With the wide-ranging scope of photography, various genres have turned into a professional industry. One of them is the area of Still-life photography. It is one of the oldest genres of photography. It is one of the most basic yet essential skills that every photographer must possess.
What is Still Life Photography?
Still life photography, in simple terms, involves capturing an inanimate object in all its essence where every little detail in the back. Commonly, the objects are objects of everyday use. They may include artificial or man-made objects. The emphasis in such photography is laid on the arrangement, framing, and background of the object.
Photography of still life is one of a kind. The fact that the subject isn’t something special or uncommon is what distinguishes it. They are commonplace items that go unnoticed much of the time. Making ordinary things exceptional is where the talent lies. Still-life photographers can breathe new life into their subjects by experimenting with different arrangements, lighting, and compositions.
How did this begin?
Roger Fenton, an early English photographer, faced a difficult situation in 1860 when he was confined to his home due to unseasonably bad weather. The world-famous landscape photographer found himself cut off from the beautiful countryside, unable to create the images that made him famous. Rather than giving up, he started to create lush still lives indoors, integrating lilies, ferns, roses, grapes, and plums into excellent arrangements.
Fenton’s simple photographs from his photographer days are now among the most recognizable images in modern history, rivaling even his epic landscapes. They still have a new and fresh feel to them. Roger Fenton’s story serves as a powerful reminder that the simplest things and the most modest of means can form the basis for remarkable images at a time when so many of us are alone in our homes.
What are the different types of still-life photography?
The list is long for the arenas in still-life photography. Nevertheless, some of them are as follows-
Product Photography
Product photography covers a broad range of topics. It may be any product, such as a headset, food, clothing, technical equipment, inanimate objects, and so on. Product photography aims to showcase a specific product in the best possible light. Product images are usually very precise to give the viewer a clear understanding of the product and its details without any distracting elements in the picture. With the growing ecommerce competition, it’s more important than ever to showcase your product on a digital platform. On the other hand, still-life shots are typically more artistically oriented and provide more opportunities for imagination.
Tabletop Photography
The most common form of still-life photography is tabletop photography. It’s what most people think about when they hear the term “still life photography.” Shooting items small enough to fit on a table falls into this group. As long as the artifacts are inanimate, the photographer can use whatever he or she wants.
Food Photography
Another form of still-life photography closely related to product photography is food photography. The main goal is usually to depict and appealingly present the dish. On the other hand, food photography differs from product photography in that it entails setting the scene and organizing the background by arranging other food products and tableware around the subject.
Found Object Photography
Though it is a part of the still life photography family, object photography involves placing these ordinary, usual subjects in unexpected and unusual backdrops, arrangements, or context.
What are the tools and equipment needed for still-life photography?
Lens- Still life photography does not demand any expenses of a huge collection of lenses. Generally, any lens works. However, if working professionally, one may use close-up, macro, and telephoto lenses may work best.
Lighting- To achieve the desired effects, reflectors, lightboxes, speedlights, and strobes may be used. A light reflector is a simple way to monitor the amount of natural light in your images. A strobe or a Speedlight gives your photos a more professional look. Strobes are more expensive, but they come with additional features, including built-in light modelling. By adjusting the settings, it may change the intensity of the light. Softboxes will soften and balance out the light from your flash or strobe.
Some famous names in the industry-
1 . E-Commerce Photography India
Based in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, they are an ecommerce photography studio. They offer high-quality product photography for clients from all over India, Mumbai. They provide a range of excellent commercial photography services at highly competitive prices, which positively affect your market. They have catered for brands like Amazon India, Flipkart, etc.
2 . Shirish Sen Photography
He is a professional advertising and commercial photographer. He has expertise in Still-life photography with a focus on food, beverage, liquids, and products. Based in Gurgaon, he has been working independently since 2004. He has shot the classic commercial shots for KFC, Pepsi Maggi, etc. His work spans over Billboards. The following is the link to their website- https://www.shirishsen.com
3 . Aishwarya Wagh Photography
Aishwarya is a commercial photographer who works in architecture, product, interior, food, people photography, etc. Her photography is not limited to mere capturing through the lens but is into creating concepts, and she believes in narrating stories that express the brand she is representing. She has her unique style.
The following is the link to her website and her portfolio- http://aishwaryawagh.com