Nostalgia by Yann

Final Image

I chose this photo because I think it is a good photo and it feels nostalgic for me as the fountain used to have goldfish swimming in it when I was young and I used to like going there and seeing the goldfish,  

furthermore, having the seagull sitting in the fountain makes the image feel more playful and less serious which is a good thing because nostalgia is good to reflect on your fond and happy memories. 

The photo is also rather similar to Marietta Varga’s nostalgia photography as the location of the nostalgic photos she did are set outside usually in parks and playgrounds so having this photo being in a park is a great way to respond to her work. 

Lastly after editing the photo I really liked the nostalgic feel to the photo by lowering the vibrancy and colour levels so not only does it look like it’s in the style of Marietta’s photos but it also makes the photo look more faint and less clear which could reflect your past memories from when you were young as your childhood memories are quite old and not fully clear. it also makes the photo look old to help with this idea. 

What is still life? 

Still life is the arrangements of objects such as paintings or things we use in our daily lives that cannot move. The objects may have a bigger picture and may create a story from the background of where and what the objects are and come from.  

Still life Examples: 

Still life Artist 

Vincent Van Gogh: 

Vincent van Gogh is a very famous artist who creates many still life paintings which all have a story or some kind of history behind them, his artwork is quite old and represents the older era of life.  

His work: 

Vincent van Gogh’s work presents an image of what life was like when he was growing up and presents that within his work to present that for others to see what it was like. 

What is Vanitas ?

Vanitas is a genre of art which uses symbolism to show the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death. The paintings involved still life imagery of transitory items.

What is memento mori ?

Memento mori is an artistic or symbolic trope acting as a reminder of the inevitability of death. The concept has its roots in the philosophers of classical antiquity and Christianity, and appeared in funerary art and architecture from the medieval period onwards.

What kind of metaphors and symbols are used in still life and why? 

• Fruit: Varying Symbolism In Still Life Paintings.
• Skulls: The Certainty Of Mortality.
• Candles: The Passing Of Time.
• Flowers: Symbols Of Life And Growth.
• Seashells: Birth, Purity, And Fertility.