Another photo which I created for the Stuck in Plastic Star Wars contest is “These are not the droids we are looking for” and you can easily understand why I titled it that. What? Wait a minute? Haven’t I just written that I tried something different from my usual Benny and Mr. Robot adventures? Well, that isn’t exactly 100% true, as you can see here. I woke up one morning with this idea in my mind and I couldn’t help but take this photo. I kept chuckling. 🙂
These are not the droids we are searching for.
The biggest problem was the setup; obviously it had to be on Tatooine. How Mr. Robot, E-mily and a Blip found themselves there was not my problem. For the background I chose to use an image of Tatooine I found on the Internet. I modified it a little, then I loaded it onto my iPad mini and I used it as scenery. That was easy, after all.
The biggest problem was the sand. I built a snotted slope with some tan bricks I had at home (my constant lack of bricks is very irritating) but I wasn’t happy with it. To smooth this slope I decided to use something I’ve never used before: some kind of whood chips mix that you can easily find in Italy in November and December because we use it to build the “presepe” (a Nativity scene diorama) in our houses. I am definitely still not happy with the result, because it turned out to be a little too coarse. Maybe flour (post processed with Photoshop to change the color) would have worked better, but I was way behind schedule and I had to shoot this photo, I couldn’t postpone it anymore.
For this photo I also used my M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 Macro at f/5.6; the same lens I used for Killer Shot. This is unusual, two photos in a row with this lens; 80% of the time I use my 25 mm f/1.8. This isn’t because I don’t like the macro lens, it’s because that focal length forces you to back away if you don’t want to take a “waist up” mini figure photo.
I love how the droids ended up a little out of focus; it looks like they were actually ion a desert. Or not? The best part, in my opinion, is Mr.Robot’s expression! It’s unbelievable how expressive that robot can be, depending on the circumstances.
I hope you enjoyed this look behind the scenes of “These are not the droids we are looking for.”
Luigi
This is wonderful Luigi! That wood chip mix that you used for sand looks very interesting and has a great texture. I only did a sand photo once and that time I used some sand from a craft store. That sand was so fine, that it got everywhere. So I think what you did was probably easier to clean up 🙂
I never think of using my ipad mini for a background. I’ll have to remember that trick 🙂
And I always love Mr. Robot’s expressions. You do a great job posing him 🙂 Awesome shot!
Thank you so much, Lynn! So glad you like it! That wood chip has a nice texture indeed, yet I still think it was not right for this photo, but I had nothing else to hand.
The ipad as background is very useful, you definitely have to try. You can have any background you want, just one click (err, one tap) away.
Every time I am impressed by how expressive Mr. Robot can be. Thank you once again! 😉
Brilliant work Luigi… love it.
I’ve used my iPad as a background in the past but don’t use it as often as I should. :-/ You’ve made great use of it here to give the sense of Tatooine’s twin suns, a nice detail.
With regard to the sand, here we have access to “sand pit” sand here in Australia, it’s much finer that actual beach sand, but on the Lego scale, appears more like the sand they might have on the beaches in Legoland, if it weren’t all made of sand coloured bricks that is.
Your little robots are comical characters. Very cute.
Looking forward to more from you.
Thanks a bunch! Much appreciated! Well, the idea was to use the robots as comical characters, always. So I’m glad it worked, afer all.
As for the sand, I promise, next time I’ll use something finer… 😉
There’s a whole series of photo already in my mind. Hope to find the time to take them… and not to disappoint you!
Great work Luigi
i love the setup and the wood chip mix looks great,
Greetings Wendy
Thank you oh so very much! Great to hear that from you! 😉
Dear Luigi,
it’s always such a great pleasure to know more about your creativity! Thank you for inviting us to follow your photography process behind the scene! This work is brilliant as always!
Haha it’s funny how you always joke about “trying something different from your usual Benny and Mr. Robot adventures” … 🙂 but I adore the unique world of your characters and I can’t wait for their new stories!!!
Kind Regards,
Ann.
Dear Ann,
thank you sooo much! Glad you like it!
I really love to share my homemade techniques, so you’re very welcome! And yes, there’s nothing I can do… every time I try something different, Benny and Mr. Robot pop up! 😀
Maybe with the McFoot family… but I’m not so sure!
Anyway, your kind words make me so happy!
Cheers.
Love the shot. I’ve been looking at that 60mm to round out my kit (I shoot Nikon a lot, but have recently been getting a lot more use out of an Olympus I inherited). Needless to say, I like what you’ve done with it.