Merry Christmas Charlie Brown - Christmas card critique

[mwatson]

Camera Pentax K10D
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/9.5
Focal Length 18 mm
ISO Speed 200

I know [American] Thanksgiving has yet to happen and I swear I am not one of these people that jump on the Christmas train in October, but I wanted to do a Christmas card this year and this is what I came up with.

The idea is not exactly original, given it was taken from Charles Schulz, but I thought it would make for a fun card nonetheless.

Since this was a take on a cartoon, I tried to not get too artsy with it, which is why I centered it. Also, I built the toy piano and left it open above the keys so I didn’t want that to show. I also wanted room at the top left or the centered bottom for text.

I was working with limited space so I had to keep it pretty tight in the frame. Does it feel cramped?

I was originally thinking of doing this on hardwood but as I live in South Florida, there is not much hardwood to be found, mostly tile. The largest space I have available for this shot was carpeted. Does the carpet take away from the picture?

I used two flashes on this shot. As you can tell they were at the typical 45 degrees from the point of focus. One was done with a shoot through umbrella and the other was diffused with a Gary Fond lightsphere. Are the shadows on the wall okay or should I retake a little further away from the wall?

I know these are a lot of questions, but since I am actually sending this out, I wanted to get as many thoughts as possible.

[PointNShoot]

Love it!

So would Schultz.

[ceremus]

I dig the concept.

I agree about the carpet, I'd like it better if it were a single color, but it's grainy and multicolored, and it seems distracting. Cover it with fabric maybe? I could see maybe shooting from a lower position to minimize it in the frame. Also yes, I do think a softer light would be nicer so the shadows cast from the tree aren't so harsh.

[RLucas]

This is great! I am a big Peanuts fan, and you did Schulz proud. The only nitpick I have is the tree. It's not sad and dinky enough. lol!

[scootermcq]

I like the concept.....

I'm curious.... you just had a miniature baby grand piano kicking around, so you asked yourself, "what the hell am I ever going to do with this?" and we are looking at the fruit of that thought process?

[mwatson]

Originally Posted by PointNShoot

Love it!

So would Schultz.

Thank you

Originally Posted by ceremus

I dig the concept.

I agree about the carpet, I'd like it better if it were a single color, but it's grainy and multicolored, and it seems distracting. Cover it with fabric maybe? I could see maybe shooting from a lower position to minimize it in the frame. Also yes, I do think a softer light would be nicer so the shadows cast from the tree aren't so harsh.

The sad thing is I don't know if I can reshoot. My talent (or as I call her, wife) was none-to-happy with this and it would take a Christmas Miracle to get her to do it again. Is there anyway to isolate the shadows from the trees in Lightroom or Photoshop and lighten them up a little?

Originally Posted by RLucas

This is great! I am a big Peanuts fan, and you did Schulz proud. The only nitpick I have is the tree. It's not sad and dinky enough. lol!

Walgreens had a single stem Charlie Brown tree but it was only four feet tall and I was stuck on the idea of placing it behind the piano. I just didn’t think it would look that good. I was also working of a still from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” that had Schroeder and Lucy in front of a proportionally sized tree. So I figured this tiny one I had in the back of storage would work.

Originally Posted by scootermcq

I like the concept.....

I'm curious.... you just had a miniature baby grand piano kicking around, so you asked yourself, "what the hell am I ever going to do with this?" and we are looking at the fruit of that thought process?

I actually built the piano for this picture. I had the idea back in September and was toying with the idea of building something or purchasing something. Building was much cheaper so I went for it.


Do I have a finished product or is there still a good bit of work needed?

[ceremus]

Originally Posted by mwatson

The sad thing is I don't know if I can reshoot. My talent (or as I call her, wife) was none-to-happy with this and it would take a Christmas Miracle to get her to do it again. Is there anyway to isolate the shadows from the trees in Lightroom or Photoshop and lighten them up a little?

Haha, awww. Well you can tell her you two look adorable anyway. And yeah, you can probably blend that shadow out well enough in PS.

[graciousness]

You built that little piano for this photo???

Man, talk about dedication to your craft! I love your passion.

Now I'd be really impressed if you had a real snoopy and a balding kid with yellow and black striped shirt playing as charlie brown.

Get back to work, then! Off you go!



Seriously, I think the photo is just a little underexposed. I think this comes down to personal taste, though, as I tend to like things a little brighter or with more contrast of shadows and light. I do find your photos in the darker (underexposed) side but I take it this is your style.

I think this photo could have improved taken at a lower angle (eye level with you).

What a concept, though. Love it.

Cheers,

G

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by mwatson

Is there anyway to isolate the shadows from the trees in Lightroom or Photoshop and lighten them up a little?


I actually built the piano for this picture. I had the idea back in September and was toying with the idea of building something or purchasing something. Building was much cheaper so I went for it.


Do I have a finished product or is there still a good bit of work needed?

I think it's great...

And Wow, there is dedication when you construct a piano....

To lighten the shadows, mask the tree & arm etc, to protect them and then use the clone stamp to paint out the shadows. This is a poor example, done in 2 minutes, but with the high res image and 5 minutes it could look great.

[mwatson]

Originally Posted by graciousness

Seriously, I think the photo is just a little underexposed. I think this comes down to personal taste, though, as I tend to like things a little brighter or with more contrast of shadows and light. I do find your photos in the darker (underexposed) side but I take it this is your style.

I think this photo could have improved taken at a lower angle (eye level with you).

What a concept, though. Love it.

Cheers,

G

I go through post and I adjust the exposure to the point I think it looks right but my histogram does not reflect what I am seeing. I think it is my computer screen. Everything seems to look great but when I take it to another computer it always seems too dark. I have been reading up on how to adjust my screen accordingly. I actually like things a little brighter than what they typically show up.

As always, thanks for the comment and help. I think I have a finished product, which is posted below, but if it does not print right, I am going to lower my point of view a little. I like the idea of a lower angle.

Originally Posted by scootermcq

I think it's great...

And Wow, there is dedication when you construct a piano....

To lighten the shadows, mask the tree & arm etc, to protect them and then use the clone stamp to paint out the shadows. This is a poor example, done in 2 minutes, but with the high res image and 5 minutes it could look great.

I went and read up on the process and when I started getting into it, it donned on me, clone stamp it out. I should have known better because I had to clone out a chair rail also.

So, I painstakingly went through and got rid of the shadows. It may be because it was so late but I think I am ready to print a sample.

Any thoughts on the text?