SHOOTING STEPS
LAY OUT YOUR OBJECTS The key is to avoid any regimented lines of props – stagger your items to create layers, both vertically and moving into the scene. This produces a sense of depth to the small-scale scene, and makes the viewer want to explore each object in turn.
EXPERIMENT WITH LIGHTING Try different light sources to see how this affects the density of the shadows and also the overall colour balance of the scene. Here I tried both LED lamps and halogen bulbs, settling for the latter in this case, due to the warmer tone.
DARKEN THE BACKGROUND Once the overall exposure is set (metering from the highlights on the grapes, in this scene), reduce the exposure time to darken the environment, by cutting ambient light. If you need to, move the light closer to the subjects and add a reflector on the opposite side.
VARY SEPARATION Shoot the scene at different focal lengths and camera distances to find the best compression. In this shot a longer setting helped bring the background closer and made sure all of the objects overlapped, removing any distracting empty spaces between them.
INTRODUCE NOISE For a little added texture, to reduce the ‘digital’ feel of the shot, you can increase the ISO to add some grain. This brings in the impression of rough canvas, furthering the painterly aesthetic. Just remember to compensate by stopping down or shortening exposure, to maintain brightness.
VARY LIGHT DIRECTION With composition and focus finalised, try moving the light source for different looks. A side light, at 90°, creates strong shadows, while moving the light up and back darkens the background further. Here a second lamp was also introduced to add a beam effect on the wall.