In Sam Nicklin’s still-life photographs, a watch wraps around onion rings and a bag sits on a small lift. Unexpected pairings give familiar objects a sense of humor.
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A wristwatch is fastened around a stack of fried onion rings. The lunch menu takes the place where your wrist should be. In another photo, a black bag is on a small scissor lift. The objects are recognizable, but the relationships between them are unfamiliar.
This is a still life photography work by photographer and director Sam Nicklin. Rather than solemnly emphasizing a product’s luxury, he matches colors and forms to create unexpected pairings. When everyday objects are placed next to expensive items, a small incident occurs in the photo.
A scene that starts with one color
Nicklin explains that he starts a scene by pairing objects with colors. He may gather more objects in the same color or introduce a contrasting color. Items found in the market and on eBay are the materials used in this construction. This does not mean every prop in his photographs is secondhand.
The artist's official introduction includes the influence of old advertisements and printed materials, as well as the process of sourcing, arranging, and lighting objects. A photo is both a discovered scene and a created scene at the same time. If the background color changes and the angle of an object changes, the same product can tell a different story.
A joke of an object instead of a product's function
The lift that lifts the bag is not a necessary device in the product description. However, if you put the two items together, it creates a situation like a small repair shop. That's why you suddenly become aware of the weight and volume of the bag in the photo.
The watch fastened around onion rings is similar. The time-telling function goes to the back, and the round shape and wrapping structure come to the front. The photos are accurate enough to make the product recognizable, but are a step away from the usual usage scenes.
The fun of this kind of still life comes not only from the abundance of props. It's about choosing what you put together so you can look at the items once more. The color catches the eye first, and the relationship between the two objects that seemed unlikely to match catches the eye next.
After looking at all the photos, the watch and onion rings return to their ordinary roles. However, the fact remains that they briefly explained each other's shapes.
Sources and editorial notes
Creative Boom · Sam Nicklin Interview and Works
Sam Nicklin · Official portfolio and artist biography
Editorial note: Facts were checked against the sources above; interpretations are MUADAILY’s editorial views. Image: MUADAILY · AI reconstruction based on a supplied reference photograph; not an original work by Sam Nicklin.
Machine-translated from Korean. Read the original.
