30-day Self-Portrait Challenge: #ABeautifulMess
One of my favourite blogs of the moment is the wonderful A Beautiful Mess. It’s packed full of lifestyle goodies: recipes, home, photography and other bits and bobs. Their website is visually stunning and both authors (Elsie & Emma) happen to be totally gorgeous and effortlessly cool. I’d love to photograph them!
Their latest photographic post is the ’30-day self-portrait challenge’ which I am whole-heartedly getting involved with. Everyone loves a good excuse to take a selfie.
The idea, from what I can gather, is to take a different self-portrait each day, in different circumstances. This will give you varied lighting effects, composition and different results each day. It’ll also probably make you a little bit more creative with your selfies 🙂
You then post them via instagram or on your blog with #ABeautifulMess. Elsie & Emma will be keeping an eye and eventually will pick a few winners to get a copy of their latest book.
My self-portraits will be added here daily and also on my instagram account. So please follow-me and join in! #ABeautifulMess #HollyGoesLightly
So my 30-day challenge starts today!
Self-portrait No1
Making the most of the summer.
Self-portrait No2
After a hard day’s work.
Self-portrait No3
Feeling hot and lying by the window – natural light.
Self-portrait No4
Strategic finger-blocking-the-lense shot.
Self-portrait No5
Elevator mirror – on my way home from the Vintage Market.
Self-portrait No6
Pensive at lunch-time.
Self-portrait No7
Dishevelled after a long and muggy day!
Self-portrait No8
It’s my birthday!
Self-portrait No9
Waking up in the morning sun.
Self-portrait No10
Reflections in an elevator mirror.
Self-portrait No11
Looking into the canal at Castlefield, Manchester.
Self-portrait No12
Beautiful tiles at The Orangery, Lyme Park.
Self-portrait No13
Hiding behind my belated birthday flowers.
Self-portrait No14
Kisses from Bobbi.
Self-portrait No15
A red filter.
Self-portrait No16
Hubby being serious as usual!
Self-portrait No17
New morning, new hair! (No make-up!)
Self-portrait No18
Ready for bed – love my duvet.
Self-portrait No19
Post-work chilling with my puppy – can you spot her leg?
So I’m two-thirds of the way through the 30-day self-portrait challenge, which I found on the A Beautiful Mess blog. I’ve got to admit, it’s been tougher than I thought, as trying to think of a way to photograph yourself everyday is tricky. It also feels mildly vain. But it’s a great way to learn how to use your camera and filters and to think outside of the box. It has made me more observant of things around me, looking at reflections and the way light hits off certain objects at different times of the day. It’s also made me think about how just a snap-shot can portray a moment in someone’s life, a feeling or an experience. It’s nice to share that.
So here’s the last 10 of my self-portraits…
Self-portrait No20
My reflection in the window – feels almost ghostly.
Self-portrait No21
After I was part of the Guinness World Record-breaking ale tasting!
Self-portrait No22
My first proper workout since pre-wedding – feeling proud!
Self-portrait No23
Dolled-up for Kirsty’s Hen do in Manchester – woop woop!
Self-portrait No24
And back from said night out! Feeling not too shabby.
Self-portrait No25
A special gift from a special lady who now resides down-under. Miss you Croaky!
Self-portrait No26
Experimenting with boho-chic for a photo shoot I’ve got coming up. Watch this space!
Self-portrait No27
Drifting off into a little snooze in the early-evening light.
Self-portrait No28
Reflections…in more ways than one!
Self-portrait No29
Windows to the soul.
Self-portrait No30
The final one – in a very special place.
And there’s the 30 self-portraits – and it wasn’t easy! Sounds ridiculous…how hard can it be to take a selfie?! Well pretty damn hard if you’re trying to get something different each time.
I found it tricky to be creative with angles and lighting and not just getting a standard face-shot each time. Of course Instagram helps as you can instantly add filters to give a different effect, but it was more about the composition of the shot for me. I’d say my personal favourites are nos: 1, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 28. I think these photos managed to achieve something slightly out of the ordinary in terms of your every day selfie.
The last image means a lot to me as it’s taken in my parents house, the house where I grew up and formed most of my most significant memories (including my wedding day), so that’ll hold a special place in my heart.
So there you have it – my 30-day self-portrait challenge – done!
Did anyone else do it? Post your blog, instagram or website so I can take a look.
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