People make a difference

In my opinion, sure they do. They gives us points at which we can identify and place ourselves into the experience of what the layout is memorializing. I don't think many of us simply relate to machinery or masonry. Each life, each layout, is a human journey, after all, isn't it.  It's personal.

What I find in all these posts and replies is ONLY 1 Thing...
GREAT realism as it is seen by the person building his or her layout. Realism is only as we see it at that moment. This is why we change scenery over time because our eyes stray in different directions as we build our dreams.

I for one love these forums because it shows us all that there are so many creative ideas running around in our minds. We all have differences of layout, design, gauge, and so on.

One thing we all agree on it is FUN !!!

Let us not stray from that most important point in Model Railroading.

Thanks to OGR and every forum member as I have learned so much here and will continue to learn and share my layout as it progreses.

Brian Eso

Nice positive philosophy, there, Brian Eso.

And this whole conversation, begun by TrainsRMe, has posed a further question I find myself ruminating over:

Is there a story if there are no people (figures of) present?

FrankM.

Frank, I suppose in the absence of figures, one has even more latitude to imagine a story.  Especially if there are man-made objects, as in your first two shots, the possibilities are just endless. 

Your third photo, especially, just blows me away:  Your scenery and weathering are so extraordinarily realistic that I would perceive it to be real nature if it weren't for the topic we are discussing.  Congratulations. 

Wow. Thank you very much, TrainsRMe, for your comments about that third photo. I have to admit, it is an especially pleasant experience when I receive approval on this forum of my work. You are very kind to do so and say what you did. Thanks again.

FrankM.

P.S. I really got to like crafting shallow-water vignettes using products from Jim Elster's Scenic Express.

There is a story here.............and a conversation.

That's incredible how it's work, imagination or body language?

here is another conversation.

And even the lighting is part of the story you are telling there, Andre, isn't it. Very nice, and spoken with clarity.

FrankM.

...and one open to several interpretations, I'd postulate. For example, if it's not Halloween, the costume/apparel of the female standing on the porch suggests...well.....a couple possible tales...all of which have an effect on how we view the situation the man finds himself facing.

I'll provide some context - the Lady of the House, the Grace L. Ferguson Home for Wayward Girls & Finishing School, has just returned home from a tour of the Subcontinent and has been interrupted in securing assistance moving her luggage.....

Apply some imagination and you can finish it from there....

People waiting for a train gives the impression that the railroad is making money.

We found that a few folks strategically placed added to the effect on ours.

There is a sunbather on the rocks to the right of the two in the boat in the pool

...more li'l folks doing stuff...

FrankM.

This is such a nice, pleasant thread, I thought I would add some more photos. I am recovering from surgery and now I get up in the middle of the night looking for "railroady" things to do. This is great.

Sometimes, just one or two figures is all it takes to tell a story. Sometimes, it is a story told in black and white since so much of our steam railroad history was told that way. I think several well placed figures made a 2D scene, 3D. Don't you think?

Surely, one of my favorite figures is that nefarious character on the corner right by Scherbear's ice cream. Is that his motorcycle?

Another favorite is the fellow sitting on the ledge of the water tower by Kaylas's Soap factory. He is easy to miss, but once you see him you gotta wonder . . . . does he know the fellow on the roof taking photos?

Lastly, as a city kid myself, is there anything better than a street corner scene. Ray's Music was one of my favorite structures on the Munoz Lines. Ginny and I both felt that when the lights went down, all those people . . . . . 

Very cool.

When it got dark, you would think all those people came to life, right?  Is that what you were going to say, Elliot?

"Hey Ray, this keyboard's got no action..."

George

Some scenes without people feel out of context, this would feel like the twilight zone without them. I look at the use of figures as simply another layer of detail. No different than buildings, trees or ground cover,  they can really detract when used to extreme. 

Having some more fun . . . . 

Agree. Everyone knows Annie and Clarabel are partial to Thomas!