I have been spending more time in the studio this summer and I have been experimenting with various forms of still life photography.
My interest, or goal here, is to create work that can be used as framed art.
I inherited this pitch fork from my father who probably had it for at least fifty years, which makes it about seventy-five years old - assuming he bought it new(but I have no way of knowing that).
It’s shot here on a simple white background with studio light giving it a greenish-blue hue. In the developing process I added grain to the image for texture.
This rock rake has also been in my family for at least two generations and is used on a fairly regular basis in the summer months to remove weeds from garden beds or add new soil. The interesting thing about still life photography is how it forces you to look critically at common objects and see the subtle detail. Notice the rough handle, the shiny piece that attaches the handle to the rake, and the smooth finish on the tines - the result of years of being dragged through the dirt.
When shooting these white peonies against a white background my goal was to make the petals on the flowers disappear as much as possible so that the main feature of the photo became the thin red lines trimming some of the flowers. I saved some egg nog bottles from the Christmas season because I liked their shape and color. As it turns out, they make for great flower vases.
Before the summer is out I’ll be shooting more botanical still lifes as different flowers bloom in the garden. I have my eye on some tall lilies right now that are due to bloom at the end of the month and my hydrangeas are heading closer to full bloom. I’m not sure what kind of crop I’ll get this year.
The grocery store is another good place to find still life objects and I keep meaning to pick up some new material each time I go, but the timing has to be right.
This sardine tin is on display in my studio - enlarged and framed to 2’x3’. It would be a real conversation piece in your dining room, kitchen, or in a restaurant. Ironically, the woman who framed this photo goes by the nickname “piri.”