A Year of Beauty- Photography Challenge- Year 2

[Samtian]

September is here so break time is over!

Time to start with some fundamentals. Photography has it's own set of "rules". Which of course are meant to be broken, but it's really helpful to know some basics. Starting with the rule of 3rds in composition. What you do is place your subject on one of the "imaginary" lines that cut a photo into thirds ( 9 sections). I do this rule often, but sometimes parents don't like it in their pictures and want the subjects centered. Included is images with the lines showing. Just basic set up so you can see it. One of the easiest ways to get something on one of the lines is to crop it down. When you crop an image you usually get the lines that show up, using those lines tells you where the "thirds" are, and just line your subject up with one of them. 

If you want to get really technical I encourage you to look up the Golden Ratio and learn about it. It has many names and it is way too mathematical for my brain to comprehend. To my knowledge I don't think I have ever taken a golden ratio image. I have golden triangle but not ratio. Check it out! photoworkout dot com/golden-ratio-photography/  

Hopefully you can see the lines...I should have thought it out and used a dark background. 

What a great first year we had!! Even if I dropped the ball sometimes! I decided to change things up this year with the themes. They will be a little more challenging this year.

2023-

April- DOF 2 images.

May- Flash/Artificial Light.

June- What you see vs. What I see

July- Break

August- Break

September- Rule of 3rds.

2022 challenges-

April- Lipstick

May- Eye Shadow

June- Primer/Foundation/Concealer/CC/BB

July- Highlighters

August- Brushes

September- Sheet Masks

October- Hair Care

November- Fragrance

December- Nail Polish

January- Blush/Bronzer

February- Candles/Wax Melts/ Diffusers

The challenge and "rules"-

1. Flat lays and staged photos only. I'll post examples below. But no faces or people allowed in your photos. (Though you can include photographs).

2. All photos you take must be your own. 

3. Post as many images as you want, you have a whole month to get creative with each theme. Post one, post everyday, doesn't matter.

4. Let's talk gear and products! Tell us about your image. List the products and colors, talk to us about your concept and how it came to be, taken with your phone or DSLR? 

Here are some helpful reads- digital-photography-school dot com/flat-lay-photography/  and digital-photography-school dot com/tips-for-getting-started-with-still-life-photography/

Here are some of my example images I've taken in the past-

Gucci Bloom Eau De Toilette 1 oz/ 30 mL 

Floral Street Sunflower Pop Eau De Parfum Travel Spray 0.34 oz/ 10 mL 

[Saradestin]

As I don’t have cute things to create elaborated beautiful pictures, I present this minimalistic approach: just lipstick and it’s beautiful reflections. 

 

 

 

[Samtian]

@Saradestin Whoowee. That reflection is perfection! The shadows and lighting gorgeous! Who needs props when you can do this!?

[Saradestin]

Thank you so much @Samtian ! You are so sweet! 😘😘🤗🤗🤗

[faeriegirl]

Cool picture @Saradestin!

[Saradestin]

Thank you @faeriegirl sweetie!

[SportyGirly125]

@Saradestin This is such a cool picture.  Love how the butterflies reflect off of it.

[Saradestin]

Thank you so much @SportyGirly125 ! 🤗

[fatimamummy]

These are beautiful photos @Saradestin  I believe minimal props make more attractive photos. Lipstick case is so gorgeous it doesn’t need any extra help ❤️

[Saradestin]

Exactly @fatimamummy! The lipstick case is the star!

[CookieGirl1]

@Saradestin those look so pretty!

[Saradestin]

Thank you @CookieGirl1 ! This lipstick is gorgeous!

[Mellmars1185]

@Saradestin Very neat photo. The lighting and the reflection are captured so beautifully

[Saradestin]

Thank you gorgeous @Mellmars1185! 😘🤗

[MvLL]

Wonderfully creative & elegant! @Saradestin. The reflection is rather magical.

[Saradestin]

Thank you @MvLL ! That’s what I think! It seems like the butterflies are flying away, alive.

[eshoe]

The reflections are gorgeous, @Saradestin. You have such an artistic eye!

[Saradestin]

Thank you beautiful @eshoe!! I would love to have an artist eye but I don’t. Call it a lucky shot, because it is exactly what it was! 😅😅😅

[Ispend2much6]

@Saradestin  That's very clever!

[Saradestin]

Thank you beautiful @Ispend2much6 ! Now that I see the pictures, I see what I could have I proved in them, which tells me that I am learning in the go! 😃😃

[lmaster]

@Saradestin oh wow!!! You captured the most beautiful shot

[Saradestin]

Thank you so much, beautiful @lmaster! 😘😘🤗🤗