Still-life Magic

There is something very surreal about this scene. We're not sure what is going on but we want to know more. The use of flash and ND filter to overpower the natural light is a great choice. The shadows are nicely balanced as are the highlights. A cinematic style that works brilliantly.

This is a traditional still-life scene and we appreciate the adherence to form. The lighting is sumptuous and the colours truly pop from the dark background. Like many still-life images, it is deceptively complex but keeps the concept streamlined. A great composition too with plenty of detail. Well done.

We really like the simplicity in this shot. The colours and detail all work together well to create a satisfying balance. The framing is good and the lighting and exposure are nicely controlled. An effective still-life study that harks back to the paintings of the master artists. Well done.

We really like the simplicity in this shot. The colours and detail all work together well to create a satisfying balance. The framing is good and the lighting and exposure are nicely controlled. An effective still-life study that harks back to the paintings of the master artists. Well done.

We really like the simplicity in this shot. The colours and detail all work together well to create a satisfying balance. The framing is good and the lighting and exposure are nicely controlled. An effective still-life study that harks back to the paintings of the master artists. Well done.

We think of one of the master classical composers when looking at this shot, imagining them off-camera gathering their notes before creating a masterpiece. The lighting is classically styled, the colours rich and oil-like, and the subject clear. There is nothing superfluous in the scene either.

The tonal contrasts in this scene are very satisfying! It's such a simple idea but one that works incredibly well. The placement of the objects and the camera were essential for this short, as were the exposure and depth-of-field, but all of these aspects were clearly well-considered. An effective monochrome still-life.

Texture overlays featured heavily in this round but this shot makes perfect use of one. There is just enough of a canvas pattern to give the image that painterly detail without dominating the native detail in the scene. The colours are beautifully muted and the composition is tightly controlled. Well done.

Another shot that looks like an oil painting, this scene makes great use of strong lighting and warm colours. The shadows are deep but nicely managed while all of the objects seem relevant to the story. A nicely put-together image – We feel like we're in Leonardo da Vinci's workshop.

Simplicity is a powerful tool. In this scene, we rely solely on tonality and the lighting choice makes great use of the full range. We have bright highlights and dark shadows, but the image remains bright and appealing. There is still a sense of direction and structure in the shot. Well done.

This is a traditional still-life scene and we appreciate the adherence to form. The lighting is sumptuous and the colours truly pop from the dark background. Like many still-life images, it is deceptively complex but keeps the concept streamlined. A great composition too with plenty of detail. Well done.

This is a traditional still-life scene and we appreciate the adherence to form. The lighting is sumptuous and the colours truly pop from the dark background. Like many still-life images, it is deceptively complex but keeps the concept streamlined. A great composition too with plenty of detail. Well done.

Not every still-life shot is dark and in the style of a Renaissance oil painting. This bright and airy shot makes great use of depth-of-field and negative space, drawing our eye to the centre of the frame and folding there. It gives a chance to focus on the patterns and pleasing contrast. A nice idea expertly carried out.

We like the dark palette in this scene, it makes a great backdrop for the colourful objects and introduces an almost sinister atmosphere. The choice to leave (or add) the noise is an interesting one as it lends the frame a grittiness that breaks up the clean lines and curves of the objects.