These photos came about as a result of making my eChristmas card this year. The boss told the crew to go out and round up a Christmas tree. Well when you give LPP’s that much latitude the results are show.
Excellent idea hauling a big tree, Tom! May I also compliment you on very well executed scenery, as well as realistic looking modeling? You have put a lot of time in it, and are quite skilled in craftsmanship. I respect that in a man! Those "dead" trees in the back ground, is a detail quite often left out. More Brownie points! The telephone wires is another photo detail that makes for realism! At first glance the observer sees what appears to be a photo of a real scene in life! It looks "right" because of these little details we "expect to see", so our immediate attention is only drawn to "something out-of-place, or missing, or that doesn't quite look correct" some how. It is an excellent set of photos of this moment in time, from various angles. The focus is really good, far better than I can do, and better than a lot of photos I've seen, of models and dioramas! Your use as a Greeting Card illustration, struck a chord with me, so I studied the photos again with that in mind. (I worked at a company that made small booklets, motion displays, and Greeting cards, thus the interest, see?) I do NOT wish to criticize in any way at all. OK? Maybe just for future consideration for other members as well as myself, may I pass on some thoughts? My first thought is, I sure wish I had you down here to work on my layout! I'm afraid I've been down the track too many miles to finish it to run at 74 yrs. Can we compare notes? (I'll tell you where you are right, if you promise to tell me where I'm old fogy, OK?) OK! (Only one small suggestion....perhaps the choice of which photo to use, would be to consider the root ball of the tree and some timber to support the trunk on your flat car, in the first photo? Everything else looks so well done, (is what made this catch my eye). Maybe a couple of those small "square type" tooth picks painted light brown or left alone (so they stand out from the flat car bed color) That would draw the eye to notice this detail, see? So: Would you consider using a cotton ball lightly sprayed with a matching brownish black, (then dusted only on the top with white to represent new snow), that could hide the "plastic" tree root base? Make it look as real as the rest of the scene... Another method for close up photos, would be to pull up a small weed or grass root ball after soaking with water to loosen the tiny roots so they do not break off? When you find the right root ball that looks "scale" size, dry it, cut off the stem, and paint lightly to suit, and it will surprise you how real it will look! Temporarily attach it to this tree's base with a dab of rubber cement for another photo to compare the two photos only as far as the tree is concerned, see?) Why not move the people around in each photo, as people usually are doing something while you are taking photos of the "goings on"? One guy has turned around, another is moving back closer to the crane in subsequent photos, etc. These museum tricks might present you with the choice of using all the photos on a single card, if you wished. One possible combination on a single page so the page can be folded down from the top to bottom to make the "cover" shot; (which is actually printed up-side down on the back of the page). This would make the cover of the card. When you open the "cover" then, one sees your "Happy Holidays" message on the top half of the inside page, and one of the other photos on the bottom half of this page. When they fold the bottom up to close the card, they could see the third photo (which would be printed on the back of the page). Just thoughts........see? I'll crawl back in my cave.
Tom, Excellent! I don't know if you've seen our model railroading Christmas contest as well... Charlie
