Still Lifes Take on a New Life

Chris Fedderson — MacroFine Musings
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I have recently started experimenting with setting up Contemporary Still Lifes — not bowls of fruit or vases of flowers; my Still Lifes have taken on a New Life.  These studio set-ups, or dioramas, combine various elements, not usually associated with each other, into a single story-telling image.  And this is not easy! I’m in the habit of letting Nature do my set-ups, then all I need to do is snap a photo!  ;-)
 
That was obviously a bit — a lot(!) — of an over-simplification.  Just as with my outdoor-based photography, where all the rules of composition, visual flow, coordination of colors and elements, background considerations, scale, story-telling, etc., come into play, all these rules also apply to these studio set-ups and need to be followed … or intentionally broken.  And all this just to set up the scene.

Join me for a cool, refreshing glass of Hibiscus Wheat Beer!

Next, the usual second set of rules also needs to be attended to and employed.  These are all the technical considerations that contribute to photographic quality: lighting, focus, depth of field, exposure, shadows, highlights, point of view, etc.
 
This ain’t your Gramma’s bowl of fruit!  This is even better!  In working with these studio set-ups, I can engineer whatever story I want, using whatever elements and appliances I want without regard to preconceived associations or meanings.  I can combine elements Nature would never see to put together.  I can put orchids in a bird’s nest.  I can pair up a hibiscus flower with malted barley, hops, and wheat stalks to depict a refreshing summer brew.  I can shoot summer flowers through a sheet of ice if I want to!

A Bowl of Salsa? . . . Or Mexican Rice? You decide!

You say you’re not up to the challenge of all this imagination, invention, and visualization?  Hogwash!  You did just this every time you played with your dollhouse or action figures or built a sand castle or snowman.  You put together various elements into a single scene to tell the story you were playing in your Mind’s Eye.
 
So now, channel your inner-adventurer.  Let your imagine go free.  Get together your “things”, your visual elements, and tell us a story!
 
Thank You for visiting,
 
— Chris

 
P.s.      What story do you “see” that you want to tell?  I know you can’t attach an image here, but give us a synopsis so we can share in your story.
 
I invite you to come see a few stories I’ll be telling at my upcoming solo exhibit. My work will be on display from November 9th through December 4th at Arches Gallery in building 9 at the Workhouse Art Center in Lorton.