Alyssa Test - Dark to Light

 Played with texture and intentional blur on the above two, drawing inspiration from Sarah Moon.

  Different levels of blur, loving the tones.

Not long after moving to New England, my parents took me to see Martin Schoeller's exhibit and I was blown away by the scale and lighting of his portraits. I may not have the celebrity subjects or a printer the size of my house, but I've got the light that makes Alyssa seem to glow.

Incorporating movement - she looks like Death (Sandman series by Neil Gaiman), meant to be a compliment!

A little bit obsessed with her gorgeous skin. She doesn't use foundation at all - maybe that's the secret to radiant skin?

I declare this test / personal shoot a success.

Pink

Cushion foundation has been popular in Korea for quite some time and is now gaining mainstream popularity Stateside. If you want to venture into trying a cushion foundation but don't want to invest a lot of money into something that migh tnot work with you 100%, try out this cheaper drugstore option. The compromise is that it's not as long lasting as the more expensive like Pacific Amor but it's totally portable for touch-ups later in the day.

Quite pleased with the L'oreal Lumi Cushion (Pictured in W2 Light Ivory) so far, now my go-to for the low-maintenance everyday look. Its buildable light-medium coverage is great for toning out my flush red cheeks just enough and letting some of the beloved freckles and peek through. The luminous finish leaves my face feeling fresh and satiny rather than sticky, thus no need for a setting powder.

The Guerlain Kisskiss Lip Gloss in Coral Pearl is a favorite gloss for not being overly goopey and goes well the days I run out of the usual Dior Addict Lip Glow or want something that I won't eat away in a couple minutes. Glosses last freakin forever on your lips. Fresh is the look I usually go for and love the subtle wink of color they both give. Unfortunately the Kisskiss gloss is no longer available, being replaced by the Gloss D'Enfer which I find a bit too intense in its wet-look shininess for me and see the Kisskiss Rose Lip to be a more comparable product.

Not a big wearer of perfume but I've had this Philosophy Amazing Grace for a couple years now and spritz it on when I need to feel a little extra feminine. Musk makes me think of Chanel No. 9 and old rich women. This is balanced out by citrusy bergamot and softened with Muguet blossoms. No need to run for the hills. It's clean and makes you feel all pink and femme without the sugar.
 

Alyssa

A Perfect Circle kind of shoot yesterday

Lights

♫ Jill Barber - Petite Fleur ♫

Feeling chic and romantic images as we near Valentine's.

 Getting together a collection to create a cheeky little boudoir book for her beau.

Sunday Stroll

♫ Jon Hopkins - Small Memory ♫

 

 

Sony NEX-3 with a Zeiss 2.8/35

Travel

Going through images from a road trip in 2014 I went on with my best friend and can't shake that wanderlust. She asked me to help move her belongings from California to Ohio, and I said yes without understanding it would become one of the most memorable events in my young adulthood. Sleeping in cramped spaces and car lots, washing our hair in gas station sinks and frozen laundry I can look back at and appreciate now. It feels more balanced, more living, experiencing rough in order to appreciate the pleasant. Waking up to herds of bison and wolves, driving through the Great Plains alongside antelope. So much you can't get from traveling with tour groups. Cliche, I know, but I'd do it all over again. Praying there will be another chance to travel like this...before we get too old and tired, before daily life demands more of our time. Even with doubts, I'm going to make a list anyways. 

The Southern States

Zion National Park

Yellowstone National Park in the summer

The Entire East and West Coast

Japanese countryside

Ireland

England

Morocco

Germany

France

Byul

 

Testing out some new equipment on a chilly day indoors. Next we need to see how the same light performs on wider shots and the lens outdoors.