U.S. Marine Creates Star Wars Battle Scenes With Action Figures

Stormtroopers — (Photo: Matthew Callahan)

United Stated Marine Sgt. Matthew Callahan has taken up a hobby outside of war. The former infantryman found himself injured, a broken leg, during his first deployment to Afghanistan and recovering at Wounded Warrior Battalion-West’s Hawaii detachment. During Callahan’s time in Hawaii, he took up photography.

Currently a combat correspondent studying photojournalism at Syracuse University, Callahan decided to take to Instagram to share works of art involving his new hobby and Star Wars figures, each of which seem to tell their own story. The otherwise faceless Stormtroopers seem to be given more character in Callahan’s black and white photos than in any Star Wars film to date, unless of course they turn out to be Finn.

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His photo essay, titled Galactic Warfighters, can be found on his Instagram page, but we’ve piled up a few of our favorites below.

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

Portrait of a galactic war fighter: I think the longest I stayed put was about 10 or 11 days. The brush starts talking to you after a while. #starwars #toyphotography #sideshow #portrait #50cal #clonewars #Toyslagram_BEST_2015 #toyslagram

A photo posted by Matthew Callahan (@galactic_warfighters) on Dec 23, 2015 at 3:20pm 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

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

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

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

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

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