The enchanting imagination of a Star Wars super fan
A Canadian photographer recreates his childhood in a galaxy far, far away
(Thomas Dagg)
(Thomas Dagg)In 2014, he channeled these memories into a series. "These are vivid childhood memories recreated with the very toys that inspired them in the first place," Dagg says.Over the course of two years, Dagg scouted locations around Toronto that recalled memories he had of playing with the toys. He would return again and again to the same spot until the weather, the light, and the scene were perfect. Back in his studio, he photographed the diminutive figurines in matching light and delicately composed them into his streetscapes.Though the process is painstaking, the results are beautifully subtle — blink, and you'll miss the carbonited Han Solo in the alley, the Darth Vader riding a city bus — and have the intimacy of a secret shared between friends.
(Thomas Dagg)
(Thomas Dagg)Dagg first watched the original trilogy when he was about 5 years old ("but it reached peak obsessiveness around 8"), introducing him to a love of storytelling that paved the way for a career in photography."The goal was to show where I came from and what first inspired me," he says. "I can safely say that without that trilogy, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now."
(Thomas Dagg)
(Thomas Dagg)
(Thomas Dagg)
(Thomas Dagg)To see more of Thomas Dagg's photos, you can check out his website, or follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.