Out of School In School
The still life photo that I like the most is my first in school still life. The objects I selected for this still life assignment are a vintage notebook, a magnify glass, a compass, a calligraphy pen, a peacock feather, news print, and a pastel background paper. The meaning these objects have for me is, I really enjoy photographing objects that tell a story. I also really love the look of vintage items, all the items in this picture represent me and my love for antiques and adventure. I decided to have the notebook standing up because compositionally it added depth to the image, rather than the book laying flat. I also wanted the orange/red print to contrast the light blue of the background to make the image more interesting. I placed the pen over the newspaper to make it seem as if the owner of these objects had been doing research or taking notes. The compass and the magnify glass I used to create the idea that the character is seeking adventure, and the peacock feather I added for a pop of color and to keep more of a feminine feel. The lighting of the studio light was a little difficult to work with at first, but once I got the right angle it worked to my advantage. I really like how the lighting faced the book, so there was a shadow cast on the front of the book from the smaller flap in the front. I like how the light was right over the magnify glass which created great shine, which I think enhanced the photo, creating great contrast between the shadow and light. In order to create a great contrast between shadow and light I tried multiple times to place the light where there would be a nice balance between that. In the first in school photo I think I was able to accomplish that balance.