Flying cosmetic brushes

People are often under the impression that still life photography is, well, “still”. But one of my favourite things to do is take a still life image and apply action or movement to it. So when I came across a similar version of this image on the internet, I knew that I had to try it out.

It is actually an incredibly simple image to create and I got it mostly in one shot. I did use a second or third shot to add more powder flying around the edges.

Images which make up the final composite

Below is an image of my setup.

On the left is a strip box behind a scrim to create a gradient on the highly reflective chrome-like ferrule (yes, that is what the “handle” of the brush is called, a word that I just learned today). On the right is another softbox to give the highlight on the right of the ferrule. (okay that is the last time that I am going to use my nearly learned word). Both softboxes are slightly behind the brushes and aimed forward to create the backlight needed to illuminate the powder. It is the strobes that are freezing the action and not the camera’s shutter speed. So you would need lights that are capable of a short flash duration. Speedlights will work well.

The bigger brush is clamped in place and I then took another brush, filled with powder, and gently and quite slowly flicked it against the clamped brush. It is then just a matter of timing and pressing the trigger at the exact right moment.

Behind the scenes - flying cosmetic brushes

My original intention was to have the complete ferrule (oops sorry, I said it again) in the shot, and so I shot some extra shots with the ends visible, that I could use to composite in. But in the end, I preferred the cropped version so I did not end up using them.

There are some beautiful versions of this type of image on the internet. I love this one, by one of my favourite still-life photographers, Annabelle Breakey.

If you do create your own version, please tag me on Instagram, I would love to see what you create.