Tuesday 23 September 2025
This week, our club had the pleasure of hosting Cherry Larcombe for her presentation, “Simply Still Life,” and it was an undeniable success. The session was met with enthusiasm, providing a refreshing and highly accessible take on a classic genre.
Cherry’s philosophy centres on the artistic potential of the minimalistic still life, proving that outstanding photography doesn’t require a high budget. She captivated members by detailing how she sources her props from charity shops—simple vases and bottles—and pairs them with organic elements. Crucially, she uses flowers and plants in all their stages, celebrating the contrasting textures of both dead and fresh specimens under the gentle, focused illumination of natural light. This initial, “in-camera” process emphasises clean composition and atmosphere, creating a strong foundation from the start.
The real creative magic, however, unfolded as Cherry demonstrated her post-processing techniques. She uses Photoshop not just for enhancement, but for transformation, layering added textures to give her work a tactile, fine-art feel. We were impressed by her method of crafting unique backgrounds, using brushes to paint and shape digital scenery that complements the subject without overwhelming it.
Cherry’s ability to combine accessible, everyday subjects with sophisticated digital artistry struck a perfect balance. The talk was not only beautiful but immensely practical, and it left the club feeling inspired to seek out the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary. “Simply Still Life” was truly a masterclass in making artistic vision achievable.
To see more of Cherry’s work, see:
Website: cherryannette.com
Facebook: cherry.larcombe
Instagram: @cherryannette1
Flickr: cherry_larcombe