Six ways to shoot… Still-life photos

1 Consider the lighting

Still-life images can be illuminated with natural or flash light, but think about how you can manipulate the light to push the attention where you want. If you use natural light, a reflector can help with this.

2 What’s the background?

The background can either complement the setup or contrast with it. Backgrounds don’t have to be artificial either, especially if you set up outside.

3 Work on a tripod

Shooting a good still-life takes time. It’s best to position the camera on a tripod, so you can fix the viewpoint you are shooting from and make adjustments to your composition freely.

4 Use Live View

With your camera fixed on a tripod, use the camera’s Live View mode to both assess the composition as you set up and see the effect different lighting has on the subject.

5 Don’t hurry the shot

Even the smallest changes to your composition can make all the difference with a still-life setup, so it is best to work methodically and slowly when you arrange your objects.

6 Find a still-life in new places

You can also shoot a still-life of found subjects in their environments so look for picture potential in the shed, the greenhouse or simply items that are lying around the house.