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Dilemma

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.
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11 comments

polytropos said:

Interesting post!
So, we can say: Waiting for (Stéphanie) Godot. :-)
5 years ago

Sami Serola (inactiv… replied to polytropos:

Ha ha ha! =D

Yes, and it may take awhile...
5 years ago

Ruesterstaude said:

Poly's Empfehlung finde ich gut!
5 years ago ( translate )

Erika Akire said:

..."Samis interpretation of still life"...
5 years ago ( translate )

╰☆☆June☆☆╮ said:

Good work. Have a lovely evening.
5 years ago ( translate )

Clickity Click said:

and to think you did this with your cell phone Sami:)
5 years ago

Heidiho said:

Very good description of the "dilemma" of 'classical still life'.
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 !
5 years ago

Diane Putnam said:

Still life...I guess I rarely make them with intention. I never think about them. I made a "classical" one in high school, I remember it very well. Later they were accidents or exercises for me, I guess, but if I look at my photos I will find that I contradict everything I just 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...........
5 years ago

Sami Serola (inactiv… replied to Diane Putnam:

Well, if one would do painting, there would be not so much limits, only imagination! =D

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 ;-)
5 years ago

Peggy C said:

Or just plain old fashioned Confusion !
5 years ago ( translate )

Wierd Folkersma said:

it is not that hard, just take the picture...;))
5 years ago