You are forced to exercise your creativity by creating an interesting photo out of something that is mundane and lifeless

Above: Still lifes don’t have to be a bowl of fruit or flowers in a vase. Almost any everyday object can be a suitable subject, providing you create a cohesive concept for your image.

Right: The paper boat and water work well together in this image, while the clover adds an intentional dash of contrast that immediately draws the viewer’s eye.

Still life photographers breathe life into inanimate subjects by playing with lighting, arrangements and the odd special effect. My favourite thing about shooting still life is that I don’t need much to create an engaging story. This is in contrast with other genres, where you have to find a model, search out the best locations, or wait for the weather.

Instead, you can work with the common objects you already have lying around your home. And since you have complete control over every aspect of the scene, you can take the time to try out different settings and compositions, and find what works best. This is a great genre if you’re new to photography and want to learn about lighting and framing, or even if you want to double down and improve your skills in a controlled environment.

SUBJECTS WITH STORIES

The great thing about still life photography is you can choose literally any inanimate object as your subject. But this endless freedom can also be a problem, as it’s easy to lose direction and sometimes it’s hard to settle on what to shoot. This can be overcome with a bit of planning, and considering the symbolism and concepts you want to convey. I like to spend a little time planning out the kind of image I’m aiming for and brainstorming some still life photography ideas.

Searching for subjects

The difference between a good still life and a great still life image is the storytelling quality, and how much your subjects match up with your concept. When picking objects for your composition there are a few things to consider. The story you are going to tell through your photo, whether your subject works well with your overall concept, and the timeline or era your photo and concept belong to