{"id":2017208,"date":"2026-06-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2017208"},"modified":"2026-06-29T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T21:00:00","slug":"derrick-lin-plays-with-light-and-scale-in-emotive-photos-of-miniature-dioramas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2017208","title":{"rendered":"Derrick Lin Plays with Light and Scale in Emotive Photos of Miniature Dioramas"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-8.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a figure walking a gangplank onto a ship, carrying a small suitcase\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images \u00a9 Derrick Lin, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Derrick Lin Plays with Light and Scale in Emotive Photos of Miniature Dioramas<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-29T09:26:24-05:00\">June 29, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-craft\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/craft\/\" rel=\"tag\">Craft<\/a><a class=\"category-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/photography\/\" rel=\"tag\">Photography<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F06%2Fderrick-lin-miniature-diorama-nostalgia-photography%2F&amp;title=Derrick%20Lin%20Plays%20with%20Light%20and%20Scale%20in%20Emotive%20Photos%20of%20Miniature%20Dioramas\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"475417\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A figure carrying a small suitcase crosses the gangplank onto an ocean liner. A woman stands amid a city street, waiting for a tram. And a man in a fedora heads toward historic steps in what is perhaps a European city. Yet if you look a little closer, you\u2019ll see the roofs resemble milk cartons. The tram rolls in amid books stood on end. And in the distance beyond the docked ships\u2026 a giant coffee mug?<\/p>\n<p>Since 2013, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/marsder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Derrick Lin<\/a> has created miniature dioramas on his desk. Hand-painted figures inhabit settings constructed from cardboard and found objects, often with a nostalgic twist. And in a nod to the the tableaux\u2019s tiny characteristics, he playfully pops in references to the scale of the real world, hence the giant writing utensils and the ceramic mug that occasionally towers architectonically in the background.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475417\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-6.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a woman standing in a city made of books, waiting for a tram to arrive\" class=\"wp-image-475412\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Over time, Lin has tapped into a range of emotions and experiences from stress and loneliness in urban situations to the wonder of world exploration, the passing of time, grief, and more. Through cinematic lighting and figures that often look away from the viewer, we\u2019re transported into their experiences and encouraged by curiosity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI believe the thoughts and feelings we keep to ourselves are what truly shape us,\u201d Lin says. \u201cBy using miniature figures as a manifestation of those quiet thoughts and emotions I hesitate to express, I can magnify and spotlight\u00a0those emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>See more on Lin\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/marsder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-9.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475417\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-9.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a man on a phone in an airport, looking up at a giant coffee mug that appears part of the architecture\" class=\"wp-image-475415\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475417\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-5.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a man with a hat and rucksack walking through a European-looking street with buildikngs made from milk cartons\" class=\"wp-image-475411\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475417\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1537\" height=\"2049\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-1.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a man and a dog hiking up a hillside, with the rock steps made of books\" class=\"wp-image-475407\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475417\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-2.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a figure in a canoe, paddling down a river that is coated in dropped blossoms\" class=\"wp-image-475408\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-10.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475417\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-10.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a woman wearing a 1950s-era green dress, holding a handbag, and standing in red room\" class=\"wp-image-475416\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475417\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-7.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a man in a fedora seated in an empty ferry, looking out the window\" class=\"wp-image-475413\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475417\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-3.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a woman wearing towels, peering out of a large window in front of a huge pencil\" class=\"wp-image-475409\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-475417\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lin-4.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a miniature tableau by Derrick Lin of a man in a fedora standing inside of an architectural space, peering at a large pencil that is a centerpiece at a far wall\" class=\"wp-image-475410\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" 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article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All images \u00a9 Derrick Lin, shared with permission Derrick Lin Plays with Light and Scale in Emotive Photos of Miniature Dioramas June 29, 2026 CraftPhotography Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark A figure carrying a small suitcase crosses the gangplank onto an ocean liner. A woman stands amid a city street, waiting for a tram. And [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-2017208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2017208"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017208\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2017208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2017208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2017208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}