working outside my comfort zone

OK, I'll admit it, when I first realized that our new theme was going to be still life, I was a little nervous.  If you've ever seen my work, you know it's not really my style.  I like to shoot on the go, react to what's in front of me and let my creativity flow with each moment.

I figured if I was going to get through this photography challenge, I should look to something I know to use as my subject.  So I turned to my other passion, fiber arts.  I didn't want to over think it so I quickly grabbed my pitcher full of knitting needles and my drop spindle and put it on the kitchen table while the morning light was soft.  For a little extra something, I threw in a ball of yarn to add some more texture and color.  Click, click, click.  Done.  I can't say I was too impressed with my photos SOOC, but a little cropping and some textures by cat hair studios saved me.  I like the final image--I don't love it, but it will do, and I tried something new.

In keeping with the crafty theme, I went searching in our flickr pool and was drawn to photo below by trisha brink design.  I love the colors, the pop of orange and the way the ribbons are curling off the spool....and (unlike me) I don't think she needed to add any textures to save her image.

~christy of urban muser

vintage ribbon stack by trisha brink design

simple joy

I love having little tokens from loved ones and friends to bring happiness to me everyday.  I love quotes, small pieces of art and pictures hanging to inspire and motivate me, but mostly to bring me joy!  I have many other pictures, cards, and notes from friends that help remind me why I do what I do and why I love it!  Do you ever have a hard day and look up and see something beautiful the keep you going?  I highly suggest everyone making an inspiration board to hang in your office :)

This beautiful picture by sidemtess linda makes me so happy especially knowing that one of her friends sent it to her :)  Just so you know, YOU ARE SPECIAL!  I hope you have a splendid day.  And for fun (or that I am crazy or super tired and delirious...) if you leave a comment here and then email me at aprilnewman @ gmail . com with your address I will send you a little something pretty (today only!)

xoxo
April of april newman photography

046.365 | pure joy -- the hearts continue!!!! by sidemtess | linda

being still

Over the winter months, I find I am quiet and still, waiting for those first days of Spring to start. Making these origami cranes with Ella captured that feeling of stillness for me -- that quiet solitude.

Gonzomama's picture totally captured that still feeling for me. Her words express how so many of us feel over those winter months, "sometimes it just gets to me, this would be one of those times".

kirstin

x

monotony by gonzomama

vintage cream

It will come as no surprise to most of you that I love vintage things, almost anything vintage. When I have a bit of free time, I love to go through my house, gather up some of my favorite finds and create a still life. Sometimes I imagine how the items were originally used, other times I try to think of new ways to reuse well-loved treasures. But I always enjoy finding a lovely combination, taking a few photos and then taking my time processing them, perhaps adding layers of texture to give a timeless feel to the final image.

I am especially drawn to creamy white vintage items. When I saw Claire's simple, but lovely cup of cream photo, I was inspired to gather up some of my treasures for my own creamy still life.

I have really enjoyed your still life photos, seeing what items you gather together to share your creativity and style. Thanks for inspiring us.

xo maureen from Cottage 960

cup of cream by ImagesByClaire

imagination

I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious.

~Diego Rivera

I was an imaginative child. On the one hand, I was incredibly creative and my mother encouraged me by signing me up for anything that leaned in the direction of art: piano lessons, dance, drawing, etc. On the other hand, I was incredibly paranoid that everyone was looking at me (the defeat of an introverted adolescent). However, in my imagination, I was always been able to create a perfect (and safe) world.

Of course, we don't live in a perfect world. But as photographers and artists, we are able to release our imagination into a place where rolls of thread become a work of art and office pins turn into ballerinas performing a ballet pirouette. ArtsyBelle's photograph definitely captured my imagination this week. These everyday office pins absolutely look like ballerinas in tutus. I'm inspired!

Until next time,
Ashley of Ramblings and Photos

Ballerina Pins by ArtsyBelle

art you can eat

I promise that muses Suki and Kat and I did not consult on our photographs for this theme - we obviously all are drawn to still life's involving food.  For me it was certainly a labour of love.  I tried to think outside my own box and take a photo of flower arrangements or items around my home, but after a morning at the farmer's market my subject for today's post was a given.  And after such hard work taking my photo, I had a nice snack.

As for my choice of ania's lovely textured pear?  A nice thinly sliced portion with some organic local artisan cheese sounds delightful.  Wine, anyone?

cheers,
mosey of mosey along

Bosc by ~ania♥

lights nourishes the soul

I have come to realize that every stunning picture needs a certain amount of light. And an open heart.
Still lifes even more.
Although still life gave me a hard time this. I practiced and tried and practiced again, but then I suddenly found the exactly right spot. Light is all I needed.
Often this realization comes not to me until I found it, so for me it is often hard to say what exactly I am looking for. I try until it is found. Like this week, which often gives me a hard time. In the end it is all worth it.

The light in Surprise Pally's picture makes me wonder which kind of people live in that house.
I love it because of the open space in the backround.

See you in 9 days,

Love,
suki of sukiphotographyblog

ah, sunshine. by SurprisePally

infinite possibilities

When I found out we were doing "still life" as a theme, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to capture some of my favorite foods in Italy. Parmagiano-Reggiano cheese was at the top of my list, along with this delicious Amarone della Valpolicella wine. I knew that I wanted this still life on the kitchen counter of our apartment as well.

I had it all planned out in my head, but the reality of the execution was a bit harder than I expected! I set it up, crumbling the parmigiano and placing it next to the wine bottle and started taking photos. Too boring. Put a cork in there for some interest. Better. Add some pasta, almost there. Maybe a wine glass? Yes. Too much space between the wine glass and the bottle. Try again. Oh, that piece of pasta is distracting. Move it and try a few more with different compositions, angles and depth of field. Try with counter lighting on, then counter lighting off. The possibilities were infinite!

In order to look good, a still life has to be just so. The elements must coordinate, be artfully arranged, have nice light, and be captured with an interesting composition. Ania's photo is a perfect example of a well-done still life. I wonder if the arrangement happened naturally, or if it took a while to artfully scatter those seeds...

Kat of The Kat Eye View of the World

... by ~ania♥

for the love of...

Books. 

These are not {just} books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves. From each of them goes out its own voice... and just as the touch of a button on our set will fill the room with music, so by taking down one of these volumes and opening it, one can call into range the voice of a man far distant in time and space, and hear him speaking to us, mind to mind, heart to heart. ~ Gilbert Highet

I love how adding books to a still life helps to tell a story.  Add an antiquarian book, some children's books or the latest bestseller and the story will change. The books give us a deeper look into the life of the photographer. What books do they like to collect? What are their children reading? What is inspiring their thoughts for the day?

Wander around your home and look at your family's books. Is there a reoccuring theme? What do they say about you and where your interests lie?

Our featured photographer, Snolic...linda went to a tag sale and found a stack of old cook books for $1.00. She was happy to discover that one of the cookbooks was a cookbook her mom had when she was a child.  Priceless.

Until next time...

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

It's too cold outside to do anything... by snolic...linda

the next theme is . . . still life

Still life is an art form where the emphasis of the photograph is on an arrangement of a small grouping of objects. This type of image contains a visually pleasing arrangement of objects placed against a background that best compliments or contrasts with the items and uses light to add an additional layer of interest. All of this comes together to deliberately tell a story or evoke a certain feeling.



A still life image should be purposely composed with selected items, it is not a 'slice of life' photo of a scene stumbled upon in our daily lives. Still life photography allows the photographer to express their own style, to be more creative and artistic, and to have complete control over the mood and tone of the final print.

We are looking for still life images that you create, showing us your personal style and artistic flair.