The Art Of Still-life Photography.

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The Art Of Still-life Photography.

Thursday, December 4th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Still Life Photography is not an area that most photographers consider preferring to concentrate on landscape, portrait or action photography. But as an art form Still Life photography goes a lot further than simply shooting photos of bowls of fruit etc.

Still life photography is a study of light, shadows and shape, requiring a great deal of practice and experimentation before the photographer reaches any level of competency. That being said the challenge of getting it right and actually achieving it makes it worth while and the rewards can be spectacular..

There are many ways to approach still-life photography - the best and most used by professional photographers is to spend days in a studio, arranging and rearranging the set up until they get it perfect. This is what it takes to create perfect still-life portraits. With practice and a great deal of patience you will find your own unique way.

Most objects can form part of a still-life portrait. Objects from around the house or in the garden will make excellent still-life subjects.

Still-life photography is a great discipline for beginners. The equipment you need is very basic and you can start off photographing a bowl of fruit or a simple flower. A small studio can be assembled in a corner of a garage or bedroom, or on a fine calm day can be constructed outdoors. Some of the best still-life arrangements are quite simple to set up. The main rule to follow is to keep it simple. Placing too many objects in front of the camera will clutter the setting.

If you are interested in still-life photography try the following.

Set up your studio beside a window. First pick a simple background - a plain drape or lace makes a perfect background. Using a vase or bowl as the main subject can make for an attractive still-life image. Take some shots using the natural light from the window.

Take more pictures using low light - this can be morning or evening - place a reflector at the other side of the vase to soften the image and get rid of any harsh shadows.

Now compare the two sets of images. The difference between both images will be immense but tests like this will lead to creating a better eye and mastering the true art of still-life photography. The effort seems extreme but still-life photography requires a great deal of patience and practice. Trial and error will play an important part in developing a new skill.

The advertising industry relies heavily on Still Life images and once you have developed the skills this lucrative market will open up for you providing you with challenge in using your creativity which in turn will reap excellent reward.

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