Task 1
From my research over the term of the evolution of still life paintings, and the reoccurring themes and definitions throughout the centuries of:
nature morte, funeral paintings, religious connections, moments mori, vanitas
it is clear that although still life paintings are predominately of flowers, fruit, dead animals there is an undercurrent of death, not only in the definitions of the genre but the feeling that the painting capture inanimate/dead objects. I wanted to adopt a different tack. For this project I choose a subject matter that encompasses this theme of death, rather than still life and the items I choose were from my Great Uncle who was killed in WW1 in 1917.
The photo, would capture his life and memory – his camera, photo, medals and poppy in memorandum in an event to create a ‘still living’ not forgotten photo.
The lighting set up had to encompass the reflection from the glazed poppy but add enough light on the ‘death penny’ which was non reflective and very dark. I created a small vignette to darken the photo to create a memorial atmosphere.
The Bigger Picture 