Lighting and Photographing a Still Life

- Lighting is a major component of a still life. It can be used to create emotions, drama and mystery. One of the things I admire in still lifes, both painted and photographed, is the use of small pools of light that help bring attention to objects in the scene. Think of actors on a stage. The principal actor is lit to be the brightest element in the scene. This directs the viewers eye to the desired focus of the scene. Supporting cast are lit less brightly so as not to distract from the principal.

This is the approach I take in lighting a still life. I don't have an expensive lighting set up, in fact I usually shoot with available light. But I discovered and interesting work-around for a lack of high-end lighting. And it's nothing more than a tripod, a time exposure, and a flashlight. I find it to be a very creative means to get a dramatic mood within a still life. And I'll show you how to do it in this mini course.