Still Life Photography

Still Life in photography
is similar to still life in paintings.
Some preparation is needed to make the arrangement
pleasing to the eye.

It is preferable to keep the background uncluttered
and the colours harmonious.

to give the subject room to breathe 
and remembering the rule of thirds give balance 
to these types of compositions.

Contrast in textures brings in an extra dimension.
I think this is my favourite capture, I have such a fondness for marbles, both the
look and the feel of them
and they snuggle so nicely into the folds of soft, blue velvet.

and rich, dark colours
bring in mystery with a touch of exotism.

Bringing nature inside, like a branch of ivy and some cones,
incorporates something living into the picture.


During these months of winter,
I decided I wanted to try something new and creative
by doing still life photography.

I found a class by Kim Klassen
called Be Still Fifty-Two.
She talks about being mindeful, being in stillness, breathing
and incorporating mindeful movement into our day.

Heavy editing and working with layers
is not something that goes with my way of thinking or my style,
but I shall interpret the lessons
in ways that feel comfortable and harmonious to me.



22 comments

  1. Love that yellow flower against the white lacy cloth! Good for you for pushing your creativity and trying something new!
    Kate :}

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  2. Lovely photography Sandra. You're so good at it.

    Wishing you a harmonious day. xxx

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  3. your photos are lovely Sandra
    like a breath of fresh air

    i like this:
    being mindeful, being in stillness, breathing
    and incorporating mindeful movement into our day.

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    1. Thank you, Tammie. I agree, mindefulness and stillness are wonderful elements to bring into our day, with or without photography.

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  4. Your still life images are uniquely you, Sandra, not like what we usually see. I love the way you've carefully thought about colours and texture. Your use of fabrics is brilliant. Wonderful work!

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    1. Thank you, Kim. I knew I wanted to keep my still-life uncluttered and peaceful, but not boring! I knew that material would help me create the feeling I wanted, to bring in depth and warmth and movement. The idea came from remembering the rich folds of material that have been so wondrously painted in the old paintings by famous masters.

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  5. Yes, I agree with Kim that you have a distinctive style that expresses your interpretation of stillness. The textures and colors are all so lovely -- beautifully done!

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    1. Thank you, Gina. Finding one's way in a new area of photography is a little touch and go in the beginning. I've entered a labyrinth of possibilities and yet I desire to keep things simple and as believable as possible!

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  6. Good for you and a great new thing to experiment with.

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  7. These are all so beautiful. I love your approach to still life! As Kim said, these are uniquely you. Like your other images, they evoke peacefulness and stillness! I'm guessing these are some of the fabrics you bought?

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    1. Thank you, Cathy. Yes, those fabrics that I purchased in the sales are proving to be the right choice. I do love working with colour and texture. I feel they bring softness, movement and presence into an image.

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  8. What I love most is that you have stayed true to yourself through this class. It's so easy to get caught up in others style and loose track of who we are. I love your images because I love color and texture and you bring the two together beautifully....

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  9. Gorgeous images Sandra.

    Having taken a Kim Klassen class myself in the past I agree that you can take from them whatever you need, I think that's part of her skill.

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  10. Beautiful
    I would love to do this
    wonder if I can.
    Would help me relax and be still :)

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  11. These photos are so you! They don't need layer of editing. The color choices and the placement of the objects, the textures all are so simple and beautiful. Each photo draws forth an emotional appreciation for my eyes and for my heart.

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  12. Lovely shots. That first one is stunning!

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  13. Still life is certainly a wonderful genre for the depths of winter, Sandra! My favorite image is the third one - simple, beautiful design, with a feminine feel. Lovely!

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  14. I discovered still life photography last year - through Kim! While her images are truly beautiful, mine lack this kind of dreaminess. I'm also in the Still Life 52 class, but haven't started yet (finished a different class first). I do love the idea of becoming calm and still, and slowing down. Your images are beautiful, especially the first one speaks to me.

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    1. Carola, I've written you an email concerning my personal interpretation of the pale 'dreamy' look that Kim Klassen's participants seem to favour. I prefer to interpret things in my own way, to remain who I am as a photographer and not adopt a style which isn't mine.

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  15. Your still life photography is just lovely, Sandra! I love your intention to be 'present' throughout each day. My 'One Little Word' for 2015 is 'present' and I'm working hard to be mindful of each moment. The small moments make each day so special! ♡

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  16. I think my favorite is the yellow pansy and the white lace. I rarely do still life, but I, too, have done a bit of experimenting lately. Mostly, I dislike gathering the props and setting the scene. I have marbles from when I was a young girl. My grandchildren love looking at them.

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  17. Absolutely stunning pics.... went to entire series of your collection... now following u..:)

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