I took this a couple of months ago but never posted it.  I like the quiet winter morning view of the shoppers and various activities.

This is a very odd couple of drivers, but I hadn’t previously shown this carriage scene at the intersection of Pine and Main Streets.

In 1903 an automobile would have been  a rare sight in a small town,  with  horses and buggies being the main mode of transportation.   By 1910, you might have seen an equal number of automobiles on the road. 

I have been a little enchanted by the Matchbox “Models of Yesteryear” series, particularly the early 1900′s models.   I read quite a few comments online about using Matchbox cars in an HO Scale train layout, and some felt that if it looked OK, it was up to the “Creator.”  However, I couldn’t find a  photograph comparing similar vehicles in the HO (1/87) and Matchbox (usually 1/64) scales.  

I found a couple of c1911 Matchbox cars (albeit missing the front seats) for the cost of a hamburger and free shipping, so  I ordered them.    I didn’t expect them to work in Oak Valley, but I sure wish they had!    Clearly, I’ll have to tackle the boxed kits that I’ve had for years  to get my true HO scale motor cars.    I’m excited about the prospect but utterly intimidated by the project. Maybe, next Christmas?

 If you are visiting Oak Valley for the first time,  I hope you’ll take the time to check out the archived photographs. 

I started this blog in October (2011) to practice with my new camera, and have learned a lot about photographing HO scale .   For me, it’s been more about creating an ambience than  strict documentation of the subject.  I’m a skilled photo editor, but this was a new challenge for me.  I wish I could go back and swap out some of the original photographs, but that would be cheating.   Just consider that it has been, and continues to be,  a work in progress.

I took the first photo  in very low light (rainy day) with the village lights on, and the other with a combination of artificial lighting to look more like bright daylight.  This is a Woodland Scenics group, and I had to work on the clothing of the shoe shiners to make them fit with a vintage theme.  I wish the detail on the shoe shine box showed more in the photo, because it’s really nicely detailed with brass foot rests. I don’t know if it shows in the photos, but the customer on the right is holding a cup of coffee.  Nice touch!

Peace on Earth and Good Will To Men.    I couldn’t resist these last evening photographs on Christmas Eve.   I had the oil painting decades before the Christmas village, but always thought they looked lovely together.  On Christmas Day a new group of people will move to Oak Valley, so check back on December 25th! 

What is Christmas without carols?    Over time, I’m sure that Oak Valley’s newly formed choir will grow in members and audience, so the sidewalk may need to expand into a small plaza. 

This was difficult to photograph, being in the middle of the town and not getting much natural light.  I cannot get intimate views by using a tripod and zoom lens, so usually I set the camera on a small box or directly on the ground to get the closeups.   What I sacrifice is range, but I’m OK with that.  More than just documenting the figures and the scene, I prefer to create an atmosphere.

The one below was taken from the other side of the park.