Xylophone

I'm working on a submission for a contest with the theme of Childhood. Thoughts? I'm wondering if the background is too distracting...

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/2959/xylophone.jpg

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I would say the background is too distracting. If you can, I would place it in a better place with a lot of toys in the background, out of focus. The xylophone looks great, just bad surroundings.

When I think of childhood, I think my eye wants to see less heavy shadows here. I'm with AT on the background, I don't find it's helping the image. i think the BKgd should compliment the image. maybe if the outside scene were the swings in a backyard...

Thanks for the feedback. Going to have to ponder placement a bit more. Out tiny apartment doesn't have the best light in many rooms so it's time to get creative I think… :)

I have to agree as well ... a childlike background of a colouring book or something else that screams childhood might help.