Gold in Fine Art/Still Life / 2026 / Fine Art / Still Life

• Prize
  Gold in Fine Art/Still Life
• Photographer
  Tom Gainer, United States
• Date of Photograph
  8/3/2021
• Website
  https://tomgainerphotography.com

These still lifes use disciplined light and shadow to reveal the quiet dignity of ordinary objects. Inspired by the Dutch Masters, I employ controlled chiaroscuro and precise composition to elevate peaches spilling from a worn basket and the sculptural simplicity of onions in darkness.

With a painterly focus on texture, form, and atmosphere, the images invite viewers to slow down and rediscover the subtle poetry of the everyday.

Tom Gainer is a still-life photographer based in Pennsylvania, USA. His work explores the quiet emotional resonance of everyday objects through controlled chiaroscuro, careful composition, and intentional restraint. Using light, texture, and form as narrative elements, he transforms familiar subjects into contemplative studies that invite reflection on memory, time, and human experience.
Drawing from classical still-life traditions while embracing a contemporary fine-art sensibility, he creates images that reveal the elegance, mystery, and emotional depth found in simple, organic forms.

Awards International Photography Awards, Official Selection, 2026
World Food Photography Awards, Finalist 2026
Westmoreland Art Nationals, Category Winner 2026