Contribution for The 50 Images-Project: Still Life 30/50
I watched the
resent Youtube video by Jamie Windsor, where he ponders the dilemma of
nostalgia. We are so profoundly affected by it that we have difficult times to come up with anything really new, and especially come up with something
groundbreaking.
When it comes to something like still life photography, one immediately starts to think what all makes this form of art entirely polluted by nostalgia: use of earthly tones, soft light, orthodox arrangements, golden rules, and use of classic still life subjects like fruits, flowers and tableware.
Searching with keyword phrase "modern still life" one may find something like
still life images by Stephanie Godot, which indeed seems to break the ground, at least a little. Although, also Godot seem to use some nostalgic styles that seem to refer to old advertising images. Even the choice of color palette can be such a choice. But that is unavoidable if one wishes to also sell.
Maybe the whole concept of
still life is nothing but trying to feel nostalgic. So, is there a way out of nostalgia? What would be something new, if not completely, then at least profoundly? And how far one can go without afraid of making the image too difficult to become recognized as a still life?
Although, I also do admit one should master the classic styles first before trying to create new. That is what I try to achieve: to master the old, to come up with something new.
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Edited with Snapseed, Glitch Lab and PicMonkey. It turned out quite a challenge alone, to get what I wanted with a poor mobile phone camera. The goal was to make colors bright and pop out. I even had to change the background and take the shot again.
11 comments
polytropos said:
So, we can say: Waiting for (Stéphanie) Godot. :-)
Sami Serola (inactiv… replied to polytropos:
Yes, and it may take awhile...
Ruesterstaude said:
Erika Akire said:
╰☆☆June☆☆╮ said:
Clickity Click said:
Heidiho said:
Indeed, I really think in fruits, flowers and tableware ... time to re-start my brain to another idea of still life ! btw: great example here !
Diane Putnam said:
I very much agree that starting with classic themes and techniques is important! Train the EYE and the HAND! I have just realized I have been talking about painting, not photography!The end results are richer and more complex than they would be without a classical foundation. The best way to train the eye/hand is through still life and figure drawing. I was a better painter than photographer. Well, I'm just rambling...........
Sami Serola (inactiv… replied to Diane Putnam:
Although, in old days painters actually did still life especially to learn imitating the reality (light, textures etc.).
And indeed, figure drawing could actually help one to learn better and more... I have not much thought about that option lately. Drawing a sketch could help improving the composition.
So, rambling (thinking out loud) is always good! Thanks for that, Diane ;-)
Peggy C said:
Wierd Folkersma said: