Unusual still life

I think the light and composition of this image are quite strong. As I sorted through the submissions, I noticed many iterations of this same shot - screws, black background, plexiglass reflection. I found myself wondering if there is an internet "how to" tutorial on this theme which many photographers experimented with? I think this shot is a well made example of the theme.

While this image is not a "still life" in the traditional sense, it does have many of the elements necessary to a great image - beautiful light, strong composition and a bit of mystery. As I am also a fan of animal imagery, I could not resist including it in the top 10.

Close up shots of flowers and the like are always lovely by definition. It takes a bit more than the classic "macro" shot to catch my eye. For me, the difference between an average photograph and an excellent photograph is the quality of the light. The rim light in this photo is really dynamic - in particular the manner in which the fuzzy edges of the gooseberries are highlighted.

Choosing a winning image for this contest was nearly impossible. In making my selection from over 1000 images, I looked for images with beautiful light, strong composition and a bit of something to say. I like the play and humor of this image. It takes the traditional "laid table" still life and adds a touch of the surreal.

This image was one of several versions presented. To my eye, this one has the most dynamic composition. I like the use of the frame edges here. Photographers are often hesitant to crop elements in the frame but the use of multiple elements entering from the edges of the frame really works here.

This photo adheres to the "KISS" rule (keep it simple, stupid). While there are only two elements - the checkered background and the clock - both elements are interesting enough to hold attention. I like the contrast between the rigid, clean, geometry of the background and the worn texture of the clock. The checkered background also creates a somewhat distorted spatial component making the clock seem larger.

The precision of this image is appealing to me. The intense color amplifies the overall effect. This image presents a traditional still life subject with a more modern twist. While there were many repeated tropes in the images submitted, this photograph stood out as unique.

Simplicity - less is more in this photo. I love the texture of the grass and the gestural nature of the little twisted bit. The square frame and monochrome color add to the overall appeal. The slight gradation from dark to light in the background adds depth to an otherwise flat space.

This image is admittedly visceral and a bit disturbing. I chose it because of the friction created between the beautiful light, luscious color and disturbing content. As the title of this contest is "unusual still life" I endeavored to select unusual images.