A Year of Beauty- Photography Challenge- Year 2

[Samtian]

September/October 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/October- 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 

[Buootiful]

Thank you so much for your support through all this🤗🤗🤗. @itsfi  A big hug and thank you's are not enough to express ny gratitude to you😘. 

Haha,  no I should have been able to  complete a sentence late at night. Its not your coffee, it was my sleepyness.☺️. You going back and forth like that is me for 20 minutes looking at 2 pics. Wirh 20-30 pics for each look or flatlay, it takes me hrs to decide on a pic. And hours to delete a pic. I can't wait to see what hair composition you come up with.💖

[Kim888]

@Buootiful @Looks great!!! Have you used the aquis towels long term and if so do you feel like they wear out after a while? I’ve had like for a while and I’m starting to feel like it’s not as good as it used to be, I wonder if I need a new one 

[Buootiful]

Thanks so much! I dont remember if it was this or last year when I bought it on sale. Its stretchier now but still works well. The copper one is interesting to me. Have you had yours longer? @Kim888 

[Kim888]

@Buootiful @Tbh I can’t remember - I think it’s about the same time frame ! 

[Buootiful]

That's funny we bought it at the same time😁 @Kim888 

[CynthieLu]

I think for these I like saturation best 👌  as my personal preference 😋

Lovely pictures @Buootiful 

[Buootiful]

Thanks for your input😘 @CynthieLu. It's so hard to decide.  The level of blurryness on the text of each pic is different and I want people to easily read what the products are as well.

[CynthieLu]

Ahhh @Buootiful good point,  I think I was drawn to more vivid colors lol

🌈

[Titian06]

Both pics are so pretty, @Buootiful , I can't pick a fave! 💖💖💖  I like how you can really see the difference between brightness and saturation. 💡🩸  Both techniques have their pluses and minuses! 😄

[Buootiful]

Awww thank you😘 @Titian06 . I guess we all have the same tough choices in photography😂.  Looks like the consensus is both, which doesn't help me with my indecisiveness🤣.

[Samtian]

And my entry for October Hair Care month. 

[ather]

@Samtian  Loving this pic!

[Samtian]

@ather 😄 thank you!

[fatimamummy]

I like the shelfie style photos @Samtian  Looks real instead of staged and has its own charm. 

[Samtian]

@fatimamummy Thank you!! I really liked trying this one out. 

[CynthieLu]

Oooooh I really am enjoying the way you styled this picture @Samtian Its very nice 😍

Nice line up of products to, It's a 10 is a great one!😋

[Samtian]

@CynthieLu Thank you! I love love love It's a 10!

[itsfi]

Ahhhh, what a good theme for the month @Samtian. Love your hair care lineup. Is that the Dae prickly pear oil? How are you liking it?

[Samtian]

@itsfi Thank you! It's ok, kind of a let down. Not something I would order again. 

[Buootiful]

Haha, love the hair lineup @Samtian 🤣. They are all guilty of murdering your....hair issues! I know lame, but I had to. 😁