SECRET INGREDIENT: ADDING HUMAN PRESENCE

RECIPE TYPE: CREATIVITY PAGE

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SUMMARY INGREDIENTS COSTS TIME

If you want to add a special • Pen • N/a • Preparation
ingredient to your photo recipe, • Paper ~ 15 minutes
consider adding a feeling of human • Shooting
presence—a character. The audience N/a
likes to see human presence in a shot,
which is thought to be inconceivable
in the genre of still life. That is not
true.

Let’s see how we can shoot still

life with the same character and
significance as a portrait of a person.

#ep_cookbook_ideas DIFFICULTY

PRACTICE
1. CHOOSE A PERSONA
Pick an uncommon, attention-grabbing, interesting, exciting main character. Then,
invent the ins and outs. Be specific and make a list of a minimum of 15 varieties. Pick
your favorite idea.

2. IMAGINE YOUR CHARACTER’S QUIRKS

Imagine your extraordinary character doing something mundane, something common.
Try to find everyday activities and pick ones that spark your imagination. Don’t limit
yourself during your brainstorm session.

3. FILL THE FRAME

Decide how you are going to visualize your character. Time to fill the frame with items
directly connected to the persona. Write a list of all the items that have a connection to
your chosen character. Also, ask yourself how your persona looks/what kind of tools do
they need.

4. ARRANGE THE COMPOSITION

Start with all the key items together. Then place in your frame the items you can layer.
Use tips from 1.3 Intuitive composition: harmony without rules to deal with problems
that may arise.

5. TAKE THE SHOT

Set up the lights, check camera settings and take the shot. Take a shot that has a
character and a story. Make sure that shot has a character and a story. You can even add a
little bit of drama and conflict.