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 with Jasmine, Tuberose, and Neroli 1 oz/ 30 mL 

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

[JoSometimes]

Aww thank you @Titian06! Feel free to print it out! ☺️

[JoSometimes]

This sounds like fun! Your exemplars are really well composed @Samtian! I love the giant sun flower with the floral street bottle. 

[Samtian]

@JoSometimes Thank you so much! We'd love to have you join!

[itsfi]

This is one from the archives, going back almost 2 years. It's interesting to see how I set up my shot back then and the angle that I took photos.

Photo Details: 

Spoiler

Product(s):	Hermes Rose Silky Blush Powder
Camera:	iPhoneX
Background:	Table
Prop(s):	Hermes boxes, bag and cheek brush
Other Material:	None
Lighting:	Indirect light, from behind the camera
Editing:	Rotate and cropped the original shot and I did a little more rotating and cropping before posting this one

[Samtian]

@itsfi Beautiful! I'd love to see how you would do it now. 

[itsfi]

Thank you @Samtian! I’ve been meaning to do another shot but just haven’t had the chance (and the weather over the last couple of weeks was not cooperating 😆). Will try to put something together before the end of the month if I have time. 🤞🏼 

[Titian06]

This is a great pic, @itsfi !  I just love the off-center placement of the blush in the compact and the brush is so pretty.  These with the gorgeous orange bags...**sigh** 🧡🥰🧡

[itsfi]

Thank you @Titian06! They’re a treat. I don’t pick up all their releases, but the blush is a good one. ♥️ 

[fatimamummy]

Happy Saturday!
Here is another from Archive along with camera info

[Saradestin]

Wow! Just WOW @fatimamummy ! 😵❤️

[itsfi]

@fatimamummy, there’s a lovely contrast to this frame that is just beautiful and fascinating - it’s casual and elegant at the same time. 😍 I love how you captured  colors of the polish, the lettering, the top, the interlocking C’s - each element of the bottle  stands out without competing with each other. ♥️ 

[CynthieLu]

This is a great photo @fatimamummy the angle, the shine,  the shadow ✨️👌 

Well done!

[Samtian]

@fatimamummy I love how you included the info, that is very interesting for me to read. Love this shot!

[Titian06]

This is so pretty, @fatimamummy !  I love the angle and lighting.  It's such a modern look. 🥰

[Saradestin]

These are not too artistic but sweet @itsfi reminded me that this amazing thread, that I have neglected for so long, had polishes as the current challenge. 

I will be checking all the previous months challenges and pictures @Samtian! I promise! 

[CynthieLu]

These are totally artistic @Saradestin 

You choose a back drop, product layout and interesting angles. Give yourself some credit 💖💖💖 these are really lovely 📸 

[Saradestin]

Thank you do much, sweet @CynthieLu ! I took these pictures for the December haul so I didn’t pay much attention to esthetics and more to show the products 😁

[Samtian]

@Saradestin Ooh I love them! Those colors are so pretty too. Glad to see you popping in!

[Saradestin]

Thank you so much beautiful @Samtian! I am terrible! I have missed so many months! But I am back! 💪

[Samtian]

@Saradestin Good!

[fatimamummy]

Absolutely beautiful @Saradestin Love your collection and placement. Nature as a back drop is so refreshing