Still Life

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it” – Confucious

This was inspired by Valentines Day, mainly because it was taken on Valentine’s day. However when I was looking for the right feel it was giving me a sense of a love that is no longer in it’s youthful bloom, the dried rose has a beauty of it’s own, with the gemstone a small token of love, still bright and shiny. You may feel it inspires other reflections and it would be great to hear about that! 

SL2 & SL3:                      SS: 1/200, f/4, 55mm, ISO: 160 &  SS;1/60, f/4, 50mm, ISO:160

These were two of the first photo’s I took with my new Canon 5D, Mark III. Amazing what is lying around your house that can become a still life subject. I used the rule of thirds, something I discovered I always tended to do. The texture drawn out during editing, feel gives quite a human feel to the white side of the mask.

This was a serendipitous photo opportunity. I was decanting detergent from one bottle to another. After having left one bottle on top of the other (couldn’t be bothered to stand there) I came back to see this. I set up the shot with some soft lighting and with some editing came up with this. 

I am experimenting with camera settings particularly is whacking the ISO up rather than feeling I have to stick to the lower ranges. This was another serendipitous shot. I was trying, probably, foolishly to try and get the classic ‘in a row’ shot and was left really underwhelmed. I gave up and started putting them back and I just saw this…. It reminds me a little of the Fibonacci sequence but judge for yourself

SL6 &SL7:                           SS:1/5, f/13, 58mm, ISO: 200 & SS: 1/60, f/4, 105mm, ISO: 500

Due to lockdown, I have ventured into still life. These two are inspired by snow white, the first with witches hat, was originally done with a black background but it was really difficult to get the exposure, lighting correct due to the lack of contrast with the witches hat. I changed the background but for some reason is feels more clinical. I removed the hat and a couple of other objects to simplify the composition and this seem to work really well. I feel on this occasion less is more. 

SL8 – SL12: SS: 1/40, f/4, 27mm, ISO: 200

I do find that when I have my camera with me, just going for a walk, I am always on the look out, I notice my surroundings so much more. Everything becomes a potential photograph. I found this love heart on a gateway. I have edited in different styles so pick you favourite!

Not back for a test shot. Again another shot that I felt worked better in black and white with quite high level of vignetting. The more sepia look adds a more aged look to the photo, everything about this photo speaks, chilled and relaxed.

SL14 & SL15: SS: 1/25, f/3.2, 17mm, ISO: 250

The guitar picture inspired me to do this still life, so grabbing some of my husbands instruments I set about trying to get a great shot. Sadly really struggled with this.  It was interesting how when trying to get the right  feel through editing, the bodhran skin was particularly hard and more than often it looked like a moon. I opted for the more subtle look.

You find interesting compositions in the strangest of places. I drew out the grain and texture on the bell in contrast to the more smooth background.

My friends runs a little business called ‘Trinkets and Treasures’ and I have recently bought a few items, so naturally decided to try and photograph them. Harder than I thought it would be. With each photo, a couple more to follow, I used a +6 magnifying filters to give a more macro effect. 

Never thought I would be taking photos of boats, but when one offers such a wonderful opportunity, who am I to say no. The lines of the boat help lead your eye to the horizon. Why not in landscape, because I felt that the boat is the main focus with the landscape and just a backdrop… welcome to discussions on this.

And from boats to tractors… this has a wonderful oldie worldy feel to it, adding some vignette and desaturating helped.