A Town that Never Was

If my images make you long for simpler times, I know my work is done. Photograph/Michael Paul Smith

Experience the life and times of Elgin Park, as documented by its mayor and only resident, Michael Paul Smith.

My Assignment

• Description: To recreate the memories of my childhood and hometown.
• Duration: The project has been going on for the last ten years and will continue for a long time ahead.
• Notes: I was once asked by a famous French photographer about the lenses I use. When I told him I only use a compact camera, he just said two words, “You lie!”

Welcome to Elgin Park—a town that has been forever frozen in the mid-20th century. With quaint little shops and vintage cars dotting its various streets, this little town is a trip down nostalgia lane. Would you like to visit it? Sorry, don’t bother looking up Elgin Park on a map… because this place does not exist!

My Perspective
When I get inspired to make a photograph, it usually comes out of the blue. An image, a song or a random thought will trigger the creative urge. I then start looking at the model cars and trucks I have.
What era will best illustrate the scene? What time of day or season? And most importantly, what story do I want to tell? Then, my childhood memories come into play. Elgin Park does not exist, yet here is a visual treasure chest of emotions and memories—a distillation of what has already passed.

Only the building in the far distance is real… everything else is a model. The house and the garage are constructed of resin coated paper, basswood, plain paper and plastic. Photograph/Michael Paul Smith

The Process
The first thing I do is construct the scale buildings to showcase the miniature car collection I have. This can take a lot of time, as the attention to detail must be meticulous.

When photographing outdoors, I let the light direct me. I work with minimal equipment, and I don’t want to be burdened with reflectors and flash units.

This was one of my very first attempts at photographing my models outdoors. I had no idea if it was going to work out.

What is most important is perspective. You have to frame your image in a way that gives a semblance of scale. If you feel something is not looking right, perfect it and only then shoot.

What makes Elgin Park work is that many people from my generation relate to the warm, cozy feeling of childhood that it evokes. For others, it is a study of a town that just never was.

My Equipment
The only gear I use is my Canon PowerShot SX280 HS camera. I find it easier to use than a DSLR, as the depth of field of a compact camera is greater, and works better for photographing scale models. Rather than the equipment, what is more important for me is to see that everything in my image looks good and in place.

The glint from the signboard helped give this image an authentic feel. Photograph/Michael Paul Smith

Things to Keep in Mind When Photographing Miniatures

• Keep Everything in Scale: Have the camera at the same height of a person who might be part of the scene. For example, assuming a three-inch tall person would be part of the scene, keep your camera three inches off the ground.
• Play with Weather: You can create your own weather conditions. For example, snow can easily be created using talcum powder and salt.
• Be Steady: Use a good quality tripod to make sure the frame is balanced.

This photo has become known all around the world as The Giant Head. I made it because I wanted to show people how the scene was set up and what the size of the cars were. The snow on the road is, of course, created by me. This image still makes me laugh.

To view more images from Elgin Park, you can visit www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05

This article originally appeared in the May 2014 issue of Better Photography.