Vesna Armstrong Photography

Every year I try to create a Christmas still life. As always, it has to look traditional so I avoid using any modern style decorations. This year I managed to get some lovely cinnamon sticks and a divine potpourri and both have served a double purpose. I didn't find any natural red berries branches so I used an artificial one as it didn't look too bad. I needed a "centerpiece" and after thinking hard I decided to use the little oval frame with a black and white portrait of an unknown woman in it. I may have slightly overdone with the vignette but I like the texture of it and played a long time with the colour trying to achieve the right shade of red. I think the strong vignette adds to the Christmas feel of the image. The result is a nostalgic, old world still life that also contains a wistful, even a sad note. I do not mind as I know there are a lot of people out there who for whatever reason will be unable to have a happy Christmas or people who will be missing dear...

It was my first time at this Fayre (or any such fayre for that matter) and I absolutely loved it! I thought I was happier to be there and more excited than all the kids around me. Pity it was bitterly cold and I could not stay till the end as my face and hands started to go numb. I will definitely be there next year, and who knows it might be me too who is strolling around in a Victorian costume! I hear that the Fayre was a huge success, and I am especially pleased that the small businesses who entered traded really well on the day.

I am way behind with my posts and need to find time to catch up. This still life was shot back at the end of September and processed and posted to Flickr three weeks ago. Hydrangea has to be one of my favourite summer blooms and I also love its decadent autumn look full of amazing fading but rich colours. It is also very easy to dry retaining the colour and petals really well. Placed in the metal vintage jug it is a permanent feature either on my kitchen window sill or somewhere in the dining room. I wanted to create a rustic still life so I decided to put the jug with the hydrangeas on a randomly cut piece of hessian. I teamed it with a pair of bonsai scissors and a single red leaf from one of the stems. A dark green background makes for a nice colour combination and a grunge texture seals a rustic look. Quite pleased with this one, and Trevillion Images also liked it and accepted it!