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Still Life after Pieter Claesz

vangoghvangogh Registered Users Posts: 353 Major grins
edited April 15, 2008 in Other Cool Shots
The latest competition theme at my camera club was still life so I decided to create an image based on a still life painting by Pieter Claesz.

277908599_FeXEN-L.jpg

It was lit with 3 candles, a 12 second exposure and then with flash both sides to get some highlights. The original image had a skull in it but I obviously couldn't get hold of a human skull so decided to see if my local Halal butcher could help. They did give me some funny looks, but were able to supply me with a sheep's head. If you look carefully on the book you can see the original painting referenced.

I was playing on the idea of a 'Still Life' actually being related to Death.
Nicola
Iconic Creative
http://iconiccreative.smugmug.com

"To be creative means the ability to remain thirsty and to want more, never be content...you keep on seeing, discovering and understanding the joy of creativity"
Raghu Rai

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    gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited April 11, 2008
    Wow ! Interesting.
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    RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,937 moderator
    edited April 11, 2008
    I love it. I confess that I had to Google Pieter Claesz. Looks like you have captured the spirit well.

    Regards,
    My Pics
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    QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited April 11, 2008
    spectacular shot.
    D700, D600
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    http://www.danielkimphotography.com
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    RaphyRaphy Registered Users Posts: 431 Major grins
    edited April 11, 2008
    Holy crap that's a real goat's head !eek7.gif

    I like the shot ! very cool !thumb.gif
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    vangoghvangogh Registered Users Posts: 353 Major grins
    edited April 12, 2008
    Raphy wrote:
    Holy crap that's a real goat's head !eek7.gif

    I like the shot ! very cool !thumb.gif

    Yep its a real sheep's head & once it defrosted I had to put it on some clingfilm when i set up the still life as it was begining to drop blood all over the scene. Even its tongue was still there. It felt a bit 'odd' handling it & realising it had been a living animal. I treated it with respect, but also felt part of a long line of artists who have used animal and human forms to investiagte the world and create art. It was a very peculiar feeling all round, but in the end I just had to treat it as a photographic project or I'm not sure I could have done it.

    Would I do it again? Yes I would I think, but there would have to be a 'purpose' to it and it would have to be from an animal that was already dead, not one that I had had killed for the image. Definitely not my usual style :-)

    Txs for all the comments.
    Nicola
    Iconic Creative
    http://iconiccreative.smugmug.com

    "To be creative means the ability to remain thirsty and to want more, never be content...you keep on seeing, discovering and understanding the joy of creativity"
    Raghu Rai
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    DogdotsDogdots Registered Users Posts: 8,795 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    I don't know what to say...I'm speechless :D

    Really nice photo...even with the goats head.
    Mary
    www.Dogdotsphotography.com
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    DaddyODaddyO Registered Users Posts: 4,466 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    Richard wrote:
    I love it. I confess that I had to Google Pieter Claesz. Looks like you have captured the spirit well.

    Regards,
    15524779-Ti.gif

    Besides checking google for Claesz, I hit ebay for Skull Props. Wouldn't ya
    know they have some. :D Michael
    Michael
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    eL eSs VeeeL eSs Vee Registered Users Posts: 1,243 Major grins
    edited April 13, 2008
    Wow! I looked at the skull a couple times and wondered if it was real. Goodness!

    Excellent, vangogh! A beautiful shot. thumb.gif
    Lee
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    vangoghvangogh Registered Users Posts: 353 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    eL eSs Vee wrote:
    Wow! I looked at the skull a couple times and wondered if it was real. Goodness!

    Excellent, vangogh! A beautiful shot. thumb.gif

    It was very definitiely real :-) & very bloody and a little spooky/uncomfortable
    Nicola
    Iconic Creative
    http://iconiccreative.smugmug.com

    "To be creative means the ability to remain thirsty and to want more, never be content...you keep on seeing, discovering and understanding the joy of creativity"
    Raghu Rai
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    vangoghvangogh Registered Users Posts: 353 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2008
    eL eSs Vee wrote:
    Wow! I looked at the skull a couple times and wondered if it was real. Goodness!

    Excellent, vangogh! A beautiful shot. thumb.gif

    Txs!!
    Nicola
    Iconic Creative
    http://iconiccreative.smugmug.com

    "To be creative means the ability to remain thirsty and to want more, never be content...you keep on seeing, discovering and understanding the joy of creativity"
    Raghu Rai
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    SkippySkippy Registered Users Posts: 12,075 Major grins
    edited April 15, 2008
    vangogh wrote:
    The latest competition theme at my camera club was still life so I decided to create an image based on a still life painting by Pieter Claesz.

    It was lit with 3 candles, a 12 second exposure and then with flash both sides to get some highlights. The original image had a skull in it but I obviously couldn't get hold of a human skull so decided to see if my local Halal butcher could help. They did give me some funny looks, but were able to supply me with a sheep's head. If you look carefully on the book you can see the original painting referenced.

    I was playing on the idea of a 'Still Life' actually being related to Death.

    Wow you sure know how to set up a shot eek7.gif gosh
    I looked at the shot before I read the text, and I said to myself my goodness thats a body part in that shot! ... then I read your text rolleyes1.gif

    That is a very interesting shot .... very impressive indeed clap.gif
    I'm still looking at it rolleyes1.gif .... Skippy :D
    .
    .
    Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"

    ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/

    :skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
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