At the end of 2018, while I was about to complete #SiPgoes52, I was already looking to what was coming next. As soon as we started to discuss #SiPgoes53, I was excited. But at the same time, after putting so much effort in #SiPgoes52 during 2018, I didn’t know whether I could do it again for a whole year.
Like last year, I wouldn’t be home during the holiday season, and defining a project revolving around a rather specific idea (like Julien did) wasn’t really an option as I wouldn’t have time, energy, motivation and/or inspiration for taking new photos.
That said, I didn’t stay totally inactive while spending the holidays “in the South”…
Toy Photography in Brno with a fellow photographer. Bits of snow for a snowy owl. Photographing new toys in the Belgian Ardennes. Visiting Prague with a fake Czech Playmobil Karel IV.
Moving forward and constraints
Moreover, I wasn’t sure what would be my goals, from a photographic point of view, for 2019. What should be the focus of my efforts so I can move my photography forward?
One option would be a project. Something more personal than #SiPgoes52 (or 53). Something with more constraints that would force me to be more creative.
One of the things I wanted to improve is my Minidoll photography. I took my first photo of a
The idea of relying solely on Minidolls for #SiPgoes53 came early… But at the same time, I already had photo ideas that require regular Minifigures for a few of our human beings…
Kicking off #SiPgoes53
#SiPgoes53 started easily with Tolkien. All I had to do was post one of my many LEGO Elves pictures and I was safe.
But then as the first week was ending, I came back to Northern Finland. And it meant I had to take a photo about Cleopatra. Needless to say Northern Finland in January looks nothing like a place where you would see Cleopatra.
On Monday morning, I had planned to go out for both sunrise and sunset because of good weather forecast. It was the only photography opportunity of the week because the forecast didn’t look good for the next days. I had to take my Cleopatra photo on that day… But one hour before sunrise, I still had no idea what to do.
It felt like our new project was already over for me. If I’m stuck with Cleopatra, how can I take a photo for people I’ve never heard about before?
LEGO Elves and #SiPgoes53
So Monday morning before sunrise, I was still looking for an idea. I thought about relying on LEGO Elves again. Then I read Wikipedia (again) but couldn’t find elements of Cleopatra’s life inspiring me in any way. I looked at photos depicting Cleopatra, historically accurate or not. And then I thought… Why not try to disguise a Minidoll as Cleopatra?
I gathered all my LEGO accessories related to Ancient Egypt and my Elves
The photo session was a success. Not only I had photos for week 2, but I had so much fun taking those photos that I knew I had to do more in the future.
Archaeology in Northern Finland. Look! Remnants from Ancient Egypt! Azari, the first Pharaoh in the North. Aira the Scribe. Naida the Pharaoh’s personal Guard.
My personal project for 2019
So it’s decided! In 2019, I will explore Minidoll photography. And #SiPgoes53 will be my framework for doing it.
I have no idea if it will be a success, but my constraint for #SiPgoes53 is to only use Elves and/or
Will this be a success? I don’t know and still feel this project won’t be as successful as #SiPgoes52. Although I have now ideas for many of the names on the #SiPgoes53 list, there are still many names that don’t inspire me at all. So far I’ve got a photo ready for Week 3, an idea for Week 4 that I will shoot once my latest LEGO order arrives… and then nothing for Week 5, not even a tiny idea.
But maybe like last year, I will surprise myself… Or maybe not.
Do you also have a personal project to constrain you and push forward your creativity? If you do, I’d love to hear about it!
Sharing the Adventures in The North of my Plastic Friends.
It’s nice to read how projects and ideas are coming in different ways for everybody. I’m sure you will make a succeed of this new project. On my side I wanted to do something like Julien with only one set and put related stuff for every human being. But it means a lot of preparation each week and I don’t have a lot of already made accessories. I also remember my failure of SiPgoes52 and I have a tendency to imagine complicate project that I never do. So I look for something more simple and my second idea, that came… Read more »
I’m familiar with the problem of not having enough accessories. With traditional LEGO minifigures, there is a plethora of “clothing” to choose from, but with the minidolls it’s way more restricted and so challenging. For example, for Carrie Fisher, I thought I could simply disguise one of the Elves into Leia… But after trying, I realized none of the Leia LEGO hairpieces I own look good on the Elves minidolls. So even for the “words” of SiPgoes53 that seem simple at first, it can become a difficult challenge with so much limitation.