• More More

Search

My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other
  • NEWS + FEATURES
  • VIDEO
  • FILMS
  • SERIES
  • INTERACTIVE
  • COMMUNITY
  • DATABANK
  • DISNEY+
  • More More
My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other

ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+

All

  • Andor
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Books + Comics
  • Characters + Histories
  • Collecting
  • Creativity
  • Disney Parks
  • Disney+
  • Events
  • Fans + Community
  • Films
  • Force For Change
  • Forces of Destiny
  • Galaxy of Adventures
  • Games + Apps
  • ILMxLAB
  • In Pop Culture
  • Interviews
  • LEGO Star Wars
  • Lucasfilm
  • Merchandise
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Opinions
  • Quizzes + Polls
  • Recipes
  • Rogue One
  • Solo
  • Star Wars Celebration
  • Star Wars Day
  • Star Wars Rebels
  • Star Wars Resistance
  • Television
  • The Bad Batch
  • The Book of Boba Fett
  • The Clone Wars
  • The Force Awakens
  • The High Republic
  • The Last Jedi
  • The Mandalorian
  • The Rise of Skywalker
  • The Star Wars Show
  • Visions
{:title=>"Fans + Community", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/fans-+-community"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

The Vibrant World of Brandon Jackson’s Star Wars Photography

October 13, 2020
October 13, 2020
Dan Brooks

The Star Wars fan, now featured on the digital series Our Star Wars Stories, talks to StarWars.com about his most-impressive work behind the lens.

When the pandemic hit earlier this year and much of the country went into lockdown, Brandon Jackson decided to make the most of the situation. Meaning, of course, he broke out his Star Wars action figures.

But not to play with.

“One thing I’d missed doing is taking photos of my figures,” Brandon, the focus of a new episode of Our Star Wars Stories, tells StarWars.com. “I set up the full studio in my garage. I broke out all the lights, backdrops, and got the smoke going, and tried to pose them as lifelike as possible.” The result is an atmospheric shot of Supreme Leader Snoke’s praetorian guards from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and as a return to one of his favorite hobbies, it stands as a personal favorite of the photographer. “It hits home.”

Brandon Jackson's Supreme Leader Snoke’s praetorian guards photography

The truth is, Brandon never expected to be a photographer -- amateur or professional. He picked up the hobby on a whim, simply by testing out a camera he bought for his wife. But Brandon enjoyed it so much that he soon invested in one for himself, shooting his Star Wars action figures and then moving onto cosplay portraiture. In the middle of his career in the Navy at the time, however, Brandon found that photography was more than just a creative outlet.

“Photography had started inspiring some real positive change in me, and the way I looked at life. Battling with PTSD for a very long time, everything was dark and gray and drab to me. I felt like I couldn’t see things in color anymore,” he says. “And as my photography evolved, my outlook on life had changed. Everything became a picture to me.”

Brandon Jackson's scout trooper photography Brandon Jackson's Rey photography

That literal new look on life is reflected in his often colorful, very much alive work. One can see it in his image of a stalking scout trooper figure, depicted as if in a forest, as the sun sets; and it’s there in his arresting portrait of fan Taylor Bailey, costuming as Rey, a blue glow everywhere.

Brandon Jackson's Leia photography Brandon Jackson's TIE fighter photography Brandon Jackson's Boba Fett figure photography

Today, Brandon has even begun shooting weddings, taking his hobby some place he never dreamed. But Star Wars photography still forms the heart of his work.

“I absolutely love Star Wars and I feel it should be shared to the world. Being able to create art through my photography makes me feel so a part of the Star Wars universe and fan community,” Brandon says. “My photography is one way I can bring joy to my community -- through the love of Star Wars.”

Discover Brandon’s complete story on Our Star Wars Stories.


Dan Brooks is Lucasfilm’s senior content strategist of online, the editor of StarWars.com, and a writer. He loves Star Wars, ELO, and the New York Rangers, Jets, and Yankees. Follow him on Twitter @dan_brooks where he rants about all these things.

Site tags: #StarWarsBlog, #OSWS

Interviews Our Star Wars Stories

Related Stories

  • {:title=>"The Bad Batch", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-bad-batch"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

    Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Dee Bradley Baker on the Return of Commander Cody – Exclusive

    January 13, 2023

    January 13, 2023

    Jan 13

  • {:title=>"Fans + Community", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/fans-+-community"}

    Happy Holidays from StarWars.com

    December 23, 2022

    December 23, 2022

    Dec 23

  • {:title=>"Games + Apps", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/games-+-apps"} {:title=>"Merchandise", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/merchandise"}

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Invades the Tabletop

    December 19, 2022

    December 19, 2022

    Dec 19

  • {:title=>"The High Republic", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-high-republic"} {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

    "Fragile Peace”: Exploring Phase II of Star Wars: The High Republic with the Newest Authors

    December 15, 2022

    December 15, 2022

    Dec 15

  • {:title=>"Games + Apps", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/games-+-apps"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

    Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: Cameron Monaghan on Cal Kestis’ Next Adventure

    December 9, 2022

    December 9, 2022

    Dec 9

  • {:title=>"Andor", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/andor"} {:title=>"Disney+", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney+"}

    Dressing the Galaxy: Designer Michael Wilkinson Defines the Look of Andor 's Costumes

    November 30, 2022

    November 30, 2022

    Nov 30

  • {:title=>"Andor", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/andor"} {:title=>"Behind the Scenes", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/behind-the-scenes"}

    Tony Gilroy Breaks Down Andor Season 1

    November 25, 2022

    November 25, 2022

    Nov 25

  • {:title=>"Andor", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/andor"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

    Andor’s Ben Bailey Smith on Playing Lieutenant Blevin and the Fun of Being Bad

    November 21, 2022

    November 21, 2022

    Nov 21

  • More From Star Wars:
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • SWKids
    • Terms of Use
    • Additional Content Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Children's Online Privacy Policy
    • Your California Privacy Rights
    • Star Wars at shopDisney
    • Star Wars Helpdesk
    • Interest-Based Ads
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved