Why would a person who loves nature have trouble with an exercise to photograph something organic? Because, I want my organic to be mushrooms, lichen, bark, or seedpods and I want them outside in their natural setting. But, since Be Still is about still life photography I gave it a try.
I gathered a few things; a little metal pan, a wooden vase, dried seedpods, natural potpourri, cheesecloth, and burlap. I used weathered boards for the base and black fabric for the background.
I worked for three hours and took 93 pictures! Yet, what I find fascinating was that I enjoyed those three hours. I was calm. I was still. I played. I just didn't get the results I wanted. I felt like I was fighting the light, which surprised me because I was using light from a north window and it was an overcast morning. I had quite a bit of difficulty with the sidelight shining on the pan and leaving blown out areas. I managed to solve that by tilting the pan, putting up a piece of foam core to block some of the light, and using sheer fabric over the window.
This weeks photo for Be Still will be somewhere near the bottom of the list of favorite images I took for this class. I think you can tell that my heart just wasn't in it. If I made a list of things learned, this would be near the top. You just have to get the light right. It's all about the light!
This project is on my to-do list for today. I've been mentally struggling with it all week, and now I have to get physical! I'm frustrated too, because I can't even go outside to collect any natural materials to work with. I think you did very well, and the lesson learned about the light was surely worth the struggle. PS - I love your pretty wooden vase!
ReplyDeleteI love all the various colours of nature you have collected to do your still life photos. That golden coloured vase with dried flowers is just beautiful! Take heart, some days things go more easily than others.
ReplyDeleteYou are funny, I hear you on the natural elements of organic being outside. I really love that second one because Top Down always really speaks to me, great focus.
ReplyDeleteI like what you're trying so much, I actually did a still life shoot myself yesterday and took way too many photos. I mostly worked with what I had (a week old bouquet that was drying), but I experimented with my macro lens a bit. Like you, I mostly want to shoot natural outdoor scenes, but I found the time I spent on the still life calming and worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteI like what you're trying so much, I actually did a still life shoot myself yesterday and took way too many photos. I mostly worked with what I had (a week old bouquet that was drying), but I experimented with my macro lens a bit. Like you, I mostly want to shoot natural outdoor scenes, but I found the time I spent on the still life calming and worthwhile.
ReplyDeletereally, really beautiful!! don't be so hard on yourself, you nailed it!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow it's a still subject which has a live energy. I like the 3rd composition very much.
ReplyDeleteOh, I do like all of these. But I think the last one is my favorite. It looks like it was 3-hours well spent. My, how time flies when we're having fun!
ReplyDeleteWell, the learning is what it is all about, right? You have such interesting things in your collection. I especially love your color scheme of golds and deep fuchsia.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely all about the light. I am certainly seeing that in my self-portraiture class.
ReplyDeleteGlad you learn about the light because the photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'm way behind in this class and bit overwhelmed by the prompts. You preserved and got some good results -- they may not be exactly what you wanted, but it sounds like a great learning experience, and it looks good to me. It is always about the light, isn't it? Happy weekend!
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