Start GalleryVesa Lehtimäki elevates LEGO sets into breathtaking works of art with his new photography book, LEGO Star Wars: Small Scenes from a Big Galaxy. The book combines the creativity of the toy with the adventure of the Star Wars franchise, resulting in charming tableaus that will delight kids and adults alike.Lehtimäki first photographed some LEGO snowtroopers in the snow of his native Finland in 2009, later uploading the shots to Flickr. His photos quickly gained a devoted following, and the creators of The LEGO Movie even consulted him while they designed the “look” of the film. This week marks the release of Lehtimäki’s debut photography book with DK Publishing, combining his most popular images with never-before-seen shots.We gathered some of our favorite photos in the gallery, and you can learn more about the book here. Here you can see the bridge with top removed. The room below the bridge is the captain's cabin. Load 35 more images Luke, Leia and Han are coming back for the next chapter of the Star Wars story, and they’re bringing new friends.
Sadly, lightsaber lovers will have to wait until next year to see Episode VII, but we have Star Wars fun to enjoy right now. In a galaxy not so far away – The Samuel Owen Gallery in Greenwich, Conn. – photographer Dale May has created LEGO Wars. These bold Star Wars portraits take the franchise’s iconic characters and add a touch of pop culture whimsy. Whether it’s C-3PO in Louis Vuitton or the Stormtroopers at Disney World, the Star Wars crew has a whole new look. May talked to PEOPLE about the inspiration behind his (inter)stellar project, just in time for May the Fourth. A photographer specializing in entertainment and advertising work, May was struggling to find his next personal project – until he spied a familiar face. “I’ve always found that you can’t wait for inspiration. You just have to keep shooting and working,” May told PEOPLE. “I picked up my stormtrooper LEGO keychain and decided to approach it like any of my celebrity portraits.”
The result kickstarted a collection of portraits that give these tiny figurines larger than life personas. “The first Star Wars movie is the first movie I saw in the theaters as a child, and this project is also my first venture into fine art,” said May. “So Star Wars has had a big impact on my life.” The work has left an impression on others as well. Moby and Brendan Fraser have both stopped to see LEGO Wars, along with a surprising number of children. May says his toy-muses-turned-gallery-exhibit becoming a family affair is one of the most rewarding parts of his foray into fine art. The project, which started with May’s single stormtrooper is now a collection of creative takes on how Jedis and droids would fit into today’s world, including our fashion houses. “The characters just seem right at home in the glamorous backgrounds,” May said of his Star Wars sartorial shots. For some, it was about the face behind the brand. “Coco Vader,” for instance, came to be after the artist noticed a strange likeness between Chanel head honcho Karl Lagerfeld and the Sith leader.
The set includes 10 minifigures and 14 models. Minifigures include Santa Darth Maul, Snowman R2-D2, Gonk Power Droid, Gungan Warrior, Hoth Rebel Trooper, Imperial Officer (Hoth), Rebel Trooper, Snowtrooper, Security Battle Droid, and Super Battle Droid. Models include AT-AT Walker, Darth Maul's Sith Infiltrator, General Grievous' Starfighter, Gungan Shield Set, Gungan Submarine, Guns and Lightsaber, MTT, Naboo Flash Speeder, Naboo Royal Cruiser, Naboo Starfighter, P-Tower Turret, Separatist Shuttle/The Lapiz Cutter, Super Star Destoyer, and Vulture Droid. Feel the Force the holiday season with the LEGO® Star Wars™ Advent Calendar! Get Christmas off to a galactic start with the LEGO® Star Wars™ Advent Calendar! Featuring 24 gifts, including iconic starships, minifigures, and accessories, this great advent calendar is the perfect gift for Star Wars fans of any age! Open a window every day to reveal 24 different LEGO® Star Wars™-themed gifts Features 9 minifigures, including 2 holiday-themed minifigures
Vehicles include mini Gungan Sub and General Grievous' StarfighterClick the advent calendar graphic. Then click the number of the day and enter the code. The day's minifigure or model will perform an action. When the code is entered, the day's mini model (Gungan Sub), assembles itself speeds across the screen followed by a trail of bubbles. The mini model then dissembles itself and falls back into the snow. When the code is entered, a layer of snow falls off the Gungan Warrior and he waves. When the code is entered, the mini, Gungan Shield Set assembles, shoots the boomba, and disassembles. When the code is entered, the day's mini model (Star Destroyer) assembles itself and starts bombarding the ground, after which the Gungan Shield Set (previous day's mini model) assembles itself and shoots the Star Destroyer down with the boomba. When the code is entered, the day's mini model (MTT) assembles itself. Then, much like the day before, the Gungan Shield Set assembles itself and shoots the MTT down with the boomba.