Dutch Still Life
(Unedited) © Lyons Portraits
(Unedited) © Lyons Portraits
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Oct, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took Dutch Still Life in my studio in Dallas, TexasTime
I was in the studio mid afternoon and working throughout the afternoon and evening to get this shot perfect.Lighting
Lighting for this shot was one Arri tungsten light off to the left with a large softbox to resemble window lighting. I also had a small reflector on the right side to fill in some shadows to maintain detail in the photograph.Equipment
I used a Canon 5D MK II with a 50mm f/4 lens. I was on an Induro tripod.Inspiration
I wanted to create a work of art based off of the old masters who painted still life's.Editing
There was no post-processing done to this photograph.In my camera bag
In my camera bag, I have a Canon 7D MK II, 24-105mm f/4 lens, 50mm f/1.8 lens, three Yonguo speedlights with Vello triggers, memory cards, extra batteries, MeFoto tripod, ND filter, card reader, iPad, and flashlight.Feedback
Inspiration for Dutch Still Life came from looking at the Dutch masters. When looking for ideas for still life photography, I would suggest spending time looking at the old masters and study their angles, lighting, staging, focal points, and even the meaning behind the painting. The Dutch masters used natural lighting from windows and doors to light their subjects. One way to shoot your scene like they painted theirs is to set up near a window. The only downfall to this is that you are limited to what you can do and the timing of your shoot. Depending on the window direction and the weather outside, your lighting could change every few minutes based on cloud cover and sun position. That being said, the best way to accomplish your goal, is to shoot with artificial lighting (continuous or strobe) with a large softbox to resemble window lighting. This has several benefits. One, your lighting is consistent from shot to shot and you can work as long as you want to to get everything perfect. Two, this will help lower your stress levels and allow you to slow down and think about everything from angle of your light, to the position of the camera, to how you set up your still life. The goal of this is to slow down and get everything perfect in camera. The Dutch masters painted exactly what they saw. If you can switch your mindset to thinking "get it right in camera", you will be able to perfect your craft even more. The thought process of "if i just get it close enough, I will fix everything in post" has had a negative effect on several photographers because they get sloppy with their technique hoping to salvage their photos after the fact. When you slow down and focus on getting it right from the start, you will be amazed at how your photographs will turn out.
