The genre of "still life" involves inanimate objects placed into a composed order, in a context, with a background. Many different kinds of objects can be used - a random collection of objects taken from everyday life - a collection of different colored fruits, books next to a watch on a table top, and so forth.
In creating a still life, composition becomes very important, as the subject matter, by itself, may not be striking. In a sense, everything depends directly on composition: leading lines, geometric relationships, the perspective implications generated by the objects (including other principles like the grid of thirds, the use of negative space, etc.), the positioning of shadow, the use of contracting and complementary textures, as well as the hardness or softness of chosen lighting, quite directly determine the effectiveness of the image.
In creating a still life, composition becomes very important, as the subject matter, by itself, may not be striking. In a sense, everything depends directly on composition: leading lines, geometric relationships, the perspective implications generated by the objects (including other principles like the grid of thirds, the use of negative space, etc.), the positioning of shadow, the use of contracting and complementary textures, as well as the hardness or softness of chosen lighting, quite directly determine the effectiveness of the image.
Assignment
Your objective is to take interesting photographs of a still life using Classic Lighting techniques.
Set up a still life. Shoot an entire roll of film of the still life. Use the techniques you learned in the Classic Lighting lesson to create interesting shapes and shadows within the still life. Change the still life at least 3 times by moving the objects around. Also, shoot from different angles; in front of the still life, look down at it and look up at it. You want to capture only the still life and a simple background. Use a backdrop, if needed, to block out the classroom.
Your objective is to take interesting photographs of a still life using Classic Lighting techniques.
Set up a still life. Shoot an entire roll of film of the still life. Use the techniques you learned in the Classic Lighting lesson to create interesting shapes and shadows within the still life. Change the still life at least 3 times by moving the objects around. Also, shoot from different angles; in front of the still life, look down at it and look up at it. You want to capture only the still life and a simple background. Use a backdrop, if needed, to block out the classroom.