Easier Said Than Done

Final Homework Photo

Last night we had our third Level up Meeting. Our homework was to try to replicate an image or a technique from one of the Masters.  We each had a turn to show our work and briefly say what we tried to replicate.  

I decided to try still life photography and wanted to create a renaissance look to the image. We had to pick an image and then try to replicate it. Although I was creating a still like image I wanted to replicate the look and feel of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci.  

The main things I tried to replicate were the muted tones while also incorporating a background into my image in a similar style to the Mona Lisa.  I have a course I did which teaches you how to blend a background with the still life subject. I at least had a process to follow, that gave me some hope..  

As the title of this blog says it wasn't as easy as it looked. I struggled to get the background the way I wanted it. There is an ideal way to light the subject which I didn't quite get right either.  The final image didn't quite have the look and feel I was after either. 
However I was happy with my first attempt. The main thing was that I was able to string the components together. Now I just have to refine the process and eventually be able to start creating the images I'm after.  The more you do in photography the more you learn. 

Although the collection I have in my mind for this concept does not include food I decided on grapes and baby tomatoes for this image as the colours create a good contrast. The image represents a pirate's treasure. Their treasurers were often stored in treasurer chests similar to the one in my photo. They were also at sea for long periods of time and weren't always able to get hold of fresh food. I thought there must have been many a time when in desperation they wish the treasures they had were food and water instead of gold.  


For March we have to start refining our concept and decide which direction we want to go in. At the moment Im torn between still life and Seascapes / Landscapes from the western Cape .  

My heart is leaning towards landscapes but I'm worried I might not have a full body of work worthy of exhibition by the end of the year.  You sometimes have to go back several times to a particular location to get a great shot. I'm still giving it thought and will have to make a decision soon.  

Till next time , happy snapping 

​

---