Inspired by Nature

A photographed still life is never simply a shot “from life” or “as it is,” but almost always the result of deliberate composition—even when it appears natural. But what defines a still life? When does it appear to be an observation of nature, and when does it appear to be a clear staging? Inspired by early 19th-century still-life photographs, we’ll adapt classic motifs featuring fruit, vegetables, flowers, or other objects to the context of our contemporary urban reality. Together with photographer Antje Peters, participants will explore different forms of still-life photography—from seemingly natural arrangements to clearly staged compositions.

Using selected examples, the course also provides insights into the history of still-life photography. Technical perfection is not the main focus here; what matters most is the process. Participants will experiment with the camera, natural light, artificial light, and composition, and explore how everyday objects can be arranged and staged as still lifes.

Antje Peters (b. in 1979 in West Berlin) works as a visual artist using photography as her medium, as well as a commercial photographer. Her works were featured in the exhibition Optical Illusion – Contemporary Still Life at C/O Berlin (2017). In 2019, she taught the course “Applied Photography” in the master’s program at ECAL—University of Art and Design in Lausanne. Her book project “Catalogue” was nominated for the Author Book Award at the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie in Arles, France, in 2023. Over the past ten years, Peters has published her fashion and product photography in numerous international magazines (Numéro Berlin, ZEIT Magazin, Novembre, and many more) and has also created still-life campaigns for Rimowa, Birkenstock, Louis Vuitton, Farfetch, HUGO, and Glossier.