Storytelling in Still Life Photography
Still lifes, both in photography and painting, depict a collection of objects. At a first glance they can seem static and meaningless, but still lifes can be effective visual storytelling. Here, we’ll take a closer look at storytelling in still life photography. Both at the types of stories you can tell, plus how you tell stories with objects and flowers.
Visual Storytelling in Still Life Photography
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Still life – nature morte. There is not much life in the names, is there? But are still lifes really so still? Are they dead?
Not if you ask me. I think they can be full of life. Full of energy. And full of stories.
Do all still lifes have elements of narrative and storytelling? No. Many still lifes are simply visual poetry. They don’t aim to tell a story. They are visual poems that focus on colour, form or atmosphere. For now, we focus on the still lifes that tell a story.
Still lifes can be effective visual storytelling.
Types of Storytelling in Still Life Photography
So we’ve established that still objects in a photograph or painting can tell a story. Let’s look at storytelling in still life photography under a microscope. What types of stories can you tell in still lifes?
The stories fall into 3 categories:
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- Statement
- Characterization (of someone/something)
- Development
Statement
Many still lifes make a statement, both classic still lifes and modern. The still lifes that convey a statement fall into 3 categories – Vanitas, Memento Mori and other still lifes that make a comment.
Vanitas
‘Vanitas’ is latin and means ‘vanity’. It is a subgenre of still lifes that was hugely popular in The Dutch Golden Age. The vanitas still lifes all make the (Christian) statement that life is transient and earthly possessions futile.
Memento Mori
‘Memento Mori’ is Latin and means ‘remember you must die’. The memento mori subgenre is closely related to vanitas. The memento mori still lifes can both make the statement that all that lives must die, but also that you better enjoy life while you can. Many vanitas still lifes contain memento mori elements, such as candles, hourglasses, skulls etc.
Comment
Vanitas and memento mori are the most common statements made in still lifes. They are both moralizing and a product of their time.
However, all kinds of statements can be conveyed in still lifes. Modern still lifes that convey a statement fall into this category.
Characterization
The depicted objects in a still life can also function as a characterization of either a situation or a person. The objects then serve as attributes.
Development
The story told in a still life can also be one of development. The objects then represent stages or phases in a narrative. On their own the objects would be meaningless, but in context they gain meaning and together they tell a story.
Methods of Storytelling in Still Life Photography
The stories told in still life painting and still life photography are stories of statements, characterizations or development.
These stories are told with the following 3 storytelling methods:
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- Symbolism
- Juxtaposition
- Progression
These storytelling methods can either be used alone or in combination.
Symbolism
In The Dutch Golden Age the preferred storytelling method was symbolism. The stories in the still lifes were told in a hidden code language.
Most objects in still lifes had a symbolic meaning, e.g. pearls symbolized virginity and an hourglass symbolized mortality. If not familiar with art history, most modern viewers would miss the coded symbols and just see pretty images of seemingly meaningless objects. But in the Dutch Golden Age viewers were familiar with the code language and were able to ‘read’ the stories told in the still life paintings.
Juxtaposition
Another method to tell stories with is juxtaposition. Juxtaposition is the placing of objects next to each other, in order to highlight similarities or differences. When objects are placed together, they enter into a relationship with each other. The viewer is invited to consider this relationship and derive a story from this.
A major difference with symbolism is that in symbolism an object has a fixed meaning. In juxtaposition the same object can have different meanings depending on the constallations they are part of. The story comes from the context.
Progression
The last storytelling method is progression. The objects in the still life form a series, where the relationship between them is either temporal or causal. So either the story depicts a progession in time or a progression in events that are in a cause and effect relationship. This method is a perfect match for stories of development.
Analysis of Storytelling in Still Life Photos
‘Public Enemy #1’
‘Public Enemy #1’ | Trine Mandal Mortensen | Patinatur Studio
> Story type(s): Statement
statement in form of a comment,”All plants are created equal”.
Stylistic inspiration from Dutch Golden Age floral still lifes. But instead of a bouquet of highly cultivated flowers, it presents a lush bouquet of one of the most hated weeds, ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria), public enemy #1 amongst garden owners.
> Storytelling method(s): Symbolism
The weed is a symbol of beauty in imperfections and the unplanned.
‘Springtime Vanitas’
‘Springtime Vanitas’ | Trine Mandal Mortensen | Patinatur Studio
> Story type(s): Statement
statement in form of a vanitas/memento mori,”All that lives must die”.
> Storytelling method(s): Symbolism
The egg shells, down and spring flowers are all symbols of spring and new life. The hourglass, on the other hand, is a memento mori reminder, a symbol of life eventually running out.
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‘The Explorer’ & ‘The Voyer’
‘The Explorer’ | Trine Mandal Mortensen / Tina Thyde | Patinatur Studio
‘The Voyer’ | Trine Mandal Mortensen / Tina Thyde | Patinatur Studio
> Story type(s): Characterization (of a person)
Characterizations of 2 kinds of people, doers (the explorer) and dreamers (the voyer).
> Storytelling method(s): Juxtaposition + symbolism
When placed together these symbolic objects form a characterization.
‘The Explorer’: the objects symbolize active exploration – globe, suitcase, camera and field bottle.
‘The Voyer’: the objects symbolize passive peeking and studying of others – binoculars, taxidermy bird (Kingfisher), books and birdcage.
‘Corona Pandemic’
‘Corona Pandemic’ | Trine Mandal Mortensen | Patinatur Studio
> Story type(s): Characterization (of a situation)
Characterization of the time of the first lockdown in the corona pandemic.
> Storytelling method(s): Juxtaposition
Placed together these objects – toilet paper, hand sanitizer and protective glove –Â form a characterization of the first lockdown.
Stylistic inspiration from Dutch Golden Age still lifes. The lemon peel dangling over the edge in Dutch still lifes is here replaced by a roll of toilet paper.
‘The Life Cycle of a Daffodil’
‘The Life Cycle of a Daffodil’ | Trine Mandal Mortensen | Patinatur Studio
> Story type(s): Development
The image shows the life cycle of a daffodil.Â
> Storytelling method(s): Progression
Daffodils are placed in a circle in a temporal progression. Each daffodil represents a stage in a daffodil’s development. From sprouted bulb to bud, to partially unfolded flower, unfolded flower, flower in full bloom, wilted flower and to bulb again.
‘The Echo of Summer’
‘The Echo of Summer’ | Trine Mandal Mortensen | Patinatur Studio
> Story type(s): Statement
Statement in form of a comment, “All flowers are created equal”.
Stylistic inspiration from Dutch Golden Age floral still lifes. But instead of an arranged bouquet of lush cultivated flowers, it presents a bouquet of dried wildflowers simply lying on a surface.
> Storytelling method(s): Symbolism
The dried wildflowers symbolize beauty in the natural and imperfect.
‘Nature’s Waste’
‘Nature’s Waste’ | Trine Mandal Mortensen | Patinatur Studio
> Story type(s): Characterization, statementÂ
Characterization of the waste that nature leaves behind.
Statement in form of a comment, “Nature’s waste is beautiful”.
> Storytelling method(s): Juxtaposition, symbolism
Each object is a waste product from nature. The connection between them is made clear by juxtaposition.
‘Bloom Is Just a Phase’
‘Bloom Is Just a Phase’ | Trine Mandal Mortensen | Patinatur Studio
> Story type(s): Statement, development
Statement in form of a comment, “Look beyond the prime”.
The hibiscus flowers in full bloom steal the show, but there is beauty to be found in all stages of the development of a flower – bud, bloom and wilted.
Or in all stages of life – childhood, youth, adulthood and old age.
> Storytelling method(s): Juxtaposition, progression
The progression from bud to flower in bloom and wilted flower tells the story of a life cycle.
The juxtaposition of a bouquet of blooming flowers with the entire life cycle shows that there is more to flowers (or people) than their prime.
The collections of objects and flowers can tell many different stories with different methods of storytelling.
A Still Life Is Not Just a Still Life is Not Just a Still Life
So there can be storytelling in still life photography. The collections of objects and flowers can tell many different stories with different methods of storytelling. Gertrude Stein said, “A rose is a rose is a rose”. But sometimes a flower is not just a flower. A floral still life is not just a floral still life. And an object is not just an object. By using symbolism, juxtaposition or progression, they can tell stories of statements, characterizations and developments.
