We have been having fun taking still life shots and learning about them. What does it takes to make a great still life photo?
From the last post we are working with some of the ELEMENTS listed below. But do you really have to worry about all these factors? We listed them to help stir some creativity so it is really up to you and your process. At this point we are not focusing on post production of the images, but it is fun to play around with post production to get an idea of how things look.
"If you had a teddy bear all your life and took a picture of it - looking at the image of the teddy bear would have a different meaning to you than most any onlooker. So ask others what they see..."
Since the theme is "Some Of Our Favorites" we invited our viewers to throw some images our way and here are some of the images that came our way. This one titled "Seasons Last Harvest" is from an "everyday sights" and is a beautiful splash of color.
Everyday Sometimes the everyday things in life are the best...
We like to take photos and study what the camera and lighting can and can not do. Ok, so what did the camera or lighting not do well at, and what did the camera and lighting not do well at? The LIMITATIONS are what we like to explore, follow and capitalize on. If your camera only does Black and White, take shots that great as subject matter for black and white photos. In other words, make the best of what you have, as that is a creative road you can follow and learn from. Most camera and lens combinations do some (few) things well. So do that - with your camera and that lens. Most lighting does some things well in a photographic way. So do that - with that lighting. Don't fight it, but roll with the punches as they say... Customize the shot to the camera and lighting rather than change the camera and lighting. And yes, change the camera and lighting when and if you can when that makes sense - but never let it be a road block.
Many photographers might say "set the camera for 'the look' you are going for." So what about that, what does that mean? "The look"? That is something relatively new to us, as we have tended to shoot for what the subject "is supposed to look like" - meaning what it looks like to the eye. Below we have some post production to bring about "the look".
So which image do you like best, what stands out to your eye, and what do you like and dislike?
1Choose a theme for your still life photos.
2Shoot some photos.
3Study what you like and dislike and what works and does not work.
4Try working with some of the different ELEMENTS listed above.
5Explore adding some new ELEMENTS that matter to your artistic eye.
6Work with your subjects over time.
7Work with the shot so it matches the cameras strengths and weaknesses.
For Further Study: Still Life.
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