Christmas in September

[Mike Buckley]

The company that I use to print my family's annual holiday card advertised a sale offering 25% off and free shipping, so I made this photo to be printed on the front of the card. My niece made about six Christmas trees last year when she was three years old and I liked them so much that I kept them to eventually photograph them. I selected these three trees yesterday and attached them to a piece of white poster board.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mike . Can't this be done with a coloured BG and FG ? IMO white is a bit distracting . I love the trees though

[Mike Buckley]

Sure, I could have used any color as the background and it would have been reflected in the foreground. I preferred the light look of the white background, though keep in mind that design is my biggest weakness by far when working in my makeshift studio.

[FootLoose]

If the theme is christmas, I think the white works well. It makes the scene look kind of misty / snowy, which, although it is not a part of our December, still connotes christmas

[Mike Buckley]

Interesting, Greg. I never made the connection between the white background and snow, not that I mind that you and perhaps others do.

[Kodiak]

…design is my biggest weakness by far when working in my makeshift studio.

What the hell are you doing to yourself?

What kind of thinking is that? If you accept as true such statement, you
are not giving yourself much of a chance!

Let's compare your situation and mine… just to explore the differences:
• We both have gear to shoot.
• We both have some kind of light sources.
• We both have a space in which to build a "temporary setup" for the shoot.

As I see it, we are at the same place when it comes to table top photography!

This previously posted shot was made at the client's restaurant, in daylight
by the windows, and set on a dinning table. More "makeshift studio" than
that… will kill you! The only limits one has are the limits one accepts for
oneself…

[Kodiak]

Christmas in September

The only problem with this shot is the background light is spilling and so
"washing" the colours and details at the bottom of the props… use flags!

Otherwise, colourful and quite well done… Good work from both the niece and you.

[ShaneS]

I love the concept Mike and know that your niece will be proud as punch to see her artwork displayed on your Christmas card for all to see.

Just out of curiosity, is the white spill light (as identified by Kodiak) or an intentional vignette that you added in post?

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone!

Shane is correct that the treatment Kodiak doesn't like is an intentional vignette added in post-processing. I like it. More important, my wife likes it (we all know how important it is to please the wife).

[Mike Buckley]

What kind of thinking is that? If you accept as true such statement, you
are not giving yourself much of a chance!

Your thoughts are very kind, Kodiak. My approach to everything is that it's important to be realistic and understand my weaknesses so I can make a point of improving upon them. Rather than being a limiting approach, it's exactly the opposite. It's just one way of going about things.

[chauncey]

design is my biggest weakness by far when working in my makeshift studio.

I can sympathize with Mike in this instance as my compositional abilities leave a lot to be desired and,
although the skills can be improved upon with practice, IMHO, the basic skillset is genetic in nature.

That image Mike, will mage for a great Christmas card...your niece will be ecstatic.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Chauncey! In my case, my design abilities would improve if I studied design. Unfortunately, I've never taken the time to do that.

You and Shane mentioned that my niece will be happy. My wife and I aren't parents so we have no familiarity with whether a four-year-old is likely to remember what she did when she was three. We're certain that her parents are going to like that the subject of the holiday card is the group of trees made by their daughter. We've decided that they will learn about it only when they receive the card in the mail.

[Kodiak]

…More important, my wife likes it (we all know how important it is to please the wife).

My lawyer convinced me that the main cause of divorce is marriage. You may
have revealed yet another! :-)

… the treatment Kodiak doesn't like

A negative vignetting is a strategy I never used as of yet, I did not and could
not guess it is a wanted effect since it is, for me—in my work— a situation
where flags would be used. Except for the amusing analogy to snow…

[vaez]

hi mike nice image and good reflex

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, vaez!

the main cause of divorce is marriage

Good one!

A negative vignetting is a strategy I never used as of yet

This is only the second time that I've used it. A particular kind of scene is required for the white vignette to be effective in my mind and I rarely photograph that kind of scene. In fact, the other time I used it was not even on my own photo. It was my wife's photo.

[ajsmith]

My first impression was that the background was snow and the reflection was on ice. Your niece is quite talented... good artwork for a three year old.

[NorthernFocus]

It does make for a nice Christmas card, Mike. And using the kids' creations makes it personal. Great idea.

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

Lovely image, and truly special. I adore seeing the things I created as a child (my Mom saved several of these) and I bet she will adore this, especially when she is older.

I love the white background, simple and it makes the image pop every so softly.

[terrib]

I think it is great that you thought to keep these for future use. The Christmas card idea is a good one. I like it and her parents will be thrilled!

[bnnrcn]

That's why you are good photographer Mike and that's why you are different from photographers who think that they are very good at shooting. Please keep doing so

BTW I like the snow idea, I have never thought about the image this way either

Your thoughts are very kind, Kodiak. My approach to everything is that it's important to be realistic and understand my weaknesses so I can make a point of improving upon them. Rather than being a limiting approach, it's exactly the opposite. It's just one way of going about things.