The Future is Now

The other day I wrote about motivation and how to find it (or keep it). One example I used was experimenting with a funky lens, the other was getting new subject matter, like new toys, to photograph.

This past weekend was our local LEGO convention BrickCon. This is the one weekend a year when 20,000+ people try their best to look at hundreds of LEGO models in 12 hours over two days. It is sheer madness! I escaped the chaos this year by working for my local toy store, Math ‘n Stuff, in exchange for store credit as well as a pass that allowed me to gain access to the merchants on Friday and avoid the public hours on the weekend. (Think about that for a minute… I worked for trade to gain access to the other merchants so I could buy LEGO. I told you it was madness!)

Of course this was the best decision I ever made and I am sure I spent more money than I should have. But hey, BrickCon only comes around once a year!

However, the mini figures I purchased and I’m most excited about, were not made by LEGO, yet to me, they represent the future of the LEGO mini figure and what is possible with a little imagination.

The first are the characters from Mouse Guard by David Petersen. These came to my attention earlier this year at the Emerald City Comic Con when there was a complete town created from LEGO that was populated by these wonderful creations. It seems like the fine folks of Crazy Bricks had a KickStarter that I somehow managed to miss that funded this entire project. I was so pleased when I heard that the mice were available that I picked up all that I could.  (It is interesting to note that these mice were created by three different companies that are each creating amazing third party accessories for LEGO mini figures: Crazy Bricks, Citizen Brick and Cape Madness.)

My second amazing find was also at the CrazyBricks booth; these wonderful creations are based on the designs of Doktor A. When I first laid eyes on these glorious figures there was not a moments hesitation and I bought both of them without even asking the price. I had a lovely chat with the purveyor of all this LEGO goodness and at some point it dawned on me that the gentleman I was talking to was non other than Guy Himber. Guy is responsible for one of my favorite books published by No Starch Press: Steampunk LEGO. Now I just need to work this connection into something fun, like creating seem kick ass photography for his awesome company.

LEGO has created a wonderful base for creativity with their mini figure, much as they have for their ubiquitous blocks. As 3D technology (and affordability) catches up with the incredible imagination that is at the heart of the LEGO community, I have no doubt we will be seeing more products like this available for sale.

Personally, as a photographer, I can’t wait to see what the fine folks at Crazy Bricks come up with next. As an artist, my mind is already working out what I can create to add to this amazing next wave of LEGO.

~ xxSJC

What are your favorite third party LEGO suppliers? 

Do you have a favorite custom LEGO compatible mini figure you have purchased? If so who are they? 

My apologies for the too dark photography, this is the first time the text has come before the photography. Seattle weather has been very dark and dreary as of late and it shows in these photos.