"Still Life" - Thoughts and Opinions (Page 7): Late to the thread. Life gets in the way. For me, still life is such a mixed bag. I enjoy viewing the traditional style but not shooting...

wowbmw Loc: Grant, Colorado

Travesty wrote:

I was sorting through folders and doing a bit of o... (show quote)

Late to the thread. Life gets in the way. For me, still life is such a mixed bag. I enjoy viewing the traditional style but not shooting it. I prefer being in the moment and observing a scene around me that I can build upon with a few changes to composition and lighting. The style is what I see and while it seems funky and not at all traditional, it serves to capture the memory.

Very difficult to capture this but what heck - why not play

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A modern still life look to our nightly happy hour

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Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Dave Chinn wrote:

Walt, I'm sure she will love this !!! Nice work, I always have loved vintage antique items. Is that an antique hair dryer?
Dave

Yes, that one was the one our mother used to dry her children's hair. My oldest sister is 78 now, and the youngest is 60 so it goes back a ways.

Walt

sundar Loc: Charlotte, NC

Dave Chinn wrote:

A very inspiring photo. Love the lighting and mood you have given this. One thing I may have done was to add some wine to one of the glasses. Still, a great image without the wine.
Dave

Thank you much for your comments Dave ! Much appreciated.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

wowbmw wrote:

...I prefer being in the moment and observing a scene around me that I can build upon with a few changes to composition and lighting. The style is what I see and while it seems funky and not at all traditional, it serves to capture the memory.

Very interesting and engaging, Byron! You mention modern for #2, but I'm getting a 1960's vibe for some reason :)

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Linda From Maine wrote:

Very interesting and engaging, Byron! You mention modern for #2, but I'm getting a 1960's vibe for some reason :)

It's got a grainy film look. And the decor is a bit reminiscent....

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

in camera and thanks so much

Dave Chinn wrote:

The dramatic lighting on grandma's jewels is very lovely. Not sure if you added the star/twinkle or not but it adds to the image tremendously.
Dave

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

Dave, thank you so very much for your lovely comment, and if my image inspires you to have another go at still life, then it was certainly worth my posting it. And I thank each of you who have taken the time to view and comment on my post: Pierre, Walt, Linda, Carla, Walt Childs and Minnie. I appreciate you all so much.

Dave Chinn wrote:

Having just returned from New Orleans, this image is after my heart for I think you have done very well with this. I love everything about it. It inspires me to have another go at still life.
Dave

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

They were acting out life until I walked in..and then it got still.

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minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Frank2013 wrote:

They were acting out life until I walked in..and then it got still.

I love it! You might could make more of it with careful positioning and lighting choices like some of the wonderful images that are posted in this thread by still life artists, but it feel so real to me because I KNOW these guys! I've met them all at Disney World (even danced with Woody), hunted them down in the house because a kid couldn't sleep without one of them, played with them, washed every kind of kid-crud off of them. Thanks for this.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Frank2013 wrote:

They were acting out life until I walked in..and then it got still.

Utterly delightful, Frank! "Toy Story" is one of my favorite Pixar movies. For those unfamiliar with what your comments mean:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_Story

I agree with Minnie that creative lighting could elevate this to even more interest.

carlysue Loc: Columbus

wowbmw wrote:

Late to the thread. Life gets in the way. For me, still life is such a mixed bag. I enjoy viewing the traditional style but not shooting it. I prefer being in the moment and observing a scene around me that I can build upon with a few changes to composition and lighting. The style is what I see and while it seems funky and not at all traditional, it serves to capture the memory.

Glad you are playing here, wowbmw. What I really like about the still life image of #1 is the color of the lamps. I don't think its too dark at all, in fact, I'd make the background even darker and and have those lamp colors pop out like jewels!

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

minniev wrote:

I love it! Thanks for this.

Glad it was enjoyable.

Linda From Maine wrote:

Utterly delightful, Frank! "Toy Story" is one of my favorite Pixar movies.
I agree with Minnie that creative lighting could elevate this to even more interest.

Thank you Linda. I have some ideas but I am working on, thanks to you and minniev.....if I can learn what I need to do in Ps maybe I will repost at some point.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

minniev and Linda I will just have to study more..I could not get my floating dust particles to cooperate, so you will have to settle for a bit of mood lighting as suggested.

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wowbmw Loc: Grant, Colorado

carlysue wrote:

Glad you are playing here, wowbmw. What I really like about the still life image of #1 is the color of the lamps. I don't think its too dark at all, in fact, I'd make the background even darker and and have those lamp colors pop out like jewels!

Thank you for viewing and your suggestion. It was the jeweled look that got my attention as well. Will take a look at making them pop even more.

wowbmw Loc: Grant, Colorado

Linda From Maine wrote:

Very interesting and engaging, Byron! You mention modern for #2, but I'm getting a 1960's vibe for some reason :)

Interesting comment. Guess I may be a little stuck in the sixties these days. Tend to arrange my space in the moment and the results are often revealing in retrospect. Thanks for commenting!