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Still life is a fun and fulfilling place to practice your photography skills. You can go at your own pace, there are no limitations as where to take your pictures and the space you require can be as small as a coffee tray (coffee trays come in different sizes of course =) It's versatile and most of all it is not as hard as it may seem, once you know a few tricks about composition, lighting and props.

In this class I will show you step by step how to set up a beautiful still life picture.

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Class Outline

Still life photography. Mariya will teach you still life photography by sharing her tips for how to take better pictures by improving your lighting, color coordination, household props, and composition. In her class, photography is fun, simple, and easy. You’ll be shooting beautiful breakfast images and other still life pictures in no time!
Creating your own. You will create two photographs of a breakfast meal that complement each other in a photo collage. With Mariya’s help, you will choose your props, set up your lighting, and practice making compositions by shooting the same scene in multiple ways. Along the way, you’ll be encouraged to share your progress with Mariya and the class, and when you are finished, you’ll have gorgeous and completely distinct still life shots that can be displayed side by side.
Using light. Mariya will show you how to learn photography by guiding you through every element of a good shot – beginning with a lesson on light. You’ll follow along as she demonstrates how to go “light hunting” and encourages you to do the same. You’ll learn how to use the most even, natural lighting to enhance your still life, and the practical techniques you can depend on to reflect and diffuse indoor light when it’s less than flattering.
Choosing subjects and props. You will get to know how Mariya chooses her subject and her “supporting cast” – objects that she includes in her photographs to make a more complex and dynamic scene. Mariya will discuss different types of visual details that you can include in your work and will share her advice for selecting a background that effectively complements your subject.
Coordinating colors. There’s always room to get creative when it comes to choosing colors, but certain rules apply. In this lesson, Mariya chats about color theory, visual distractions, and easy tips for ensuring your subject always stays the center of attention.
Creating composition. There are no shortcuts to making great composition in photography. You will learn to create pleasing images by considering the rule of thirds, lines and movement, negative space, and framing techniques while setting up and shooting your photographs.
Angling your shots. Mariya will discuss the three angles that she relies on when she is creating dynamic still life photographs, and how to troubleshoot common challenges. She will explain basic angled shots, bird’s eye views, and eye-level images, how to correct for balance and subject overlap, and how to change a photo’s orientation from horizontal to portrait (or vice versa) without dramatically altering your composition’s effectiveness.
Exploring examples. Mariya will set up, correct, and photograph a variety of breakfast scenes. She will give you full access to her step-by-step approach to tackling every photography challenge - providing insight into her creative process and inspiring your own!
Editing. You’ll learn how to use Adobe Lightroom to enhance still life photographs, correct for color, adjust exposure settings, and amplify contrast and warmth. You will also learn how to create a photo collage with the help of Adobe Photoshop, Picasa, and Mariya’s technical tips.

Sue Ferguson

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