Still life on the cheap

Ryan Brenizer

"We need you to take a photo of this medal," said the Art Director. "Can you make it artsy? I know you guys don't have a lot of lighting over there."

"Oh, no problem," I said. "Our still life set-up is state-of-the-art."

The set-up: four-year-old digital camera; 25-year-old lens; lit by a $15 flashlight, softened by two sheets of paper towel. I moved the light around a bit during the 8-second exposure to make the glow even more diffuse.

And that lush cloth backdrop? One of my old t-shirts.