Summer Still-Lifes

This summer I have gotten into still-life photography and

absolutely LOVE shooting them outside in the early morning sunshine.

 

I wanted to share mine, to inspire you to look around your own house

for pretty, colorful items and treasures that will make a pretty photo.

 

Still-lifes are a great way to learn and grow as a photographer

and use your imagination and creativity.

 

Start with just a few simple things on a table.

 

For tips on shooting still-lifes and capturing the

light, CLICK HERE.

 

Still-lifes can be anything that stays still.

Maybe some interesting tools you have on a work bench.

various spoons you have in the kitchen drawer.

 

When I was planting my summer herbs, I created a still-life

arrangement with the gardening tools and plants.

 

Pretty things around your house can be used. 

It's fun and simple to match colors.

 

Try using the artistic filters in Photoshop to

make your still-lifes look more like paintings

Watch my VIDEO TUTORIAL to learn how to do this. 

 

I became very observant this summer and considered

things I never really noticed as possible still-lifes!

 

One morning I looked out the window and saw the sun sparkling

off the morning dew, so I plopped a pitcher of flowers onto the grass

and shot VERY low...lying on my stomach in the WET grass!

 

I came up with this next idea when I saw my pretty glass pitcher in a cupboard.

I got it as a wedding gift and rarely use it. 

I like the shape, so I put water into the pitcher and added food coloring!

 

This photo was used by The Farmer's Almanac in an

article about pink lemonade!

 

My kids went blueberry picking and I really loved the color

so I photographed them.

 

 

 

This began my obsession with photographing food!

We had these grapes in our fruit bowl, so I used them in a still life.

 

 

I actually went to the grocery store and selected the

most colorful and interesting vegetables and

went crazy photographing them inside and outside.

 

I got to eat some yummy salads..and YEP...

I photographed them!

 

 

If we had strawberries in the fridge...I photographed them

on the kitchen table.

 

Lemons anyone?

 

My daughter was home for the weekend and I made her breakfast.

Yep....I photographed it and now this photo is on the

website of an egg farmer in Germany!

 

I also photographed my poached egg breakfast one morning.

 

 

A friend brought me some cherries, so I took some photos.

 

 

I just want to open your eyes to photographing

the simple, everyday things in your life.

 

Just add a vase of flowers (fake flowers photograph beautifully!)

table linens you already have in a drawer. 

Use interesting chairs and tables you have around the house.

 

 

Let your imagination run wild and enjoy shooting

some still-life photos of your own.

 

Better yet, frame them and hang them in your home.

ART that contains your own treasures!