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Dearest Friend – New Photo

Dearest Friend – New Photo

Dearest Friend © 2020 Patty Hankins

Dearest Friend © 2020 Patty Hankins

 

I’ve recently added a new photograph – Dearest Friend – to my website at https://beautifulflowerpictures.com/store/dearest-friend/

In the Victorian Language of Flowers, bronze chrysanthemums symbolize friendship. As I created this still life, I imagined a woman about to jot a quick note on a postcard to her best friend. They have been friends since childhood, maintaining their friendship across the miles and through the years by regularly sending notes, letters, cards and photographs.

This photograph is available matted to 11 X 14 and 16 X 20

After the Dance – New Photo

After the Dance – New Photo

After the Dance © 2020 Patty Hankins

After the Dance © 2020 Patty Hankins

I’ve recently added a new photograph – After the Dance – to my website at https://beautifulflowerpictures.com/store/after-the-dance/

In the Victorian Language of Flowers, bleeding hearts can symbolize I want to tell you how I feel. As I created this still life, I imaged a young woman home from a formal dance with her current beau. As she puts down her fan and takes off her jewelry, she is already wondering what she will see him again so she can tell him how much she loves him.

This photograph is available matted to 12 X 12″ and 16 X 16″

 

 

Missing You – New Photo

Missing You – New Photo

Missing You © 2020 Patty Hankins

Missing You © 2020 Patty Hankins

 

I’ve recently added a new photograph – Missing You – to my website at https://beautifulflowerpictures.com/store/missing-you/

In the Victorian Language of Flowers, zinnias symbolized missing you, and statice symbolized I miss you. Inspired by that, I imagined a woman looking back over cards, photos, postcards, and her autograph book thinking of friends she hasn’t seen in a while. Perhaps she’ll decide to write one of them a letter after reliving some wonderful memories.

This photograph is available matted to 11 X 14 or 16 X 20

One Enchanted Evening – New Photo

One Enchanted Evening – New Photo

One Enchanted Evening © 2020 Patty Hankins

One Enchanted Evening © 2020 Patty Hankins

 

I’ve recently added a new photograph – One Enchanted Evening – to my website at https://beautifulflowerpictures.com/store/enchantedevening/

In the Victorian Language of Flowers, snapdragons symbolized grace and elegance. Inspired by that, I imagined an elegantly dressed woman home from an exquisite evening out. She has returned home and has laid her fan and jewelry out on her dressing table as she remembers all the wonderful moments of an enchanted evening with the man she loves.

This photograph is available matted to 11 X 14 or 16 X 20

Telling Stories with Still Lifes

Telling Stories with Still Lifes

One of the things I really enjoy about creating still life photographs is that I get to tell stories with them. And the stories can be anything I want them to be.

When I started learning about creating still lifes, I struggled with figuring out what to include in my scene and what to leave out. I kept hearing and reading that telling a story would make it easier to figure out what to include in my photograph. But being a literally minded person – if someone tells me to tell a story – my mind goes to telling a grand saga like Gone with the Wind or War and Peace. And trust me – thinking about creating still lifes that tell a complex story with multiple plots and characters did not make it any easier. 

Then suddenly I realized I was making the whole story telling idea way too complicated. I didn’t need to tell a long saga, I just needed to have an idea for a scene and tell that story. Once I have an idea for a person, and an action or activity, I know what to include in my scene and what to leave out.

And the idea can be as simple as enjoying afternoon tea with fresh strawberries

Strawberries & Tea © 2018 Patty Hankins

Strawberries & Tea © 2018 Patty Hankins

 

Or coming in from the garden with fresh cut flowers and sitting down with a magazine and a cup of tea

In From the Garden © 2020 Patty Hankins

In From the Garden © 2020 Patty Hankins

Or putting jewlery and a fan down on the dressing table after a wonderful evening out

One Enchanted Evening © 2020 Patty Hankins

One Enchanted Evening © 2020 Patty Hankins

If you’d like to tell some stories of your own with still life photographs, join me for my Creating Still Life Photographs with Vintage Objects Workshop on March 7 at my home in Bethesda. The workshop is limited to 4 participants to make sure everyone has plenty of time to create still lifes and tell stories. You can learn more about the workshop and register at https://beautifulflowerpictures.com/store/stilllifephotographymarch-2020/