LCC Still Life Workshop -- Summary

Eduardo Barbosa
13 Jan 2020

Page 3 What is a still life ?

Page 5 Still life themes and styles --- from classic to contemporary

Page 20 Still life composition --- A few guidelines …

Page 31 How to apply a still life background texture

Page 47 Starting your still life project -- Things to keep in mind…

What is a Still Life ?
Eduardo Barbosa
13 Jan 2020

Source : Wikipedia

 A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either

- natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or

- man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, etc.).

 Origins : in the Middle Ages and Ancient Greco-Roman art

- Still-life painting emerged as a distinct genre by the late 16th century

- It began with Netherlandish painting of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Source : Wikipedia

It allows an artist a lot of freedom to experiment with the arrangement of elements within a composition.

 Early still-life paintings, particularly before 1700, often contained religious and allegorical symbolism relating to
the objects depicted.

 Later still-life works are produced with a variety of media and technology, such as found objects, photography,
computer graphics, as well as video and sound.
Learning from the painters…
Source : The following text and images, unless otherwise specified are authored / sourced by Cartoon District.com

http://www.cartoondistrict.com/still-life-drawing-and-painting-ideas-for-beginners/
Traditional still life

 The traditional set-up of a still life — draped fabric, a bowl of fruit, jug, a bottle of wine, or a vase of flowers —
usually combines a variety of textures, patterns, and shapes to allow the artist to show off their technique and to
delight the viewer.

 The biggest challenge is getting a pleasing arrangement.

 It’s really easy for a traditional still life to look boring, so you need to really examine your set before starting to
photograph.

See Old masters paintings :

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Old+Masters+Still+Life+Paintings&FORM=IRBPRS&=0
Source : Cartoon District.com (Aleksey Vaynshteyn) Source : Cartoon District.com (Writeintheglobaljungle.com)
Source : Cartoon District.com (Postcard from Provence) Source : josvanriswick.com
 The vintage still life

 Mixed traditional and modern

 Arrangements of antique objects

 Rocking chairs, old kettles, a ball of yarn and knitting pins, all have visual interest.

 A single object cropped in close or a group on a window-sill can look great.

See Vintage still life :

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=vintage+still+life&qpvt=vintage+still+life&FORM=IGRE
Source : Cartoon District.com (Narim Crafts) Source : Cartoon District.com (Nikolaev Yuri)
Source : webneel.com Source : Dreamstime.com
Narrative still life

 The artist arranges the subject so that the viewer has the feeling of walking in on a story – one that is in
progress, has just happened, or is about to happen.
o A broken object, historical items and photographs, clothes on a chair – objects can be loaded with meaning.

 A traditional narrative painting will usually be full of figures with dramatic gestures and action.

 In still life, the objects need to communicate the story for you.
o Imagine that the protagonist in your ‘story’ has just left the room – perhaps in a great hurry…

See Narrative Still life :

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=narrrative%20still%20life&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-1&pq=narrrative%20still%20life&sc=1-
21&sk=&cvid=B2A8B784AFCF41AC8C5BDA71784B59BC
Source : charlesyoungwalls.com Source : Lynsay Hoffman (blogspot.com)
Source : Kevin Best www.bestshots.com.au Source : Kevin Best www.bestshots.com.au
The Contemporary still life

 Go for modern clean-cut looks, urban grungy metal, or sterile plastic with fluorescent light.

 Arrange a few stainless-steel utensils on a black background, or look for plastic objects with interesting cut-outs
and molding.

See Contemporary Still life :

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=contemporary%20still%20life&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-1&pq=contemporary%20still%20life&sc=7-
23&sk=&cvid=7DE8E138BB2D41A083180890112C7494
Source : Cartoon District.com (wallscover.com) Source : Cartoon District.com (Zakirul Islam Sohel)
Source : Cartoon District.com (mirajdefluturi.ro) Source : Klaus Boekhoff Pinterest.com
Useful links for still life photography…

STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANNY EITREIM

Still life photography :

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=still%20life%20photography&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-1&pq=still%20life%20photography&sc=8-
22&sk=&cvid=B88CB10E607B4C959462042880998F79

Still life composition :

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=still%20life%20composition&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-1&pq=still%20life%20composition&sc=3-
22&sk=&cvid=BFB725A4418F452F98B3C5B34516A539

Still life lighting :

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=still%20life%20lighting&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-1&pq=still%20life%20lighting&sc=1-
19&sk=&cvid=35FE22CD081643E7B49C7D54257DB85C

Still life backdrops :

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=still%20life%20backdrops&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-1&pq=still%20life%20backdrops&sc=0-
20&sk=&cvid=01FA609F7E404F1F9140E6AE848FC319
Still life composition --- A few guidelines …
Eduardo Barbosa
13 Jan 2020

 Pick interesting objects related to theme --- check for function, shape, color, texture

 Avoid / neutralize reflective surfaces

 Ensure tonal / contrast harmony

 Select a work surface and a background that support the theme / create an atmosphere
 Keep compositions as simple as possible

 Odd number of elements (3, 5) work better than even numbers (2, 4, 6)

 Triangulations add visual interest

 Place larger volumes behind, smaller volumes in the front

 Create some intersection, avoid large gaps between elements

 Keep in mind : rule of thirds, negative space, leading lines, diagonals, …

 Break the monotony !

  Light source: size, direction and quality must reinforce the mood.

Tell a story, make objects be like actors on a stage

Create an image with a soul…
Source : My approach to still life painting by Dorothea Schulz
Source : AMOLIFE.com
Source : Greg Brave Photopathway.com
Source : Unknown author, Pinterest.com
Source : Unknown author, Pinterest.com
Source : Unknown author, Pinterest.com
Source : architecturesideas.com
How to apply a still life background texture
Eduardo Barbosa
13 Jan 2020

+ =
This requires a software which can handle layers : Photoshop / Photoshop Elements / Other (ex. Exposure X5)
Concrete texture photographed here
Photograph and save texture at the highest resolution
Still life image as photographed

White cardboard background

Stained wood panel
Continuous light (bulb + umbrella) on
left
ISO 100
1.5 sec
f / 13
Pentax K3 + Sigma 17-50 F2.8 @ 33mm
Mirror up + cable release
Tripod
Basic image adjustments : light, contrast
Overlaying texture with
‘’Place’’ function

Embedded or Linked both

work well
Texture as imported
Texture stretched over desired
area (further cropping needed)
Texture adjustments before cropping : Light,
contrast, hue, layer opacity.

Blend mode: Multiply (best for this image)

Best options: Multiply, Overlay, Soft light

Texture cropped.

+ Non-textured elements masked.

Texture opacity set at 55 %

Toning : solid warming color added
(yellow picked from the apple)

Opacity set at 24 % %
Overall vignette added (brushed on
separate layer)

Opacity set at 57 %
Darkening touch-ups on separate
layer

+ Opacity adjustment to 25 %
… et voilà !!!
Before : After :
Starting your still life project -- Things to keep in mind…
Eduardo Barbosa
13 Jan 2020

Choice of theme
 What do you want to convey ? Emotion / Drama / Mystery / Tension / Harmony /…
 What atmosphere would best suit the scene ?

Choice of objects and accessories

 Function, shapes and colors
 How does the set work together ?
 Minimalism / Simplify…
 Tonal harmony
Choice of table / work surface
 Wood / stone / paper / fabric / … / old / new

Choice of background
 Fabric
 Paper
 Wood
 Stone/masonry
 Blended textures
o See : ‘’How to apply a still life background texture’’ section

 Etc…
Composition
Guidelines : volumes, shapes, sizes, position
 See ‘’Composition’’ section

Light
 Natural
 Artificial – continuous (light bulb, LED flashlight, LED panel, …)
 Artificial – flash (wired, wireless)
 Size – small vs large
 Direction – sides, back, 45° and above
 Direct / Indirect (bounced) / Diffused --- Umbrellas, Softboxes, Reflectors
 Intensity / Color / White balance
 How many lights ? --- Ideal : One light + Fill-in reflector
 Light-Shadow ratio / Reflectors / Black vs White panels
In-Camera composition

 Image format : vertical vs horizontal ---- image flow, projected movement / tension
 Focal length
 Aperture – what do you want to get in focus ?
 Cable release / timer / mirror-up

Processing :

 Lightroom – cannot add textures, unless edited externally with additional layers
 Photoshop / Photoshop Elements -- if using textures, use ‘’Place’’ or paste a texture image on a separate
layer
 Other software … (Exposure X5, etc)