I've been working on I had to come up with a 'copy-cat' image based on a recreation (with my interpretation) of a famous piece of art. I have to say that I lacked great inspiration on this one and started doing some web searches for some idea of what I could do. As Vincent Van Gogh has always been one of my most favorite painters, I sought some inspiration from old Vince. As part of this search I stumbled on to several posting about artists who, several years ago, complied a number reworks of classic historical photographs in legos! The artist is Mike Stimpson from the UK and I recently found his flickr page on this: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/pho...v/sets/72157602602191858/" title="Classics In Legos">Classics In Legos</a> He is not the only one doing this but his work is so good I'll just have to attribute this all to him. Check him out on Redbook.

I was struck how well these were done and wondered if I could have a go at it too. Based on this concept, I settled on Van Gogh's - The Potato Eaters - painting. I wanted something I could produce and that might look good in black and white as I was ultimately going to shoot this in film. The target shot looks like this:


So...how did I do? I already know that the lighting was key in the original images and that I didn't really get that aspect right. I will be working some more on this soon.

Here is the setup in color shot with my digital camera (Pentax Q, 02 lens)

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackcloudbrew/8530650454/]_IGP0337 by blackcloudbrew, on Flickr[/img]

the b&w version (Pentax Q, 02 lens)

_IGP0336 by blackcloudbrew, on Flickr

and finally what I was after all along, in film (Pentax MZ-5n, Tmax 400)

File0529 by blackcloudbrew, on Flickr

I have to say that I learned how hard it is to do this and...how those stupid smiles on the Lego people really grate on you after a while...I'd love some feedback on these images.

[lensoreat]

Q does pretty well here,   the film shot is better though,   bcb,   more like the light is coming from the center lamp,  too,    nice subtle  filmy grain ;   exercise was to see various aspects of the artist's handling of  composition or light in the painting or photo ?     interesting the link to others that have used the legos . 

[blackcloudbrew]

Thanks. This exercise was to create a 'copy cat' image, i.e., to create an image of a famous piece of art and recreate it in a photography. We had our critique yesterday in class of all of the images from the class. Several people recreated the raising of the flag o Iwo Jima one in toy soldiers the other with a team of students. Both were quite interesting and different. People liked my image here but, the lighting has to be better to really make it like the painting.

Like I said, this was a challenging experience. I also have to say that the Q's quick dial on front is getting more use. I have one stop now set for high contract monochrome and it's very easy to proof something in either color or B&W with the turn of the dial. Smart feature.

[Pacerr]

Shucks, duplicate that 645 out'a Legos. Make it big enough to include a processing tank inside for instant previews. Now THAT would be an impressive use of Legos.   

[blackcloudbrew]

It's your idea, so you build it!

[Pacerr]

OK -- soon as you send me the 645 to 'pose' for the project. Might take a while though. Probably have to shoot with it for a year or so to ensure I understand the essence of the artistic concept.

Yeah, that sounds about right - just like those famous nude painters and sculpture-guys with their mistresses; one has to maintain the integrity and purity of the art, huh? 

[blackcloudbrew]

Hey, I did my model off a screen print of Van Gogh's painting. You should be able to do it with a picture of a 645. You can use the picture for a year though.