Still Life Photography

Making, And Finding, Still Life On The Street

“Five Became Six” — Photo by Author

After a long walk this morning, I stopped for my morning latte at an outdoor cafe I visit occasionally. I kept looking at a variegated blue wall across the way.

A climbing vine with lavender flowers was growing up the wall. This scene held my attention. It was a view I had photographed on several occasions.

As I left the cafe I went to have a closer look and noticed a number of the blossoms had fallen to the stone walk below. As I am inclined to do, I started arranging some of the blossoms, with the thought of making one of my street still life photos.

The first image I made included five of these blossoms. Odd numbers make for interesting compositions. After making the shot, another blossom fell and grazed my arm on the way down.

Knowing this was a sign that it too wanted its portrait made, I added it to the grouping I had arranged. It’s the one in the left foreground, in the image you see above. I don’t mind breaking a rule of design for a new fallen friend.

“Line ’Em Up” — Photo by Author