Star Wars Toy Photography Through The Lens Of A U.S. Marine

They are faceless men wielding guns, ready to carry out their commander’s orders. Whether in this galaxy or another, the Clone troopers storm into combat, the chaos of battle exploding down, their black and white armor standing out amongst the galactic battle raging around them.

h/t: slrlounge

#TBT Playing Jazz: Advanced recon commandos set up in an improvised firing position and begin firing down-range during a live-fire company attack drill on Hoth. #toyphotography #galacticwarfighters #clonewars #sniper #training #photooftheday #military

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Apr 28, 2016 at 10:05am PDT

Like a scene out of the latest Star Wars movie, U.S. Marine Matthew Callahan tells the stories of these toy soldiers in battle. As a combat correspondent, Callahan’s real job is to tell the stories of the men and women who serve in the military, but in this personal project, Galactic Warfighters, Callahan blends his love for Star Wars and his knowledge from his job to photograph sixth scale figurines, sometimes recreating the scenes he photographs in the Marine Corps.

Galactic Warfighters takes the Department of Defense Military Photographer of the Year competition! Thanks for following and believing in my sprawling photo essay, everyone! 1st place in the Illustrative category: "The Last Patrol," by Sgt. Matthew Callahan, USMC. Advanced Recon Commandos rush to cover after being ambushed by separatist forces. The troopers were conducting a security patrol outside their company forward operating base when the droid forces attacked. This image of 12-inch action figures is part of a larger photo essay telling the stories of the rank-and-file ground troops of the Star Wars universe through the lens of a combat correspondent. Conflict generally has been one of the biggest informants in the way pop culture creates stories. This photo essay, entitled "Galactic Warfighters" tethers the real and fictitious worlds more closely to each other. All elements of this image were captured in-camera. The image was converted to black and white with a contrast adjustment, sharpening and minor burning of the vignetted edges in post. (U.S. Marine Corps illustration by Sgt. Matthew Callahan/Released)

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Apr 19, 2016 at 1:14pm PDT

Different angle, Tactical Pause: Clone troopers rest against a bullet-ridden wall after returning from a foot patrol outside their forward operating base. They say sleep is a luxury rarely granted. They take it when they can get it. #galacticwarfighters #military #patrol #clonewars figures by @sideshowcollectibles

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Apr 18, 2016 at 7:38am PDT

Tactical Pause: Clone troopers rest against a bullet-ridden wall after returning from an 8-hour foot patrol outside their forward operating base. They say sleep is a luxury rarely granted. They take it when they can get it. #galacticwarfighters #starwars #rogueone #military #patrol #clonewars figures by @sideshowcollectibles

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Apr 17, 2016 at 1:14pm PDT

CASEVAC: Clone troopers rush a gravely wounded soldier to a casualty evacuation point at an undisclosed location. Republic gunships hovered over the troopers to provide close air support until the CASEVAC low altitude assault transport came on station. Advanced recon commandos were embedded with clones assigned to the 104th Bn. and are seen assisting in the evacuation. #galacticwarfighters #military #casevac #starwars #casualty figures by @sideshowcollectibles

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Apr 9, 2016 at 2:53pm PDT

Portrait of a Galactic Warfighter: Combat Load. #galacticwarfighters #portrait #macro #military

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Feb 25, 2016 at 6:44pm PST

Portrait of a Galactic Warfighter: We're the best of the best. When things get heavy, they wake us up. Aces in the hole. #galacticwarfighters #portrait #aces #starwars #clonewars

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Jan 23, 2016 at 10:29am PST

Fast Rope: Clone troopers with the 212th Attack Battalion conduct fast rope drills alongside the 501st battalion ahead of a six-month deployment to the Utapau system. The Battalion will be assigned to the 5th Republic Army Battle Group to conduct combat operations against separatist forces. #toyphotography #starwars #military #gunship #deployment #clonewars #galacticwarfighters

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Jan 17, 2016 at 12:28pm PST

Portrait of a clone commander. #toyphotography #starwars #clonewars #galacticwarfighters #portrait

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Jan 15, 2016 at 9:15pm PST

Playing Jazz: Advanced recon commandos set up in an improvised firing position and begin firing down-range during a live-fire company attack drill on Hoth. (Reshoot with my wife @golligabrielle assisting) #toyphotography #galacticwarfighters #clonewars #sniper #training #photooftheday #military #reshoot

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Jan 6, 2016 at 9:06am PST

The Long Grass: A clone trooper patrols with the rest of his squad through high brush on Felucia in the outer rim territories. #toyphotography #starwars #clonewars #galacticwarfighters

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Jan 4, 2016 at 5:33am PST

Second viewing, Backblast Area CLEAR!: Advanced Recon and Airborne Commandos fire a Mk 153 shoulder-fired multi-purpose assault weapon during joint weapons system familiarization training. The projectile explosive weapon is used to bust tanks and bunkers for light infantry. The troopers worked together as gunners and assistant gunners to get used to operating in the same environment together for future operations. #starwars #clonewars #toyphotography #SMAW #Marines #dyegb #specialforces

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Jan 2, 2016 at 7:50am PST

Second viewing, A Helping Hand: Advanced Reconnaissance Commandos make their way up a mountain to establish a looking/observing post for their battalion's forward operating base below. #starwars #lpop #toyphotography #arctroopers #sideshow #patrol

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Dec 28, 2015 at 2:07pm PST

Second viewing, The Last Patrol: Advanced Recon Commandos rush to cover after being ambushed by separatist forces. The troopers were conducting a security patrol outside their company forward operating base when the droid forces attacked. #starwars #toyphotography #clonewars #galacticwarfighters #sideshowtoys #Toyslagram_BEST_2015 #toyslagram

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Dec 27, 2015 at 9:26am PST

Behind The Scenes: Conventional effects are a must when I'm creating my imagery. For "The Last Patrol" frame, I enlisted the help of my best friend Sam and our friend Rachel. After I set up a tabletop scene using rocks, ash and pebbles, setting up the clones using galvanized wire, we used an air compressor blown into a big tub of ash while Sam threw pebbles from the other direction to create the chaos in the scene. My intent was to kick up enough dust so that I wouldn't have to digitally remove the galvanized wire in post production. It worked well. Hope this helps all you toy photographers out there. Thanks for following! #BTS #starwars #clonewars #behindthescenes #howto

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Dec 22, 2015 at 8:59am PST

Backblast Area CLEAR! Advanced Recon and Airborne Commandos fire a Mk 153 shoulder-fired multi-purpose assault weapon during joint weapons system familiarization training. The projectile explosive weapon is used to bust tanks and bunkers for light infantry. The troopers worked together as gunners and assistant gunners to get used to operating in the same environment together for future operations. #starwars #clonewars #toyphotography #SMAW #Marines #dyegb #specialforces #Toyslagram_BEST_2015 #toyslagram

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Dec 22, 2015 at 6:11am PST

Down Time: Clone troopers nap and play cards ahead of an operation to seize a Separatist droid factory. The troopers will often cozy up to anything they can find to rest their heads on when they get the chance. Most of them I spoke with agree sleep is a luxury amidst the constant fighting they do on the ground deployed across dozens of systems. #toyphotography #starwars #clonewars #downtime #marines #deployment

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Dec 4, 2015 at 1:12pm PST

He's giving me that "you-don't-rate-POG" look again. Portrait by David Salinitri (@bigsalnation) Figure by @sideshowcollectibles #starwars #portrait #toyphotography #me

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Nov 30, 2015 at 8:07pm PST

Impact: A clone trooper braces himself behind a wall as debris and dust envelopes his surroundings after a republic cruiser crash-lands several kilometers from his position. #starwars #toyphotography #clonetrooper #clonewars #debris #incamera #combat

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Nov 29, 2015 at 8:53pm PST

Stack Up 2: Advanced recon commandos stack up on a compound wall and make entry to eliminate a suspected Seperstist intelligence cell in Mos Eisley, Tatooine. #starwars #toyphotography #clones #clonewars #military #infantryman #toystagram #sideshowcollectibles #toyslagram

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Nov 28, 2015 at 2:30pm PST

A recreation of an iconic image made by combat photographer Lucian Read out the battle of Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. 1st Sgt. Bradley Kasal being carried by his Marines out of the "Hell House." #marines #starwars #toyphotography #usmc #fallujah #iraq #clonewars

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Nov 28, 2015 at 6:12am PST

The Long Grass: Clone troopers conduct a security patrol outside their forward operating base. #starwars #toyphotography #clonewars #blackandwhite #bw

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Nov 28, 2015 at 6:11am PST

Clone troopers with Whiskey Company, 104th Battalion, 4th Infantry Division call sign "Wolfpack," conduct a security patrol through dense vegetation as part of a push to deter enemy movement in their area of operation. #toyphotography #starwars #sideshowcollectibles #wolffe #104th #motivation #marines #usmc

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Nov 22, 2015 at 8:17am PST

Cover #toyphotography #starwars #wolffe #theclonewars #contact

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Nov 21, 2015 at 7:36am PST

Take cover: A Clone Commander takes cover as enemy sniper fire grazes his position. #starwars #toyphotography #clonetrooper #contact #wolffe #military #EBR #clonewars

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Nov 20, 2015 at 5:13pm PST

Clone Commander Wolffe drags a wounded clone out of a kill zone after being ambushed by separatist forces. #starwars #toyphotography #wolffe #clonetrooper #action #killzone #wounded #toyslagram #toys #sideshowcollectibles

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Nov 20, 2015 at 9:34am PST