Still Life

Still Life Research

Still life photography means to take pictures of inanimate objects. These can be anything from natural items such as flowers, food and skulls to man made items such as make up, books and jewelry. It originated in the 17^th century and was used by ancient Romans to create there artistic pieces, mainly based on religious leaders or sacred animals etc. Still life gives the artist freedom to arrange objects into certain positions and freely use whichever item they need to its full potential, along with suited light settings and coloured backdrops. Many choose to paint there piece once arranged with pastels or paints, where as others take photos. Due to new modern advances on the camera, some still life photographers have found certain cameras enhance microscopic things such as particles and dust, which shows a crisp realistic photo. An example of this would be the one below by Dennis Pedersen of two makeup brushes colliding. There are also cameras which allow 3D effects too which again will catch the more modern artist’s eye. As every picture is almost 3D and is even more so at certain angles, the best example would be of a drawn sketch by Julius Guzy.

Still life photography is a required skill and very different from normal photography. This is because the artist makes the pictures rather than takes them. This means the scene in which the artist takes a picture of is already predetermined and makes it a picture instead of taking random pictures of wonderful elements. There are many types of lighting and techniques usually used during still life shoots, but here are three key ones…

1) Long exposure on interior objects etc. Never on a portrait of a person as it will be too light and blur the image

2) HMI (hydrarfryum Medium – Arc Iodide) which come in a wide range of light modifiers appropriate for still life due to its very low light output or vice versa

3) Flash is often used when shooting powders, liquids and steam being poured, thus giving the full effect as it falls in each detail.

Still Life Moodboards

Experimentation

For the experimentation of my work, i did a lot of work around fruit and nature like apples. For my first shoot on still life experimentation, i used decayed leaves and plants, a vintage trunk, two jars and a red and green apple. I then went on to cut out a heart in each apple and placed them the jar, with the hearts outside leaning on it. This shoot was extremely successful and i got some really great angles and shots. However these photos got deleted and i had to retake them as soon as possible. For my retake, i decided that i would use the jars and apples again as well as the trunk as i didn't have time to go and collect decaying plants and leafs. Whilst taking these images below i struggled to get the lighting perfect, as i had no time to use the studio and had to do it in my kitchen instead. To add a little more to my pictures i decided i would use a a knife and some of the apple cuttings from when i carved the hearts. I felt this would be a good idea as it was similar to the work of George Rustchev who places all his objects out neatly and then adds the dangerous man made element to it which has destroyed the nature. In my picture i felt the two piles of apple cuttings being placed so precisely added a frightful, planned and cunning effect to it as the way the knife and piles are places shows it has happened intentionally. This is a way that Georges work can be interpreted too, which will be shown further down in my photographer research. As you can see my images are poor quality and could be improved if i was in the studio. However, i did edit them on Photoshop and they do look a lot better, which is represented below. The brightness looks a lot better and image looks a lot better quality and to a near professional standard.

I very much like the angle if this image as it captures the definition apples in the jar and the hearts leaning on them. The only disadvantage of this images is of course the background showing the kitchen area where i took it. However, this can be easily adjusted in Photoshop so its not such a major issue. Another disadvantage is as the light wasn't to a professional standard, it ruins the image as it shines to much on the glass of the jar. Again this can be edited on Photoshop but would have been a lot stronger image if i had the facilities to take the images in. This image doesn't follow the rule of thirds either which an advantage as it adds more of an artistic flare to the image. There are also leading lines from the chest which direct the viewers attention up the corner of it and to the jars and hearts which are the key part to the image.

I have chose this image as it is one of the few that has a clearer focus, however it is still limited. The jars and cut outs against the knife allows the audience to play on the message of the image asking as it all looks positioned as if its trapping something from its heart which is in danger. I also like the way the camera is positioned as it shows a good perimeter of the chest without it taking the attention away from the jars. Again the leading lines on the chest divert our attention exactly where it needs to go- to the jars. It also breaks it up as it also leads to the knife which may be more in front of the image, but the jars are bigger diverting the attention straight
to them. This photo does work to the rule of thirds
but i feel it add more effect to the image as your
working your way up the chest to see it.

I like how closely zoomed this image is as it shows all the vintage and authentic the chest. I also like it as it slightly fades the knife and adds more focus to the jars and cut outs, however the knife is still visible and sharp to the eye as its so close to the camera. This image doesn't follow the rule of thirds, but yet it makes it ever so much more effective as you see more angles on the raised parts of the chest, as well as the curves around the back of the jar. Again there is a lot of exposure on the jars due to the lighting but it can hopefully be edited on Photoshop.

These two images are developments show the development from the first to the next. The first image i thought the composition was effective it showed the chest and jars just as i wanted them in the right lighting, but the camera was off and missed half the chest. Despite this and the background of the image, i still feel that the picture here shows great definition around the chest and defiantly shows its authentic features. There was also very little glare on the glass of the jar which is exactly what i was looking to get in the rest of the images. This again doesn't follow the rule of thirds as i feel the side angle makes the image look so much stronger. So,

i retook it and got the image below it. This was a lot better in terms of getting more of the objects in such as the fruit cuttings and chest. However there is a lot more glare on the glass of the jar in comparison to the first. There are still the same leading lines that lead up for the bottom of where the case is to the top where the jars are. On the other hand this photo is just out of the rule of thirds requirements, and is yet just as effective as the first.

This final picture is one of the best as it shows a lot of the chest, again showing all the key features of the image in focus. The glare on the jar is a lot less on the one with the green one in, however the one with red apple has a lot of glare. The leading lines from the chest lead straight up to the jars and hearts, but as the red heart cut out isn't on the line like some of the others above, you look for it as its not in your immediate eye line, further directing your attention to main parts of image. with Photoshop this photo could be improved but alone it is still a strong image.

Photoshop edited versions

To improve these images on Photoshop, i simply added a black background layer, and cut around the image so that it fit in perfectly with the black background. I then used the sharpen tool and turned its hardness up to 100. This made each element in the photo a lot more focused where as the ones before where slightly over exposed and unclear. However when doing it i realized if you over use the sharpness tool it ruins the image and makes it appear metal like as it scrapes through the object that you are sharpening. For example below, the red heart cut out doesn't look realistic and looks very poorly done. On the other hand the green cut out is exactly right, therefore i found the balance to what intensity i needed to use the sharpness tool at.

Still Life Photographers

Dennis Pederson

Dennis Pederson is a still life and creative product photographer whom has been creating amazing pieces for 20 years. His career in photography started in 1985 when Dennis was working as a builder and met with his friend, a famous celebrity photographer named Greg Gorman. Greg’s tales of his work and ideas inspired Dennis to quit his building job and to begin photography. He then was taken on by Jean Claude Volpeliere, a beauty and makeup photographer who gave him the opportunity to travel all over the world taking pictures for fashion magazines and beauty clients. This then drew to an end when Dennis was introduced still life photographer called Jon Stinger. He had such attention to detail and worked the lighting he had to improve the intensity and mood of all his pictures. Dennis later began to experiment with both his technical and photography skills, and used different things to take pictures of, for example liquids and powders. Today Dennis is the photographer on almost every UK leading fashion and beauty magazines as If you were to research Dennis Pederson, you would see that almost all his photos are beauty and makeup based however there are some other more digitally edited photos. Here are some photos of his work. As you can see he has picked up tricks and techniques from all the photographers he has met, like Jon Stinger. For example in many of his photos such as the two makeup brushes, he will use either a dark background with only a light shone from the front on to the object to see the particles and colours clash in such detail. He further uses microscopic lenses that show these particles fly as the brushes hit, which makes the photo look flawless. In other pictures he will use the items such as carrier bags and rubber gloves to and shine the light through or from a certain angle to show the object it creates or what’s inside

Irving Penn

Irving was an American photographer who is famous for his shoots on fashion, portraits and still life. His career involved him working at vogue magazine and other independent advertising work such as Clinique. He started his career by working for two years as a free-lance designer and making his first amateur photographs. He then came on to take art director Brodovitchs place Saks Fifth Avenue in 1940. After working there for a year and travelling around Mexico and the US taking photos, he then began his work in vogue and other companies who advertised his work. The still work he does shown below shows he as well as Dennis Pederson both manipulate the light they have. By the use of specific coloured back drops and direct and indirect lighting techniques, Irving creates more brighter pictures and barley uses a dark effect like Dennis did. However when he does use a darker back drop and setting, all the pictures have an old fashioned tint to them by having a dusky grey finish as shown below. As his photography skills progressed, his pictures show that once he used professional studios he could start angling his backdrops and other technical abilities to improve his shots. The main theme of his still life photos are fruit, food, bones, metal and found objects. Not only did Irving experiment with weird but wonderful objects to photograph, he also used many different printing techniques. For example, he printed on aluminium sheets coated with platinum emulsion to give the image a warmth undertone of silver.

George Rustchev

George is a bulgarian photographer who focuses on both still life and portraiture, both of which he produces amazing images for. He has enjoyed photography from a young age, when his father gave him an old praktica camera to have a go with. Since it allowed his imagination and skills to develop and amaze all. He uses a composition of warm and pleasant colours, sometimes vintage old fashioned looking backgrounds too, which in turn provides the photo with a story. Then mixing this with still life and his bizarre imagination warps his images even more. Each photo has a soft effect to it which makes the rougher objects in his images look so smooth when in reality they aren't, for example the bolts in the image furthest right of the mood board below. Many of his follow this opposite style to them where he presents natures soft fine and soothing objects with man made rough objects. For example the grapes in the clap tool shows that the man made object can crush and ruin the fruit which is fragile and weak in sense in comparison to the clamp. This certainly makes the viewer think of the message of some of his images and realize deeper into situations like how our man made elements are destroying natural environments etc.

Analysis Of Photographers

Dennis pederson

The first photo from Dennis Pederson i will analyse is the one shown below. I will be discussing all the key qualities and effects of this photo such as the perception, the balance, the texture and much more, that it delivers to its audience.

The first thing that caught my eye when i looked at this picture was the bag. Many elements of this photo create eye contact to the bag immediately For example the fact that the bag is blue in such a dark scenery makes it stand out instantly. Dennis then uses a light that shines through the bag which makes the bag a very luminous and shows detail in and on the bag. For example you can see the little water bubbles on the inside of the bag, that wouldn't be visible if there wasn't any light. It took me a while to notice the hook at the top of the photo as it doesn't seem a priority when the rest of the photo is so interesting and capturing. After first looking at the bag itself, i then began too look closer at the intricate details such as the water bubbles, stretching of the bag down the sides, then down towards the fish where even though its not in great focus or detail, it still looks wonderful and yet almost mysterious due to the faded effect of it. My eyes where then drawn to the water pouring out a small hole in the side of the bag which gave the photo a additional piece for people to look at. Again this isn't in much focus as the bag takes it all away from smaller elements, but the water falling still looks strong and beautiful. I found myself constantly readjusting my eye sight back to the bag due to its presence against the black background standing out so much. I then looked at the handle of the bag too see a hook was lifting the bag in the air. This image could convey a number of different emotions. One of which could be sadness as the hole in the bag means the water will eventually all pour out and that the fish will not be able to survive. However if you look deep enough, you could suggest another emotion could be felt. As the hook, water and fish shows more of a marine type aqua setting such as in the see, the plastic bag shows more or a materialistic piece of waste we have on land. If we put rubbish into the sea or in a lake etc, we are endangering their lives. The photo shows that putting a fish in a bag and then creating a hole, would be exactly the same as littering in lakes etc, thus causing realization to the viewer. It reflects and shows the power of the mix between elements of human art, such as materialistic objects and natures art, through the fish. This is definitely a weird and wonderful photo that will leave the person looking at it taking a while to understands the meaning and the aspect of it.

The background of this photo is used wisely to contrast well with both the lighting and the object its self, to get a crisp and clear image. Dennis used a plain black back drop that compliments the colour of the bag well with the light which is a less direct beam directly onto the bag. Furthermore with the use of light it can usually give the undesired effect of showing the texture of the backdrop making it look amateur like. However with direct thinning light doesn't give this effect to the photos and gives the photo strong definition. As there is only one key object in the photo, the perspective is unclear, but if there was to be other elements in the photo, they would be blurred due to all the focus being set on the bag and fish. This can be shown as the hook above holding the bag has no light and is slightly faded showing it has a shallow depth of field. The photo doesn't necessarily make it easy to establish if it is a positive or negative piece of work and it can be interpreted in many ways. If an individual saw it in the manner that waste is endangering fish's lives, it would be more of a negative space leaving no positive space at all. As the fish is determined to not survive due to the hole in the bag, it can only suggest a negative space. As i previously stated, the balance between the light and the elements in the shot are well contrasted and give crisp touch. In terms of the rule of thirds, this photo does consist of it as the bag is directly in the center of the photo and is symmetrical. This is used to give more impact to the photo and make the person look directly at it, and nothing in the background. It can be argued that this rule of thirds is not as strong as what others as its not in an exact lines 2 thirds of the way down, however it does hit the hot spots where the bag falls in the center.

This photo has implied lines in order to direct your eyesight to specific parts. Mainly, the line of direction of movement starts from the middle and moves down then up. This because there is nothing either side or in the far background for the viewers attention. The line goes from the bag, to the fish, to the water spurting out the hole at the bottom of the bag and back up. From there it goes to the handle and then to the hook holding the bag up. Even though there isn't much illusion or elements in the photo to add such specificity to the lines used, it still creates a powerful, urban and eye catching photo. As its all based in the center it adds emphasis to the photo that isn't taken away by other objects in the photo, as there is no to do so. There are some shadows on the bag where it looks like the light is shinning up on the bag but yet light the is centered to the middle of the bag. This gives a very effective touch to the bag and improves the quality and professionalism to it. As it is an unusual photo through using the bag, it provides a lot of texture such as bubbles on the bag and other quiet 3D effects adding dimension to the picture.

Irving Penn

The first place your eyes are drawn to is the cup in the center of the chess board. It then narrows down towards the different sized saucers, which layers your eye site down toward the two chess pieces either side. This then diverts to the chess board which could be suggested as leading lines towards the tea cup. The background is the last thing you see which has a lot of texture and is not an effect not many photographers do as photos commonly look stronger against a clear, immaculate backdrop.This could have been done to add to the dimensions and texture of the photo as all the objects are very bold against the flat sheet of paper with the chess board printed off. Even though they are all pieces that differ in size, they still play a big part within the photo as the way they are positioned make it hard to choose one particular pattern for your eyes to follow, leaving you almost readjust the trace of your eyes constantly. The backdrop and paper chess board make the website appear less classy more casual than if it where to be a plain black backdrop and a real chess board. This contrasts with the rich timeless effect of the tea cup plates and chess pieces. Even though the background just looks like a curtain, it looks like a special photography curtain, or a very expensive one with very silky material. Either way the actual curtain itsself contrasts the two points against each other. The leading lines in this image are mainly on the chess board as each row will lead you to a chess piece or the tea cup which are the areas of greater importance. I think the photographer did this as it will attract the viewers attention a lot more to the key elements, and misinterpret the rest of the image. When i first looked at the image my eyes where immediatly sent to the center of the image and i missed the fact that the chess board is infact just a piece of paper. Your also dont prioritise the fact there ia a lot of tabl shown behing the board and the condition of the curtain.

The emotional effect from this photo is hard to figure out as there isn't many objects in it that carry effects. However from this photo, i get emotions relating to intellect and obsession as everything is neat and clean. Its all in a particular order and objects show an effect of higher authority too. However, as everything else is so precise, the backdrop being creased and crinkled contrasts it and confuses the emotional effect given off. From this image the words classy and timeless come to mind as they are what effects and feelings the combination and choice of props give off. It is a very hidden message that i have interpreted about the image portraying the class difference, as i feel it says to the audience you don't have to use all posh and expensive equipment or props to make a good image. This is defiantly emphasized by the fact the image is black and white, which further more increases the timeless old fashioned feel to it. This image doesn't use the rule of thirds as it places the biggest object directly in the center of the page and not at the side or an angle. If it did follow the rule, the image wouldn't have had that classic layout of props and it would have allowed the viewer to realize the chess board and curtain instantly. Many analysis's will feel that this is a poor image and could be improved by just adding a plain black drop, removing the excess table and using a real chess board. I f this was the case then the image wouldn't be able to portray the message and the contrast of the resources and props, however i do feel it will improve the image and both versions would have been strong.

The different lengths of the creases and lines in the curtain contrast with the straight direct ones on the chess board making the image subconsciously slightly confusing and disorientating. As it is just in the background and isn't so direct in terms of where your attention first lies, it wont be an immediate recognition and may catch it out the corner of your eye. The contrast of the straight lines and different angles lines is that on the straight ones you get a sense of authority and direction which is relating more to the posher classy side of the image. Then on the other hand the different angled lines give a sense of urban, casual, cheap and little preparation as they are the complete opposite of the the straight ones. As the chess board is meant to be slightly raised and have a slight 3D shape, you realize eventually there is something not quiet right about the image. The cup and plates are more realistic and imaginable as there is a shadow, highlighting its shape and definitions which you would feel if you where to touch it.The use of two chess pieces equals out the parts in the image, and also links to the number of plates under the cup showing more of a sense of familiarity.

George Rustchev

At first on this image, your eyes are drawn immediately to the apple as its colour is the most outstanding against the rest of the image. You then notice the cross stitching that goes down the center in a curved line.The curved line gives a soothing relaxed feeling, even though the red coloured string and the fact it has been stitched together could symbolize danger and the complete opposite of what the line suggests. Your eyes follow the stitching down to where you see it gracefully positioned on the on the surface, then leading up to where it is attached to the needle. You then realize the needle is standing up by being pushed into the surface which makes the image look delicate despite the fact is the 'danger' of the image. The positioning of the apple is just of the center which allows your eye to be drawn across to the needle and string, so its not just all to your immediate eye. The colour of the string is bright and alarming which contrast very well with the apple being a pale green. The white cream surface also illuminates the colours of the apple and string so much more, especially as they all stand out so much from the background. The composition of the image makes you think why you would want to damage the fruit and have to stitch it up. It could be seen as natures art, but it shows it being damaged which could relate to a message the image is trying to portray. The shadow of the apple makes you imagine its size against the needle, that it is a lot more powerful, but yet has been ruined by something so dainty and small.

The vintage rustic background is the part that makes the image look more sinister, as all the other objects together tend to give off a more innocent effect, when the composition suggests the complete opposite.Your eyes almost just rest on the picture as you try to figure it out and establish how something so peculiar can be so natural. The lighting backdrop and colour compositions all create this subtle eye luring effect despite how peculiar the image actually is. The image is in great focus but is almost smoothed over so that it looks soft to touch. You can imagine what the curve in the apple feels like through seeing its arches and small shadows. When i saw the image i imagined pulling it apart to see what was being kept inside.The Red string keeps reinforcing the idea of danger but you almost ignore it because of the soothing curved lines and lighting etc.

Still life Response

For my still life response i decided i would use the work of Irving Penn where he placed his objects on a chessboard. I also decided i would add a few elements from George Rustchev who used apples and decaying matter in some of his images. To make this image more my own i decided i would add real teeth and insects that had been placed on pins and stick them into the apple. I chose this as it definitely made the photo weird but in a way you would still see it as quiet normal. This is because i added a candle stick in the apple, in which i melted so it was spread across different perimeters of the apple. I felt this would allow the audience to imagine the texture of everything not just the insects or tomato vine but the teeth and candle wax too. For this image i wanted the background to be quiet dark, mysterious and sinister which wouldn't have been fulfilled if i was to use a white background. A lot of these images don't follow the rule of thirds but yet i feel it makes them even more effective as they aren't in a 'normal' position, just like the content of the image. Every image has leading lines as the checkered squares on the chess board will always lead your eyes up to the key objects in the image. The tomato vine is also a leading like as it leads your eyes to the apple and then up and down the candle stick, across the curve of the apple and to the insects on pins, which could also be classed as a leading line.

I have chosen this image as it shows the selection of objects from a birds eye view so you see all the image. From here you can see every feature in such great focus which makes the image look so much stronger. This image doesn't follow the rule of thirds as the chess board is at an angle so therefore the rest of the objects aren't exactly in the grid where the rule of thirds would be placed. I think the photo still looks effective like this, yet it would be good to see it straighter which can be done on photo shop.

I have chosen this image as it is so focused and zoomed in to a good distance where you can see and imagine the texture of the bugs and the tomato vine. You can also imagine touching the apple where the wax lays and feeling how 3D it is off the apple. Again this doesn't follow the rule of thirds as it is just out of the center. I decided to see what the image was like with the candle lit, so below i tried it and i feel its definitely an improvement. i zoomed it in a litlle and just got the apple and a small fraction of the grape vine. In this you can see all of the textures so much more and the flame adds a bit of warmth to the chilling fact there are dead insects on the apple. Also the lighting makes the image appear a lot dark and gloomier, so the light from the candle and the tones of the apple diffuse it slightly.

In this image i got the right amount of chess board in, and was close enough to allow the viewers attention to start from the checkered lines in the chess board, and up to the main features. The rustic almost effect that has been placed on the image by the lighting makes it look more authentic, but yet still allows you to see all the textures and dimensions of things such as the teeth and each prickle on the bugs body. Of course there is room for improvement as the board isn't completely straight in the image, and it could be a lot more focused but it is still a very strong image. The one below was a retake where i tried to deepen the focus so you could see even more detail and defiantly achieved it. The darkness of the background certainly gives a darker gloomier effect which makes the image look so much better than it did in the one above. You can also see all the caves and arches in the teeth, as well as all the splatters of the tomatoes which adds more of a destructive element to the image. Again like in the ones above, the light defiantly adds warmth to such a dark image.

I chose this image as it is just as effective as the first image, but simply has the candle lit. I think both look very powerful, but the as the background is a lot darker and more mood setting in this image, there fore everything stands out a lot more and is more soothing to the eye, as everything looks a lot smoother due to its closer zoom.

For these two images, i wanted to try out what a really close shot would look like, so i zoomed closer to the bugs and the apple. As its from a low angle it looks like they are a lot more superior and are powerful. You can see a lot more of the significant features in the image such as the wings and the vine. This is just slightly to the left of the rule of thirds, and is at an angle that looks different to the others and makes the image stronger. I then tried it from a lower angle which was still a good image but yet not as effective. The lighting is a lot brighter and a little over exposed, however you can still see the definition on the bee and the vine of there distinct small delicate features. This one doesn't follow the rule of thirds which i see as a disadvantage as it blocks away the rotted tomatoes which in this case could have improved the image. On the other hand i still feel is very good composition.

This is one of the strongest images as it shows a section of all the features on the composition. The candle light is bright and stands out, brightening the weird, peculiar objects in the image. The texture of the apple is a lot stronger as you can see it on the chess board splattered which you can imagine touching and the heat of it. The teeth are only shown a little but are still effective as the ones you can see are in great focus and allow the viewer to imagine what they feel like and why their there. This image is just off the rule of thirds grid, but even still, your attention is drawn straight to where its meant to be.

Photoshop Edited Versions

In Photoshop, i used the eraser tool, the polygonal lasso tool, the sharpener tool and the burn tool. The thing i found most difficult when photo shopping these images was that i had to take extra care cutting around the tomato vine, yet keeping in all the prickles and textures that went with it. As you can see some of them still have these features which improve the look of the photo, however others have been poorly done and the vine looks to thin and not really there. On a lot of the images that didn't have focus i used the sharpen tool to intensify the look of the features on the insects and the vine, which worked quiet successfully.