Still life photography is a style of photography where an array of objects that either compliment or contrast each other are arranged in a way that makes the objects which are often quite simple seem very interesting. Still life images originated in the 17th century when still life images were painted. These paintings were often of common household products of upper class people including fruits and glass object such as bowls and vases that would only be found in upper class houses.
Examples of still life images
Mary Ellen Bartley
Mary Ellen Bartley is a still life photographer who focuses on photographing printed matter such as books and pages. Her unique style is very interesting as she takes objects that are so simple and makes them into very unique structures and photographs. Bartley works in collaboration with many major libraries and archives in New York City where she works to develop projects on specific aspects of their collections. for example The Queens Museum working with Andrew Beccone’s Reanimation Library..
About Mary Ellen Bartley
Born in New York, NY, in 1959, Bartley received her BFA from Purchase College, SUNY, and she lives and works in Sag Harbor, NY. Her work has been exhibited in numerous institutions including The Queens Museum, NY; The Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; Houston Center for Photography; The Drawing Room, East Hampton, NY; Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, NY; The Watermill Center, NY; and National Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, Guatemala City. Bartley has taken part in numerous residencies, including at The Queens Museum, NY; Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY; and Watermill Center, NY. Bartley’s work is in numerous collections, including the Guild Hall Museum, East Hampton, NY; McEvoy Family Collection, McEvoy Foundation, San Francisco, CA; Parrish Art Museum, Watermill, NY; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN; The Watermill Collection, Watermill, NY. – https://www.yanceyrichardson.com/artists/mary-ellen-bartley#2
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