Photo compilation: March-April 2021
Hello again! Happy May! Wow, the year is flying by so fast. It feels like 3 weeks ago we were welcoming the new year, and now we're almost halfway through 2021.
Back in March I wasn't very motivated to take doll pics, and it took me some time to find the inspiration again. However, at some point I came up with the idea of combining my orchid and sea glass walls to create a pastel color palette. First, I used to take pics of my BMR 1959 Kira, that has been redressed into a black dress with some pops of color.
Later on, I decided it would be nice to also use this background with other dolls. If you look closely, you will notice that all of these dolls outfits have a color that matches one of the colors of the background. It wasn't intentional at first, but when I noticed I picked the rest of the dolls according to their outfits.
See how Rosie's romper has some green that matches the background?
Later on, I used my Sea Glass background with a fuchsia piece that I made on my Mix'n'Match backgrounds part 1 post. It looks fine in person, but on camera the green looks washed out because of the contrast with the fuchsia.
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| Rosie |
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| Cassandra |
These past few months I've taken lots of photos in my balcony. It's just an easy way for me to take pics when I don't have time or motivation for a more complex photoshoot. I had just unboxed my BMR 1959 guy and I wanted to feature him, as well as my doll Kristen.
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| Tate |
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| Lea and Kristen |
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| Kristen |
One of the things that I've been trying to do is placing my plants on a table, so I could get the sky on frame. This idea actually started with the question: "How would I take these photos if I couldn't kneel down?" and from there I thought about trying to get the sky on the photo. This new idea still needs some polishing, but I managed to get a few cute shots.
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| Blake |
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| Drew |
The first two photos were taken on a gloomy day, and this was taken on a very sunny day. It took me many attempts to get the right shot. It's still not 100% right, but mistakes are part of the process.
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| Chandra |
I also featured a few of my Monster High dolls. Originally, I was going to use these photos for my The return of Monster High post, and I did include one pic of Howleen. However, these I just posted on Instagram.
I want to keep experimenting with this new idea, since I feel like I could get some nice results.
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| Iris Clops |
Speaking of photos outside, remember the house with the pool? Well, I got the chance to go a couple more times after the summer and take more pics. These were taken in November, when restrictions here were more relaxed. This was actually the day after I got my new phone, so I didn't have much control with it. However, I managed to take a few decent photos.
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| Chloe |
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| Lea |
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| Victoria |
Also, I still had some photos from last summer that I hadn't published yet. The second time I went there, I took my Barbie Mini car with me and tried to take a few pics with it. Even thought I was happy with them when I took them, for some reason I never posted them. But, when I found out that the theme for #monday4dolls was "Vehicles and means of transport", I thought it could be a good idea to revisit them. So, I got to publish the photos that I took in July... on April 26th.
I would like to revisit this idea at some point in the future, and try to get better photos with a similar concept.
Sticking with the #monday4dolls challenges, on April 19th the theme was "long dress". For this one I did get time to plan out and take specific photos because I subscribed to her newsletter, so I found out the theme on Wednesday instead of Friday. Besides revealing the theme, she usually writes a short text about whatever topic, from doll collecting to her personal life. For these pics, I used Blake, my Barbie Look Music Festivals doll, because she's wearing the only long dress I have.
For the background, I used the latest wainscot I made and a new wall in the color Dove Grey from Americana Acrylics. I also made some ugly abstract artwork because I saw something similar on Instagram and wanted to make my own version.
Last but not least, some more photos outdoors. Right after I finished college, I went to a couple of locations for outdoors photos. One of those locations was the one you saw on my January compilation. The other one was a nearby beach that has stones instead of sand, which allows you to get the sea background without the sand getting everywhere. The beach was very quiet that day and I managed to get a couple nice photos.
For this photo, I wish I had edited it to make the horizon line straight, but I had a massive headache when I edited it, so I couldn't be bothered.
And that concludes pretty much all the photos that I've shared on Instagram between March and April. I feel like these past few months I haven't been as inspired as other times, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. Overall, these past few weeks I haven't felt that tick that makes me want to take photos, but a few days ago I started feeling it again, so we'll see how that goes.
As for my next post, I'm not quite sure what to do. I thought about doing a "Quick craft" post on how I made the ugly artwork, since I took photos of the process, but maybe it would be more interesting if I made one or two more before writing a post. The other option would be more photography related. For a while I've been thinking about how could I give an outdoors feel to my photos without leaving my house. I've been experimenting with a few things and so far I'm getting good results. Let me know what would you be interested in seeing.
Lately I feel like I have been slacking off on both my craft projects and my blog posts. I'm experimenting with a textured wall, but I started it weeks ago and still haven't found time to finish it. I've been doing short courses back to back and trying to work out more, and it seems like I can't find time for my hobbies. Maybe I just need to take a week off from studying and try to focus on finishing everything I have started.
Blog to you soon.
Monster Crafts
Wonderful photos MC, I'm so pleased you share them on your blog and not just on Instagram, because I wouldn't see them otherwise.
ReplyDeleteTime seems to be everyone's enemy at the moment, I really think we should learn to let go sometimes and not put so much pressure on ourselves. I have been trying to prioritise, not take on too much and just do one thing at a time.
Big hugs,
X
Hi Xanadu! That's the reason why I also share them here, because I know many of my readers don't use Instagram. Plus sometimes here I share photos that I discarded or behind the scenes, so you're actually getting more info than Instagram.
DeleteThat's a great advice and I do agree that we all should be kinder to ourselves. I try to tell myself that, but from time to time I forget to listen to my own advice. I think for now I'm going to try to focus on one or two things at the same time, and the rest will have to wait.
Big hugs to you too.
Thanks Linda! I too like the ones where you can see the sky and the beach ones. I don't change my dolls' outfits very often, to be fair, but that shirt is the only male outfit that I own, besides the clothes she came in.
ReplyDeleteI too, feel like I'm constantly working on my blog and that it takes me forever to get one post done, but at the same time I feel like I'm not doing enough. For me it's also an issue of not having some of the supplies I need for certain projects, and going out to get them feels like a task that needs a lot of planning around. I want to make some doll pillows, but I still haven't gone to the fabric store, which is located in another town. I just never seem to find time for that.
Thank you for your lovely comment. Hugs to you too!
Hi, MC! Congrats on uploading your photos and thanks for sharing the photography tips.
ReplyDeleteVictoria looks fabulous in Rosie's romper. That Barbie Boho fashion with the tawny tank top, the dark floral jacket, and the print mini dress looks great on several dolls. Drew and Lea wear it well.
I agree with Linda about liking the outdoor pebble beach and sky glimpse photos. The Barbie car looks classy. The silver parts pop, shine.
Either the craft topic or a photography topic would be interesting. Whichever you choose when you write your next post, either one would be fun to read.
Best wishes as always.
Hi D7ana! Thanks, I'm glad you like the styling of my dolls. I don't consider myself a great stylist, but I don't seem to be doing a terrible job either.
DeleteThe beach photos seem to be everyone's favourites. I might need to consider going back and taking more pics. The car was Ken's Mini Cooper, that I found on sale many years ago.
Thank you for your kind words. Have a lovely rest of the weekend.
What a nice photo compilation you did here! While they are all great shots, I have to say that the outdoor shots are my favorite, especially the pebble beach photos! I really need to do some more photos and get back to posting. I am spending way to much time reading all the Instagram, Facebook and blog posts and not enough time working on my own stuff! I am putting together some presentations for the doll clubs I belong too, so I think I will photograph the dolls for those presentations and perhaps create blog entries from them. Two birds with one stone as the saying goes!
ReplyDeleteThanks Phyllis. Outdoor photos are also some of my favourites, they feel more realistic. I also feel like sometimes I spend to much time keeping up with everything that I don't have time to work on my own stuff. Actually, this type of post was born as a way to "kill two birds with one stone". I've been posting almost every day on Instagram and that requires extra time, besides the time I dedicate to the blog. I thought it could be a good idea to share them here too and explain the backstory, since I had put some work on them and many of my readers don't use Instagram.
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
I can relate to you, but I haven't had much motivation to do really anything for the past month or so. I did spend an afternoon taping together a printed-out sewing pattern that I'm going to be using, but that's the biggest thing that I have tackled.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's because I have been spending more time inside, but I like the outdoor photos better as well. Maybe I should try to set something up outside. We don't really have very many plants in our small garden space, but maybe that just gives me more room to set up something doll-friendly. Hmm.
Hi Barb! Well, that sounds like something. Something it's the things that I need to get done before starting working on a project that put me off or leave me with not so much time left, like cleaning my craft table for example.
DeleteWith a small garden sure you have some space to set up something for your dolls. I don't have that many plants either, but the trick is in the placement.
Thanks for stopping by.
Regarding what you wrote about focusing on finishing everything you have started. I hate to break it to you, but most crafters tend to accumulate a stash of unfinished projects, no matter what their particular craft is. I know I have a number of half-finished scrapbooks and half-written blog posts lying around, taking up space. But at least you know you're not alone.
ReplyDeleteI also have a variety of jewelry-related and other craft projects that I purchased some or all of the supplies for but never actually started.
Signed, Treesa
Hi Treesa! You're probably right and it's something creativity related. Probably our brains work faster giving us ideas than our bodies can manage to make those ideas come to life. I do feel better now that I'm not alone. I also have a stash of craft supplies I haven't used yet. When I see something interesting, I buy it, just in case I'm not able to find it when I need it.
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
You're definitely not alone in having a pile of projects that need to be done. In the knitting world, we have UFOs: unfinished objects, things that we started and are still sitting on the needles waiting to be completed. What's awful is when you start a clothing project for a child,and the child grows before you finish it. :(
DeleteI don't know why this reply went unnoticed. Making stuff for kids seems complicated, since you will probably spend more time making it than the time they'll be able to wear it. I love the name UFO, I'm stealing it.
DeleteIt's always interesting to me to see how you compliment your dolls' outfits with the background. My favorites are, of course, when you set them against a backdrop of outdoors. You have a good eye for photography and know just how and where to crop your photos. I like the thought you put into creating an entire picture.
ReplyDeleteThank you April. Most of the time I come up with a color combo first and then I think which dolls could I use. Outdoor photos are some of my favourites too, but also the hardest to take. I'm glad that you like my photos and thank you so much for your kind words.
DeleteI really recognize myself in starting something and not ending it. It is a bummer and sometimes it bugs me a lot. But I hope that I can start to finishing things up during my summer vacation. Still have some exams to do.
ReplyDeleteI love the photos you share. Your dolls are so pretty and I do love Blake, she is so pretty.
Enjoy the weekend!
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one. Lately my head has been all over the place and I can't focus on doing just one thing. Hopefully, you'll be back once you're exams are over. I also can't focus on crafts and dolls when I'm busy studying.
DeleteThank you, I'm glad that you like my photos. Blake is one of the prettiest dolls Mattel has put out this past decade.
You too, enjoy your weekend.