In the last issue we talked about taking wedding pictures that capture

the moment! In this issue we are going to go over some great still life

photography techniques.

 

There are many mediums to choose from in photography.  Often a

person will begin with still life photography and work their way towards

portraits, wildlife, or landscapes depending upon their interests.  Still

life photography teaches a person to use light and shadows to find the

emotion of the object.  Here I will discuss many different aspects of still

life pictures.

 

Still life expresses the photographers self while using in animate

objects such as pottery, flowers, candles, leaves, and fruit.  The first

step in still life photography is the lighting.  You will want the object to

have light from a single direction, so that you can cast shadows as well

as light on the object.  This will give it a depth of field, and dimension.

You will need to choose whether you want a soft or harsh light.  The

more harsh the light the more shadow you will have.  Often in still life

reflectors are used to tone the light down.  The best type of lighting for

still life photography is side- lighting because you will attain more

contrast between the object.

 

With still life photography, you have color control.  You can choose the

colors of the objects you use.  When choosing the colors say with

leaves and fruits you will want a contrast in colors, but retain a natural

look.  Harmony is the best word to use when attaining color control.

The color will attract the viewer’s eye, so if it is displeasing to you the

chances are your viewers will find it just as displeasing.

 

With still life, you can choose an abstract motif.  You may choose to put

two objects together that do not make sense, but create a moving

picture.  You might have an interesting cut on fruit, such as a melon to

reveal the inside core.  The angle of the cut and the meaning of the

picture will require thought from the viewer. Some viewers see different

from what another viewer might see. This happens in the art world daily.

What one thinks represents art another finds unappealing. Never let

these influence your dreams and stop you from becoming even better in

your work as a photographer.

 

You can also have control of variations.  You can use the same subject

repeatedly with different backgrounds, arrangements, and other

objects.  The key is to avoid clutter while creating contrast.  The rule of

thirds of composition is a great way to utilize still life objects.  You can

create a pattern based on the rule of thirds.  Setting up the

arrangements and trying several shots will lead you to finding the

harmony between the objects.

 

You may think still life photography lacks the depth of other mediums;

however, it can be used as a stepping-stone to greater photography.

Still life can include an arranged garden to please the eye or a natural

look.  You can use natural light to offset the shadows and find the

contrast.  Still life inside or outside creating the arrangements is just

one way to find pictures you will wish to display or give to friends.

Remember lighting, color, and variations on arrangements will provide

you will tons of subjects.

 

Applications for still life photography can include taking photographs for

magazines.  Often magazines have still life photos to show flower

arrangements or decorating ideas for the home.  With the many

choices in photography, still life takes a special eye for arranging

objects and understanding lighting techniques.

 

With all of photography being art you need to pick the subjects that will

speak most to you and make them speak to others. These types of

pictures go well when deciding to sell your photos or display them for

the public. All pictures whether you think it or not may be just what

someone wants to display and may offer to buy it. This helps you start a

real goldmine of a business if you feel confident with your work.

 

Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about

taking a professional landscape photograph.