A rose by any other name. Black and white nonetheless lives of colourful objects can lend a wealthy and deep which means to your function. Photo credit: Michael Elliott
5 Strategies To Get Began With Nevertheless Life Photography on Film
Michael Elliott — Fine Art Film Photographer-Flâneur and Londoner at Substantial
Nevertheless life photography is a genre that requires capturing inanimate objects such as meals flowers books or toys in a inventive and artistic way. Nevertheless life photography can be a wonderful way to practice your composition lighting and exposure expertise as effectively as to express your individual style and vision. Nevertheless shooting nonetheless life on film can be difficult as you have significantly less handle and flexibility than with digital photography. You want to be far more cautious and deliberate with your selections of film camera lens and settings as effectively as with your improvement and scanning course of action. In this write-up we will share some recommendations on how to take much better nonetheless life images on film primarily based on the assistance of qualified photographers and professionals.
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Tip 1: Opt for the suitable film for your topic and mood
One particular of the most crucial choices you want to make when shooting nonetheless life on film is what form of film to use. Diverse films have distinctive qualities such as colour contrast grain and dynamic variety that can have an effect on the appear and really feel of your images. For instance if you want to develop a warm and cozy atmosphere for your nonetheless life you may possibly want to use a film that has wealthy and saturated colours such as Kodak Ektar or Fuji Provia.
Kodak Ektar has a tendency to lean towards the warm tones so is great for these reddish bouquets of flowers. Photo credit: Michael Elliott
If you want to develop a far more dramatic and moody impact you may possibly want to use a film that has higher contrast and fine grain such as Ilford Delta or Kodak T-Max. If you want to experiment with distinctive tones and textures you may possibly want to use a film that has low contrast and higher grain such as Lomography Colour Unfavorable or Kodak Tri-X.
Tip 2: Use a appropriate camera and lens for your setup
An additional crucial selection you want to make when shooting nonetheless life on film is what camera and lens to use. Diverse cameras and lenses have distinctive capabilities and capabilities that can have an effect on the good quality and style of your images. For instance if you want to shoot close-up information of your nonetheless life objects you may possibly want to use a camera that has macro or close-focusing skills such as a Canon AE-1 or a Nikon FM2.
Quite pumpkins all in a row. A mixture of a lengthy lens (180mm) and an extension tube permitted me to completely fill the frame with my topic whilst nonetheless sustaining sufficient separation involving the components and the background that a wide angle lens would not have necessarily permitted for. Photo credit: Michael Elliott
If you want to shoot wide-angle shots of your nonetheless life scene you may possibly want to use a camera that has a wide-angle lens or a zoom lens such as a Pentax K1000 or a Minolta X-700. If you want to shoot medium format images of your nonetheless life you may possibly want to use a camera that has a bigger damaging size and greater resolution such as a Fujica GL690 or a Kiev 60.
Tip 3: Experiment with distinctive lighting sources and angles
One particular of the most essential elements of nonetheless life photography is lighting. Lighting can make or break your nonetheless life images as it can boost or diminish the colours shapes textures and shadows of your objects. Lighting can also develop distinctive moods and atmospheres for your nonetheless life images such as soft and romantic or harsh and dramatic. For that reason you want to experiment with distinctive lighting sources and angles when shooting nonetheless life on film.
A memento mori-style scene lit with higher energy LED panels from the suitable hand side and front developing a moody atmosphere that befits the topic. Memento Mori #2 is out there for buy as a print. Photo credit: Michael Elliott
For instance if you want to develop organic and soft lighting for your nonetheless life you may possibly want to use window light or diffused sunlight as your principal light supply. If you want to develop artificial and challenging lighting for your nonetheless life you may possibly want to use flash or studio lights as your principal light supply. You can also use reflectors or mirrors to bounce or direct the light onto your objects from distinctive angles.
Tip 4: Compose your nonetheless life with care and creativity
One particular of the most enjoyable and difficult components of nonetheless life photography is composition. Composition is the arrangement of components in your photo frame such as objects background foreground damaging space lines shapes colours and so on. Composition can have an effect on the balance harmony interest and message of your photo. For that reason you want to compose your nonetheless life with care and creativity when shooting on film. For instance if you want to develop a uncomplicated and minimalist composition for your nonetheless life photo1 you may possibly want to use only 1 or couple of objects in your frame2 location them off-center3 use a plain background4 leave some damaging space and use contrasting colours. If you want to develop a complicated and elaborate composition for your nonetheless life photo you may possibly want to use a lot of objects in your frame location them symmetrically use a textured background fill the frame with information and use complementary colours.
Tip 5: Create and scan your film with care
The final step of shooting nonetheless life on film is creating and scanning your film. Building and scanning your film can have an effect on the final outcome of your images in terms of colour accuracy contrast sharpness and grain. For that reason you want to create and scan your film with care when shooting nonetheless life on film. For instance if you want to preserve the original colours and tones of your film you may possibly want to use a qualified lab or a reputable household kit to create your film and use a higher-good quality scanner or a DSLR camera to scan your film. If you want to alter the colours and tones of your film you may possibly want to use distinctive chemical substances or temperatures to create your film and use distinctive software program or filters to edit your scans.
Conclusion
Nevertheless life photography is a rewarding and enjoyable genre that can assist you enhance your photography expertise and express your creativity. Shooting nonetheless life on film can be difficult but also rewarding as it can give you far more satisfaction and authenticity in your images. By following these recommendations you can take much better nonetheless life images on film and develop spectacular pictures that showcase your individual style and vision. Content shooting!
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