Over the years I have collected a number of small items, that for the most part are simply dust collectors, but for one reason or another they may have some sentimental value connected to them. They are scattered about the house sitting on a table or a bookshelf, reminding me of some time in the past with maybe a story connected to them. If you are from the Bronx in New York City, there is a Yiddish word for them; they are referred to as Chachkas.
So you might ask, what has this got to do with this blog on photography? I have found many of these items useful to include in still life photography. Still life photography is the photographing of inanimate objects arranged into a pleasing setting. There is a certain adventure in searching out these items and gathering them into a scene to create a still life image. You have to take a little time and examine these items and how they may or may not relate to other items you wish to combine in a still life. Adding one or two to a particular setup as you see fit.
The next area of still life creation is (1) the background and (2) the light. I prefer to use indirect window light, in other words light that is soft in nature and not hard like direct sunlight. I have found this light to have a sort of Rembrandt painting effect. I have also found that a small flashlight or a reflector made from aluminum foil can be useful in ether opening up the shadows or directing the light toward an area within the still life. I prefer to use a black background for all my still life images because there is no distraction with the background from the objects I am photographing and the viewer’s eye is concentrated on the subjects presented.
Still life photography teaches you three things, how to control (1) composition, (2) lighting and (3) lastly artistic expression. You only need a small space and your lighting as I have said can be simple sunlight from a nearby window and an extra accent light from a flashlight. Unlike any other type of photography, you have complete control of all three of the above elements.
All images were made using a Sony A7II camera. Window light was the main source of light, with a small portable light used for accenting in a few of the images. If you like what you see or have questions I can be contacted at nymacc@gmail.com
