An Apple a Day: Fine Art Still Life Photography with Simple Studio Lighting

Yes, I’ll admit it—I play with my food. More specifically, I play with my wife’s food. She has the habit of coming home from the grocery store with something that sparks my imagination, and I can’t resist turning it into a photography project. One such occasion was a simple bag of apples. The moment I saw them on the counter, my creative mind started to spin: How could I transform an ordinary green apple into a dramatic fine art still life?

This post was first shared over 15 years ago, and it quickly became one of my most popular photography tutorials. Even today, it’s a perfect example of how you can create fine art still life photography with minimal equipment, clever lighting, and a little imagination.

Setting the Stage for Apple Photography

I love Fine Art Still Life Photography because it takes everyday objects—like fruit, flowers, or even a coffee mug—and transforms them into something timeless and artistic. My “studio” is really just one corner of my bedroom with an ironing board, but it works beautifully for most of the photography I do.

For this shoot, I placed a single apple on a piece of black cloth and mounted my camera on a tripod. This simple setup eliminated distractions and created a clean backdrop for dramatic lighting.

Studio Lighting for Still Life Photography

The key to making the apple stand out was lighting. I positioned one flash on a stand with a shoot-through umbrella, about 8 inches above and slightly behind the apple. By placing the light overhead, I ensured the apple’s natural roundness blocked the light from hitting the bottom, creating a natural fade from highlight to shadow.

With the flash set to 1/32 power, the light fell off quickly, giving the apple that beautiful gradient from bright highlights to soft, dramatic shadows—a classic still life lighting technique.

Camera settings:

• Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens
• Aperture: f/16 for maximum depth of field and sharpness
• Tripod: Essential for stability and precision

Preparing the Apple for Photography

Once the camera and lighting were dialed in, it was time to give the apple a little polish. Literally. I rubbed a small amount of Aquafor (a skin cream similar to Vaseline) onto the skin, buffing it until it had a glossy, high-shine surface.

But the real magic came from the droplets. Water alone won’t work—it just streaks down the apple. Instead, I mixed a 50/50 solution of glycerin and water in a small spray bottle. Spritzing the apple created big, fat, round droplets that clung perfectly to the surface for about 30 minutes. That gave me plenty of time to capture the final still life photograph.

Fine Art Still Life Photography Tips

• You don’t need a full studio—just a controlled space with good lighting.
• Black cloth makes a versatile backdrop for dramatic still life images.
• Use glycerin and water spray for long-lasting, realistic droplets.
• A macro lens and small aperture ensure crisp details and depth.

Explore More Still Life Photography

This apple photography experiment is a reminder that you don’t need exotic subjects or expensive gear to create fine art still life photography. With a little creativity, simple studio lighting, and attention to detail, an everyday apple becomes art. You can find more still life photography in the gallery linked below.