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Week 4 – Marilyn Monroe

HerrSM - 2 Comments

From last week´s natural scientist and great observer Charles Darwin to this week´s person for our challenge, it may seem a long way- yet it´s just a week. Let´s put our hands together for an actress, a singer, a model and a film producer.

Welcome Norma Jeane

Human being of the week for #SiPgoes53 was born as Norma Jeane Mortensen in 1962. Many will know her baptismal name, Baker, better. And probably everyone will know her as Marilyn Monroe.

Just a naive blonde?

In a lifetime of “only” 36 years Marilyn Monroe managed to become an icon. She started her career as a model. Having been a very ambitious woman she moved on to become an actress. Dying her brunette hair to blonde and straightening the curls may have added to her appeal, but the roles she was offered led to the image of a “naive blonde”. In a man-dominated business MM still managed to convince her critics and the audience with her talent and her repartee.

Her eventful life had it´s ups and downs. A difficult childhood, stays in many foster homes and an orphanage may not have appeared to have been the best basis for a career that was to follow. Yet she managed to become the most photographed woman of her time. MM was married three times, won a Grammy and was immortalized by artist Andy Warhol. Her early death in 1962 still remains mysterious.

Iconic screen prints Marilyn from 1962 by Andy Warhol in ARoS art museum in Aarhus, Denmark. Yes, Aarhus, the city of this year´s toyphotosafari. A coincidence?

A Penny For Your Thoughts

What pops up before your inner eye when you think of Marylin Monroe? Is it the woman in a white dress standing on a subway grate? Or do you think of the famous Warhol paintings? Maybe there´s a song that comes to your mind? Her seductive “Happy Birthday, Mr.President”, her happy “Diamonds Are A Girl´s Best Friend” or rather Elton John´s “Candle In The Wind”?

We are definitely looking forward to seeing your ideas.

When posting your images on social media please do not forget to add the hashtags #SiPgoes53 and  #SiP_Marilyn_Monroe so it´ll be easier for us and everyone else interested to find your contributions.

Happy thinking and snapping!

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Cars and waters

HerrSM - 6 Comments

Classic Cars and where to go to

We have already posted some articles about SiP’s photoshootings of LEGO’s classic Creator Expert cars. Today I’d like to share with you the look through my viewfinder. There may be many ways to approach “the next” photo project.
One simple idea is that it’s all about a vision.

You have an object.
You imagine a scenery where you see this object.
You think of a certain atmosphere, a mood.

And then it is all about finding the right location
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Misadventures on a photo assigment

Maëlick (aka Reiterlied) - 2 Comments

I’m not into cars.
For me, a car is mainly a utility object and not something I find particularly interesting to look at. If there’s one type of car I still find remotely beautiful, it’s the old and classic ones though.

So, when we got the assignment from LEGO to photograph the Creator Expert cars, I wasn’t too thrilled. The only Creator cars I didn’t own were the ones I found the least interesting. And those that fit the least in the Finnish Wilderness. Like the Aston Martin.
Nevertheless, I decided to finally build my VW Camper Van (which I bought more than 2 years ago…) and join the project.

Photographing it was one of the most difficult photographic exercises I’ve ever done. Not only for me but for my subject too.

Here are the (mis)adventures of my camper van…

Continue reading “Misadventures on a photo assigment”

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For Your Eyes Only

Bevvy Thomas - 3 Comments

Some time ago Stuck In Plastic contacted me asking: “We are looking for a creative photographer to join us in a creative challenge…”  It turned out that LEGO was looking to get some of its iconic cars shot by creative toy photographers. Did  I accept the mission? Of course I did. 

Continue reading “For Your Eyes Only”
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Voltron

Boris - 1 Comment

A mysterious telephone call

During the summer we got a mysterious call from an undisclosed number on a faraway island, asking us if we would be interested in collaborating on a top secret project. We had to keep it a secret, but we said yes. Of course! We love top secret projects, especially when they involve our favorite kind of plastic, some serious creative challenge and a good portion of photographic fun.

Continue reading “Voltron”
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And the best wizards are…

stuckinplastic - 4 Comments

Last month, we ran a fun little contest in collaboration with LEGO and Frobricks, Cheepjokes, and Toy Photographers around the Harry Potter and Wizarding World theme. After much deliberation, the four communities finally came to an agreement of the grand winner and the two runners-up of #LEGODarkArts. Continue reading “And the best wizards are…”

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SiP goes Riddikulus

stuckinplastic - 3 Comments

We are pretty excited to announce that we have another creative toy photography contest running this month. Like with the Collectible Minifigure Series 18, LEGO is running a contest in collaboration with us and three other awesome LEGO photography communities (Cheepjokes, Frost Bricks, and Toy Photographers). And you can win the one and only Hogwarts Castle by joining in the fun. How cool is that.

The Contest

Create a fun and creative before/after scenes showing the effect of the Riddikulus charm. The entry must consist of two elements; first showing a build of a Boggart in the shape of something frightening – then show the build after the Riddikulus charm has been cast. Enter by using the hashtag #LEGODarkArts on Instagram.

Continue reading “SiP goes Riddikulus”
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Meet Ian

HerrSM - 4 Comments

TGiF- Thank Godtfred it’s Friday again.

Hello, it’s Stefan on behalf of the SiP crew. Let’s sit down for a virtual cup of coffee and talk to a friend of our little blog about themselves, their photography and about the #SiPgoes52 challenge again.

This week I thought I’d be extra clever and offer a cup of tea instead as I was going to talk to Ian from Liverpool, England. Turns out I hadn’t done my homework precisely enough:
Our guest kindly asked for a latte with sugar. (He spent some time in France.)

But now, dear readers, grab yourself an euphorigenic hot drink of your choice, lean back and enjoy our talk. Continue reading “Meet Ian”

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Week 16: Flexibility

HerrSM - 6 Comments

Flexibility

Welcome to a quick roundup of week 16 in our #SiPgoes52 challenge of 52 words.

This week’s word is Flexibility and I’ll share with you some thoughts and own experience with this one.

As with some of the earlier words, there are different meanings about flexibility. Continue reading “Week 16: Flexibility”

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Week 13: Passion

HerrSM - 2 Comments

Passion can be found in various fields and situations.                                                  Go to a concert, a classical one with a huge orchestra or a rock gig: if the musicians are passionate about their work you will be able to feel it.

Whenever a  cook celebrates his craftsmanship to a certain level you will taste it.

And you don´t have to study arts to understand what drove a painter to create a masterpiece that really touches your heart.

Passion and Toyphotography

 

To me, Passion is and has always been not only an emotion but also a very special energy. A quick look at Wikipedia confirms that impression.

When asking fellow photographers why they photograph toys, so far most replied with “For the fun of it”.

But what got you started in the first place?

Continue reading “Week 13: Passion”