Lighting & the ‘Still Life’

Objectives Learn about the next mini project entitled ‘’Still Life’. Have a clear understanding of what is meant by a still life. Have explored different ways of composing a still life. Have explored / investigated lighting a still life. Have produced a selection of high quality still life images that experiments with varying apertures, manual versus auto focus, depth of field, different light sources etc See examples of still life photography from different photographers Learn about camera height and typology. Have an opportunity to go out taking shots which relate to the photographers you have researched as well as being informed by your research on composition and camera height Print out contact sheets to be annotated. Learn to develop your research to produce your own response to ‘Still Life’

The Still Life A representation chiefly of inanimate objects, as a painting of a bowl of fruit. 2. The category of subject matter in which inanimate objects are represented, as in painting or photography. www.dictionary.com

Dutch Still Lifes Dutch, 17th century When we look at still-life images like these today we might be impressed by the skill of the painter, but they do not usually carry any ‘deep meaning’ for us - they are just pretty flowers or a collection of objects represented in paint. Rachel Ruysch, Flowers, 1706

Dutch Still Lifes In the 17th century images like these carried a strong moral message: Fruit, food, flowers and human bones were often used as momento mori – reminders that we will all die at some time - life is fleeting (it soon passes), so we should all be good now if we want to go to heaven! Rachel Ruysch, Flowers, 1706

Paul Cezanne, (1839-1906) These objects might look at if they are just randomly placed, but Cezanne often spent a long time moving the objects until he had just the ‘right’ arrangement and composition.

Photographic Still Life Sometimes the objects photographed can be very simple, as in these images of crockery. Note the way the dark or out-of-focus background does not distract, so that our eye is drawn towards the main subject(s)

Some photographic still life images are more complex; this image is intended to emulate the style of the Dutch genre

Still Life photographs are often used to illustrate magazine articles – What is the theme or subject of this still life?

A still life (triptych) used as a fashion advert. In today’s consumer society the Still Life photograph is often used for advertising as in this ‘product shot’. A still life (triptych) used as a fashion advert. Abstract, representational or surreal?

Recap - Lighting The Still Life Remember, there are basically two main categories of lighting – ‘hard’ and ‘soft’. Daylight can be soft (as on a cloudy day) or hard (as in direct sunlight on a bright day). Flash can give hard or soft light, dependent on how it is used. Flash Lighting using a softbox to give ‘soft’ light on the subject.

Small Flashgun used to give ‘hard’ light

Reminder: Hard and soft light Hard light gives crisp strong shadows and an image with high contrast. Hard light comes from small light sources such as the sun on a cloudless day or a small reflector on a flashgun. Soft light gives soft gentle shadows and an image with less contrast. Soft light is made by large light sources (e.g. a white cloudy sky or a flash Softbox).

Which of these still-life photographs uses soft light? Which uses a harder light?

Some things to consider when creating a still life: Consider several arrangements of the objects to find the most pleasing or appropriate composition. Consider how you want to light the composition (hard or soft light, direction of light, even or uneven lighting, contrast etc) Consider how you want the background to appear (plain, fussy, dark, light, in focus, out of focus etc). Experiment with different camera angles, heights and distances from the subject.

Edward Weston

Penn

Test Your Understanding: Conclusion Test Your Understanding: What is a still life? Describe some of the different ways we can light a still life (use technical terms / critical language). What is the word which means the arrangement of visual elements (‘things’) in an image? List at least 2 different types of light which could be used to light a still life. Why is the background important in a still life image?

Produce a still life shoot for an ad campaign! Assignment Produce a still life shoot for an ad campaign! ‘Evolution’ is a brand new company which requires you to produce some promotional material to launch their new products. You must follow the brief to the letter and produce all the relevant work required. Firstly you need to decide what kind of company Evolution is going to be. You must produce: A page of relevant imagery of existing companies/brands similar to your chosen one with annotations and evaluations of their style, logo, colour scheme, lighting etc. A page of logo designs; vary the font, colour, style, imagery to encapsulate ‘Evolution’ A final logo design Development of a still life shoot advertising the product A final Advert Some ideas for themes: Objects in the Kitchen for a magazine article about cooking, Objects in the classroom for a ‘back to school’ advert for a stationary company, Mobile phones for a mobile phone advert, Books for a library poster, Plants for a garden centre advert

Prep work Produce a research page on photographic still life -include examples of different photographers work Decide what product you will advertise. Research existing adverts for this product and annotate them explaining what is successful/unsuccessful about them and evaluations of their style, logo, colour scheme, lighting etc. A page of logo designs; vary the font, colour, style, imagery to encapsulate ‘Evolution’