I had the honor and the privilege of receiving an advance copy of the new LEGO Star Wars Small Scenes From A Big Galaxy book from DK Publishing. Sadly, it came at a very busy time for me, and I am just now finding the time this book deserves for a review.
I have been a fan of the author, Vesa Lehtimaki (better known as Avanaut), for quite a while. That’s why I was so thrilled to get this book in the mail. I hadn’t heard anything about it!
LEGO Star Wars Small Scenes From A Big Galaxy brings Star Wars LEGO to life!
Publication Date: 11/10/15
Author: Vesa Lehtimaki (Avanaut)
Pages: 176
ISBN: 9781465440099
Price: $24.99 USD
Avanaut has been photographing children’s toys for years, but his LEGO photography is incredible. He builds wonderful scenes that tell whimsical stories, but the way he captures his images is truly unique. A true artist, he pays meticulous attention to lighting, positioning, backgrounds, and what he calls forced atmospheric perspectives. His hallmark style includes snow effects as well as sand and smoke.
LEGO Star Wars Scenes From A Big Galaxy takes you through the original trilogy with scenes set on Tatooine, Hoth, Endor. Each section has a distinctive look and feel very different from the others, but all with those unmistakable Avanaut trademarks.
The part I may have enjoyed the most is the section detailing Vesa’s process. How he comes up with ideas, how he sketches them out, how he stages his shots, etc. I know I learned a lot from this book, and look forward to applying that knowledge going forward.
LEGO Star Wars Scenes From A Big Galaxy is one the bigger books I have reviewed from DK, and I think it needs to be big to do Avanaut’s images justice. This book is as beautiful as the photographs it contains. There are many full dual page images, and numerous full page images as well. And the use of white space is perfect. There is very little text to read, but just enough to get a better sense of what LEGO Star Wars Scenes From A Big Galaxy is all about. The pictures really do speak for themselves.
If you have a Star Wars fan, LEGO fan, or photography fan in your life, I highly recommend this book. They will love it. And with Christmas right around the corner, I think it will make the perfect gift. What are some of your favorite LEGO books out there? Have you had the opportunity to thumb through the pages of LEGO Star Wars Scenes From A Big Galaxy?
I am an Adult Fan of LEGO (AFOL) and an active member of the Michigan LEGO User Group (MichLUG). I have loved LEGO for as long as I can remember. I am currently working on the following models:
– UCS Millenium Falcon
– Emmett’s Apartment Building
– Gringott’s Bank
We happened to come across it at Toys R Us this weekend and were left a little wanting after thumbing through the book. I do agree with you, the photography is excellent, but my husband and I both agree we would have liked to have seen more photos of a scene… even if they were smaller photographs. I also felt a lot of the photography was a bit too tight cropped and the bokeh was so great it almost “ate” the point of focus.
It’s probably worth the $13 presale price right now (although I’m still debating that), but not the $25. If I get a book like this, I want to know I will enjoy it each time I pick it up… instead of spending my time wishing there was more. :/
I can see where you’re coming from. I look at this as more of a photography book focusing on LEGO than a LEGO book focusing on photography. The reason I like it so much is I fancy myself a photography, and would love to improve my skills so I can better photograph my LEGO. It inspires me more in that sense. If that makes sense?!? :-/