Short journal · Original editorial · The honest caption
A still life was arranged to look casually abandoned.
An image can invite an interpretation without proving it. Begin with visible details, then mark any imagined story as imagined. A careful caption adds context while preserving the uncertainty outside the frame.
Label the scene as an arranged still life.
If the difficulty remains, write what happened without blaming the attempt. A clearer problem is useful evidence for the next version.
Try a question
What would you notice after trying this in one small, real situation?