If you love LEGO, photography, and LEGO photography, I’m sure you’ve heard of Benedek Lampert by now. This young and creative photographer has created many impressive scenes with everyone’s favorite toy bricks, and his latest project will blow your mind. The Hungarian photographer has recreated the legendary Endurance expedition led by Ernest Shackleton in an amazing series of photos. Yes, of course – it was made using LEGO and practical effects. Through incredible attention to detail, Benedek tells the story of survival against impossible odds—and all in miniature.
The 1914 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition is one of the most dramatic tales of exploration. Shackleton and his crew set out to cross Antarctica, but their ship, the Endurance, got trapped in ice and was eventually crushed. With nowhere to go, the crew camped on the ice, struggled through harsh conditions, and eventually found refuge on Elephant Island. Shackleton’s daring rescue mission across the Southern Ocean saved them all—a true feat of endurance.
Benedek has brought this story to life using LEGO and his boundless creativity. Every scene in his photos is loaded with historical accuracy. He even removed the sails from the LEGO ship and added extra ropes to match the real Endurance. The icy landscape? That’s Styrofoam chunks dusted with powdered sugar. To complete the frozen atmosphere, Benedek used a fog machine to create the misty Antarctic vibe.
One of the most touching parts of Benedek’s project is how he highlights the sled dogs that were part of the expedition. “They died for the crew; without them, they might have never survived,” he says. This attention to detail and emotion makes the series truly special.
Benedek also recreated specific moments from the expedition, like the crew playing football on the ice to keep up their morale. I personally find this moment fascinating, as it shows the resilience of human psyche even in the toughest condition. And it’s not just this photo – the sense of storytelling in each image is incredible.
Building and shooting the project
As you can probably imagine, these photos weren’t just snapped in an afternoon. Benedek spent three days setting up the scenes, shooting, and editing (he didn’t mention how long the cleaning up lasted after all that Styrofoam and sugar). Using a Nikon D750 with a Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and a Laowa 15mm f/4 wide macro lens, he brought these LEGO characters to life. Post-processing included overlaying archival textures to give the images a vintage, frozen-in-time feel.
As always, Benedek creates a perfect mix of creativity and passion, adding a remarkable piece of history to the mix. He’s taken a monumental story and told it with LEGO figures – a great reminder of how photography can make history more accessible and make it come alive in a way.
If you’re into LEGO or photography (or both, like Benedek), this project is the perfect inspiration to try something creative yourself. Enjoy more of Benedek’s fantastic images below, and make sure to check out more of his work on his website, Instagram, Facebook page and YouTube channel.
