Still life favourites

[Jimi]

The last few days I have been thinking of doing still life/nature morte but this is not my usual cup of tea, so I would like some inspiration and a few ideas to copy/practice with. What I mean by still life is basically something propped up (or not) and photographed close-up. I suppose there are few, if any, technical books on the subject.

What are your favorite still life photographers/or photograph?

[C. D. Keth]

The last few days I have been thinking of doing still life/nature morte but this is not my usual cup of tea, so I would like some inspiration and a few ideas to copy/practice with. What I mean by still life is basically something propped up (or not) and photographed close-up. I suppose there are few, if any, technical books on the subject.

What are your favorite still life photographers/or photograph?

On the contrary, there are gobs of books on the subject of still life. Consider paintings, as well.

[Ron Marshall]

Whenever I am in the kitchen I tend to see many possibilities for still lifes. Fruit, vegetables, china dishes, stainless steel utensils, chrome appliances. Many possible props and compositions.

[Capocheny]

Jimi,

Still lifes abound everywhere you look... take something simple, place it in an esthetically pleasing composition and shoot to your hearts content!

I started with flowers and a bowl of fruit...

For examples... just Google "photographers" and visit the sites that come up. You're sure to find that many of them do still lifes of some kind.

Cheers

[Mark Sampson]

Start with the Dutch painters of the 17th century. Then, for photographers, look at Edward Weston and Josef Sudek...

[Jimi]

Thank you for the input! I was... uhm... just trying for an easy way out I suppose, some kind of pointer to the Ansel Adams of still lifes or something. ;)

[Steve Hamley]

Thank you for the input! I was... uhm... just trying for an easy way out I suppose, some kind of pointer to the Ansel Adams of still lifes or something. ;)

Edward Weston

Steve

[Struan Gray]

Some of my favourites:

Michiko Kon
Frederick Sommer
John Blakemore

PS: and Abelardo Morell

[Michael Graves]

I see a lot of still life at work every day sitting at desks.

But I'm interested in this thread as well. With winter sneaking up on me I want to try something like that. So if somebody wants to start a thread where they show their best still life images, I'll love you for it forever. Can't contribute anything right now (too busy shooting cliche'ed photos of old barns), but when I get something, I will.

[darr]

Thread for posting images started:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=20358

[John Kasaian]

Andrea Modica, Ryuijie, Martha Casanave, Michael Kenna, and Butch Welch should get your creative juices flowing. Incidentally, they've all had portfolios published in View Camera

[william linne]

Josef Muthafuckin' Sudek!

[Chris Strobel]

Try this
http://www.photoliaison.com/Images/Imogen_Cunningham_Album/index.htm

[Jan_6568]

What are your favorite still life photographers/or photograph?

I will second - Edward Weston, but I would also add Sonya Noskowiak, for some inspiration, may be also Karl Blosfeldt, if you consider his plant works as still life.

Jan

[Jorge Gasteazoro]

YOu should check our own Domenico Foschi site. Click on tarnished..... I forgot the rest. You should see some very nice still life, although these are instruments not "life" per se...

[cyrus]

With winter coming and the reduction of daylight, I've been thinking of still life subjects too for indoor photography- either that or take up night photography (in the cold, wet winter? yuck)
So I spent a few hours browing my local junk ...aka antique ... store to find subjects which are outside of the norm (peppers, flowers, etc)
Here are some ideas I came across: Old clocks & Old cameras, old tools, old toys, old musical instruments, old books...folded paper, metal propellers, dried leaves...

[Shen45]

YOu should check our own Domenico Foschi site. Click on tarnished..... I forgot the rest. You should see some very nice still life, although these are instruments not "life" per se...

Thanks for the link idea Jorge.

http://www.dfoschisite.com/html/~tarnished_promises.htm

Steve

[Barry Trabitz]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Paul Caponegro

[steve simmons]

How about Paul Caponigro's work that came out about 18 months ago - the March/April 05 issue of View Camera.

steve simmons

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Caponigro's "Two Pears" is not only my favorite still life but one of my favorite all time photographs as well.