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 

[itsfi]

This is gorgeous @LCResz! 😍 The backdrop and coloring look beautiful together. 

[LCResz]

Thank you @itsfi! It’s been overcast and the perfume has a brooding nature to it, so they managed to spark a moment of inspiration!

[Samtian]

I can't say I'm particularly happy with either of these, but oh well! That's what I get for slacking off! December featuring the gorgeous Gucci Blush. And January featuring some wax melts. 

DecJan

[Sunnysmom]

I love all your great pics @Samtian , especially the B/W ones! These are very cool. 

[Samtian]

@Sunnysmom 😄 thank you so so much!

[Titian06]

@Samtian - I like both pics!  The postcard in the top photo is great!  It adds so much color and interest without overwhelming your pic.  Your layout seems to be a minimalist mimic of the postcard.

I love B&W photos, so my eye went to this pic first.  I didn't notice the feather at first.  Once I saw it, it really brought the whole photo together.  Very well done!

[Samtian]

@Titian06 Awe thank you so much!!

[CynthieLu]

They are pretty pictures @Samtian and the where you've laid them out on that marble surface, it makes them look extra elegant 💫 you did a good job with these 🙂

[Samtian]

@CynthieLu Thank you so much!!

[itsfi]

I would hardly say you were slacking off, Samtian! You've been working hard and a lot. Sometimes that doesn't leave a lot of time for other things. 

I'm sorry you're not happy with these pics. I wonder though if you aren't your hardest critic. I like both your photos and they're actually giving me inspiration for pics to do this month. The set up and props on the blush photo is creative and smart. I love the photo / postcard of the contents of a vanity table in the backdrop of a set up that looks like it's showcasing the contents of a vanity table with the perfume, brush, blush, makeup bag. It looks great against the marble background. 😍

Love the black-and-white of the wax melts photo. And I'm particularly fond of how you laid out / placed that feather pen (is it a pen) - genius. Very clever. The pen looks like it's part of the design / pattern on the notepad and the black-and-white motif and shading can, at certain points, mask the feather - it rests against the marble and is positioned in such a way that it nearly blends into the marble. Very cool @Samtian!

[Samtian]

@itsfi You are too kind thank you! Yep its a feather pen! I was bummed it arrived bent though ha. I can't wait to see what you come up with! 

[Samtian]

Next challenge is up! I misplaced one of my lighting cords so I'll upload my images tomorrow after I find it. 

[itsfi]

Last one for blush / bronzer; meant to upload this last night.

Photo Details: 

Spoiler

Product(s):	Chanel blush - Tweed Evanescent
Camera:	iPhone X
Background:	Table
Prop(s):	Chanel shopping bag, box and a couple of Chanel products
Other Material:	N/A
Lighting:	Artificial light, indoors
Editing:	Adjusted tone to account for artificial indoor lighting; cropped bottom and right side

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi  That blush is gorgeous! Lovely photo.

[itsfi]

Thank you @PrettyPaint! It’ll be interesting to see what shades Chanel will have for its tweed blushes this year, compared to past releases.

[CynthieLu]

Oooh Chanel is getting some love in this picture 🥰 lovely work @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Thank you @CynthieLu! Interestingly enough, of all the products in the frame, it's the blush that gets reached for the least. 😄 I need to put that blush to use. 

[CynthieLu]

Lol It's funny how that works 😋

It's really pretty @itisfi it needs some time to shine 💖

[itsfi]

Yes, it does @CynthieLu. I've been better over the last 2 - 2-1/2 years l with hauls and with making more use of what I have, but there are a few handful from years past that could use a lot more attention and that should get a lot more love, like this Chanel tweed blush and the Givency bronze below. 😁

[Samtian]

@itsfi This is so fancy! I love it!

[itsfi]

Thank you @Samtian! The blush was from a while back, when I wore blush more often and when I couldn't get enough of the fancy. I probably still can't get enough of the fancy but I've slowed my roll 😆 Well, I've slowed it down a little. Hahaha!