Elgin Park

Smith, Michael Paul

Ellison, Gail K.

Pittsburgh, PA : Animal Media Group

At first glance, Smith’s work appeared to be wonderful photographs from a bygone era. The awe slips in as it becomes clear that he not only created the photographs – without using Photoshop – but also built everything in each scene, except the cars, which are die cast models, at 1/24th scale.
Smith also constructed much of what is barely visible in the photos: shoeboxes, furniture, branders for stage lights, a lawnmower, and even the gravel, snow and tire tracks in the snow are to scale.
Although the photographs are strong enough to stand alone as the main character of this delightful book, there’s another story: how a humble recluse who didn’t even own a car had created an online community – a global neighborhood of young and old, male and female, many asking the same question: How did this guy do this?

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

Arts & Photography

Ellison, Gail

Individual Artists

Animal Media Group

The imagined city of Elgin Park, a magically realistic evocation of a midcentury American town, has captured the hearts of millions of web visitors and now appears in book form. You won't find the town of Elgin Park on a map, but you will find it all over the web and in the media. Called an Internet phenomenon by the New York Times, Michael Paul Smith's Flickr site has received over 20 million hits since he first posted his convincing yet dreamlike photographs of an imaginary town, inspired by the small Pennsylvania one he grew up in. Viewers of all ages from across the world will respond to the memories and feelings evoked by his perfectly executed miniature street scenes with model vintage cars, which are photographed outdoors against actual backgrounds. Without digital manipulation, Smith creates wondrously realistic scenes, which are beautifully reproduced in this exquisite volume. Gail Ellison, a longtime colleague of the artist, explains Smith's ingenious methods and also uncovers the themes of his art.

Elgin Park: An Ideal American Town

Gail Ellison

Photography & Video

Prestel

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Books by Smith, Michael Paul