Christmas in July

[xxlt]

Hello....I'm getting a early start on my Christmas card cover. How does it look? Maybe more props? All help Welcome! "as always" :)

bill from Ohio w/G3

http://www.boomspeed.com/xxlt/xmasinjuly.jpg

[GPR1]

The subject matter has potential, but the light doesn't work for me. It doesn't have any depth to it, and the white-painted middle strip loses all detail. In the Christmas theme, if there was a little snow hanging on all the top edges....

I do think the sled is a wonderful prop -- loads of character. Keep working it. I wouldn't add more props (other than the snow). I like the simplicity.

As a note, it could just be my display (on a laptop), but the whole picture looks a bit soft or out of focus.

[eland]

Bill

We don't have things like that here, and frankly I don't know what it is.
Looks like an ice sled of some kind.

However, as a composition, IMHO it needs some more work.

The object does not stand out clearly enough from
the background stack of wood.

One would need very shallow depth of field to make the object stand out more. That would mean moving it
forward away from the wood,

or
I think you would need to arrange for some more color contrast.
Maybe a more colorful foreground object or
drape it with red ribbons and green holly or something.

That is viewing it purely as a photo

Also I feel that the "thing" is rather too close to the top of the image. It's kinda rusty too.

Sorry if I've missed the whole point of this but no snow around here.

eland

[TimNYC24]

Bill, I love the old sled, nice purchase! I like your xmas photo, but I want to see the entire sled in the composition. It doesn't look christmasy yet, if you had snow on the logs and some on the sled you would have amuch better photo/card IMHO.
Nice beginning shot, good idea :)

[xxlt]

OK...lol...I'll re-shoot and this time use a tripod. I used the Canon wide angle lens. The next time I'll use the 52mm or 58mm. Glad I started Now...end of November is my target date for the finished photo. :)

bill from Ohio w/G3

[jasenh7]

I'm also feeling that the crop is too tight as well, I'd also like to see more of the sled.

Of course....that is a sled right? Like eland we don't see snow or sleds here in Texas so I can't be sure!!! :)