Andrew Cookston
The Superman
High above the streets of Metropolis, Superman floats gracefully above the city. People bustling to and from their destinations, Cars honking at bikers in the road, steam rearing from manhole covers. Birds fluttered atop the skyscrapers, cooing as they greeted one another.
He can hear it all. The brake pads on an old taxi down on 11th Ave, a mother soothing her child after a long afternoon nap seven blocks away. Even the sound of exasperated breathing, from a shop owner hiding under his checkout counter. He could hear feet shuffling, a few murmured demands, a cash drawer open... and the sound of a slide being cocked back over a loaded gun!
He could hear the gun fire, as he instantly flew it's direction! Seconds later he was outside the small store, it was as if time was slowed. Superman floated in gracefully as the bullet trudged closer and closer to the shop owner. Superman landed softly, stepping through the doorway, a hooded gunman was aiming towards a cowering older man, a bullet was mid-flight between the gun and the man's heart. Superman walked calmly up to the heated projectile. Reaching out, he plucked it from the air without the slightest hesitation.
Time returned to normal as he turned to the shop keeper, “It's okay now” He spoke sternly, giving a small smile. “Are you hurt?”
“Uh gee uh... wow...no, I guess” The owner stuttered in a loss for words. His tense body relaxed significantly as Superman turned to the gunman. He was barely legal to own that weapon, Eighteen, maybe Nineteen.
He stood there stiff, still aiming straight at the store counter where superman stood, but shock cascaded over his face. He lowered the gun slowly, and began to cry.
“I'm so sorry...” tears welled up as the boy dropped the firearm “Superman, I'm sorry...”
“I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, Son” Superman said taking a step back letting the two characters see eye to eye once more. Silence fell onto the room, their heartbeats slowed.
“Com'ere,” Superman gestured with an open arm, inviting him to the counter. The boy shuffled under his arm and hugged Superman tightly. “My Mom... she's sick...” The boy sniffled, “I just want to help her...” He looked up to Superman, then over to the Shopkeeper “I'm... I'm sorry.” The boy emptied his pockets of wadded Twenty's and two rolls of quarters.
“My wife...” The shopkeeper said, stepping closer “She knows a doctor. She could get her to take a look at your Mom...”
Superman grinned subtly as the boy released the vice-grip from around his waist to lean against the counter to talk with the shop owner. The three talked for what felt like hours. Later, an officer came by at Superman's request to take the boy home.
Before leaving, Superman took the boy's handgun from the floor and crushed it into the size of a golf ball, tossing it into a trash bin as he exited the shop. He slowly floated back into the sky, and the sounds of Metropolis found his ears once again. He smiled. No one got hurt today.
--------------------------------------
Okay, let's set the tone...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EngKxF3Cqh4
Oh man, it feels like I'm the last kid on the block to get this fig! Adam's Indestructible Hero is a fantastic figure!
Superman is far overdue for a new look, seeing as the first, and only time Lego had made a Superman fig was from 2011. The planned N52 costume from The Lego Batman 3 video game never saw the light of day, and I was pretty bummed about that. So obviously when Phoenix Customs announced their figure based on Jim Lee's design, I would be an idiot not to buy one :P
This fig also came with a starched cape with an 'S' symbol printed on the back, but for artistic purposes I left it out, substituting a sponge-y cape to give this photo just a bit more fluidity with the invisible breeze I image when I look at these photos.
Also, thinking about it now, this could almost be a sister piece to Gotham in Red... flic.kr/p/FfLKRJ
Oh and like always, there is a bunch of cool bonus stuff over on my Patreon, including some different set-ups to the fig and the lightning, and a side by side comparison of the original photograph to the completed image you're seeing here :)
________________________________________________
If you think this photograph is worth at least a dollar, check out my Patreon to see early photography, behind the scenes images, and WIPs of upcoming projects!
The Superman
High above the streets of Metropolis, Superman floats gracefully above the city. People bustling to and from their destinations, Cars honking at bikers in the road, steam rearing from manhole covers. Birds fluttered atop the skyscrapers, cooing as they greeted one another.
He can hear it all. The brake pads on an old taxi down on 11th Ave, a mother soothing her child after a long afternoon nap seven blocks away. Even the sound of exasperated breathing, from a shop owner hiding under his checkout counter. He could hear feet shuffling, a few murmured demands, a cash drawer open... and the sound of a slide being cocked back over a loaded gun!
He could hear the gun fire, as he instantly flew it's direction! Seconds later he was outside the small store, it was as if time was slowed. Superman floated in gracefully as the bullet trudged closer and closer to the shop owner. Superman landed softly, stepping through the doorway, a hooded gunman was aiming towards a cowering older man, a bullet was mid-flight between the gun and the man's heart. Superman walked calmly up to the heated projectile. Reaching out, he plucked it from the air without the slightest hesitation.
Time returned to normal as he turned to the shop keeper, “It's okay now” He spoke sternly, giving a small smile. “Are you hurt?”
“Uh gee uh... wow...no, I guess” The owner stuttered in a loss for words. His tense body relaxed significantly as Superman turned to the gunman. He was barely legal to own that weapon, Eighteen, maybe Nineteen.
He stood there stiff, still aiming straight at the store counter where superman stood, but shock cascaded over his face. He lowered the gun slowly, and began to cry.
“I'm so sorry...” tears welled up as the boy dropped the firearm “Superman, I'm sorry...”
“I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, Son” Superman said taking a step back letting the two characters see eye to eye once more. Silence fell onto the room, their heartbeats slowed.
“Com'ere,” Superman gestured with an open arm, inviting him to the counter. The boy shuffled under his arm and hugged Superman tightly. “My Mom... she's sick...” The boy sniffled, “I just want to help her...” He looked up to Superman, then over to the Shopkeeper “I'm... I'm sorry.” The boy emptied his pockets of wadded Twenty's and two rolls of quarters.
“My wife...” The shopkeeper said, stepping closer “She knows a doctor. She could get her to take a look at your Mom...”
Superman grinned subtly as the boy released the vice-grip from around his waist to lean against the counter to talk with the shop owner. The three talked for what felt like hours. Later, an officer came by at Superman's request to take the boy home.
Before leaving, Superman took the boy's handgun from the floor and crushed it into the size of a golf ball, tossing it into a trash bin as he exited the shop. He slowly floated back into the sky, and the sounds of Metropolis found his ears once again. He smiled. No one got hurt today.
--------------------------------------
Okay, let's set the tone...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EngKxF3Cqh4
Oh man, it feels like I'm the last kid on the block to get this fig! Adam's Indestructible Hero is a fantastic figure!
Superman is far overdue for a new look, seeing as the first, and only time Lego had made a Superman fig was from 2011. The planned N52 costume from The Lego Batman 3 video game never saw the light of day, and I was pretty bummed about that. So obviously when Phoenix Customs announced their figure based on Jim Lee's design, I would be an idiot not to buy one :P
This fig also came with a starched cape with an 'S' symbol printed on the back, but for artistic purposes I left it out, substituting a sponge-y cape to give this photo just a bit more fluidity with the invisible breeze I image when I look at these photos.
Also, thinking about it now, this could almost be a sister piece to Gotham in Red... flic.kr/p/FfLKRJ
Oh and like always, there is a bunch of cool bonus stuff over on my Patreon, including some different set-ups to the fig and the lightning, and a side by side comparison of the original photograph to the completed image you're seeing here :)
________________________________________________
If you think this photograph is worth at least a dollar, check out my Patreon to see early photography, behind the scenes images, and WIPs of upcoming projects!