‘Let’s Build Space’

... using Legos and imagination

As many Central Floridians turn to the skies to watch rocket launches or gaze up at the moon, one Orlando resident is creating extraterrestrial environments right in his own garage.

His tools of choice? Plenty of Legos, homemade moon dust, a camera and a heaping dose of imagination.

Jonathan Duggins, an Orlando video producer and photographer, began creating Lego dioramas inspired by space exploration about 2 1⁄2 years ago, calling his photographic project, “Let’s Build Space.”

Playing with Legos is something that Duggins has done since childhood and never truly outgrew.

Now, working as a video producer full time, he knew he had the creative know-how to bring his vision to life. He was also inspired by the work of Finnish photographer Vesa Lehtimäki, who photographs

Lego figures in realistic Star

Wars scenes.

“I started thinking about, well, ‘What would be my subject matter?’” Duggins said. “I moved here from Texas about 12 years ago. The proximity to Cape Canaveral was interesting to me, and the idea of photographing space environments. And so I thought about that, and I got started doing space.”

Using his arsenal of about 50,000 Legos, Duggins got to work. Even though the project started years ago, he has only recently begun to release the

photos publicly.

“I move at a glacial pace, because oftentimes in our work, there are deadlines and a demand for things to be done on time,” Duggins said. “In my own space, in my own time, I can explore ideas and imagine and create the scenes, even if it takes a month. This has really been therapy for me. It’s been just a fun thing to pursue.”

Some photos are meant to be humorous and fun. Others are meant to invoke a sense of realism that’s fooled some of Duggins’s friends, including one who called thinking he had missed the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch when seeing one of his photos.

“I wanted to see, with the limitations of this plastic toy, ‘How realistic can I photograph this? How human can I make these mini figures?’” Duggins said. “So I started just thinking about practical effects. ‘How can I use light, how can I use different elements to evoke emotion, and to help people who see these photos feel something?’”

For Duggins, this project is truly a labor of love. He spends late nights in his garage perfecting his formula for moon dust (cement mix combined with flour). He’ll drive to Cape Canaveral to get on-location water shots of the Apollo 11 command module splashdown, for example. A single image can take anywhere from one week to a month to perfect, with plenty of trial and error along the way.

The Orlando photographer’s efforts have been recognized by some in the Lego photography community, including the Instagram page Brick Central and toyphotographers.com, even though Duggins has only recently started sharing photos on social media. However, his family and are his original supporters.

Jonathan’s wife, Stephanie Duggins, has been a fan since the project began.

“I think it’s really interesting to see Jonathan use a combination of his artistic abilities,” Stephanie said. “One of the things that Jonathan brings to his art is having skills as a videographer, as a photographer. With building, it’s also very easy for him to come up with his own designs. It’s a playful imitation of life.”

Austin Duggins, 7, one of Jonathan’s three sons, is also in awe of his dad’s work and notices the dedication he puts into the project.

“I think they’re really good, I think they look really inspiring. I really like space too,” Austin said. “He’s mostly always working on it.”

In addition to the fun and crafty photos, this project has allowed Jonathan to come to a deeper understanding of space exploration.

“The more that I’ve worked on these photos and learned about the different space missions, the more that I’ve had a passion stir in my heart for what is happening out in space, and what we’re trying to do — not just as a nation — but as human beings,” Jonathan said. “As I think about the Apollo anniversary coming up, it’s a reminder of where we’ve been. It’s a reminder for me to stay curious and to keep exploring. I feel like that’s how we’re made.”

“In my own space, in my own time, I can explore ideas and imagine and create the scenes, even if it takes a month. This has really been therapy for me. It’s been just a fun thing to pursue.” Jonathan Duggins, video producer and photographer

PATRICK CONNOLLY/ORLANDO SENTINEL Jonathan Duggins,who builds Legos and makes space dioramas, works on crafting a scene using a Lego Apollo 11 Lunar Module for his series, “Let’s Build Space,” on July 5 at his Orlando home.

JONATHAN DUGGINS/COURTESY “Man on the Moon,” a photograph by Jonathan Duggins for his series, “Let’s Build Space.”

PATRICK CONNOLLY/ORLANDO SENTINEL PHOTOS Jonathan Duggins works on a scene for his series “Let’s Build Space,” at his Orlando home. Below right: Duggins spreads homemade moon dust using concrete mix and flour for a scene.

JONATHAN DUGGINS/COURTESY “Lunar Lander,” a photograph by Jonathan Duggins.