Create great still life photos with Vernon Camera Club
Vernon. Professional Photographer Rich McGuigan will discuss still life photography and hold a hands-on workshop March 1.
Vernon /
| 15 Feb 2022 | 03:03
Photo credit: Rich McGuigan
Photo credit: Rich McGuigan
Still life paintings are some of the most recognizable images in the world. Lush fruit, vegetables, flowers, and everyday objects have been beautifully captured by artists from the earliest of days. From mosaics in ancient Pompeii, to Van Gough’s sunflowers and Picasso’s violin and fruit, the still life genre features inanimate objects the artist selects and arranges. Professional Photographer Rich McGuigan will discuss the topic and hold a hands-on workshop at the March 1 Vernon Camera Club meeting from 2 to 4 pm.
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, etc.).
McGuigan will discuss how he approaches composing and lighting his still life images. McGuigan will start from the project idea, and walk through his process from start to finish using his personal project “Grand Father’s Tools” as an example. He will demonstrate his process step by step in a hands-on workshop with six still life set ups. Members will bring special items to photograph using his pro-lighting techniques.
The selected items may hold an emotional meaning to the photographer or to the viewer.
“I spend a great deal of time thinking about a project before I start shooting. I repeatedly ask myself “What do I want you to see?” and also “How do I want you to feel?” said McGuigan.
This artistic approach to photography stems from McGuigan’s bachelor’s degree in applied photography from the University of Delaware and his 25 years of advertising, editorial, and commercial photography work. He is currently the VP of Photo Engineering for CreativeDrive, a global content creation company with over 150 studios. Previously, he was VP of Photography at Saks Fifth Avenue, photographer at Lord & Taylor, and ran his own studio in NYC.
“When working with objects, it is a very personal experience. It’s just you, the photographer, and your object. It can be a very quiet, calming experience,” said McGuigan. “Take your time and enjoy the process.”
The meeting will be held live and recorded with Zoom. Write vernoncameraclub1@gmail.com for more details.