Still Life Photography: Lighting and Composition
A course by MASSIMO BIANCHI , Still Life Photographer
Learn the fundamentals of still life photography to create a stunning three-photo series, from the set and props to post-production
Learn the fundamentals of still life photography to create a stunning three-photo series, from the set and props to post-production
Queen of the advertising sector, still life photography is the art of portraying an inanimate subject in an original and attractive way, enhancing its aesthetic based on a studied integration of backgrounds and props.
Massimo Bianchi is an expert in this photographic genre, which blends research, technical expertise, and narrative ability. In this online course, he reveals the composition and lighting techniques that allow you to create a series of three still life shots, using continuous light, flash and backlighting, and gradually increasing the level of difficulty.
Imagine, experiment, and find the photographic approach that best represents you!
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 22 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (18)
- 889 students
- 16 lessons (2h 6m)
- 22 additional resources (3 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Italian
- Italian · Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create a series of three still life shots of increasing difficulty, starting from the research of the idea, then choosing the props and putting together the set and the lighting plan, and, finally, shooting and post-producing the images.
Who is this online course for?
Both beginners and photography experts who want to learn how to design, create, and post-produce still life shots.
Requirements and materials
All you really need is camera with a manual exposure control, a computer, and a few other pieces of equipment that Massimo details during the course. You should also have access to Capture One, or another software that allows tethered capture, and Photoshop or a similar program.
Reviews
A course by MASSIMO BIANCHI
Massimo Bianchi is a still life photographer specialized in beauty, fashion, and jewelry photography, who boasts collaborations with magazines such as Vogue Italia and Vanity Fair, as well as with brands including Dolce&Gabbana, Versace, Furla, and Bulgari.
After studying at the historic Riccardo Bauer institute in Milan, he began to make his way as an assistant photographer for interior design, advertising, fashion, and publishing. With the experience and security gained, he then set up his own studio.
Fascinated by the search for the sublime in nature, he describes himself as a "lover of the beautiful and the complicated." In fact, Massimo commits himself body and soul to any work challenge, while also having fun building props and sets by himself.
Still life photography is his preferred medium—a path he has chosen with awareness from the beginning due to the infinite possibilities of creation and research offered by objects, materials, and their interaction with light.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Preparing to shoot still life
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Tools and materials
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Metabolize the idea
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Searching for props
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Some examples of settings
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U3
The photo shoot
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Preparation of the first shot: flower still life
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Lighting of the first shot: flower still life
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First shot: flower still life
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Preparation and lighting of the second shot: fashion accessory still life
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Second shot: fashion accessory still life
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Preparation and lighting of the third shot: still life transparent objects
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Third shot: still life transparent objects
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U4
Editing and postproduction
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The selection of shots
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Postproduction in Photoshop 1
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Postproduction in Photoshop 2
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FP
Final project
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Still Life Photography: Lighting and Composition
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
anne.darling
PlusMassimo is an excellent teacher and his methodology is clearly stated. I recommend this course but be aware he uses expensive equipment. Yes, you can work with whatever you have but it's a bit off-putting when you see the gear he has. One can aspire however!
mikecrosaphotography
PlusI liked how he described his thinking and how he went about composing his still life. He explained quite well. I understand he is a professional and has the equipment to do his work but as an aspiring still life artist his lighting is beyond my budget. I like his clear glass still like but I cannot see how I could light the bottles like he has.
j3nnif3r
I'm not a photographer and i found the course very useful.
I would have loved to see some more hints in the post-production step ;)
mercedes_poloportillo
Excelente profesor y profesional. La práctica con tres tipos de composición tan diferente ayuda a entender el trabajo de iluminación a la perfección.
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malenkasher
muy buen curso, gracias
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