Leica III

As an old school photographer, starting back when we used (gasp!) film, I've always appreciated the classic styling of the Leica. I've never owned one, or even held one for that matter, but admired from a distance. This oversized model by Milan CMadge captures it's essence perfectly, so well in fact that from a thumbnail you can barely tell it's brick-built. And if you're having trouble determining the scale of this thing, just look at the neck strap attachments on the side, it's a monster. Or you can just check out this image.

Rockin' In Wonderland

Talk about eye catching. This musical scene from Alice in Wonderland is as much about the photography as it is the build. Julius von Brunk brings us this colorful and whimsical scene, showing Alice, Hatter, March Hare and the White Rabbit absolutely rocking. The shot was accomplished with the clever use of multicolor party spotlights, a great effect expertly done.

Shortcut

While it's not the only criteria I look for (far from it) but for me one of the hallmarks of a great MOC is it doesn't look like LEGO at first. I know this seems at odds with a love of the bricks but let me explain. One of the things I find most fascinating about building with LEGO is the fact that is is transformed into something else. Each element is like a stroke from a pencil, a pixel on the screen or a thumbprint in clay. Individually just fragments of a larger idea, but It all comes together to become something else entirely. And when is it is so successfully transformed that those individual fragments disappear altogether, it's magic. This alley scene by builder LEGOMINDED just looked like a photograph of an urban scene from the thumbnail, I almost scrolled right past it. Beautifully conceived, built and photographed...transformed.

Hands

This evocative hands sculpture by builder timofey_tkachev made me catch my breath. I actually got goosebumps when I first viewed it. Perhaps it's the lifetime of making that has instilled a reverence for hands, my own included. They are my life, my livelihood, my tools. The pose, fluidity, lighting and construction of this MOC is awe inspiring.

Small Moments From A Galaxy Far Far Away

I'm really enjoying this series of pictures inspired by Star Wars: A New Hope by builder CozzD. Some are recreations of iconic shots, some are fanciful interpretations, all are top notch lighting and photography. There's even a few with some additional visual effects like smoke, blaster bolts and impacts, all very well done. Click through to see several more pics.

Misty Night On The Bayou

Lighting and atmosphere add so much to a photo, and it doesn't have to be a complex setup to be very effective. This awesome diorama shot by MassEditor was accomplished with simple lighting and a liberal application of a fog machine, but the effect is stunning, and sets a perfect mood. Can't you just hear the frogs and insects? The faint, slow banjo playing in the distance? The MOC itself is very good, but combined with creative photography it's a home run.

Ready

I don't know who this guy is, in fact I don't even know it's a guy. I don't know where he or she is, or what they're doing. But the title of this pic is "I AM READY", and I have to agree, whoever it is they do look ready indeed, ready for anything. Unless that is of course we're talking about showering, then I don't think that helmet is going to be very compatible with shampooing. Or brunch, this uniform would not be very comfortable for dining on copious amounts of shrimp at a buffet. Or playing Wii Bowling...

An excellent MOC and photograph by SweStar.

Take Off

Here's a fun fact: I know how to fly a plane. It's been a really long time, but in a pinch I could take the yoke (of a small plane) and get down safely. This latest MOC by kosbrick is not only a brilliant recreation of a mid size airliner cockpit, but it's also photographed really well. Luckily KOS has an excellent article detailing this technique. 

Night Shift

All the guys in the spacesuits with their cool machines and crafts get all the glory. No one gives much thought to the guys emptying the trash and making sure those futuristic floors shine. Take for instance this unsung hero, cleaning the floor of this beautifully lit corridor (thanks to excellent use of Brickstuff lights) by builder justin_m_winn. I'm going to call him Jerry, thanks Jerry.

Undercover Boss: Starkiller Base

If you haven't seen it, and you've a fan of Star Wars (or corporate inspired pseudo dramas) you have to check out Saturday Night Live's brilliant parody of Under Cover Boss: Starkiller Base. Adam Driver reprises his role of Kylo Ren, and goes under cover while he tries to get a feeling for how things are going in the company. But if that's not funny and charming enough, how about a recreation in Minifigures by Powerpig In his typically pitch perfect style? This is just screaming to be animated.

Sunset Slumber

Builder Brother Steven brings us this breathtakingly beautiful shot of a whimsical and serene setting. This is some top notch building, lighting, composition and editing. It sets a mood and draws you in, like a tranquil scene in a movie.

Xenomorph

I've always been a fan of HR Giger's imaginative nightmare the xenomorph. From the first time it scared the begeezus out of me in Alien to that time I previs'd hundreds of them ascending a mayan pyramid (true story). This version by LEGO Will captures it's biomechanical essence perfectly, but what's even more impressive is the photography. Shooting an all black MOC is very difficult, this shot is awesome. White background to clearly define the silhouette, just enough highlights to define the form, but not so much that it's overdone. And according to the EXIF, this was shot with an iPhone 6, making it even more impressive.

K'Aeon Ra

This wonderfully alien craft by ratm0nk3y is like a combination of the Sulaco from Aliens, classic space Blacktron and a healthy dose of the collective human nightmare. Combine it's abstract and unusual form with some excellent photography, editing and backgrounds, and you've got some top-notch space goodness right here.

Test Flight Preparations

This is gorgeous, it's like a scene from a movie. I love everything about this awesome shot by agaethon29, the build, the lighting, the composition, everything. I am instantly drawn in and want to know more about what's going on. Take note space builders, this is how to shoot your models for a cinematic or narrative presentation, beautiful!

The Circle Is Now Complete

I love this, for a few reasons actually. First of course it's Star Wars original trilogy, so that's pretty much an automatic. Second, I can appreciate how difficult it was to do, lighting and photographing a super dark set with dark figures is really hard. And lastly, it's just a damn good shot, great lighting, great editing and great composition. Nicely done Andrew JN!

The Floating Island Of Todaidh Beag

This is stunning work. Behold the floating island of Todaidh Beag (no idea how to pronounce that) by Cesbrick. This is a top notch combination of mad building skills, excellent color use, fantastic tilted timber construction, whimsical subject matter, stellar photography and well done photo editing. In other words, it's practically perfect in every way. Click through for more pics!

Deep Sea Submarine

My issue of the new magazine Bricks Culture just arrived, all the way from the UK!  In it, there's a great piece by David Alexander Smith about the connection between LEGO building and photography.  Starting back in the 70s with the iconic box art, all the way to today's high resolution online digital images, the two art forms are inexorably linked.  The selection process for Bricknerd and other blogs is clear proof of that.  No matter how awesome the build, if it's just sitting on your coffee table, it doesn't make the cut.  So when I saw this shot of Vesa Lehtimaki's Deep Sea Sub, I thought, "This is exactly what David was talking about!" 

Stay Frosty And Alert

I was fresh out of high school and jonzin' to start a career in movies when Aliens premiered back in 1986. I can remember going to see it with a buddy and being totally blown away by it. This morning I'm blown away by this spectacular MOC by Missing Brick. The MOC itself is really impressive, but the presentation is what really caught my attention. Using a combination of LED scale lighting, under lighting, an iPad for a splash of color and an atomizer for atmosphere, this iconic scene from the movie is recreated with brilliant results.

Scallywag

This looks like the cover of a classic science fiction book or magazine. This is how to shoot a ship! Note the fairly harsh side lighting, implying a single source of light, like a nearby star. This of course usually leads to much of the ship in total darkness, which leaves you the problem of being able to see it's silhouette. Here the problem is solved with a beautiful flare and planetary background. Nice ship, nice shot, nice editing, well done Tim C76