Photographing Silverware
Creating beauty from the ordinary
You have the perfect subject footsteps away from you
We have photographed some things in your kitchen, but now you are going to create amazing photographs of silverware.
Using all the tools of composition you have learned about, I want to see you photograph forks, knives and spoons in a CREATIVE WAY.
But you have one more compositional tool to practice. Horizontal and Vertical.
I want you to take at least 30 shots of silverware with a variety of backdrops, lighting, and arrangements while shooting both vertically and horizontally.
Horizontal & Vertical - Design - video
Let’s head to Pinterest to Inspiration https://www.pinterest.com/jimhilligoss/silverware-photography/
Famous Artist to Inspire Us: Andre Kertesz
Some of his other work
Working With Shadows
To imitate the Kertész fork photo you need directional light. Look for lighting opportunities before choosing a table. Window light is directional on a sunny day if there are no net curtains or frosted glass installed. So open those curtains, or shoot outside before the sun comes out.
Bare, clear-glass bulbs create bolder shadows than a fluorescent bulb or shaded light. A table lamp with a tapered shade makes a good makeshift studio light if you move it close to your subject, as it forces its strongest light downwards. Or use a flashlight!
Once you’ve identified a suitable light source for creating shadows, how do you make the most of it? Adjusting the position and distance of the light, if possible, will alter the intensity of the shadow. Look at the Kertész photo and you’ll see there is very little mid-tone detail—it’s a high-contrast photo that emphasizes shape.
Aside from the depth and definition of the shadow, its angle also plays a significant role. A fork or other utensil resting on the edge of a concave bowl or plate creates an elongated shadow. This distorted shape contrasts with the realistic outline that is cast onto a flat surface with the light at a right angle to the subject.
Looking at Form
Not by accident did Kertész choose a fork for his tabletop photo. No other piece of cutlery is as an intriguing form. However, many types of tableware are elegantly designed, so it’s worth looking closely for photo opportunities. Intricate details often make good photos. As well, you can combine multiple items to make the composition more appealing. The graceful lines of several stacked spoons make a good photo, for instance.
Whether through shadows or reflections, look for interplay between the different items on the table. At home, try using a mirrored surface to create intriguing cutlery compositions. Place items carefully so that they harmonize rather than merely obstruct each other.
Tabletops and backdrops
Whenever a tabletop forms part of your composition, you must make sure that it doesn’t detract from the photo. Just like any background, it has the power to make or break the whole image.
Don’t include it at all if it has a distracting pattern or texture. Look closely at any grain or joins to make sure nothing works against the flow of the photo. In some cases, a well-lit or interesting table surface may play a strong role in the picture.
Fancy silverware
Once you’ve exhausted photo possibilities based on light and form, it’s always worth examining the little design flourishes found on a lot of fancy tableware. For this minute examination of detail, you definitely need a macro lens or the close-up facility of a cell phone or compact camera.
DETAILS
Armed with close-up capability, you’ll see all kinds of photo chances at a micro-level. Look for little twists and turns in the metal, hallmarks, or even blemishes. These small details often look great when gathered together in a book or printed as a triptych, for example.
Let’s get inspired by other student work
What you are turning in:
I want you to take at least 20 photos of silverware and/or kitchen tools like wooden spoons and spatulas.
Turn in two collages of your photos to prove you tried to take a variety of shots.