Starting from a Blank Canvas

POLINA PLOTNIKOVA ARPS

Flowers and still life are my favourite photography subjects; still life in particular is perfect for a perfectionist like me - no one fidgets or makes faces, and no sudden gust of wind or some other quirk of ever-changing weather can spoil your shot. But, by the same token, you cannot count on something interesting that might just happen all of a sudden - everything is down to you - the choices are infinite, and the final result is entirely in your own hands.

My favourite type of still life photography is in a painterly, fine art style and I am definitely inspired by the great artistic images of the past. I have one particular series of photographs shot in the style of the Old Masters; another is a homage to my favourite Impressionist artists, and so on. Note that I do not aim to create an image that pretends to be a painting, but rather, I try to use my knowledge and love of art history when I am visualising my next shot.