Still Life Photography : 5 Secrets To Better Still Life Images

still life photography can be very powerful, as it is an opportunity to bring an inanimate and ordinary everyday object to life with your camera.  when it comes to still life photography, it’s a great opportunity for you to get creative with your perspective and take your time.  because your subject is inanimate, and therefore patient, be sure to take your time photographing and watch how subtle changes in your composition and your position in relation to the subject can play a huge factor in the success of your image.  as you are exploring still life photography, there are 5 things that you should consider to ensure that you create a photograph that is strong.

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Still Life Photography: 5 Secrets To Better Still Life Images

Balance

just like with any photo you take with any subject, you should always consider balance when you are composing your image.  you can do this by using the rule of thirds or by incorporating thoughtful negative space.  sometimes a center composition can also be very powerful with still life.  when you create balance in your still life image, you are creating harmony.  in the image above of the lemons, i used the rule of thirds and negative space to create balance within the image and to show my viewer where i wanted them to focus their attention, in the lemons.

Get Creative With Perspective

when it comes to still life photography, creative perspective plays a huge role.  you can practice perspective by placing your still life object in one spot and then move yourself and your camera around it, as you photograph from a variety of angles.  try photographing from above, from below, from the side, from further away, close up, etc.  one of the biggest secrets for successful still life photography is how you put your own perspective on it.  in the image above, even though my subject is the yarn, i placed my focal point on the basket.  while the yarn is still clearly visible and recognizable, it falls into a soft blur and brings a different perspective.

Consider Your Light

here me when i say, light will make or break your still life photography.  consider your lighting in every photo you take.  practice moving your subject closer or further away from the light to see the different results of how the light plays on your subject.  in the photo above of the flowers, i was sure to place the flowers near a window (about 4 feet away) to allow the natural light to play on the petals and cast soft shadows.  because of my use of light, i bring the flowers to life within the image and really showcase their texture with my wide angle lens.

Be Mindful of Aperture

just like any photo you take, being aware of your aperture will allow you to take creative control of your still life photography and be more unique with the photos you take.  as you are looking at your subject, do you want it to be in full focus, or would you like to incorporate creative blur?  in the image above of the watermelon and watermelon cocktail, i wanted to showcase the drink.  i used a lower aperture to place my focal point on the glass, allowing the table and watermelon pieces to fall into a soft, but still recognizable, blur.

Bring Life To Your Still Life

sometimes it is necessary to bring some life to your still life photography.  consider the image above of the cider and the mason jar.  originally, i wanted to take a photo of the empty mason jar and bottle of hard cider sitting side by side on the table.  however, it was becoming boring and uninteresting.  to bring life to the image, i decided to hop in the frame and capture a photo of the cider being poured into the jar.  this final photo is so much more compelling, as i incorporated movement in the liquid and texture in the bubbles.

still life photography can be very fun and also very eye opening as you experiment with your composition and perspective.  as you are exploring still life photography, be sure to remember to consider your aperture, be mindful of your perspective, bring your still life to life, consider your use of light and incorporate balance within your image.  as you are considering all of these factors for still life photography, you are bound to create images that are much more compelling, even with an inanimate object.  you will be amazed at what you can bring to life with your camera.

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