| Still life photography has many uses. Perhaps you | | | | you can easily make one using instructions you |
| want to take a photograph of a beautiful bowl of | | | | find online. The purpose of these tools is to |
| fruit or perhaps you have learned that an | | | | provide good, even light. |
| important key to eBay success is uploading quality | | | | You can also get a good quality of light by setting |
| photos of your products. Other reasons for | | | | up your photo shoot outside. A high overcast or |
| learning still life photography may include selling still | | | | bright sky can create a natural soft box effect |
| life photograph downloads at microstock sites or | | | | without having any of the harsh shadows. |
| to food magazines. No matter what your reason, | | | | Composition for Still Life Photography |
| still life photography is a great skill to learn. | | | | Arrange your objects in a pleasing composition. |
| Unless you are photographing specific products or | | | | Use a classical composition technique such as "Rule |
| pictures for a magazine assignment, the subjects | | | | of Thirds" or "Leading Lines" or "Frame within a |
| for your still life photography are endless. Fine art | | | | Frame" to create a good composition. Arrange |
| still lifes aren't limited to just apples and grapes. | | | | the items artfully and use your imagination to get |
| Even super simple items like a few artfully | | | | the exact placement that you want. For example, |
| arranged spools of thread can be interesting and | | | | if it's a picture of a piece of cake, instead of |
| attract attention. There are a couple of | | | | including the entire table setting, place a gleaming, |
| microstock sites like Shutterstock and iStock that | | | | silver dessert fork upside down on the plate and |
| have a high demand for all sorts of still life | | | | remove a tiny bite from the cake. |
| pictures from simple to complex. | | | | Fill the Frame with Your Still Life Subject |
| In one way, still life photography is a lot easier | | | | Remember, the only thing that should be in your |
| than other forms of photography like landscape, | | | | viewfinder or on your preview LCD screen is |
| sports or pet photography. With stills, you often | | | | your composition. Remove any clutter and get up |
| have full control over the composition and can | | | | close with your camera. If you have a backdrop |
| arrange the inanimate objects exactly how you | | | | or background you don't like don't worry about it |
| want them. | | | | because it can be easily solved. The soft box or |
| And sometimes, good quality still life pictures can | | | | light box solves this issue, but if you are shooting |
| be even more challenging to photograph. Because | | | | outside, here's something you can do: place a |
| still lifes are taken up close, it's easy to see | | | | piece of white foam board or piece of material |
| imperfections on your subject that you would | | | | behind your subject, and voila – no more |
| normally never see. | | | | distracting background. Be sure to use Macro |
| Despite its challenge, using basic photography skills | | | | mode so that you get a sharp image. |
| and the following tips, you can create quality still | | | | Look for a Good Angle and Start Shooting! |
| life pictures. | | | | Instead of shooting from your height, hold the |
| | | | camera so that it is level with your subject. You |
| Still Life Photography Lighting | | | | should also try shooting from a variety of |
| Professional photographers usually use a soft box | | | | different angles. |
| or a light box to shoot their still lifes. However this | | | | Hopefully these tips have provided you some |
| isn't absolutely necessary as you will see in a | | | | helpful information on taking still life photos that |
| moment, but it can be a big help. However, if you | | | | you can start putting to use immediately. |
| do want one, you can find a soft box online or | | | | |