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Lights in the castle

Ballou34 - 4 Comments

Light is Life!

We have already talked a lot about light on the blog.
We talked about the importance of light, about techniques like how to harvest the power of the sun for our pictures, about hardware like using a lumecube.

Yes, Light is Life! And it can be of any shape and size.
You can now find LEDs small enough to be used with our Minifigures and accessories directly inside our pictures.
Last year, I already wrote about it here on the blog. I used micro-LEDs in the new lantern accessory to make a cool wolf picture, and we used them, too, in our Creator Expert car project with TLG.

Remember these pictures?
Continue reading “Lights in the castle”
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A look back at a year on the Death Star

Ballou34 - 8 Comments

That’s it!
My #SiPgoes52 project is finished.
1 year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 52 pictures.

At the time, I am writing these words, I have just finished editing my last picture in the series giving it its final name “32_Humility.jpg”. (Yes, I had to get back on the horse with this project after a long summer break. So I did not make them in order at the end.)
It’s a bitter-sweet moment…
On the one end, I am really happy with what I accomplished. I am proud of my pictures. I am relieved that I was able to finish in time.
But on the other end, making the 52nd picture, the last one, means that it’s over. And I hate things that end. I hate saying goodbye.

The full project

So, to help me with cope with “Post Project Depression”, let me share my feelings about this past year, my ideas for the future with this project, my “best something” pictures and show you the big picture to discover a secret hidden story.

Continue reading “A look back at a year on the Death Star”
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Three (sugar) cubes with a coffee

Ballou34 - 3 Comments

Sunday morning, 9 AM (or is it 11 AM…). I need a coffee. And above all, I need ideas. I need to make some creative pictures for the review of the new LEGO Minecraft sets.
In a couple of weeks, TLG will release a series of 3 “bigfigs” and I have to prepare a post…

But first coffee… maybe with a cube (of sugar).

Continue reading “Three (sugar) cubes with a coffee”
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A Hogwarts story

Ballou34 - 2 Comments

It was a dark Sunday night at Hogwarts. One of those nights during which silence roams the corridors of this giant castle. A night of full moon…

Hogwarts at night

In one of the small rooms of Hogwarts, three little wizards were quietly working on something. It was Harry, Ron and Hermione, all gathered around a big cauldron, shimmering sparkles in their eyes. They were working on a potion.

Three wizards around a cauldron

“Shall I drink it?” said Harry, a spoon full of gooey liquid in his hand. And before someone had the time to say no, he put the spoon in his mouth. He could feel the hot liquid going down his throat. He closed his eyes and opened them again. And said “Well, nothing happened. It looks like you failed Hermione…”

In the potion room
Or did something just happen … read more to see …
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What I learned from the classic car project

Ballou34 - 2 Comments

When I learned that we would be doing another project with TLG (read The LEGO Group), I was ecstatic like every time. I find it interesting to work for someone else from time to time. It’s often challenging since you don’t want to disappoint the client and you can always learn something from it.

Respectfully for the client (here, TLG), we refrained to talk about it or to share with you pictures or BTS before they started publishing our work, even though we allowed ourselves (read Stuck In Plastic and the crew) some teasing about the project.

But now that the cat car is out of the bag, let me share with you my experience.

This article is part on a new series on the blog. Every Wednesday, one of the creative who participated to this project will share some behind the scenes with you.

One of my favorite London bus picture in this project
One of my favorite London bus picture in this project

Continue reading “What I learned from the classic car project”

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Did I fail my #SiPgoes52 project?

Ballou34 - 8 Comments

As you may have noticed if you follow me on social media, I haven’t posted a SiPgoes52 picture in a while. Now, it has been several months since my last picture on this project.

If you remember my initial post, I had everything planned in advance. A small set-up that I can install at home. I was trying to think about my picture ideas in advance, and take those pictures in advance.

But one thing came in the middle of that and ruined the initial plan: LIFE!

Yes. It was Saturday afternoon. I was planning my pictures to shoot on Sunday: Hope and Action. I was looking for an idea for Quality, but I was called to work on Sunday, and my plans got ruined.

I didn’t take any picture that Sunday, and thus missed my Wednesday slot. Then, came the weekend of our toy safari and once again, no time to take any SiPgoes52 picture. Then, I lost track of time and motivation, and so I didn’t pursue the project. And now, 20 weeks later, I have not taken any additional picture.

Does that mean that I failed? Will I ever continue? Continue reading “Did I fail my #SiPgoes52 project?”

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A wolf, an axe, a lantern and LEDs

Ballou34 - 3 Comments

In the recent sets that LEGO has released, there was one accessory that caught my eye: a lantern.

For me, it’s a cool new piece that could fit in plenty of stories. I could see some scared children walking around a forest, or maybe Indiana Jones exploring a cave or even a sailor on his boat in a storm trying to see what’s in front of him. Well, it’s a fun accessory that I will keep at hand.

At the moment you can find it in the new Harry Potter sets (which are not available in France, yet) or in the new line of accessories polybags called LEGO Xtra.
And recently, I was able to get my hand on one.
So immediately, I wanted to play with it in a picture. Continue reading “A wolf, an axe, a lantern and LEDs”

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SiP went Paris 2018

Ballou34 - 14 Comments

After several toy Safaris around Europe, in Stockholm, Hamburg, London or Edinburgh, it was time to visit Paris.
It was the second time for us to be in the City of lights, after an exhibition at Le6Brick earlier this year.

#SiPgoesParis2018
#SiPgoesParis2018 – Picture by @Ballou34

The edition of SiPgoesParis 2018 was awesome.
Everyone seems to have enjoyed this event:

20 people from 7 countries (Czech Republic, England, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Turkey and France),
around 50 km of walk during 3 full days,
hundreds of LEGO minifigures,
thousands of pictures taken,
and very little sleep…

But let me share with you a “10-minute” taste of what happened between June 15th and 17th.
Just follow the guide!

Follow the guide
Follow the guide – Picture by @Nutelasabe

The famous monuments

A weekend in Paris means that some stopovers are unavoidable.
We started the weekend at the Eiffel tower. Even though we arrived relatively early to avoid tourists, it was not early enough and we quickly shared the spot with a few wedding photographers.
 Continue reading “SiP went Paris 2018”

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Thanks to the LEGO brick

Ballou34 - 1 Comment

This week, on #SiPgoes52, we are celebrating “Leg Godt”, the famous Danish expression at the core of the biggest toy brand.
You guessed it, I am talking about LEGO.

And I thought it was appropriate to take the time to acknowledge this little brick and thank it for everything it did for me in my life.

LEGO
Leg Godt

My LEGO beginnings

The first LEGO brick arrived in my life at a very young age, when my parents bought me my first set. I don’t remember what it was but I remember playing with the LEGO Duplo firemen. Then later, with the “System” brick that we all know.

I remember those countless hours, going through boxes looking for the right part for my next construction. Continue reading “Thanks to the LEGO brick”