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This Photographer Created A Mini Village And It Took Him 2 Years To Finish
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This Photographer Created A Mini Village And It Took Him 2 Years To Finish

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Ognyan Stefanov is an accomplished aviation photojournalist and graduate of the prestigious National Academy for Theater and Film Art in his native town of Sofia, Bulgaria. His award-winning aerial photographs have been featured at exhibitions and appeared in numerous global publications.

Stefanov has an impressive resume of roles including an official photographer for the Bulgarian Air Force and exclusive photographer to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. He achieved as much success with his work in miniature by winning scale modeling awards in featured competitions around the world.

More info: dthomasfineminiatures.com | Facebook | twitter.com | Instagram

Skyville is Stefanov’s first, original creation and represents a utopian village on a 1/87th scale

It’s a natural space, perched high in the sky

The city features lush gardens and jewel-toned landscapes with a community filled with homes, shops, a barn, and an apartment building.

Stefanov says: “I wanted to create a self-contained utopia where people have everything they need to live, surrounded by greenery and gardens and even a local inn offering traditional hospitality.”

Skyville is the perfect combination of cutting-edge architecture, fantasy art, and futuristic design on a small scale

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Large trees surround a hilly meadow at the base

It includes rock formations and a short footbridge over a narrow stream.

A tall, winding, and jagged truss extends up to the village

A number of unique structures are interconnected by a series of multi-level paths, pulleys, stairways, and bridges that join the various areas together.

The village is highlighted by a large main house

It features a dramatic pitched roof with modern, sharp-edged tiles and irregularly shaped windows.

Colorful flower beds with extending green vines fill window boxes

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They help soften the architecture while adding warmth and a sense of delight.

Each building and space is intricately designed to work together to carry the eye throughout the piece and provide a sense of discovery and wonder

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Tall trees in large pots hang precariously throughout the piece and create an interesting design element while complementing Stefanov’s concept of a self-contained environment.

The interiors of each building are highly detailed

A bedroom features a dressed wrought iron bed, an ornate hanging chandelier, and potted plants with blooming flowers.

Each figure in Skyville is placed with a strategic purpose

A farmer dressed in overalls with a toolbox in hand appears in the meadow on the lower platform, heading to work.

A system of water drainage pipes meanders throughout the structure

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They are crafted using photo-etched materials and designed using a number of weathering and aging techniques.

Skyville was mostly built from scratch

Crafted of wood stirrers and popsicle sticks, it took Mr. Stefanov more than 2 years to complete.

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Skyville is clearly Stefanov’s masterful achievement of art, architecture, and design

A small scale and a wonderful contribution to the scale modeling and miniatures world. Mr. Stefanov may be contacted directly for purchase inquiries.

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Darren Scala

Darren Scala

Author, Community member

Read more »

I'm an unapologetic miniaturist! I've been passionate about the tiny for as long as I could remember. I was inspired at an early age by watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood on television and fascinated by the tiny objects it featured. At 8 years old, I asked my father, a cabinet maker by trade, to build me a dollhouse. (This was not something a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, New York in the 1970's asked for!). With the love and acceptance of supportive parents, I was gifted a custom dollhouse which became the springboard for my lifelong love of miniatures and the drive to follow my passions without hesitation. After graduating from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, I received a degree in communications. A longstanding career with Revlon, Inc., the international consumer products giant, followed and then I founded D. Thomas Fine Miniatures, a retail store and gallery in the historic lower Hudson Valley, close to New York City, where I began selling quality scale works and curated exhibitions including BadAss Miniatures and Wee#Resist. I’ve always had a passion for miniatures. There is seduction in scale that ignites wonder. Miniatures truly capture the imagination and provide opportunity to dream, discover and explore. It has been my joy to create a space where I could introduce miniatures to the public and generate the same level of excitement I have for these pieces.​ Today, D. Thomas Fine Miniatures is the online destination for fine scale works via estate sales and auctions. I spend most of my time working with collectors and their families in the pursuit of finding new happy homes for their amazing miniatures. In addition to sharing my "History of Miniatures" presentation to libraries, clubs and organizations (live and virtually!), I host an online interview series “Meet The Miniaturist,” where viewers are introduced to and hear from miniaturists from all over the world. In 2020, I appeared as a contestant on The Biggest Little Christmas Showdown, a fierce tournament-style four-part HGTV series competition to build winning miniatures. The show was hosted by Tony Award® winning actor James Monroe Iglehart from Broadway's Aladdin and Hamilton and included a panel of judges including HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder, Dave Asling, best known for his work on "Welcome to Marwen," and June Clinkscales, a darling of the mini world. Winning teams advanced to the next round of this cheerful competition and in the final round, the top contenders crafted their most extravagant mini holiday houses ever! For the past several years, I have also curated an exhibition of holiday miniatures to decorate Nybelwyck Hall, the fantastical dollhouse on permanent view at the Hudson River Museum, in Yonkers, New York. In my free time, I am a mentor, wish grantor and speaker's bureau volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation Hudson Valley New York Chapter. I'm also an active volunteer and former trustee of IGMA, the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. Oh, and I make miniatures whenever I can!

Read less »
Darren Scala

Darren Scala

Author, Community member

I'm an unapologetic miniaturist! I've been passionate about the tiny for as long as I could remember. I was inspired at an early age by watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood on television and fascinated by the tiny objects it featured. At 8 years old, I asked my father, a cabinet maker by trade, to build me a dollhouse. (This was not something a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, New York in the 1970's asked for!). With the love and acceptance of supportive parents, I was gifted a custom dollhouse which became the springboard for my lifelong love of miniatures and the drive to follow my passions without hesitation. After graduating from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, I received a degree in communications. A longstanding career with Revlon, Inc., the international consumer products giant, followed and then I founded D. Thomas Fine Miniatures, a retail store and gallery in the historic lower Hudson Valley, close to New York City, where I began selling quality scale works and curated exhibitions including BadAss Miniatures and Wee#Resist. I’ve always had a passion for miniatures. There is seduction in scale that ignites wonder. Miniatures truly capture the imagination and provide opportunity to dream, discover and explore. It has been my joy to create a space where I could introduce miniatures to the public and generate the same level of excitement I have for these pieces.​ Today, D. Thomas Fine Miniatures is the online destination for fine scale works via estate sales and auctions. I spend most of my time working with collectors and their families in the pursuit of finding new happy homes for their amazing miniatures. In addition to sharing my "History of Miniatures" presentation to libraries, clubs and organizations (live and virtually!), I host an online interview series “Meet The Miniaturist,” where viewers are introduced to and hear from miniaturists from all over the world. In 2020, I appeared as a contestant on The Biggest Little Christmas Showdown, a fierce tournament-style four-part HGTV series competition to build winning miniatures. The show was hosted by Tony Award® winning actor James Monroe Iglehart from Broadway's Aladdin and Hamilton and included a panel of judges including HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder, Dave Asling, best known for his work on "Welcome to Marwen," and June Clinkscales, a darling of the mini world. Winning teams advanced to the next round of this cheerful competition and in the final round, the top contenders crafted their most extravagant mini holiday houses ever! For the past several years, I have also curated an exhibition of holiday miniatures to decorate Nybelwyck Hall, the fantastical dollhouse on permanent view at the Hudson River Museum, in Yonkers, New York. In my free time, I am a mentor, wish grantor and speaker's bureau volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation Hudson Valley New York Chapter. I'm also an active volunteer and former trustee of IGMA, the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. Oh, and I make miniatures whenever I can!

Aelita Senvaitytė

Aelita Senvaitytė

Moderator, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

My name is Aelita and I have been an Editor for Bored Panda since 2019. I spend my days working with my amazing team and making articles the best they can be. Fantasy and magic have always ruled over my world, from movies to TV shows, to Video Games to tabletop games like Dungeos and Dragons, I try to find magic in every part of my life. Writing is a big part of me too, I hope to publish a fantasy novel one day. I also enjoy playing guitar and singing, as music always help me to get in a great mood. I have an adorable German Shepherd named Hela and we get into all kinds of adventures together.

Read less »

Aelita Senvaitytė

Aelita Senvaitytė

Moderator, BoredPanda staff

My name is Aelita and I have been an Editor for Bored Panda since 2019. I spend my days working with my amazing team and making articles the best they can be. Fantasy and magic have always ruled over my world, from movies to TV shows, to Video Games to tabletop games like Dungeos and Dragons, I try to find magic in every part of my life. Writing is a big part of me too, I hope to publish a fantasy novel one day. I also enjoy playing guitar and singing, as music always help me to get in a great mood. I have an adorable German Shepherd named Hela and we get into all kinds of adventures together.

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hard2guesss avatar
Bender Bending Rodríguez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love miniatures and with this much detail this looks so amazing. Beautiful work.

stijn_vlas avatar
dwendele avatar
David
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. FAR too many posts tearing down the US. if I want to be pissed off by politics, I'll turn on CNN or open Facebook.

Load More Replies...
leannemariedantoni avatar
Agnes Jekyll
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SO beautiful. How gorgeous. What a place for a child's imagination to roam.

theroncarpenter avatar
Theron Carpenter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like It but I don't like the kid swinging by the edge I makes me scared. '-'

rylanstinson avatar
LunaMoon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had the same thought. If I were that kid my tropophobia would make me want to get the hell off that swing! But hey, everyone's different.

Load More Replies...
hard2guesss avatar
Bender Bending Rodríguez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love miniatures and with this much detail this looks so amazing. Beautiful work.

stijn_vlas avatar
dwendele avatar
David
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. FAR too many posts tearing down the US. if I want to be pissed off by politics, I'll turn on CNN or open Facebook.

Load More Replies...
leannemariedantoni avatar
Agnes Jekyll
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SO beautiful. How gorgeous. What a place for a child's imagination to roam.

theroncarpenter avatar
Theron Carpenter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like It but I don't like the kid swinging by the edge I makes me scared. '-'

rylanstinson avatar
LunaMoon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had the same thought. If I were that kid my tropophobia would make me want to get the hell off that swing! But hey, everyone's different.

Load More Replies...
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