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 

[itsfi]

It's all about the greens @SurprisedLemur! 😁

[katshepp]

Love this! Is it wrong to want some of these products just to recreate the aesthetic?? haha

[itsfi]

Awww, you’re so sweet @katshepp. Thank you, thank you! 

No, it’s not wrong. 😆 Wait, was that a rhetorical question?!! Lol. 

Still going with it not being wrong! 🤣 

[BlondeCafe]

This flat lay has such a perfect dreamy spring aesthetic. This voluspa candle likely captured the feeling to a t. I need to try this calming mask 

[itsfi]

Thank you @BlondeCafe! Oh, the Voluspa mint mojito has such a nice scent, as does the mint one from Nest - they're not overly minty, just enough to calm the senses and create a relaxing vibe. 

[lmaster]

@itsfi this photo makes me feel so calm, love it

[itsfi]

@lmaster, awww, thank you. It made for a good masking sesh, and photo op! 

[missy94612]

@itsfi 

I don't know if you planned it this way but it's great that the sheet mask is called Real Calming because it's describes the vibe of this photo. 💚

[itsfi]

@missy94612, hahahaha! I wish I could say I planned it. I didn't even see that when I shot the photo; didn't even see it until you pointed it out. 😂

[CynthieLu]

This is a whole feeling of serene @itsfi 

💚 amazing photo!

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, thank you! Masking time can be a nice way for me to relax and these worked (and photographed) beautifully.

[Sunnysmom]

This makes me go “ahhh ommmm” @itsfi ! Love pic and want to try them too! 🥰

[itsfi]

@Sunnysmom, thank you! I lucked out - all these masks were great.

[Titian06]

This is such a pretty and relaxing picture to look at, @itsfi ! 🧘‍♀️🧊

[itsfi]

@Titian06, thank you! All the masks were great too - the one wash off gel mask was super refreshing and hydrating! Great, more masks on the list! 😂

[Samtian]

@itsfi Ooh that is beautiful! I'm going to try to look at some flat-lays later today for inspo. 

[itsfi]

@Samtian, thank you! Looking forward to seeing what you are inspired to create! 😍

[LelandGreen]

Hello guys, My name is LelandGreen. Pimples keep coming out on my face again and again, do you have any solution for this?

[Samtian]

@LelandGreen Hello. What is your routine?

[CynthieLu]

Supet cute sheet mask 🧡🍁🍂  it hits that seasonal feel of pumpkins and autumn leaves and it smells like honey, all good things I think 😁 I tried to match it up with a topaz bracelet a mini vulspa candle and a hand painted rock, they all had gold or oranges tones I thought went with it well, the background is a hand painted plate that had a bit of orange in the flowers 🙂

Taken in low light in my living room on my Samsung galaxy 

[SurprisedLemur]

That mask is so cute! I'll have to check my local marshall's stash...