[IanHoughton]

I have a club competition next week with the theme "Still Life". I'm not really sure what can and cannot be classed as a "Still Life" image, I'm currently thinking a picture of any in-animate object / staged picture. Any pointers ??

Current ideas so far:
Household objects - vases / lamps / cutlery
Staged sets - Newspaper & whiskey, children's toys

[Whipspeed]

something with some good texture, say group of vegetables from savoy cabbage to smooth peppers.

[muscle750]

Take one of my wife if u want breathin but backside glued to the sofa!!!!!

Sure u will find something good luck!
Our club comps are to say the least "interesting"

[Ali]

Originally Posted by IanHoughton

I'm not really sure what can and cannot be classed as a "Still Life" image, I'm currently thinking a picture of any in-animate object / staged picture.

In my normal simplistic view I would guess that "still life" can be anything that is not moving/not got legs (unless it's a table or chair!). I recently took a bunch of fungi shots and couldn't decide which Pixalo album to put them in so they went in "Still Life" - not sure if it was the correct category but nothing else seemed to fit.

Might be worth a browse through the Still Life gallery for some ideas and inspiration?

[Dave Canon]

First rule for competitions is to be aware that it is what the judge considers to be still life that counts. The safest option is to look for a definition in the Oxford Dictionary because that is what most Judges will do if there is any doubt. The definition is:-

"painting of inanimate things such as fruit and cut flowers"

The sort of inanimate objects you have already suggested are about right but the two mentioned in the definition are good as well. Try photographing say 3 oranges, kiwi fruits, tomatoes etc. Perhaps against black with one of the fruits sliced in half. Perhaps an apple with a sharp knife inserted? You only need these basic elements to comply with the subject but you need your picture to stand out from the others, if you wish to win.

One shot I took was several newspapers overlapping (The Times) with an Egg Timer and titled it something like "Time". Try out several ideas then choose the best to enter. Best of luck!

[Rob Barron]

I agree with most of what Dave said there, the only bit I would question is the comment 'It's what the judge considers to be still life that counts'.

I am a judge and have a simple rule: All competitions at all clubs are under the control of that club's competition secretary. If that club's secretary has accepted a picture for a competition then I assume that it meets that club's criteria for whatever the theme is. I therefore never look at a picture and say 'I don't think that's really a Still Life shot.'

However, I do agree to an extent if the theme is something a bit less easy to dfine. For example, I did one a couple of weeks ago where the theme was 'Peaceful'. That could be a deserted beauty spot but it could also be a baby asleep or even a jet engine that is not working! Then I accept that all the shots meet the club's entry criteria but explain that I will take into account how much the picture speaks to me of peaceful. So it is down to the judge to a certain extent but I don't feel it is fair when someone wins a competition and another doesn't purely because the judge decides something is not 'still life' enough for him!

I remember at the club I used to belong to we had a judge doing the Picture of the Year gave the gold medal to a very average picture of the wheels of a steam engine and giving the reason 'because I love steam trains and even know what engine this picture represents.' My personal taste at that level should not come into it.

I know Dave was only referring to the general principle so I am not criticising that, just making the point that judges should be kept in check and should bot be given carte blanche to judge things based on factors that shouldn't be considered.

Cheers,
Rob