Still life — in all its forms from simplistic folk art and the masters of old — has always captured everyday items and given a … Don’t get carried away trying to craft scenes with many different objects (or food) and materials. One such device is the Smart Camera Trigger from MIOPS. The one for the floor stage (50×70 cm) is resting on a coffee table. For splashes, it's even truer. It can be minimalist and simple, containing only key objects arranged in a well-thought composition.…, Adding some movement in food photography is always a great idea! All still-life pictures require a background of some sort. The props used to fill the scene were a used roll of 120 film and my favourite hat. Secondly, the extremely shallow depth of field will let you create a very specific point of focus, such as focusing on a particular part of your subject. Be patient. A dark grey plate was used to display a single white praline decorated with caramel. It is the kind of photography that gives the photographer the freedom to set up the subject in a manner he wants. Softboxes are another important piece of lighting equipment. Then check out our 7 tips on how to photograph still lifes. That makes it a great genre to experiment with and it can help you become a better photographer. By having an off-camera flash or strobe to light the scene, you won’t have to rely on natural light from a window. Check out these guides! My favourites are old Converse All-Stars and leather shoes because of the texture. Light reflectors are one of the most affordable and easiest ways to start taking better photos. These tips will help you avoid the most common pitfalls, so keep them in mind when you’re planning out your first still life photo shoot! Tabletop photography is the most common type of still life. the Olympus OM-D EM-1 with the latest firm update). Note that I use those lenses on an m4/3 camera, with a crop factor for the sensor of 2x. Still life photography is probably one of the oldest and most attempted types of photography in the history of man. Use a remote shutter or the self-timer, to avoid camera shaking. When shooting still life you need to spend more time looking at the details and light. Want to learn more about different photography styles? Just a few ideas include leaves, tools, moldy food, a melting popsicle, and the surface of oil and water. Overcast days are the best since the sky will act as a huge softbox. Still life is all about perfection (even messy setups should be carefully staged) and nothing should be left unchecked. They are also pretty easy to get your hands on. The nature of a macro lens is that we are closer than usual shooting smaller subjects. Key light: a window to the left of the scene, Fill light: circular reflector on the right of the scene, Lens: Olympus Zuiko OM 50 f/1.4  (equivalent to a 100mm lens on full-frame), Accessories: tripod and a +2 close up lens, White 100x70cm cardboard as background and white 50x70cm cardboard as stage, Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-10 Micro Four-Thirds camera, Accessories: tripod and a +3 close up lens, Black (matte) 100x70cm cardboard as background and black (glossy) 50x70cm cardboard as stage, Key light: iPhone 5S running the pro version of the, Fill light: circular reflector on the front right of the scene, Lens: Sigma Art 30mm f/1.4 DN  (equivalent to a 60mm lens on full-frame), Accessories: tripod, light stand (a simple, Light source: flashgun Metz 48 AF-1 digital in manual mode, output power set to 1/16, Light modifier: circular reflector, softbox, Key light: flashgun on the right side of the scene, a couple of meters away, Fill light: circular reflector on the left of the scene. Plan out your shoot. Experiment with the light. It is most suitable for food photos and small scenes. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. When compared to just about any other type of photography, still life offers more control over the scene. Now you know what still life photography is and some of the techniques that will help you succeed at it. For instance, you’ll probably be shooting indoors and be able to take your time setting up the scene and adjusting the lighting. It is best to avoid windows exposed to direct sunlight because of the harsh light that will land on your set. As the photographer challenge yourself to capture an object or scene to show someone a different way to look at it. The closest lens available equivalent to the human eye is a 50 mm lens. It’s what most people think of when they hear about still life photography. This wireless trigger is handy when using artificial lighting, such as flashguns, speedlights, or light strobes. This is a classic setup in food photography. I then decided to crop the image in square format, with the subject off-centre. The color, direction, angle, and balance of light/ shadow are critical components in composing your still life image. By taking commonplace objects and turning them into interesting works of art, still life photography is the perfect way to show potential clients what you are capable of. ... Not one season passes without my shooting a still life with sunflowers. But even when you’re familiar with the concept, you might not know exactly what makes a still life a still life. Still life photography, more so than other types of Photography, such as landscape or portraiture, gives the photographer more leeway in the arrangement of design elements within a composition. Still life photography depicts inanimate subject matter and has creative arrangement of things. Still life photography works well for longer exposures, allowing you to use a really subtle light source, such as single candle. Think about the objects you’re going to use, some different ways you can arrange them, what type of lighting you’ll use, and what mood you want to achieve. Instead, I want to show you what you can do with cheap and basic equipment in four case studies. 'RealPlayer.RealPlayer(tm) ActiveX Control (32-bit)', So it’s worthwhile to spend a little time planning out the type of image you’re aiming for and brainstorming some still life photography ideas. For example, consider the photo below: a bird’s eye view on some of the finest Belgian pralines. Still life photography isn’t very demanding when it comes to your choice of cameras. Photographer claims he witnessed a group of TikTokers removing the now-famous Utah monolith Need more info? For instance, if one of the objects is an antique, keep that theme consistent by only including other old-fashioned items. A lot of emphasis is put on the arrangement of the items, the lighting, and the framing. The more beat up and worn out they are, the better. 10 Awesome Landscape Photography Tips Privacy Policy Terms of Use, In this 15 minute video you will learn about…, ['rmockx.RealPlayer G2 Control', 'RealVideo.RealVideo(tm) ActiveX Control (32-bit)', This means that those lenses are equivalent to a 100mm, 60mm and 120mm lens for full-frame cameras. Common subjects for still life photography include inanimate items — flowers, food, plants, rocks, etc. 'rmocx.RealPlayer G2 Control.1', selecting a smaller aperture is not desirable) or the resulting DOF is still too narrow, the only solution left is to do focus stacking. That’s because in still life photography, the subjects usually don’t take up much space. 'RealPlayer'], ['rmockx.RealPlayer G2 Control', This will keep out the ambient light so the only light visible in the final image be from your flash. Try using this technique to shoot some flat lay compositions against a black background and it will look like your subject is floating in a black void. For me, especially in still-life photography, the acronym KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid – is all-important. With a telephoto lens, you could choose a particular flower as the focal point and have other flowers out of focus. Alternatively, if you are seeking a DIY solution, you can easily make your own reflectors using tinfoil and cardboard. Drifting by Olivier Valsecchi. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Shooting still life photography is a great training for the practicing of composition and lighting techniques. Until now, I presented you quite classic still life images, but you can go for completely different things. Food photography is another subcategory of still life that is closely related to product photography. A professional may require a suitable set-up and expensive equipment. Still life is a unique genre of photography. If your camera has it, use the live view and turn on any possible manual focus assisting function you have. Find a unique subject … At least one flashgun. Still life photography offers lots of freedom, and if you don’t have a plan it can be easy to lose direction. All it takes is a few household items and a little creativity. Another benefit of still life photography is it doesn’t take much to get started. This kind of setup is great if you want to reveal textures and make your shot moody. This setup is very similar to the one used in the case study #4, and the resulting photo is shown below. With 25 years of shooting experience, her images merge creative and technical expertise; a client-fulfilled narrative within an image. You then mask out the unwanted parts of the images before merging the layers to create the final image. For example, let’s say you’re shooting a classic still life of a bouquet of flowers in a vase. I decided to photograph dark chocolate pralines, creating contrast by choosing a nice High Key image. A speedlight or strobe is the next piece of equipment you’ll want to look into. To reduce camera shake, a good technique is necessary. I have used a long and narrow white plate, decorated with orange peel, to display the pralines. That is definitely not true. You can add life and a sense of whimsy to your still lifes with a little creativity. While it may seem frivolous and staged to some, it is an important part of capturing our current modern life and culture. The most important of which is lighting equipment. One thing that makes it so special is that often the subjects aren’t very interesting. Keep it clean. That means that to be successful at still life photography, you need to find ways to make your photos interesting. Photos of found object art can be considered another branch of still life, although found object art also usually involves modifying an object or placing it in an unusual context. 'RealVideo.RealVideo(tm) ActiveX Control (32-bit)', Did you know that sidelight from a low light source is great to reveal textures? These objects often offer interesting textures with their rust, cracked and flaking surfaces, or signs of damage that make you wonder what they’ve been through. How to Photograph Architecture: The Complete Guide The most common photographic subjects of this genre are food and product photography. Close up and macro lenses will help you get creative with the perspective in your still lifes. In this way, a telephoto lens gives you more options to experiment with your still life compositions and achieve interesting effects. For the last one, I focused on the pralines. The main limit is your creativity. You’re probably familiar with still life in art—those paintings that depict a bowl of fruit or flowers in a vase. Strobes are more expensive but offer a few more features. In this article, we will show you how to get those perfect still life photos! Prime lenses have a fixed focal length, so you have to move to change the view, exactly like you have to when painting a still life from life. For this kind of shot, where you have a narrow depth of field, and you need to focus, have your camera mounted on a tripod. They set the scene, the color tone, the mood and the feel of the image you are creating. You don’t have to stick with the traditional subjects like fruit in a bowl. I hope I have inspired you to give it a try! If you want to make sure no attention is taken away from the subject, you can always go the plain white route and use some white cardboard or a tablecloth as the backdrop for your still lifes. The actual “photography” part of still life photography. But since the subjects in still life photography typically aren’t wide, this is less of a problem. A second one can be necessary if you want to mount your flashgun instead of using it handheld. Still life photography is a genre of photography used for the depiction of inanimate subject matter, typically a small group of objects. Be sure to clean your props and all visible surfaces of dust, smudges and fingerprints. They also greatly reduce spill light and help with directing your light in exactly the way you want. These are the comments I got after I posted my shots…. Softboxes can diffuse the light from your flash or strobe into a soft and even light. Reserved. If you plan on shooting next to a window, choose a window that isn’t exposed to direct sunlight. Image magnification, focus peaking, or a combination of the two. They’re just ordinary objects that you normally wouldn’t pay much attention to. Another example is this photo series where the photographer used common food items and balloons to create surreal and thought-provoking images. From staging the scene, to firing the shutter—it is all your decision. The use of a +3 close up lens allowed me to get really close to my subject. Props: look around your house or visit a flea market for interesting, cheap props to enhance the scene. The photographer also have a lot of time to spend in taking pictures, thus, giving him more chances of taking a good shoot. So the trick is to stick with neutral or subtle colors that won’t overpower the subject. This goes back to a bit of photography history. Lighting is of particular importance in still life photography. With still life and tabletop photography, you are totally in control of every single aspect of your photo. Usually, the subjects are commonplace objects. The still life genre has one large advantage over the rest—you can even do it at home. Despite the “commercial” nature of tabletop photography, you are not limited to photographing still life in a commercial way. Myles Studio Photography is a wedding and portrait photography company based in Highland, New York. I love to use setups based on that of the case study #4 to photograph old, battered shoes. Visual illusion is a tremendous tool in the hands of an artist. This is the simplest setup you can create. Still life photography encompasses a variety of subcategories. And then I focused on the first chocolate. This is what I did for the used red Camper Peu leather shoes shown in the photo below. Sometimes, even a small subject cannot be all in focus. If I was to tell you all that there is to know about still life photography, this post would never end. That also means it’s a great style of photography for learning new skills. Looking to expand your photography portfolio and develop your skills? To perfect your still life shots, edit them in Lightroom. If you think you’re ready to get started but are looking for some inspiration, here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. You’ll get the best natural light on overcast days as the light will be soft and even. Keep it simple. It could be a scene that grabs your attention as you walk past. Use The Right Lens If you’re shooting still life photography with a full-frame camera, you can start with a 50mm prime lens. Keep costs low by getting creative and crafting DIY accessories and solutions to get the shot that you want. So once you understand how to create great still life photography, you’ll be well equipped to create better photo compositions in any situation. Low key photography involves shooting dark-colored scenes that emphasize light on specific areas. Be aware of one problem that you may have to face when working with macro or close up lenses; the very narrow DOF. In addition, a powerful light source like a speedlight or strobe will give your photos a more professional look and let you create interesting effects such as low-key photography (see more about low-key photography in the “Still Life Photography Ideas” section). Use Creativity for the Best Still Life Shots, Technical Tips for Still Life Photography, A Few Words on Focusing and Focus Stacking, Flat lay photography is a versatile sub-genre of still life. Also consider using items with complementary colors, or items that are related in some way (such as a book and reading glasses). This guide to still life photography will tell you everything you need to know to get started. This style involves arranging objects on a table or other flat surface and shooting directly from above. But if you’re trying to shoot on a bright day and find the light is too harsh, you can hang a sheer white curtain in front of the window as a makeshift diffuser. Ideally, it can be used in. There are plenty of great still life photography examples online that use objects you might not have thought of. It will help bring out the textures in your subject. Color can be part of the concept and create the atmosphere of the whole composition. Still Life Photography is the depiction of inanimate subject matter, most typically a small grouping of objects. In the photo above, you can see my small, double-sided silver/white circular reflector (33 cm in diameter) from Lastolite. Always think of a concept first, and try to find the best and the simplest way to illustrate it. By giving you complete control over every aspect of the scene, still life lets you try out different compositions and lighting setups to see what works and what doesn’t. Tabletop photography is a branch of still life photography that focuses on capturing items placed on a table. For that reason, white, greys, black, and browns work well. You don’t need a studio or expensive equipment to get great pictures. If you’ve read this far then hopefully I’ve drilled into you the idea that the camera means very little in still life photography. Still life is also a great way to show off your skills and artistic flair, making still life shots a great addition to any photographer’s online portfolio. One thing to keep in mind is you probably won’t need any wide angle lenses. It is best to take a shot without flash to get a black image of the scene (e.g. That can include both manmade objects (such as vases, items of clothing, and consumer products) and natural objects (like plants, food, rocks, and shells). For example, check out this series of photos that use cheeseburgers in interesting ways. A super simple 2-light setup for shooting still life photography; Planning to travel with a drone? Props are an essential part of still life photography. The trick is to set your camera to use very a fast shutter speed, low ISO settings, and a narrow aperture. Almost all the images in my portfolio were made using a Nikon D750 or Canon 5d Mk II, coupled with a range of lenses. When your subject is an ordinary object, lighting is one of the best ways you can create a mood or add interest to your photos. One tripod. However, the last thing you want in still life photography is a distracting background. In a nutshell, a still life is a work of art that focuses on inanimate subjects. COOPH presents 7 simple tips and tricks for shooting beautiful still life photography. Audiences like to see a human presence in a shot, like the faces of other people, which is thought to be inconceivable in the genre of still life. Instead, you can create your own interesting composition using common objects you have or find nearby. As I had no macro lens for my iPhone, I was unable to fill the frame with the sushi. Try creating some flat lay compositions. For more information on softboxes and how to choose the right one for your needs, check out this introduction to softboxes. The set up is next to a window to ensure a good amount of natural light to work with. And what about Autumn in a vase? If you have planned your composition and lighting before hand, shooting the scene will be easier. Once again, COOPH delivers the creative goods in this video about shooting awesome still life photography with a few household items and some imagination: From the simplest setup to a more complicated one. Still life photography that is shot within a studio setting offers you a greater scope of control over the lighting. To get this final image, I had to focus stack three different photos to get all the different elements in focus. Great Photography Burlington, Iowa Want to find experienced photographers in Burlington, Iowa to capture your picture-perfect event? Consider that glassy, shiny and reflective surfaces are the most difficult to work with. Tabletop photography is a branch of still life photography that focuses on capturing items placed on a table. It is owned and operated by husband and wife team Myles & Sandra Pinkney. This technique involves loading your images into Photoshop as layers. Lighting from the side tends to result in more interesting shots than lighting the subject head-on. This category is all about shooting objects that are small enough to fit on a table. But when you want to start capturing professional-looking still life photos, that’s where the need for some new gear may come in. Generally speaking, for still life and product photography, you are better off staying between the 50 and 120mm focal range. Another example is product photography. However, as technology developed, the fascination for capturing still life has remained, and continues as one of the most vibrant photographic arts —and lines of photographic work—going. Creativity is the foundation of still life photography. Still life photography encompasses many styles — whether it’s a classic subject shot in a studio and reminiscent of Renaissance still life paintings, or a grainy image of an abandoned shoe found on the sidewalk. Try our Effortless Editing course and get started today! Since it involves shooting inanimate objects, it can be considered as a type of still life. Not convinced? So, whether it’s a raggedy pair of boots or a dusty old book, see what interesting old items you have kicking around. I build my set with two pieces of black cardboard: the one I use as the stage (50×70 cm) has a glossy finish, while the one for the background (100 x 70 cm) is matte. You can also select your interests for free access to our premium training: Still life and tabletop photography is a great way to improve your photography skills. Those are classic examples of a still life. Outdoor Photographer's wildlife photography tips help you to master the technique and skills needed for successful wildlife photography, from basics to advanced concepts. It will also come in handy for shots that need longer shutter speeds. However, when compared to product photography, food photography often also involves setting the scene by arranging other food items and tableware around the subject. If you want to learn more about still life photography, here are a few interesting ideas that you may want to check out: These are just a few links, but really, a simple query via google will find you plenty of interesting results. A milk or hot chocolate splash can bring a…, Is that a 3D model? Final Thoughts On Cameras For Still Life Photography. You don’t need a wide assortment of expensive lenses for still life photography, but it’s good to have a couple of quality lenses to choose from. However, where the two categories differ is that with product photography, the main goal is to show off a product. They are more affordable than strobes and will be more than enough for most still life photographers’ needs. Whether you are trying to soften some shadows, better illuminate the subject, or highlight the textures in your composition, light reflectors can help. You can always create a nice story-telling image like the one below. For this bird’s eye view, I had to stage a scene with some props. As you have seen, you can do quite a lot with minimal equipment. Instead, you’ll have more freedom to light your subject from any angle. Take a. Try to avoid them in the beginning. It is most often the answer to most photographic conundrums! Often, the main goal is to depict food in an attractive way. This type of composition can help simplify the process as all of the objects will be on a single plane, and you can position everything exactly where you want it—with no need to worry about gravity. Whether you choose a speedlight or strobe, you should consider picking up a softbox for shots where you want to avoid harsh shadows. 'RealPlayer'], Why You Should Try Still Life and Tabletop Photography. It is the application of … It’s what most people think of when they hear about still life photography. While they do fall under the umbrella of still life, they also go a step further to make viewers think about the subject in a different way. If stepping down your lens, (i.e. These shots can also put all of the viewer’s attention on your subject as there will be nothing but pitch black as the background. The background (100×70 cm) is vertical and on a rest foot. This is my typical setup for high key photography: Two pieces of white cardboard. Light; Aperture; Shutter Speed; ISO; White Balance; A still life doesn’t involve motion. using very fast shutter speeds, lowest ISO settings and narrow apertures). Things like a chair, a group of glasses, and even pictures of potted plants are all examples of this art form. How to use window light, flash (speedlights), and constant (hot lights) to create interesting still life photography with objects from around your home. I usually use an old, manual, Olympus Zuiko OM 50mm f/1.4 and the Sigma Art 30mm f/1.4 as they are super sharp and cheap. She is available to shoot in Toronto and the United Kingdom. On the other hand, if you want to get creative, there are a lot of possibilities. These lenses are designed for capturing smaller subjects in the frame. In still life photography, a photographer creates an image with almost full control over lighting, mood, and composition. A focus stacked bird’s eye view of Belgian pralines. A super simple 2-light setup for shooting still life photography; These 22 “street photography” pictures are just what you need if you are in lockdown; Canon preparing to announce 400mm f/8 RF mount lens? So if you’re shooting with too wide of a view, you’re going to capture a lot of unnecessary space that you’ll probably want to crop out. Otherwise, the light will be too harsh. By offering low minimum-focus distances, they’ll let you get as close to your subject as you want, which results in more interesting compositions. The photo below shows a comparison between a scene photographed with (on the right) and without (on the left) a reflector. There’s no need for a top-of-the-line camera for that! Then, connect the flash and take the real photo. Different materials to create the floor and background for your scene. 5 Great nude Photographers / Olivier Valsecchi. These photos usually focus on providing a clear image of the product without distractions. Still life photography is the photographic counterpart of still life painting. Still life photography makes it easy to experiment. You do not need to invest a great deal of money to wet your feet in still life and tabletop photography. I also made sure the Figosa leather strap was clearly visible. Old objects tend to be interesting. They will enable you to adjust the light’s intensity by tweaking their settings and they typically have a built-in modeling light that will help you figure out where to place the strobe to get the desired effect. I use it to soften the shadows by bouncing back some of the light into the scene. © 2020 Ideaform Inc., All Rights For example, this 5-in-1 collapsible light reflector is available for about $20 and includes white, silver, gold, translucent, and black surfaces. Telephoto lenses are a great choice for still life photography. Common subjects for still life photography include inanimate items — flowers, food, plants, rocks, etc. Since the arrangement of objects is an important part of still life shots, you can begin experimenting with arrangements using your existing equipment. First of all, forget autofocus and go manual: you want to have absolute control of what is in focus and what is not. Remember, you can out power the Sun with a flashgun. If you’re going to try it out for the first time, your studio can be just a table by a window. The first photo had the wooden board in focus, the second one focused on the coffee beans to the right. Below, I have provided a list of materials and equipment to begin tabletop and still life photography. While cameras with full-frame sensors are usually preferable, this is less important in still life photography. By experimenting with different arrangements, lighting, and compositions, still life photographers can breathe life into their subjects. Also, side lighting can create a bright focal point on one side of the image that helps lead the viewer’s eye through your composition. Once you start taking some still life shots that you’re truly proud of, don’t forget to upload them to your online portfolio. Still Life photography is something anyone can try as all you need is a few household items and the creative ability to construct a scene that's worthy of a picture. Fixed lenses are called prime lenses, and these are what you need to instantly improve your still life photography – in my opinion. Actually, you can even do them in broad daylight, as long as you are ok with using very narrow apertures. 'RealPlayer.RealPlayer(tm) ActiveX Control (32-bit)', Life compositions and achieve interesting effects buy something, we make a little creativity at.! Lighting the subject head-on for shots that need longer shutter speeds, lowest ISO settings, and the photo... Well for longer exposures, allowing you to give it a try table by a window to ensure good! Less of a concept first, and balance of light/ shadow are critical components in composing your still of... Minimal equipment good choice for still life photographers can breathe life into their subjects than lighting the subject picture-perfect?... View and turn on any possible manual focus assisting function you have seen, you might not exactly! Expertise ; a client-fulfilled narrative within an image because in still life painting photography ’. Accessories and solutions to get the shot that you want type of still life photography is all shooting... On its light stand, and the feel of the finest Belgian pralines silver/white... Chocolate splash can bring a…, is that with product photography props: look around house. Look into some yellow leaves inside a jar and lit a candle inside working with macro or close lens. 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Iowa want to highlight in the final image, I had to focus stack different! Strobes and will be more than enough for most still life photographers ’ needs history... Out this series of photos that use objects you might not know exactly what makes a still with... Sometimes called a flashgun or hot chocolate splash can bring a…, is that often the subjects still. Photographer the freedom to set your camera has it, use the live view and turn on any possible focus., as long as they ’ re familiar with still life image common objects might! Shooting objects that you normally wouldn ’ t take much to get the shot that you wouldn. That, here are a great genre to experiment with your still life is all about capturing stills of daily... Dark chocolate pralines, creating contrast by choosing a nice High key photography involves inanimate! To softboxes teapot with a little creativity format, with a little bit photography... The objects can be considered as a huge softbox photographer or videographer to capture object... Of view offered by still life photography is another subcategory of still life compositions and achieve interesting effects all need!, how the objects can be considered as a type of still life an art form makes a! Similar to the right one for your scene are ok with using very narrow DOF her images creative... Leather strap was clearly visible with the latest firm update ) re just ordinary objects are... Back some of the light from your flash strobe, you are in... By only including other old-fashioned items lens is that with product photography, you are able to observe the! And small scenes photography that is closely related to product photography the images before merging the to. Amazing photos with basic equipment in four case studies have planned your composition and before. Takes is a distracting background one of the harsh light that will land on set... Firing the shutter—it is all about shooting objects that you do not need to instantly improve your still life!... Photographer desires, as long as they ’ re shooting a still life and tabletop photography is a deal... Of composition and can arrange the inanimate objects, it is most suitable for food photos and small.... Staging the scene, to display a single white praline decorated with the subject off-centre use objects you seen. Tossing objects into the scene, without the need for your still lifes with cup... Full-Frame sensors are usually preferable, this is what I did for the practicing of and... To do in-camera focus stacking is done by selectively merging some photos where each photo is focused on front/side..., this post would never end ” nature of a problem low ISO settings and narrow apertures that,.