Chat thread for the weekly competition 'Still Life' from 7 October - 13 October

[spikeyjen]

Don't listen to them Chris, still life is still life, some will find it easy and others a challenge.
Me, I found some amazing purple shells on the beach while on holiday, might have to play with the light box this weekend.
As for dead animals....there's no life in that, so I agree with the 'no dead animals' rule

OH, and ADJT - those smarties are really cute, and I love the reflections

[Reinardina]

Don't listen to them Chris, still life is still life, some will find it easy and others a challenge.

Same as photography then?

[ABERS]

First attempt, all very still and no life!

[DigiDiva]

I recognise that flower Abers, sure I voted for it last time...lol

[Beaux Reflets]

Lots of fun painting the light in with a candle flame     Autumn Gold

[spikeyjen]

this is the one I DIDN'T put in, it's what happens when you are home alone, too tired, a couple of glasses of red and a bit of imagination. I've called it 'Papa Shell, Mama Shell and Baby Shell on the beach' !!!   

[spikeyjen]

Lots of fun painting the light in with a candle flame     Autumn Gold

nice colors Andy, all it needs is a bit of bread and cheese and I'm set for the night. Nice work

[spikeyjen]

First attempt, all very still and no life!

I really like the PP you've done here Abers, and I have seen that artichoke before in a previous comp. That 3 pinned fork is a bit ominous but it adds to the 'ambiance'.

[Beaux Reflets]

Lots of fun painting the light in with a candle flame     Autumn Gold

nice colors Andy, all it needs is a bit of bread and cheese and I'm set for the night. Nice work

Thank you. There's more tucker in the basket Jen   

[Hinfrance]

Here's mine. I decided to just go for the traditional gloomy look of the classic painters. I did think about doing something even more bright and stark than Jen's but time is against me today I'm afraid.



Here is the one rejected by the committee for being 'too busy':



In both cases the candle light is modified by the small amount of daylight coming through the front door to the side and by a gold reflector on the opposite side. Texture was added in OnOne's editing suite.

[Reinardina]

When you look at the old masters' still lifes, I don't think the concept of 'too busy' was invented then.

Not having the time, the props (just done a major 'de-clutter'), or the right mood for an indoor set up, I went out to find my inspiration.

In the old Victorian cemetery, I found a nearly white sarcophagus, with a single yew berry resting on top. I arranged some autumnal oak leaves and used the sun as my directional lighting.  So I managed to get death and dying in after all, without, I hope, upsetting sensitive souls.

I ended up with this, which I called 'Memento Mori.'

[ABERS]

Luckily my wife was replacing some flowers on the landing window which caught my eye, so decided the colour was too good to miss. A bit of Art Nouveau thrown in!

[Reinardina]

Gorgeous window! Great colours and too good to miss indeed.

[Beaux Reflets]

Certainly a colourful and artistic air flowing through this weeks creativity 

[Reinardina]

In my case it was very fresh air; it was cold and fairly windy. Had to rush after my oak leaves several times.