Herron Studios

Category: Photography Challenge

  • Why Lego Photography?

    Why Lego Photography?

    A minifigure with long brown hair wearing a red hat rushes to save another minifigure who is wearing a yellow chicken head and toppling back off a skateboard.

    When I mention that one of the types of photography I enjoy producing is Lego photography, the reactions range from bemused to awesome. It’s a part of my hobby that has helped me in unexpected ways, so I thought I would expand on some of the reasons why.

    How it started

    Christmas stormtrooper walking with a robot against a "starry" bokeh background

    In 2015 I wanted to improve my photography and participated in a monthly challenge. It was March, but our Christmas tree was still up (don’t ask). I was up late on night looking for a solution for the photo prompt and suddenly had an idea. After digging through some boxes, this was the result and my first Lego photo. I would love to say I jumped and kept at it then, but I’m stubborn.

    Lego girl minifigure in a wheelchair racing down the road while a boy minifigure runs after
    minifigure wearing chicken head mask walks from behind a plant waving "hi."
    A chef minifigure "gasps" in shock at the size of the pumpkin she will be cooking with.

    Jump forward to 2022 and I took a photography class. I was going through some things personally and photography has always been a great outlet. We had been working in black and white, but had our first assignments to focus on color and I wanted something fun. Lego sounded colorful and fun. This time, there was something extra as well. Every time I worked with them, it made me laugh and I felt better. When I built, it gave my brain somewhere else to focus. It turns out, I’m not that unique.

    Lego and Mental Health

    In this article, “The Importance Play in Adulthood” on Miraclehealth.com they detail several different ways play can be implemented as well as the benefits. These include:

    • cope with stress
    • improve their mood
    • enhance social interactions
    • be creative

    I found that Lego Photography provided each of these.

    In fact, play has been recognized as being so important that the United Nations just recently adopted June 11th as International Day of Play.

    Lego minifigure boy with blonde hair sitting on a brick ledge with a minifigure girl with a dark curly ponytail in front of purple flowers.

    A Way to Practice

    Aside from the mental health reasons, Lego minifigures are 1.5 inches tall. I am constantly working to build my storytelling skills and increase my ability. I can take the minifigures anywhere and this allows me to be able to practice anywhere. My overall photography skills have improved simply because I’m constantly practicing.

    Alien tourist minifigure takes a photo of Chewbaca, bb8 (robot), brown spaceman, and R2D2 eating at a Restaurant

    I’m not sure why it surprised me that I still enjoy building and playing with Lego, but it did. However, I’m glad they found me when I needed them. If you’re in need of a pic-me-up or want to focus on a different kind of puzzle for a while, this is a type of play I can recommend.

  • Photochallenge : Early

    Photochallenge : Early

     

    I don’t know about you, but one of our family’s all time favorite foods is the strawberry.

     

    what-spring-tastes-like

     

    I have waxed poetic about them before. Every year we start a countdown as we watch and wait for our local farms to open their pick your own fields. Last year we added a few little plants of our own and overwintered them. I wasn’t sure how they would do, but early indications are we will have quite a few this year.

     

    Annie's Strawberries

     

    If we can keep the dogs from eating them, that is.

     

    And the countdown is over.  Pick your own fields are opening up.  Whoo hoo!!  Time to go strawberry picking!

  • Photochallenge : Books

    Photochallenge : Books

    We’re in week 11 of the 52 week Photochallenge from Tabitha. The prompt this week was “Books”.  I had a few ideas and knew where I wanted to go for the challenge right away.  However, as is typcally the case, it was the unexpected opportunity, that turned out to be my favorite photo.

    There are a lot of great book shops in downtown Fredericksburg.  Funky places and each has a distinct vibe of their own.

    The Griffin

     

    The Griffin is one of them.  A neat place with a side patio.  I did learn that the owner is retiring.  So The Griffin may be going away.   I’m hoping not.

    Down the road is another one of my favorites.   Riverby Books.  I love to wonder in and look at their used sheet music to see what’s there.  The decor is inviting and makes me smile.  In fact,  it was as I was leaving Riverby that I turned and spotted this guy (I didn’t put him there.).

     

    Garden Meditations

     

    He was just hangin’ out.  Relaxin’ in the tree.  Thinkin’ about his garden.   You just never know who you’ll run into Downtown.  Everyone needs books.

    Feel free to join in on the Photochallenge.  We’d love to see how you would interpret the prompts.