Welcome back and happy new year as I start back with some still life for Monochrome Madness. I have had a great break and it is nice to get back into it.
I took almost a total break from social media and it was great. During that time I really only stayed on things to keep up to date, but that was it. It has been a long time since I did that, but as things have changed in my life recently my priorities have changed. The fires that are happening in Australia have been a huge distraction too. While I’m safe and far away from them at this stage, I don’t know if it will stay that way. One of the things I love about where I live is all the parkland across the road, but that also means we could see fires there. Fingers crossed that it stays as it is.
With those changes, it seems only reasonable to see them being reflected in my photography as well.
Still Life
I’ve been experimenting with it more. There are so many things to love about this kind of photography, but I have to be honest, I really suck at it.
No, I’m not being hard on myself, I really do think that. The problem is I really love it, so I am going to have to keep trying. Can I master still life photography? That is the questions I’m asking myself now.
First Attempts
Last week my friend Chris came over and we tried some. She has done some in the past and is much better at setting things up than me.
First, we went to a junkyard and got some bits of wood to use and a window. We used a gazebo thing with a white top for the lighting, a lot of diffused light. Unfortunately, it ended up being a lot warmer than we thought it would be and we felt like we were cooking under it.
We couldn’t do too much, so we just did a few setups. It was always my plan to make the images monochrome, so here is one of the attempts.
I realised it was Wednesday and thought it would be a good one for Monochrome Madness.
Chris basically set this up. After she left and the temperature went down a bit I did this one.
Hit and Miss
Really I didn’t like the light from the gazebo thing. I thought it was too diffused and there weren’t enough shadows. I’ve had to create them more in post. Now that I have finally done it, I don’t think I would use it again.
We used a lot of stuff that Chris brought with her and she has much better things than me. It did, however, give me a lot of ideas.
Now I will work on the idea practice makes perfect. It is the ideal subject for summer, so I want to do more. The idea that I can do it at home is also very appealing. I’m a homebody, I love being home and being able to do photos here is perfect for someone like me. So I will be doing a lot more. Let’s see if I can get better at doing them. What’s that saying, time will tell?
It’s raining here in Korea. Maybe it’s time to practise some still life myself. I rather like the second one you shared.
Sounds like it could be. Thank you.
These are wonderful Leanne …happy New Year to you!
Thank you Julie, I’m enjoying exploring a new genre. Happy New Year to you too.
I applaud your determination and believe you will be much better with still life sooner than you expected.
> I am a homebody
Never heard this before! So do I! I can write it everywhere, I am a homebody…
I like being home. I have never felt bored being home. And, I have nothing wrong (as far as I know!) mentally.
… and I like still lives! It is time I start a homey stil life project!
I hope the fires never reach you and I believe you will show us beautiful still lives soon.
Thank you, I’m such a homebody, too much so sometimes I think.
I am planning now for more still life images, I have a few plans and I have cleared an area to use where I think the light will be good, well in the mornings anyway.
Yes, we are hoping the same with the fires, we don’t want them near us. The smoke is really bad, but I’m just going to spend my time indoors.
So beautiful 😍
Thank you Rexlin.
This is so beautiful!
Thank you Sonali.
Leanne, Happy New Year and glad you are in the safe zone from the fires. Such a horrific event! Those poor people and animals many losing their lives and/or homes! very sad!
Hey we all suck at stuff in beginning when it’s new! but the more we practice the better we hopefully get.
I’m sure Irving Penn and Edward Weston sucked in the beginning too! 😉
Think the lighting is such a major key in stilllifes. Giving it dimension, depth and texture.
Best in 2020! Stay Safe!
Jack
Thank you Jack, and happy new year to you too. The animals I really feel for, none of this is their fault.
I hope you are right, that is what I am going for anyway, more practice.
Yes, lighting is very important, and I have some ideas, and hopefully some better images soon.
Yes, I will stay safe, well, hopefully where I am will be fine.
Happy New Year and good to see you back, Leanne. I could gather stuff but would be at a loss as to how to arrange it. I think both of these turned out pretty.
Thank you Lois, nice to be back. I’m with you, collecting, yep, arranging, not so much. Practice I think.
Oooh, I’ve never thought of trying to create a still life set-up for photography – it sounds fun! 🙂
Yeah, it can be fun, trying to work out what to put in it is another side to it as well. Thank you Ruth.
I love the junk objects image. There is lots of wonderful visual texture in that image.
Thank you Laura, they were all of Chris’s, I need to get some junk things like that for myself.
First of all I think so many people are holding their breath waiting for the fires to be extinquished.
There’s something about photography which draws us back even if there has been a hiccup!
Love the tone of the bottles but not sure about the area on the left.
Yes I think the same. Unfortunately they are predicting they will go on for another couple of months, I hope that isn’t true. We need a lot of rain.
You are so right there, I’m always drawn back and like experimenting as well.
It is a vase of flowers, or the top of them, I was trying something, but your reaction isn’t the first to that. I might need to do a rethink.