My career in photography began with shooting still life. Many photographers do not care about this kind of subject matter. They considered it to be child’s play and not in the grand scheme of things. Photography for them is about shooting models, landscapes, and other subjects.

In reality, shooting still life holds a lot of photographic knowledge, and also the principles of the craft.

Starting with the observation, how to apply light, the art of composition, the use of color and contrast, the light and shadow, and even how to set up and arrange the subjects, all require the photographer’s technical and aesthetic skills. Mastering still life photography means understanding many of the principles of photography and fine art.

What is still life photography? As the name implies, it is to photograph all objects that do not move. Still. Some of the examples are the posters or advertisements you see that are typical of still life photography.

After being immersed in still life photography for some time, a friend challenged me. He said, “I’d like to see how you can put two subjects that are at the extremes of the world into one frame.”

What he meant was that I should merge the ideas of “dynamic” and “static”.

It was a bit mysterious, but I understood what he meant. After contemplating it for a long time, I couldn’t think out of the box. Then one day, when I saw the foam and the boiling water, I had an idea.

I’ve always been enthralled by the exquisite, ephemeral beauty of soap bubbles. However, their graceful, care-free buoyancy belies a strength of great tenacity.

Photography

When I explained the idea to the kids in the neighborhood, they listened with great interest. Everyone was so eager to take part.

A strobe light, a ring hanging from the roof and a black flannel background, the equipment used was so simple.

Initially, I worried about the bubbles would fly around; the interesting thing is that the bubbles would actually fly in a straight line. Passing them through the searing circle of inferno is a feat to test the limits of their delicate tenacity. And Viola, they literally passed with flying colors, and emerged none the worse for wear from the aftermath of being licked by the flaming tongues. It was a wonderful moment that turned into an eternity.

I felt that the child in my heart was released when I was shooting.

After shooting the whole morning, we finally finished.

This work, which was later displayed at the world’s largest camera exhibition, Photokina received the attention of a manufacturer, which led to a deal with the camera manufacturer and changed my photography career from then on.

It all started with shooting still life.