Chess styling still life. Master class with photo
Like any other genre of photography, still life is impossible without composition. Moreover, still life is exactly the genre where the composition plays a paramount role and requires close attention from the photographer. After all, the reportage frame can be forgiven, if the author caught a really good time. And homemade pictures - you noticed how moms are died, seeing in the photo, albeit a talentless, their child? It is unlikely that we will wait for the same condesception from the audience, photographed the orange with a bottle. To have a positive effect, you will have to try. And start, of course, follows from the composition of the conceived frame.
Conditionally speaking, the composition in still life is a harmonious combination and interaction of objects in the frame. Through the composition, you can consistently show the viewer all that you wanted to create a mood, pass the idea and even tell the story.
The composition in the still life can be divided into several types:
- geometric
- spatial
- color
Geometric composition
It is no secret that all objects have a geometric (or approximate to the geometric) form. It is also not a secret that a person is characteristic of associated every figure with something characteristic of her. For example, the angles are subconsciously associated with pointers. When you look at a square or a rectangle for a long time, a feeling of stability arises (maybe, because our subconsciously draws a stable building). And the circle creates a feeling of comfort and soothes. It is worth remembering that horizontal lines (lying man) are much calmer than the vertical (man standing). As for the diagonals, the ascending lines are leading from the top lower corner to the right top - they look tensily descending: we read everything left to right, and our view has to "boil" around the picture to get to the very top. But this is hidden and a certain sense of victory, isn't it?! The downstream lines coming from the left upper angle to the right lower right, on the contrary, are traditionally associated with relaxation, sadness or even decline.
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All these little tricks can and need to be used for their own purposes - in order to transfer the concept, picture ideas.
Selecting space
If there is a need to highlight a certain item in still life, removing him the role of the main character, here you can play on the spatial composition. For example, put the main object on the forefront, ahead of all others. Or set up the light so that the leading element is lit by brighter than everyone, and those objects that ended up and in front of it were weaker. And it is possible to make a cunning - to light the wand of the incense or release a cigarette smoke, thus drawing in the frame to the air passage: the focus will be focused on the front objects, since the far drown in the romantic haze.
You can also play on the technical aspects of the camera: if you want to show it in detail every item, including a backdrop or drapery, then the shooting should be carried out with a closed diaphragm. But if it is important to select some one item, then the diaphragm needs to be revealed as much as possible. It is not necessary to ignore the optics features: on frames made using wide-angle lenses, items are greatly distorted, and the closer to the camera the object, the greater it will seem in relation to remote. Conversely, large focal lengths "collect" perspective, the space is made much more flat.
Color composition
If the photography is conducted in b / w, we will not use knowledge about the properties of the color exposure. But in the event that the photographic is planned in color - you should not ignore this research scope. By turning his mind to color psychology, we will see that each of the colors has, in addition to its original color, its own semantic load. Warm colors (orange, yellow, red, terracotta) remind us of summer, sun, warm. This is the first association, which occurs when looking at the photo, resolved in these colors. In addition, from the course of painting, you can find out that such items seem visually closer. What you can not say about cold colors: blue, green, pink, purple - these colors slightly remove the object from the viewer, and are associated as a rule with winter, cold, water.
It is important to remember about the contrast, sometimes it can be played on it, but often uncompressed color combinations repel or distort the meaning of the entire production. If you decide to take pictures of the cucumber on an orange background, think, will there be a background to drag attention on yourself? And did you really want to achieve this? It is also necessary to remember that any item has the ability to reflect or absorb the color shades of objects nearby, and even two of the same in the color of the object on one background may look different because of the differences in their textures.
The influence on the viewer also has a saturation of the color: the composition in soft pastel colors will create a feeling of rest and nostalgia, and bright, screaming paints, on the contrary, are suitable for attracting attention, expression transmission, factories. That is why bright colors are so loved by advertising photographers, while the art photo is often touched by a muted, calm tone.
Of course, any composition must be fully compiled by a common flavor, the law inside the picture - otherwise it will fall apart. That is why you should be careful with color contrasts, they can have a serious influence - how to make work more interesting, and destroy it, putting unnecessary accents.
Black and white
Despite the lack of color, in black and white still life, their laws reign, and the contrast here also plays an important role. The same color in this case is replaced by the tone - another game, but there are also rules in it!
Surely you noticed that full women very rarely go in white. The fact is that white color seems to be a volume of black. On the black and white image of the eyes first grabs the brightest stains and only then moves to the dark. There are many visual pictures on this effect: if you look at the sheet in a smooth black and white strip, it will certainly seem that white stripes are wider. It is always necessary to take into account this rule when formulation of the composition, and also take into account that the bright white subject will be in the forefront or in the background, it will surely seem in this composition mainly, and the look will fall primarily on it.
Contrasts
As already mentioned, contrasts play a special role. There is existing within the same composition in the image, they can highlight objects and, on the contrary, hide them. The work built on barely noticeable fluctuations in light and shadow without emphasizing the attention of the viewer stains seems to be monotonous, monotonous, inexpressive. The sharp contrasts create tension, dynamics.
Rule of tratta
Of course, in a conversation about the composition, it is impossible not to mention the rule of the third. Having in the mind through a frame four lines - two, dividing it into three equal parts horizontally, and two vertical verticals - you can calculate the most effective frame zones: they are at the points of intersection of four lines with each other. In these zones, it is best to place the main object of the composition.
In fact, the rule of the third is a simplified rule of the golden section, which will be somewhat more complicated. For this, the frame must be divided into eight parts horizontally and vertical. And then spend on the right and on the left, as well as from the bottom and on top, the line is 3/8. At the intersection of these lines and there will be points of the golden section. But the splitting into three parts is much more convenient than eight parts, so it is used in the composition more often: the viewer's difference is not so noticeable, and harmony in the frame subject to any of these rules is obvious.
Rhythm
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Rhythm, that is, the repetition of the same or similar lines is a very powerful composite tool that allows you to manipulate the viewer's view. According to the "track" of alternating objects, you can hurt very far. But it is not necessary to replay - the rhythm can and kill the entire composition by depriving its dynamics and making monotonous.
Internal connections
When creating a setup for photography, it is necessary to ensure that there is a connection between objects in the frame. Items can be associated with form (egg and bulb), in color (tomato and red pepper), in meaning (apple and cinnamon sticks). Objects must be reported to pass the viewer who translates a look from one item in still life to another. This approach gives the integrity of the composition, makes it an interesting, understandable and at the same time mysterious - it is not at all necessary to disclose all internal connections at once, the most interesting can be hidden inside the composition or for a while hide from the viewer, for example, light.
On the composition you can speak infinitely for a long time, but most importantly, what a still life is built on (as, however, and the photo in any other genre) is an idea, a plot and shower of the picture. And the composition is the same tool in the hands of the photographer, like the camera itself. Remember that you want to convey to the viewer! And use all available composite techniques for your own purposes.
The word "still life" comes from the French phrase "Nature Morte" and means a sorting or dead nature. But it seems to me that the essence of this type of art gives the English expression "Still Life" - "fixed, frozen life." After all, at its essence, still life - nothing else like a selection of a piece of life.
Collecting material for this article, I encountered certain difficulties. At first glance, take off the still life easier than simple. Put a cup on the table, added some details to it, set the light and click the shutter. Fashion models are always at hand, unlimited time for shooting. Convenient and costs are minimal. Therefore, they love this genre novice photographers. And some achieve very interesting results. Go to any photographic site, select the appropriate section and admire the really chic pictures. But the time passes, and many questions arise: "Why do you need to shoot it? Who needs it? What will I have from this?" Without finding answers to these questions, many switches to wedding, children's or animal photographs that give some income. Still life does not enjoy special respect and masters photos. Not profitable this business. If something can bring, it is only aesthetic satisfaction. And they shoot still lifes from time to time, so to speak, to catch up with their skill.
But there are units that see in still life, something more than just a beautiful picture. So, I dedicate my article to this masters.
I confess, at first I wanted to make a selection of photographers who like me, and which rightfully occupy the first places in the ratings on various photosites. And then the question arose: "Why?" Everyone knows how to use the Internet, most of Ned once have shown photosites, familiar with the best works, and the information about the interested photographer can always be found with the search engine. I decided to tell about special photographers - those whose creativity turns the recognized canons from the legs on the head, who really made something new, who managed to see something unusual in everyday things. In different ways can be treated for their work: admire or, on the contrary, do not take. But, unambiguously, their work cannot leave anyone indifferent.
1. Kara Barer
Kara Berr (1956), photographer from the United States, chose one object for filming - a book. By converting it, it creates amazing book sculptures that photographs. Consider her photos can be infinite. After all, each such book sculpture carries a certain meaning, and ambiguous.
2. Gwido Mocafico (Guido Mocafico)
Swiss photographer Guido Mokafiko (1962) in his work is not limited to one subject. He is interested in different objects.
But even taking a single piece, he gets amazing work. Its famous series "Movement" ("Movement"). It seems to be simply taken by the mechanisms of hours, and after all, everyone, if you look, your own character.
In still lifes, as you know, the "non-fatal nature" is removed. In its series "Snakes", Guido, the mocafiko violated this rule and for the object of the still life took a living being. Snakes, rolled by eating, create an amazing, bright and unique picture.
But the photographer creates traditional still lifes, removing them in a Dutch style, and using such non-residential items as a details.
3. Carl Kleiner (Carl Kleiner)
Swedish photographer Karl Kleyper (1983) for its still lifes uses the most common items, making them in bizarre pictures. Photos of Karl Kleiner colorful, Graphic and experimental. Fantasy it is limitless, it uses completely different materials, from paper to eggs. Everyone as they say goes into business.
4. Charles Grogg (Charles Grogg)
The still life of American Charles Grogg is made in black and white. Photographer for filming also uses ordinary household items available in every home. But experimenting with their location and combining in unusual combinations, the photographer creates truly fantastic paintings.
5. What Madoz (Chema Madoz)
I am sure that works by Madoz (1958), a photographer from Spain familiar to many. Its black and white still lifes, made in a surrealistic style, do not leave anyone indifferent. A unique look of the photographer on ordinary things admires. The works of Madosa are full of not only humor, but also in deep philosophical meaning.
The photographer himself says that his photos are made without any digital processing.
6. Martin Klimas (Martin Klimas)
In the works of Martin Klimas (1971), a photographer from Germany, also no photoshop. Only short, or rather, supercore, excerpt. Its specially developed technique allows you to capture a unique moment that a human look can not even see. Removes Martin Klimas his still lifes in complete darkness. Using a special device at the time of breaking the item on a split of a second, an outbreak is turned on. And the camera records a miracle. Here you just have vases with flowers!
7. John Chervinsky (John Chervinsky)
American John Cervinsky (1961) is a scientist working in the field of applied physics. And his still-liver is a mixture of science and art. Here and you will not understand: or still life, or a teaching manual in physics. When creating their still lifes, John Cervinski uses the laws of physics, receiving an incredibly interesting result.
8. Daniel Gordon (Daniel Gordon)
Daniel Gordon (1980), a photographer from America, not concerned with scientific issues. When photographing still lifes, he chose another way. Prints on the printer colored pictures downloaded from the Internet, these pieces of paper, and then wraps different items in them. It turns out something like paper sculptures. Bright, beautiful, original.
9. Andrew Myers (Andrew B. Myers)
Andrew Myers (1987), photographer from Canada, do not confuse with any other - they are always recognizable. A simple gentle, calm background, a lot of empty space, which creates a feeling of filler image with light and air. Most often to create still lifes, items of the 70s and 1980s. His works are graphic, stylish and cause certain nostalgia.
10. Regina Decomis (Regina Deluise)
To create their works, Regina Curisis (1959), photographer from the United States does not use a mirror photographic engineering. She chose another way - printed negatives from a film on a special rag paper. Its poetic images contain a large range of tones and a variety of textures. Still lifes are very gentle and poetic. Amazing game of light and shadows.
11. Bochcong koo (Bohnchang Koo)
Bochchang ku (1953), photographer from South Korea, prefers white color. Created still lifes - white on white - just amazing. They are not only beautiful, but also carry a certain meaning - the preservation of ancient Korean culture. After all, the photographer is specially traveling around the world, looking for objects of cultural heritage in museums.
12. Chen Wei (Chen Wei)
Chen Wei (1980), photographer from China, on the contrary, finds inspiration for its work near the house. Showing strange spaces, scenes and objects, it uses the props, thrown by others on landfills.
13. Alekandra Laviada (Alejandra Laviada)
Aleukandra Laviad, photographer from Mexico, uses destroyed and abandoned buildings for his filming, creating still lifes from objects found there. Her still-life tells real stories about people, which lived in these buildings and enjoyed the things left behind the unnecessary things.
At our classes, painting special attention is paid to the still lifes, performed in decorative picturesque technique.
Decorative painting is a diverse and extensive topic. In our teachers developed by our teachers, there is a series of lessons to study decorative techniques of work with paints. For examples, special still lifes are prepared, on which you can visually show the various techniques and features of the decorative style.
The purpose of the task is decorative still life.
- Learn to depict objects using decorative painting products.
- Master the skills of transformation, division and color layouts in shape.
- Try various decorative painting techniques.
There is a common belief that decorative picturesque styles do not fit into the academic program and contradict the main picturesque rules. In fact, it is deep delusion. All methods and the principles of decorative style follow directly from the academic program and are its further development and the incessant evolution of all academic art.
At first glance, simplified modeling and the lack of a realistic image may present an incorrect image. Decorative performance of the work puts many other, more complex, tasks.
Decorative painting involves a deep study of local color, composition of color spots, the search for expressive accents and spectacular spatial solutions.
The artist requires the most clearly, using the minimum of funds, pass the image, the impression of the real model. It is necessary to show the volume of the subject, the material, invoice without resorting to the classic modeling. The value of the analysis of the object is increasing, it is necessary to select and simulate a stylized image that transfers the object into the color plane from the realistic image.
In decorative painting, a line becomes more important, which becomes a full participant in the picture and on a par with color and tone is involved in the formation of a general composition. Changing the thickness and expressiveness of the line more brightly emphasizes the volume and plastic of the item.
Also, a wide variety can bring a change in the shape and the frequency of the smear, which immediately turns the surface of the canvas into a decorative panel or mosaic.
At the first stage of acquaintance with the possibilities of decorative painting, we recommend writing a series of still lifes, as in still life there is an opportunity to choose combinations of objects and tissues to bright demonstrate decorative style techniques.
Types of decorative still life.
There are several common techniques who have proven themselves in practice and in the learning process. The names are selected conditionally, since in modern painting there is no clear, international classification of styles and uniform names.
Painting from flaps. All color combinations in this technology are depicted in the form of separate segments, emphasize the structure of objects and the most expressive properties manifest. Frequently used clean colors and plane display of space.
Painting with a clearly dedicated circuit. To enhance the shape and color ratios, the so-called "stained glass method" is used, when all objects and refractive places of the form are powered by black or dark lines, creating clear abrasions and boundaries between the colors. Works performed in such a technique are obtained very spectacular and bright.
Other decorative techniques are based on combinations of pure colors, various types of changes in the smears, the use of masticic, wide brushes and other tools. The format of the article does not allow to describe each technique and the method of applying paint. More details you can find out by visiting our classes.
Photographs of still lifes, as you know, are quite common. Often, many photographers love to present their still lifes in the black and white. To do this, you need to find objects, compare everyday objects in your environment, as well as strengthen the difference in textures and tones. The transformation into a black and white version gives many features when viewing the photo itself.
Black and white still-life allows you to focus on the lines of photography, textures and forms. In this case, these elements focus much easier, as it is not necessary to be distracted by colors. Good use of this reception will not only get a more objective image from the point of view of its integrity, but also strengthen the voltage between different objects and materials. Such combinations can be found everywhere, for example, in the park, on the shore, etc. You can take pictures of any objects. In addition, you can photograph objects with pairs or more. It should be noted that it is not recommended to use the same methods to convert photos to a black and white option.