I received an email today with a series of GREAT PICTURES I wanted to share with you.
These photos are not so ordinary as it might appear at first glance.
The fact is that each and every shot is a part of a miniature world
carefully constructed and photographed
by the amazing artist Michael Paul Smith ...Hope you enjoy!!!!
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Wow, that is some amazing modeling!! Thanks for sharing the pictures!
Gene these models are truley a work of art. Thanks for yourcomments.
Shoot, another re-run.
May I assume these are combinations of models/dioramas that are posed in front of some real world features? (such as sky, phone lines, trees etc.)
Not that it lessens the skill and artistic ability, I was just wondering if two art forms were combined to create such stunning shots.
Anyone know the answer to that?
Greg
Vulcan thanks for the link about Michael Smith. I did not see the previous thread. He is a very realistic modler.
I thought the scenes were photo backdrops, or had been photo-shopped in. Taking the subject right to the real life backdrop, is too cool.
Remember, these are a larger size than "O" (in case you want to get these car models).
These photos are becoming the new 'German model railroad' posts....and I get them on the model train sites AND the model car sites!
The structures are works of art.....I agree. But the cars are all purchased die cast models.
And the fact no one is driving, walking or in any of the buildings kinda kreeps me out.
Also having built diormas in many scales cars and buildings are easy.....people....VERY hard!
Here is one of mine.......
Build the structures and the vehicles and add some people.....I'd be more impressed.
Joe Hohmann, Yes Joe you are right about the size. I think they are 1:24 but still VERY COOL. Thanks for your comments.
) Im pretty good but Im thinking "This mans work is magical" he has to be the best toy maker ever. Then it dawned on me! The picture! The hair, the beard, the eyes, the smile! Yep! Took me awhile, but Michael is Santa in his civilian disguise
. Thanks for those toys you built me "Mike"
.
I
Joe Hohmann, Yes Joe you are right about the size. I think they are 1:24 but still VERY COOL. Thanks for your comments.
There ARE 1:43 size models that could stand up to close-up photography, but the prices would start at $40. (Minichamps) to $70. (American Excellence).
) Im pretty good but Im thinking "This mans work is magical" he has to be the best toy maker ever. Then it dawned on me! The picture! The hair, the beard, the eyes, the smile! Yep! Took me awhile, but Michael is Santa in his civilian disguise. Thanks for those toys you built me "Mike".
I
Lol lol lol 
I had thought that Micheal Smith looked a little bit like or formie from down under(Dave Allen)
Model maker/collector and photographer Michael Paul Smith is a master at recreating incredibly accurate outdoor scenes using his extensive die-cast model car collection and forced perspective.
Mixing up miniature cars, detail items and buildings into a scene whose backdrop is the real world, he shoots the gorgeous miniature vistas of the town he has created and named “Elgin Park” — and he does it all with a cheap point-and-shoot.
Elgin Park is some 25 years in the making, as are Smith’s modeling and diorama photography skills. In an extensive interview with Fstoppers, he describes his tools, his process and the minute attention to detail that creating these scenes requires.
Ironically, Smith has diagnosed himself as “math challenged,” so when it comes to properly framing the forced perspective, he simply eyeballs it. Years of experience have led to an uncanny ability to do this right on the first shot, but if he doesn’t, he simply goes up and unceremoniously drags his table/models into the correct spot.
The most intriguing part of Smith’s creations, however, isn’t how insanely detailed these models are (some of the cars have seats that move on rails and glove compartments that open and close) or even the fascinating process that he goes through from idea to final product.
The most intriguing thing is that he does this entirely outdoors, using natural light and a 14-megapixel Canon SX280, which goes for about $250 online. Before the Canon he used a 12-megapixel Sony, and before that a 6-megapixel Sony that was actually his favorite because, get this, 14 megapixels is too much resolution.
“14 megapixels is almost too much for what I need to take convincing diorama shots. There is too much information being recorded which makes every little detail show up in the photographs,” he tells Fstoppers. “When working with miniatures, at least for myself, too much detail distracts from the total scene.”
Although he tends to self-deprecate a bit in the interview where his skills are concerned, don’t let him fool you. As his photography obviously shows, he’s very good at what he does. Whether it’s a high-school stadium parking lot scene, or a DART truck unloading a washer and dryer in a residential area, his miniatures really are quite stunning.
Here’s a look at more of what he’s put together over the years, with the behind-the-scenes photo first and the final product second:
One thing required is a camera with a really good depth of field, but it surely is amazing how well them turn out. Hollywood would be proud.
Lee you are right about that. Thanks for your comments.
Crafting scenes of iconic Americana
Like photographs pulled from an old shoebox in a dusty attic, Michael Paul Smith’s photostream is filled with images echoing warm memories of mid-twentieth century America. Many who view his photos of vintage cars and familiar buildings are often hit with nostalgia. That feeling, however, quickly leads to bewilderment upon learning the truth: Michael’s pictures aren’t real!
“When I tell people my photos are actually models — just little cars on a table that I’ve recreated — they’re shocked,” Michael tells The Weekly Flickr in the accompanying video. “It’s a great moment. I really do love it!”
Motivated by a fascination with the mid-twentieth century era and a desire to catalog the past, Michael set out to build and photograph fictional, miniaturized scenes from the 1950s.
![North Main Street - Elgin Park [circa 1930's ]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/9619634676_c832f77852_z.jpg)
“The ’50s and ’60s had a sense of hope about them,” Michael says. “Television had come in, new cars came out every year and everyone avidly looked at science fiction hoping to get a glimpse of what the future was going to be like. The future was tangible, and it just made it worth while getting up in the morning to see what was going to come down the pipe next. It was an amazing time.”
As a kid, Michael was an avid model car collector. He’s started out building cheap model cars and later advanced to diecasts and truck models. Over time, he became aware of how cars changed; this evolution fascinated him and piqued his interest even further.
One thing that people under 50 have a hard time imagining is the "new car introductions", especially in the '50s. Dealers would "soap-up" their windows (usually with whitewash or Glass Wax) before the new models arrived. Cars often would be delivered at night or under wraps. TV ads would run showing a fraction of a second "teaser" shot of the new model (like Dinah Shore for Chevy). Newspapers would announce the "big day", usually mid-October, and dealers would host a open house. Once that happened, everyone would now be driving a "old outdated" car.
Ahhh Joe those were the days."See the USA in your Chevolet"
Joe waiting for the new cars was a lot like waiting for Christmas....Wonder what it willlook like...OHHHH YEAHHH
Not that we could replicate his work and patience.
But it begs the question : what type of camera and
what type lens were used? Sometimes he's shooting across a
street and then sometimes into a box.
Floyd
I really like this fella's work. In the 5th photo down from the top the 57 Plymouth Fury with the gold grille and sides especially caught my eye several years ago when someone first posted Smith's photos here on the Forum. I had a 57 Ply years ago and although it was a similar 2 dr hardtop, it wasn't the Fury. At the time , I wasn't aware that these were 1:24 or whatever scale and had not seen a 57 Ply modeled before. I thought these shots were real!
My Dad and I eagerly awaited the new car introductions back then as mentioned above. We also loved the Desoto ads on Groucho Marx where they would drive up the inside of a ball stadium to top powered by a 'Firedome' Hemi...
C. SAM I like this guys pictures a lot. It reminds me of the time when I was growing up/ I rember thinking that when Chrysler did the 56 plymouth its outline was copied by Chev for their classic 57 chev.
When the new cars were coming out in the 50's it was a really big deal.
I also remember those commercials on Groucho's show. I always liked the push button drive demo when they would shift from drive to reverse and spin the car 280 degrees.
The other commercial where they used a fire hose to flood the car engine to show how it would not be stopped by water. Man those were the days ......
But we tend to forget that cars back then had a major problem...RUST. To make matters worse, it was later discovered that the "undercoating", that you paid extra for, actually made the undercarriage rust faster (once water got under the coating via a break or chip in it).
Other things we forget about "the old days"...frequent "flat tires" and steaming radiators (aka "overheating").
Yeah the mind does tend to keep us thinking on the postive side.
Hi at all,
I've seen the thread and I was speechless.
Could someone tell me where to buy old cars like those in the picture?
Any website, etc. Thanks in advance
Frank
In 1/43 (assume O gauger), many are Brooklin, others enhanced. If you wish to "specialize" in 1930-1940 autos, they are hard to find at reasonable prices. If you really like a car, pay the price. Dave G.
Hi at all,
I've seen the thread and I was speechless.
Could someone tell me where to buy old cars like those in the picture?
Any website, etc. Thanks in advance
Frank
Plan to spend LOTS of cash for those Brooklyn and other high end 1/43 die cast. I saw some online the other day....wanted them badly as the vehicles had never been modeled in scale before.....checked the prices and they all were in the $200-300 range....oh well....
frankitaly, Thanks for your comments and for digging the thread out of the past a bit.
dgauss, Thanks for Id ing these wonderful old cars.
AMCDave, thanks for help to place a potential cost on these old cars.
Many thanks to all for your comments.
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