A Year of Beauty- Photography Challenge- Year 2

[Samtian]

May- Flash/Artificial Light! Pop-up flash, on camera, off camera, light boxes, flash from your cell phone, and on and on! There are so many ways to light an image beyond the natural sunlight. Flash can help you take pictures during anytime of day, even at night. Flash is something I've been trying to learn myself. Right now the pop-up/harsh/paparazzi type of flash is having it's moment in wedding/couples photography. 

For on and off camera flashes there are a lot of different things called modifiers that help control the light so to speak. You can also use things like reflectors (tin foil, those things you put in your car windshield during the day, a white paper board etc.) to help bounce light and make it more even, you can use sheets to diffuse the light to make it not so harsh as well. I know a lot just use cell phones, so you can also use like a lamp or flashlight to make light, and use a sheet of reflector to help. You can get really creative with this! I was reading that there does appear to be some flashes you can connect to your cell phone as well. 

So the task! Create your images with artificial light! No matter how you do it, or what you use, don't just depend on available light like the sun or your lighting in the house (though it's artificial that's too easy). I'll be posting mine shortly. backlightblog  dot com/flash-photography-on-iphone

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.

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

I've been thinking for a while now about creating a challenge. And why not mix my two favorite things in life!? Beauty and photography. As some of you know I am a photographer on the side. But my creativity for things like this are horrible! Each month we will have a different theme, and your challenge is to incorporate the theme into a creative photo!

This challenge is going to be a little different, because you won't be creating looks! Starting in April, but I'd love to get your input and if this is something you would be interested in participating in. I thought about doing prizes and voting, we can still vote for the best if you guys want. But with all the legal jargon needed for prizes I decided I didn't want to mess with that. I might send  unicorn mail throughout to those who participate often though 😼 PS- They make for great filler posts on your social media too. And active participation in the forum, reviews, and gallery ( don't forget to post your challenge photos there too!) can possibly help your chances of getting gratis...like those two beautiful perfumes I got as a gratis below *wink wink*.  

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 eau de toilette spray 

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

[eshoe]

Spoiler

The Benefit Cosmetics California Kissin' ColorBalm Lip Balm reminds me of candy, which makes me think of caramel 🥰 

Natural indoor lighting, taken with my phone, a modest 11. 

[Samtian]

@eshoe Love it! Candy and Lipstick?! What more does one need in life?!

[eshoe]

Hmmmm @Samtian, is this a rhetorical question 😉 

[Samtian]

@eshoe Yes haha. 

[faeriegirl]

Great photo @eshoe! I love that dish❤️

[eshoe]

Thank you, @faeriegirl! It’s. A little spring-y:)

[lmaster]

@eshoe extremely appealing photo!! 🤤

[eshoe]

Thank you for the inspiration, @lmaster - you so generously gifted me the lipstick!

[SportyGirly125]

@eshoe wooo so sweet 😍

[eshoe]

Awww thank you @SportyGirly125! Candy is plentiful this time of the year. I am eyeing those Trader Joe’s jelly beans, too.

[danielledanielle]

This is too cute @eshoe 

[eshoe]

Aww thanks, @danielledanielle ☺️

[itsfi]

@eshoe, Benefit puts out some whimsical packaging. The lip balm does look like a little like candy.

[eshoe]

It does, @itsfi. It reminds me of a piece of glass candy I was given years ago. I think I need to hunt that down next for future props! 

[fatimamummy]

@eshoe  This candy dish is making such a nice prop!

[eshoe]

Thank you, @fatimamummy. It is fun to explore around the house, and to make use of something I already have on hand. 

[Titian06]

Oooo nice pic, @eshoe ! 📸  I like the candy dish too! 🍬

[eshoe]

Thank you, @Titian06! I bought it a few years ago for spring-time display, and remembered I had it in the cupboard. I hadn’t forgotten about the caramels, though 😉  

[Mellmars1185]

@eshoe Such a pretty dish! What kind of candies are those? I dont beleive I recognize what they are. 

[eshoe]

@Mellmars1185 I do not even know! I transfer everything to a glass candy jar when I get it home. My daughter liked caramel for a brief (a day? Lol) moment so I picked these up. I just liked that they say, “caramel” on them and not any particular brand for the photo.

[Ispend2much6]

@eshoe  One of the best candies of all time. 🙂  Pretty!