This week it’s Patti’s turn to challenge us with a classic photographic genre, Still Life images. She allowed those of us with few traditional examples to expand upon the style. She writes, “We invite you to join us this week for the Still Life challenge. Feel free to include “created” and “found” still life scenes–which you might find in your archives, create for this challenge, and/or discover near or far.” You can read her entire challenge post here.
It’s a good thing she gave us some leeway as I can now include some images that I wouldn’t have normally thought would fit the category. The example above is one. These rams make it look like I was in the Rocky Mountains’ wilds doing real wildlife photography. This image, however, was captured at Denver’s Nature and Science Museum. These taxidermied rams were posed in a diorama with those beautiful Rockies in the painted background.
One could argue that model trains in motion aren’t “still life” but they are if not moving. >grin< That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Though I prefer full-size trains that I can ride in, I can’t help but marvel at the artistic displays that model railroaders create.
In the days before General Custer’s 7th Calvary headed west to meet their fate, the General lived with his wife at Fort Abraham Lincoln near Bismarck, North Dakota. His working desk was small and visitors can see some of the original artifacts that were in the house when they lived there. Hanging under the shelf on the wall is a wedding sketch of his bride, Elizabeth Bacon Custer.
The Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site near Deer Lodge, Montana features 88 historic buildings on about 1600 acres (6.5 sq km). The site commemorates the history of the cattle industry. The still life in the photo above features a rolling kitchen used by the cook who traveled the range with the working cattlemen.
At West Fargo, only a few miles from our home, a museum complex operated by the Cass County Historical Society features about forty buildings and many exhibits focusing on the life and times of the early Bonanza Farmers in North Dakota and Minnesota. These large commercial farms grew thousands of acres of wheat and other crops on the vast, treeless plains in the fertile Red River Valley. Among the displays in Bonanzaville, I discovered this collection of antique typewriters.
While walking through a Mercado in Mazatlan, Mexico, I was taken by this large vegetable stand. I was struck by the amount of work that went into stacking these vegetables to make an attractive display.
At the Mystery Castle in Phoenix, Arizona, the table in the dining area was set for a meal service. The story behind the castle is fascinating. I have a blog post that tells the story if you are interested. In any case, when I saw the out-of-camera image in Lightroom, I felt this photo would best tell its story in black and white.
This image has been shared before, but I felt the need to have something in this gallery that is a specifically staged still life and that focuses on one of our favorite travel modes, ocean cruising.
One morning in 2018, somewhere in the Caribbean Sea, I was up early working with photos from the previous day on my computer. I was enjoying a hot cup of coffee while waiting for Lynn to meet me for breakfast. It was then that I got the idea to create a still-life image. I grabbed another cup from the coffee bar and set the two cups on the table.
Thanks to Patti for creating a broad challenge topic that allows those who, like me, don’t create many “true” still life images. I hope that I have met the spirit of the challenge in this gallery. I spent some extra time on most of these images this week in that I went back to the original unprocessed photos and revisited the editing sequence using my latest editing tools. While I was at it, they were given a 2K HD treatment and can be viewed thusly on my Flickr site here.
Next week, it’s Ann-Christine’s turn to challenge us. Look for her challenge at noon Eastern time on Saturday. If you’d like to join in the fun with the weekly challenges, but would like a few more details, check out this page here.
John Steiner
Flare Legend Adventures
Interesting photos John
Thanks!
You’re welcome
A few are Curious collections!
Love typewriters.
Indeed. I had a couple of typewriters over the years, my most recent, a Smith-Corona portable electric that I had for a couple of decades.
By any chance you still make use of them?
I haven’t had any typewriters in my possession for many years now. If I did, I’d prefer working on my computer, truth be told. 🙂
Agree.
One can never imagine typing with these machines and what a sound they make!
That’s an interesting selection John. I love the old typewriters and the chuck wagon – museums are a great source of still life images 🙂 And your cruise shot is full of atmosphere!
Thanks, Sarah! Coincidentally, right now I am working on processing the many images I captured in London last October.
Love the shot of the model railroad, JS. Even though I am now in my 60s, part of me would still very much like to have a setup like the one you photographed.
Thanks! There is a large building with model railroad displays in Scottsdale at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. We enjoyed visiting there a few times when we wintered in Arizona.
My wonderful wife and I have visited the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. Maybe it’s time for another visit.
Great selections John. Markets are always amazing.
Thanks, John!
Interesting still life depictions .
Thanks!
A broad-brush approach for sure John but you covered the gamut with this one. My favorite image is your last. The simplicity of the arrangement and your focus points are perfect. All in all the post was really interesting and I did learn a few things. I love that Custer had his wife’s wedding photo above his desk. We don’t often think of historic figures as normal humans just doing a job.
Thanks, Tina!
I would love to get my hands on those old typewriters. 😀 😀
John, your post is remarkable for this week 😀
Thanks, Cee! I’d love at least one of those typewriters as well. It would be better taken care of than they look like in the photo.
What a wonderful, eclectic collection, John! The variety is terrific…typewriters to a chuck wagon kitchen. You had me fooled with the first image. I thought it was real. And your own still life at the end was great! I love the ocean view in the background.
Thanks, Patti! It did represent a wide variety of sorta still life images. >grin<
“A staged life” I must admit is interesting to be there, John. Yes, they tell stories.
Indeed.
Thank you John wonderful pictures.☘️
Thanks, Eithnea!
Nice selection. Particularly like the chuck wagon and the old type writers
Thanks! I really like how they arranged that chuck wagon display.
Great still life images!
Thanks, Anne!
😊
I knew I would love you collection, John, not just because of your travel, but mostly because of your love and search for item in history. I lived the Custer Desk. What an iterating grab for stills. I forgot about Mystery House! That is a treasure trove of stills, isn’t it?I loved all your photos, and I have to say, I too loved the coffee cups. Simple and fun.Very nice interpretation for Patti’s challenge.
Thanks, Donna! We visited the Mystery House three times during our winter stays there and always found something interesting to photograph that we didn’t notice the previous time.
I really like that first dioRAMa because it really looks like an actual photo. I also really like the still life on your cruise.
Thanks, Janet. That museum has wonderful displays. I really enjoyed their Africa section and have many similarly styled photos from our visit.
[…] Lens-Artist Photo-Challenge John:…Still-Life […]
a very special gallery, John – enjoyed it very much. Your historic touch is enlivening (!) Loved the typewriters especially, and the cruise still life.
Thank you! I like to try to find something historic to include whenever I can. The Internet makes that research so much easier than it used to be.
Love it, and yes…something is good about the Internet . ..
John, I enjoyed seeing all of your pictures and also reading about each one!
Thanks, Sylvia!
The Bighorn Diorama is wonderfully put together – or is it your mastery at photography that makes it seem so real, John?
Thanks for the compliment! The masters at the museum are experts at making their exhibits seem real.
My only contribution is finding a composition that looks good and minimizes the reflections from the Plexiglas in front of the displays. >grin<
You certainly held up your part of the bargain, John!
I appreciate that, Dries!
Very nicely done. I wish I’d thought of stretching the challenge in that direction. Next time you’re in NYC, I bet you would like the Transit Museum. You learn about the history of the subway and you can get on some of the old, beautiful trains.
Thanks, Dan. I will keep that in mind. It sounds like a place I would love to visit.
It’s in Brooklyn, but close to Manhattan. I think it’s time for another visit for me.
[…] This week, Patti challenges us to present still life images. I almost sat out this challenge, since I think of my photos as experiences more than art. Patti’s photos are artistic, and are a must-see, and she also showed how the rules can be bent. Also, thanks to John for further inspiring me, so check out his his creative take on the challenge. […]