Still life is a style of photography that is used to display inanimate objects. Usually a selection of objects are used like the photo displayed above. Many things have to be considered to create a good still life style photograph for example, symmetry, object placement and lighting. Another important factor is background. It is important to use a plain background, as to not take away from the inanimate objects used. There are two types of still life, created still life and found still life. Still life is not only used for photography but also painting. Here is an example:

Still Life Photography Timeline

16th and 17th century– Paintings of inanimate objects became popular in Europe

18th century– floral displays, kitchen pictures, food, religious, symbolic still life photography became popular. Live animals became a part of these displays used for still life. Jean-Baptiste Oudry used textures of fur and feathers on simple backgrounds.

19th century– with the upcoming of European Academies which had a huge role in academic art, still life began to decrease in popularity. Emotion and mood becomes a more central part of still life.

20th century– still life continued to evolve, with abstract paintings and photography beginning to gain interest. Such as Jackson Pollocks paintings. Henri Matisse used bold outlines and bright colours.

21st century– evolves into using even video and sound to create these still life pieces. Some artists even used whole galleries for these still life pieces! Computer generated graphics have also developed into still life photography.

Vanitas

Vanitas is still life art which has a variety of symbolic objects which are made to remind the audience how they are mortal and of the worthlessness of worldly goods and pleasures.

Memento Mori

Memento Mori means “remember that you die”. It is a style of still life that reminds you that death is inevitable.

Metaphors and symbols used in still life

Metaphors and symbols can be used in still life to display deep feelings and fears (topics such as death) It can also be used to symbolise a place, such as the beach or a woodland or food, nature and more. It can display a lot through the feelings these objects create to different viewers.