Exercise 1: Still Life

I did some further research into the concept of still-life, and learnt that in a traditional still-life picture, the objects that are depicted within the scene, have been placed there purposely by the artist, for reasons such as symbolism, personal interests, or simply because they are aesthetically pleasing. Composition is an important factor that is also taken into consideration, where these objects are rearranged frequently, in order to create a more balanced scene, or to take full advantage of the directional lighting, for example. Unlike other styles of photography, especially those that involve people, still-life allows the artist – or photographer – time to create their desired scene, and ultimately, to take the photograph.

For this exercise, I wanted to use ‘time’ as the underlying theme for my still-life images’. But, rather use it to my advantage, reflect on how time – or indeed, the lack of it – is something I feel is a negative aspect in my life currently. I wanted my images’ to depict some of the seemingly endless amount of parental chores I have to undertake on a daily basis, which leaves little, or no time for personal activities. I decided to use my phones camera, as many of the ‘scenes’ quickly return back to ‘normal’, and hoped to emphasise the urgency behind each shot, ultimately distancing myself from the usual notion of unpressurised time associated with still-life. I felt that if I’d used my professional camera, this would have given an unrealistic impression on capturing the moment, as, unlike my camera, my phone is with me at all times. However, as I didn’t want my photographs to be ‘snapshot’ in style, which certainly doesn’t represent a still-life, I took careful consideration over my composition, and where possible, any natural light that was evident in the scene.

References

Format. (2019). ‘Still Life Photography: The Complete Guide’ [Online] Available from: https://www.format.com/magazine/resources/photography/still-life-photography-ideas-and-tips