Elgin Park: Visual Memories of America from the 1920's to the mid 1960's at 1/24th Scale

Michael's books is a labour of love and quite clever. It's taken me time to go through it because there is so much to absorb in every photograph. The details that went into every project is mind boggling. I look forward to seeing more of Michael's work.

Michael Paul Smith is a master of models and time travel. Using models, he travels through time to take pictures from another era. The effect is truly amazing. In his new book, Elgin Park: The 1/24th Scale Creation of a Fictitious Mid-20th Century American Town, Smith takes us behind the scenes of his remarkable photographs.

Using his collection of die-cast model cars as the centerpiece of his photographs, Smith sets up scenes that evoke the mid-20th century. Using his hometown and current home in the Boston area as inspiration, Smith sometimes uses existing buildings, and sometimes builds detailed model buildings. The trick is trying to decipher which are real and which are models! He also peppers the scene with detailed miniatures. Using jewelry parts, found objects, wood cut precisely with an x-acto knife, and other materials, he constructs objects and scenes that fool even a careful eye.

Smith's trademark process is to place the cars and other buildings or objects on a board, set up on a card table, with the rest of the scene in the background a block or so away. The perspective trick is quite effective. In Elgin Park, he shows several examples of the final product and the set up, revealing his secret methods. Looking at the final product, it's hard to believe that it's in miniature.

Even though Smith does not include any people in his shots, every picture tells a story. In captions, he sets the scene, personalizing each picture. Elgin Park also includes his lively dialogues with fans who comment on his internet postings. I love how old-school Smith is. He does not photoshop his pictures. He makes all the miniatures by hand. He relies on around-the-house lighting and natural lighting. He claims not to know much about photography, using the camera's automatic settings ("I literally point and shoot.") But his wonderful eye and eye-catching details make the shots remarkable and memorable.

Since he takes many of his pictures around his neighborhood, his neighbors have become accustomed to see him. "I am now seen as the quirky old guy who photographs toys. . . ." More that just taking pictures of toys, Smith takes the viewer back to an admittedly idealized past, preserving and recalling a slice of life in America. The pictures are great, and the descriptions of his methods are fascinating. Elgin Park is a fun, interesting book.

Learn more about Smith at his site: http://www.visitelginpark.com/

Lots of photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05/

The publisher's web site: http://www.animalmediagroup.com/shop/elgin-park/

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

a visually stunning book. beautifully rendered. capturing both the sense of place growing in the mid west but the artists amazing (obssesive) attention to detail.

Elgin Park Visual Memories of Midcentury America at 1/24th Scale

What an amazing book. The attention to detail in the work itself and the passion this guy has for his craft is beyond measure. What started as a desire to recreate his family home has turned into not just a Tumblr sensation (with a lot of comments from the site - including conversations with the artist himself), but a full-scale world.

One of the more interesting parts of this book was the techniques, materials, photography tips and all the technical aspects of his work. It would be one thing to see just the photos and be amazed at the skill involved - it was another to read about how painstaking, time-consuming and utterly inspirational his work is.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of this book. It was a pleasure!

Well, the full title is actually Elgin Park: Virtual Memories of Midcentury America at 1/24th scale.

Michael Paul Smith Is the kind of person that makes you wonder why you aren't more productive with your time.

I mean, maybe Elgin Park won't change the world - but it does make you look at yourself and ask "am I doing anything creative and awe inspiring?"

This book is truly fascinating. It would be quite enough to see the amazing pictures that Mr. Smith has created of a model city at a 1/24th scale. But to look at the background, the setting up of each scene, and to get into his mind a bit makes the book well worth reading. The minutiae of putting together some of the models is really amazing (like using ear bud wires for large cables).

I was really surprised, but reader comments from the original Flickr account (where he posted these pictures) also added to the text. I thought they might be filler and take away from it, but I guess they did a good job in pulling comments that would add to the book. (Not least because Smith makes interesting responses to a lot of the comments.)

It almost makes me want to draw, model, and build my childhood home. Almost. I don't think I want to spend that much time with my childhood.

And putting a backstory to the pictures of the people in the town just make them that much more interesting. He has some flair for writing, too. On page 129:

Mimzi Cauldwell's 1936 Lincoln Zephyr, basking at the water's edge, has the appearance of some art deco amphibian that might at any moment glide gracefully into the river or quietly slip away through the underbrush. In the humid sunlight, the world is reflected and stretched along the vehicle's sensuous curves, and its color is enhanced in such a way that it resembles a ripe piece of fruit, ready to be picked.

Mimzi declared the automobile to be "the cat's pajamas." And who could argue with that?

Even the interview questions in the back round out the book. They are less interesting than the pictures themselves, but give fascinating insight to his background and inspiration.

I don't know the dimensions of this book, but it would make an excellent coffee table book. It's not really a book to be devoured in a single setting, but one to be absorbed over time.

I'll absolutely be purchasing this (and Michael Paul Smith's previous book too!) for a few friends who I know will love both the midcentury vibe and the behind the scenes parts.
The comments from Flickr viewers was a really nice touch!

I don’t even know how to begin to review this book. It is Five Stars times Five Stars to Infinity and Beyond. I have long been a fan of Michael Paul Smith’s work on Flickr and loved flipping through his first book, Elgin Park: An Ideal American Town. It is possible he has topped even that one.

Michael Paul Smith creates tiny little scenes, usually including model cars, and photographs them in a way that confounds the brain in trying to believe they are not real. The only way to understand what he does is to look him up on Flickr or find one of his books – and I recommend you do so immediately. This particular one is ideal and a winning choice no matter how you look at it.

I found myself not only holding my breath while looking through this book, but just being overwhelmed with the love that it took to create these scenes, and that Smith continues to exhude as his process continues. Because it does not end after he takes the picture and posts it. On Flickr, commenters help create imaginary stories around each scene, which Smith also adds to or creates his own. In this book he includes several commenters’ stories, comments and questions. Readers also add and/or photoshop their own pictures into the scenes, dressed for the occasion and participating in the action.

Reading through this book is a process:
1. Look at and take in the picture.
2. Appreciate it for the scene it creates.
3. Try to coordinate in your brain that this is not a real scene but one created by hand.
4. Read the comments and stories from Smith and other readers.
5. Turn the page and see how the scene was created.
6. Sit and wonder if you could do the same thing.
7. Take a closer look and realize no, no you can’t.
8. Put on a costume and start ‘shopping yourself into a scene.

The detail in these photos has to be seen to be believed. You can practically smell the rain in the wet streets. The lighting is gorgeous – just spectacular in most cases. There was one photo that included sun coming through a tiny chain link fence, creating a perfect shadow on the street – this is one of those tiny details that prevent your mind from accepting that this is 1/24 scale, and not full size.

Later in the book Smith shows how he made that fence, as well as many other details in the scenes. So many things are handcrafted just from small metal washers and spare earring parts. Interview questions are added throughout the book with several long sections included as well.

This book is for just about everyone:
Photographers Lovers of old cars Model train enthusiasts Doll house creaters People who love scenes from the past Crafters Make-it-yourselfers People who appreciate hard work People who appreciate perfection Curious and intelligent teens Any interested human being of any age

There are not just scenes of old buildings and beautiful cars, there are scenes with robots from outer space, and crashed flying saucers. Car and train crashes (with amusing stories to go with them all). Nostalgia and Americana. The photographs just fill your heart with wonder. You too will find your breath being held as you take in each scene.

This book is perfect as a gift – for ANYONE. And a perfect gift to yourself as well.

I was given access to an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – and this is about as honest as I can give: FIVE STARS.

[I included links to Elgin Park documentary and Smith's Flickr site]

What a remarkable person Michael is - his talent is truly amazing. Not only are the models fabulous but the perspective and effects in the photographs are works of art. With only an ordinary camera he is able to make photos come alive and one feels that we are right there in that street, in that age and sharing that memory. And it all started with his collection of miniature cars. Anyone that has any interest in photography should have a look at this book

Phenomenal creativity and talent! Mr. Smith just blows my mind.
You need to checkmout this book.

Michael Paul Smith is an artist who constructs and photographs open air dioramas of an imaginary town, based on memories of his boyhood home. He uses his own extensive collection of die cast model cars, beautifully constructed models (he has some architectural training), a good camera, and outdoor scenes for perspective. Fascinating for anyone who loves dollhouses, old cars, puzzles, or any kind of nostalgia. Oddly, the actual text of the book, written in third person rather than first and at times self-congratulatory (this may be the fault of his co-author) strikes a rather jarring note. Additionally, the quality of the images in the book is not as good as it could be, compared to the actual photos on Smith's Flickr page. Look past that, though. Smith's voice is there, in answers to questions, in descriptions of the images, and in tutorial information on how to construct these kinds of scenes. Recommended.

"...I'm just an old guy creating small things on my kitchen table."

I can honestly say that Michael Paul Smith is much more than that. This guy has so much talent, his creativity has no boundaries.

Elgin Park is a fictional town which was inspired by the neighbourhood Michael Paul Smith grew up in. Against the backdrop of his current neighbourhood, he uses his 300+ vintage diecast cars and modelled homes as characters in dioramas of Elgin Park. Edges between reality and fiction disappear when looking at these images.

MPS' recreated childhood home No Photoshop skills needed, as MPS 'only' uses his point-and-shoot camera on the automatic setting, to create these realistic scenes.

By posting his work on Flickr, he created yet another community; that of an online world with fans and followers. His art went viral, people flocked to his account, many became friends through the discussions that followed beneath the pictures (Clicking on the following images will take you directly to their Flickr pages).
MPS is also storyteller, most of the dioramas have an accompanying story in the captions. Fans engage in the discussions, some go as far by altering photos and adding themselves in it.

MPS' childhood home in the early stages of modeling the house.

There is this sense of an actual neighbourhood with luxury vintage cars parked outside.

And one of my favorites, as there are so many things going on. It is like the image is buzzing with activity, taken while waiting to cross the street. Cars going in several directions, the setting sun adding special touches to the surroundings...

What is even more special is all the detailed work he does to the modeling houses; furniture, wallpaper, tiling, everything he can think of. Whether or not they will be seen in the phographs, they are there.

This book is different from his previous book. While images might overlap, in this one he details about how it all started, the setups and locations of his shoots, how he creates his modeling houses (tools, materials, etc), even shares how he dirtens up the diecast cars or the ground of the dioramas to give them that realistic look.
So realistic, that there were questions where it was located, one visitor actually planned on taking a trip to Elgin Park.

It is easy to imagine yourself living in that era when seeing these images. Feeling right at home, even if you were not born then. This is MPS' strongest suit, he just knows how to bring back those nostalgic times.

I really enjoyed going through this book. So if you are into modeling houses, diecast cars, photography, or just in need of a good and artful coffee table book, this is one to take a closer look at.

image credits: all from Michael Paul Smith' Flickr account.

Review copy supplied by publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a rating and/or review.

If you have ever been on the internet, you have seen these photos, the seemingly vintage photos that are actually 1" to 1" scale, done by the very talented Michael Paul Smith. Some people would say "Oh, he must have a lot of time on his hands", but it is so much more than that. This is a heartfelt hobby, sure, but what a wonderful expression of creativity.

There is a saying that all people have only one desire, to make change, and that is either done through creation or destruction., Too many people opt for the destruction mode. To have someone work for months one a house that is so accurate down to the flooring, and the types of stairs is truely amazing.

This book gathers all the photos, including the set ups, so you can see how small the images are, and sometimes there a photos mid-construction.

When I was a child, I collected miniatures, but that is nothing on this.

I’m a child of the 50’s and as a young boy I loved gluing together Airfix models: aeroplanes and ships, mainly. Ok, I left out some of the fiddly bits and used way too much glue, but I’d slap some paint on them and in a dull light they didn’t look too bad. Then I’d add some figures from my soldier sets into the mix and a scene was created. Well, Michael Paul Smith has taken this simple idea to a whole new level! He creates and then photographs scenes from mid 20th Century America that are indistinguishable from the real thing. It’s spooky and it’s clever… and his collection of pictures is now a web sensation.

In this book, I got to learn how his hoard of diecast cars and trucks (now extending to over 300 items) inspired him to set up scenes to photograph them in what looked like a real 1940’s or 1950’s setting – i.e. in keeping with the vintage of the vehicles. He constructs the basic backdrop - model buildings, storefronts, window displays etc – and then adds the vehicles. Then the really clever bit: he uses real life scenes as a backdrop to his own creation. The results are amazing. The skill is not only in the care taken to build the models and put the scene together but also in the way he uses perspective in his photographs to cleverly scale the backdrop to fit his creation. You really have to see it to believe it.

All his diecast models are amazing replicas of the real vehicles with even the tyre treads being accurate representations. They are all 1/24th scale and therefore everything else has to fit this scale, even down to the dirt and snow he adds to the scenes. And he builds all of this in a small home kitchen using just a few rudimentary tools. One of my favourite pictures is a late night street scene he completed in 2004, where he’s pictured a car outside a store with snow on the ground. There is clear evidence of cars haven parked there before and then driven off. Everything looks spot on and I’d challenge anyone to identify that’s it not a real-life photo. The trick, I think, is in the way the whole thing is lit. It’s brilliant.

In answering questions about his life, Michael tells us that he’s held down many jobs but that his role as a museum display designer was the most helpful in helping him set and present his scenes. There is a Flickr photostream, a website dedicated to Michael’s creation of his fictional town, Elgin Park, and a great nine-minute video which if you’re the least bit interested in this idea you really must not miss. The whole thing surprised and delighted me.

I hadn't heard of this before but it was such an interesting project to read about. I admit, I skimmed a lot of the writing so I could focus on the photos.

Michael Paul Smith recreates, in 1/24 scale (1/2 inch = 12 inches), midwest houses, streets and life from the 1920s onward, including his own childhood home. He also provides instructions on how to build, how to create the right mood, and how to best photograph the scene. I am a miniatures collector and creator, and I have explored this world for most of my adult life. Elgin Park astounded me, it blew me away. This is a book to spend time with, to absorb one photo and one page at a time, and to keep around for years to come. I absolutely loved it!

These are incredibly absorbing photographs, recreating an idealised version of 1950's small town America.

What a cool concept! Michael Paul Smith creates all-too-realistic models of everyday life in a fictional town, modeled on his hometown, in 1950s America. The vintage imagery is very evocative. And the scenes that he can create are unbelievable, and a little surreal when you realize the scale and the illusion of what you're actually seeing. We're so used to everything being photoshopped beyond any believable reality and just accepting images that way, it's really unusual to see art like this - relying on old school photographic tricks of perception. Plus of course some very talented small-scale model making.

The commentary is delightful to read too. Would make a really neat and unique coffee table book!

In 'Elgin Park: Visual Memories of Midcentury America at 1/24th scale' by Michael Paul Smith and Gail K. Ellison, we meet a man who is a master at a hobby and how that has spawned a tremendous online following.

Elgin Park started as Michael Paul Smith's hobby. He has an extensive collection of diecast metal cars and he decided to photograph them. What he does with his photographs is what is remarkable. He takes the models outdoors and using the tricks of perspective, he shoots the cars as if they are on a street, or parked by a river. Adding to the illusion is his remarkable ability at making miniature structures. Some are facades and some are full buildings. He even made a model of his boyhood home. Along with this, he has created a narrative of a fictional town from long ago. The amazing trickery of his photography and the pure nostalgia are what draw people in the millions to his Flickr site from all over the world.

Along with the photos are pictures of his behind the scenes shots and some of comments by visitors to the site. It's amazing what he does with a cardboard table and no photoshop. And most of the perspective is done by him eyeballing the shot. His miniature skills are incredible and include details that often don't even show in the photos. The book concludes with an interview that has been pieced together from other interview sources.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Animal Media Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Apparently Michael Paul Smith doesn’t have a car, a TV, or a cell phone. What he does have is a terrific collection of diecast vehicles, mostly 1/24th scale. But his collection doesn’t just sit on the shelves gathering dust. Instead, Smith has created an imaginary mid-century American town, Elgin Park – he has built model streetscapes and buildings, added in his cars, and then photographed them. No Photoshopping or computer graphics – just a basic point-and-shoot camera. The results are nothing short of amazing. The photos are so realistic and lifelike that it is literally impossible to tell which elements in his photos are real and which are models. Although in a few cases, the crashed flying saucers, aliens, and space robots might provide a clue! To add to the fun, Smith often includes stories about what is going on in the diorama.

In this book, Smith takes readers behind the scenes and explains how he achieves his incredible illusions. Like a magician revealing his secrets, Smith explains how he builds his models, what materials and tools he uses, how he sets up his shots, and how he makes everything look so realistic. It’s a fascinating peek into the creative process and an invaluable manual for anyone interested in photography or creating dioramas.

Take the time to enjoy and absorb each photo – it’s totally worth it. Seriously, this book is a surreal and wonderful trip through time.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is a really cool book - perfect for a coffee table and slow browsing.

Smith uses diecast model cars and his own handmade miniatures to set up scenes that appear incredibly realistic - he takes advantage of perspective by photographing the models in front of real, life-size buildings/scenes.

His work is so incredibly detailed! He includes photos of a house where he detailed the exterior and interior completely to scale - it took 4 months to build. This piece in particular really inspired me to be more detailed when I eventually build my dream doll-house.

Smith is clearly very talented and I'm glad I got this chance to see not only the result of his work, but all of the behind-the-scenes photos and details.

The level of detail created by Michael Paul Smith is mind boggling. I have always been attracted to miniatures and dreamed of making my own house complete with furnishings and fixtures. This latest Elgin Park is a demonstration of commitment, pure talent and a wonderful desire to share the joy of loving what you do. Full Disclosure: I was allowed to read a copy of this book for free as a member of NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not influenced to give a positive review.

I have heard of Michael Paul Smith and his amazing photographs before so I was excited to read this. This book shows the work Michael does to build sets and create scenes. It also includes others who are joining in on the fun and visitors comments. The end results are always my favorite but I enjoyed seeing the behind the scene shots as well.

This book was part story, part history, part educational, and all amazing. The photos that are showed though the chapters create a story by just looking at them. And then the reader is shown how the photo was set up and you find out what is miniature and what isn't. The creator isn't shy about discussing how he created these different illusions and sets. What materials he used and how he made it all work. It also included some of the responses from others that followed the work online. They played into the stories that Mr. Smith created and he added on from there. It was a great working relationship. He also welcomed feedback and corrections graciously. Anyone that is interested in illusion type photography could learn a few things as well as anyone that would like to just reminisce about an era passed.

I am in shock and awe of what one man has done with a folding table, a toy car, and a doll house. This book is basically a behind the scenes look at how Michael Paul Smith builds his photography town of Elgin Park. What goes into making the houses and buildings. How he comes up with his backstory for the town. And a small introduction into the mind of a Photography Super Hero. Anyone who is into photography who sees this book will probably agree with me when I call him a Super Hero.

When I first saw this book I was thinking I was just going to get a book of photographs but I got so much more. I loved reading about how Michael Paul Smith came up with Elgin Park, how he builds his backdrops, how he twists a photo into a meaningful story.
I have a true love of photography.

I have well over 100,000 pictures on my hard drive I have taken myself but nothing like this. I see, I like, I take a picture of it. Michael Paul Smith see's with is imagination, takes a toy car from his vast collection, builds a house or building then goes out in the town he lives in to find the perfect backdrop for his photos. Whether it is a bridge, a set of trees, another building, or just in his driveway.

Michael Paul Smith has invented his own town called Elgin Park. He bases it on the town of Sewickley Pennsylvania, where he grew up.

Michael Paul Smith builds his own houses to 1/24 scale. He completely furnishes most of them all hand made mind you. He has thought of everything from the tiniest napkin holders in the diner to the tarps to cover cars.

His photos have no people but his captions added to each photo tells the story of the lives of the people in Elgin Park without their faces. Your minds eye can picture this town with people everywhere doing their day to day thing, shopping, working, kids playing, dogs barking whatever. It really makes you want to pack and move to this small imaginary town.

If you were to see these photos without knowing they were props you would think they were real life photo's taken in the 20's to the 60's when life was simpler. some of these photo's are taken on Michael's kitchen counter's but you would never know. Everything is done to scale. You cannot tell where reality and prop begin or end in the photo's. They look so real. This a a book I will be cherishing for years to come. I may even try some tips I learned in the book just to see what and if I can come anywhere near accomplishing even the tiniest bit of what Michael Paul Smith has.

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

This book is an amazing look at an amazing artist. Michael Paul Smith has done some beautiful and imaginative work creating Elgin Park. It is hard to believe that his photos are of models.

The book not only lets us take a look at these great photos, but it is filled with stories, behind-the-scenes info and tips.

A true inspiration for any hobbyist.

I loved the UFO crash and the use of Robby and B-9 in several of the images. Great fun.

After reading the book I had to go spend hours on his flickr stream to see even more.

It is a really interesting insight into how the author created his miniature photos

I have to start my review by saying that Elgin Park is the first book I read that combines photography and arts and crafts in such a unique way. Michael Paul Smith does an amazing job introducing a hobby that gained such a following the past few years and interests people all over the world.

Elgin Park is a fictional town built by Mr. Smith. A romantic at heart artist with so much talent and an affinity for true American nostalgia. This book contains amazing photos and all his efforts to built something so inspiring and majestic.

The photos are not processed or photoshopped, the scenes are directed perfectly and everything used is a hand-made. The feel of those decades is apparent even in the tiniest detail and the final product looks too real.


THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK

- Great for every car enthusiast.
- Or a photography buff...
- And even for lovers of the early 1900's to 1960's.
- You can also visit the Elgin Park here: http://www.visitelginpark.com

Elgin Park: Visual Memories of MidCentury America at 1/24th Scale is about a unique project created by Michael Paul Smith. He photographs "old-timey" model cars and handmade scenes to recreate childhood memories. These scenes are loosely based on the town of Sewickley, PA during the mid-1960's. This book is a behind the scenes look at where and how Mr. Smith creates these magical scenes. They look so real! He turned his hobby into preserving the past. "...represents a deep nostalgia for...the lost world of people's childhood and adolescence." Originally posted to his Flickr account, visitor comments are included which show just how much these scenes have impacted his audience. Captions contain dates, artist thoughts, and how-to information on what it took to create the shot. It is uncanny to look at the 1/24 scale models at the actual photo shoot and end photographs themselves. The attention to detail with minimal props is phenomenal! Additionally, he has added characters to each caption to build another layer of story without actually adding people to the photograph. "My photos are a one-frame story being told." This hasn't stopped fans from photoshopping themselves onto Elgin Park pics though! As a modeler, photographer, artist, storyteller, teacher, and friend, Michael Paul Smith has created a better world. As a bonus, you might spot Robby the Robot too!

ELGIN PARK is a fictional town created by photographer Michael Paul Smith through his photography. It is representative of midcentury America, but on a much smaller scale. The book takes readers through a guided tour of what made him begin shooting his photographs, to creating his Flickr account, to why the book was created. It's a collection of his followers commentary as much as it is of the photographs he's taken along the way, which only adds to the work, letting us all relate even more to it. As one quoted person says: "It's art, but art brought to ordinary people's emotional lives."

The book is not only visually impressive, watching how Smith creates his photographs using model cars against the backdrops of homes he's created, etc, so that it truly is life at 1/24th the normal size, but it's stimulating because you can see how his work evolved based on interactions with those who found his work interesting. Definitely a great conversational piece and would make an awesome coffee table book.

Fascinating look at Michael Paul Smith's Elgin Park photography series that was originally featured online. Smith makes composite picture in miniature that are set in the past (1920s to 1950's, primarily). It is especially interesting to see not only his images, but also the greater scene to understand the care and meticulous attention Smith gives to details in constructing his images.

While it wasn't what I expected from the description, I really enjoyed the pictures and details on the miniatures. Reminded me of visiting the Thorn Rooms.

I am a huge fan of miniatures and I was aware of Michael Paul Smith's work through his Flickr gallery and references online. This book combines wickedly creative jaw-dropping camera perspective tricks and fiddles to thoroughly fool the eye.

Comment after comment in the book and on his website says 'Come on, these are REAL aren't they'?! Most miniature and diorama work can be distinguished easily; something just looks a little bit off. Very rarely, the eye really is fooled into having to LOOK for that 'one little thing that isn't quite right'. These pictures, and I mean -every single one of them- is so perfect that when the camera angle is shifted to show the scale models as models, it's the out of place hand or plywood base in the shot that looks out of place. The cover is a good example. It's a scene out of 'The attack of the 50 foot tall man! (in 3D)'. The cars are real, the house is real, the man looks photoshopped in!

I will always be in awe of Michael Paul Smith's utter mastery of perspective and his model building expertise is mind-blowing. I have friends who are professional architects and they're in awe of his structure modeling too.

If the artist were only a gifted miniaturist, that might get old after a while. That's just not the case here. The photos have a definite narrative. They resonate. It's easy to set myself in the scene and imagine what the people in the house would be doing or how the Dr. would spend his scant weekend free time. The use of light and photography filters is virtuoso. He's a wizard and I fervently hope we continue to be allowed to enjoy his magic for many years to come.

Five supernova stars!

This is an extraordinary body of work, and a fascinating book.

Elgin Park is the exploration of memory and fantasy by Michael Paul Smith, using metal cars from the middle of last century, combined with his model making skills and real backdrops to create scenes of everyday life. All of this is done without Photoshop.

Smith uses a perspectival slight of hand to situate imagined scenes into real backdrops. He places each scene with a road, cars and buildings on a table, using the real backdrops to incorporate a background, weather and the broader environment into each scene. The cars are 1/24th scale so everything incorporated into the foreground must work with the same scale. It’s a cunning slight of hand that gives a sense of reality to what is a complete construction.

What is so remarkable is that even after seeing how Smith has set up a shot, there is a sense of reality in the work that encourages a more detailed viewing. It is as if Smith has captured the shot in the middle of some everyday scene playing out; someone has just ducked into a shop, or is in the front room practicing on the piano, or popped inside for a cuppa, leaving the ute in the driveway mid tire change.

It is this sense of story that is so captivating. It isn’t actually the technique, although that is fascinating technically, but the stories that create the idealized town from mid last century. It is part idealized memory combined with the fantasy of what a community could be, that reveals how far America has traveled from this ideal as a country.

The book has been really well produced. It has lush photographs, and explanations from Smith that are often accompanied by comments from his online followers. Many followers offer great insight into how the work affects them. It gives the book an extra dimension to what Smith does as an artist. So often an artist will create work in isolation, with little or no engagement or feedback prior to an exhibition. In this case, modern opportunities presented by social media allow a community to spring up around the work and the artist, offering a more complex and sophisticated examination of American culture.

I highly recommend this book, for artists, photographers, model makers and sociologists. I found it fascinating.

Reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

This was fascinating to me. I don't know much about model building besides the model trains that my cousin works on, so everything about this was interesting to me. I think my favorite part were the comments from others that accompanied each image. I didn't live during this time, but my parents did so I enjoy looking at how they grew up and the way things were when they were teens.

A beautifully told and illustrated text about a fascinating topic.

This title had been languishing on my NetGalley shelf for a few months, and I am very sorry that I waited so long to read it! My husband and I have been discussing putting together scenes using miniatures for some upcoming art projects, and this book could not have been more inspirational.

I'd never heard of Elgin Park or Michael Paul Smith prior to seeing this title listed on NetGalley, but the instant I started reading the description and Smith's initial motivation for creating his 1/24th scale scenes -- needing something to do with his collection of die-cast miniature cars (!!) -- I could relate. My home is awash in miniature figures of all sorts, and while Smith focuses on buildings, cars, and the outdoors rather than on scenes focused on people, they are very evocative. A car door might be open, a newspaper sitting out on a counter - evidence that someone has been there. Except that they haven't, because the photographs are of miniature scenes he has staged to feature his collection of die-cast cars, many of them replicating historical photographs.

You can see a lot of Michael Paul Smith's art on Flickr, along with adaptations made by fans who have inserted themselves or other objects into his scenes. The book is not only a lot of fun to look at, but a great resource for anyone who might be interested in undertaking a similar project, as he details the composition of a couple of his scenes and what he used to put them together as well as how he photographs them to get the best, most realistic results.

I received access to this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I remember seeing a piece on NBC Nightly News years ago - probably when the first book came out - and it's always been on my "to read" shelf as it is a little hard to find. So when this new book popped up in NetGalley I knew it was a must read! This one was quite interesting - presenting not only the finished photographs but much commentary on how he created each one, his techniques and the work involved and whatnot, as well as selected comments from Flickr from when the original photos were posted. Forced perspective is very cool, all around! I mostly enjoyed studying the pictures, but any budding modeler or photographer would love the explanations too.

I'm auto approved with Animal Media Group books on Netgalley. This was published June 2015. So, it is content you don't have to wait to access.



Though I didn't check to make sure it's easy to find to purchase. I checked it out to browse with my nephew. But wanted to write a quick review of the book.



It comes with background information, images and comments from visitors who have experienced the miniature creations.



It's entertaining enough. I will see what the nephew thinks tomorrow.

This book prints the masterpiece of a genius. Michael Paul recreates the nostalgic era with his creative work and the book illustrate it from creation to realization. Excellent book!

Unfortunately viewing this book in a pdf format on the screen does not give it justice. I would so love to view it properly as a hard back coffee table book. Something to pick up and devour at leisure in a comfy armchair.

However you can get the idea and there is stunning photography and art. This book is not just the photographs but the story and instructions about how some of the models were made. It's truly a work of art and I will be hunting down a proper hard copy to enjoy.

As it is a pdf I will mark 4/5 but I'm sure I would have no qualms with 5/5 for a hard copy.

Detailed, obsessive, beautiful. A great how-to on turning your private obsession into the light of day.

Elgin Park: Visual Memories of Midcentury America at 1/24th Scale by Michael Paul Smith is a Photography coffee table book, an arts & crafts book, and even a bit of a memoir all in one beautiful package.

This fictional place, Elgin Park, may have started as Smith's memory of his home town but has become many people's home town, even if they weren't alive at the time. The photographs, which has gained a large Flickr following, draws everyone in. Some are fascinated, some like to get lost in the realism of the images, and some simply find it hard to believe that these aren't real full-size automobiles and scenes without the use of Photoshop.

This book pulls aside the veil and shows the amazing work that goes into making these photographs. For readers, such as myself, who don't want to try to do something similar the details are still very interesting because this is a labor of love for Smith so looking at the detail work becomes a way of understanding him and his obsession. For readers who might like to try their hand at something similar, the ideas and tips, mostly through trial and error, will be very helpful. Before and after photos, for lack of a better term, also gives some indication for both kinds of readers of the need for trial and error as a planned part of the process. Finally, for those who simply enjoy the photographs, the prints are amazing, especially when juxtaposed with photographs that show the models outside of the scaled environment.

This book will appeal to a wide range of readers. If you see yourself as any one of the readers I mention above, I think you will love this book. It is beautiful, it includes some detail of the process, and it explains the love Smith has for the project, which ties it all together.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

This book reflects an interesting and unique project by artist Michael Paul Smith: he has created a fictional mid-century town. Using historically accurate car models (from the Franklin Mint and other sources), his own model buildings and roads, and his outdoor surroundings, he stages photographs that look remarkably real. It was especially interesting to see how he plays with the lighting in indoor and night scenes. Smith's photographs went viral on Flickr, creating a community of people who want to live in the imaginary world of Elgin Park. The authors have included some of the comments left on the photographs, but to me, these could have been skipped as the images and Michael's own explanations are compelling on their own.

In an interesting coincidence, I used to live in the next town over from where many of these photographs were taken, and have seen some of the featured buildings many times, so it was interesting to see them moonlighting in the dream world of Elgin Park!

I have several students who love to build models, so I plan to recommend this book to them as an example of how to share their work with a wider audience.