I’m not the biggest risk-taker out here, but this shot was by far the wildest one I had to take. I stood on a chair on the balcony, balancing my camera in one hand and the lightstick in the other. I tried to frame everything just right while maintaining my balance (which wasn’t the safest, but I was committed). My vision was to catch the sunset directly behind the dome of the lightstick, as if the sun was lighting it up from the inside. So, I had to time everything and do it fast because the sun was setting. Due to my shaky hands, I used a fast shutter speed (1/1000s) and set ISO 100 to manage the bright lighting from the sun. My aperture was set to f/4.5 because I had to zoom in slightly to frame the shot. Afterwards, I did some cropping and leveling to ensure the alignment felt clean and intentional.

Upon looking at the final shot, I realized the lightstick was perfectly centered, creating a strong symmetrical composition. Moreover, the dome itself is circular, and with the sun glowing behind it, it created a beautiful radial composition, as if everything in the frame is pointing toward that one glowing center. The clean lines and curves of the object gave the composition a geometric feel. For design elements, the form of the lightstick really stood out due to the contrast between light and shadow. I absolutely love how the sunset casts warm tones, creating a calm and almost emotional vibe. Personally, I believe the image clearly gives emphasis to the lightstick, and the blurry skyline adds a sense of depth. Honestly, I’m just happy with how this one turned out. It feels warm and kind of magical, like a little glowing gem floating over the city.

For this shot, I experimented with movement. Lightsticks are mostly used for concerts, and there's that excitement of waving them in the air, which is what I went for. I thought it would be cool to make it look like I was somehow blending my lightstick with the colors of the sky, almost as if I was changing it by waving it around. Luckily, the sun had just gone down, and the sky turned into this beautiful gradient of soft purples and pinks (I turned my lightstick pink too!). Again, I stood on a chair and held the lightstick in one hand, camera in the other. I set the shutter speed to 1/30s to catch that motion blur while keeping the city skyline still. Since it was already getting dark, I set the ISO to 1250 and narrowed the aperture to f/14 so the background would stay sharp, even if it meant the lightstick got a bit glowy. Although, it worked in my favor because the motion blur made it look like it was glowing with the sky.

Composition-wise, I followed the rule of thirds, with the lightstick taking up the lower third and the skyline leading across the middle. The blur also formed a diagonal composition, leading the eye from the motion blur of the lightstick to the stillness of the city, showing contrast between the two. I also like how the shape and form of the lightstick catch the light in a way that makes it stand out, almost like it’s part of the sky. The sky and the city below add color and rhythm, with the soft tones balancing everything out and tying it all together. It somehow mimics that feeling of being at a concert, waving your lightstick around until the sky starts to change, like the moment becomes a mix of sound, light, and emotion all at once. (This is me, manifesting to attend a SEVENTEEN concert soon~ (人 •͈ᴗ•͈) ɞ✧)

I didn’t plan this shot deeply. I was merely playing around with my lightstick and a bunch of my photocards when the idea popped up. For this one, I wanted to highlight the object in a way that felt personal, something between me and the things that bring me comfort. I shot this one indoors with the use of an external light, so I had full control over how the scene looked. I laid my photocards across the table and positioned the lightstick on top of them. Since I was a bit zoomed in, the widest aperture I could use was f/5. Although it’s not extremely wide compared to f/3.5 (the lowest aperture my lens could go), it was enough to intentionally blur the photocards and keep the focus on my lightstick. In my opinion, the blur helped create a sense of intimacy and emphasized the lightstick as the main subject. I also set my ISO to 1600 to keep the exposure balanced indoors and used a shutter speed of 1/250s to keep the image sharp and steady.

Composition-wise, I followed the rule of thirds, placing the lightstick near the top-left intersection. The blur from the photocards also directs the eye to the lightstick, creating a diagonal composition. There’s a clear contrast between the soft glow of the lightstick and the more textured, shadowy background. As for design elements, there’s a mix of shapes and lines like the curved dome of the lightstick, the edges and texture of the cards, and the way they naturally lead the eye across the frame. The blur wasn’t just for style; it was my way of saying, “this is what I want you to notice.”

A fangirl needs her lightstick and her albums, right? For this shot, I used my two albums as props to complement the lightstick, my main object of focus. I deliberately chose a narrow aperture (f/8) to ensure that both my lightstick and the album cover underneath remained sharp and detailed across the entire image. I wanted to showcase the textures and designs on both objects clearly, without the background or foreground falling out of focus. I was using an external light for illumination; however, it wasn’t as bright as I had expected, so I raised the ISO to 2500 to compensate for the narrow aperture and keep the exposure balanced. I maintained the shutter speed at 1/250s since I was shooting handheld. I also manually set the white balance (custom) to preserve the cool teal tone of the background.

When setting up this shot, I made sure the lightstick overlapped the album a bit, adding a nice sense of depth and making the scene feel more layered. I angled the handle slightly to create a subtle diagonal line that draws your eye toward the glowing dome. Even though the lightstick is pretty symmetrical, I placed it just off-center to follow the rule of thirds and keep things visually interesting. I love how the cool-toned background contrasts with the bold colors of the albums, and how the round dome pops against the boxy shapes around it. The mix of textures, like the shiny plastic of the lightstick and the matte feel of the album covers, adds a nice dynamic. For me, the shot balances contrast and harmony, like light vs dark, smooth vs rough, but still feels visually balanced overall. Fortunately, the image turned out pretty clean, with minimal noise despite the higher ISO setting.

Using the same idea for my narrow aperture photo (with a few additional albums (≧◡≦)), I set my ISO to 1600, which I figured would be enough for the shot and to ensure my image came out sharp and detailed. I kept my aperture at f/7.1 to keep both the lightstick and props relatively in focus, though there’s a slight blur between them that subtly directs attention toward the lightstick. I shot at 1/125s to avoid any blur from camera shake. I also manually set my white balance to ensure the colors stayed true, especially given how colorful the albums were.

The compositions are mainly overlapping and diagonal, with the lightstick cutting across the frame at an angle while the albums beneath it layer into each other, creating depth. In terms of design elements, I leaned heavily into color and line. The bold colors and packaging of the albums contrast with the black, clean, and curved shape of the lightstick. There’s also texture coming from the patterned grip of the lightstick and the different finishes of the album covers. I believe the principles that stood out the most are contrast and emphasis, with the lightstick popping against the busy background, making it the clear focus. Moreover, there’s a sense of harmony and unity in how all the items relate to one another. I wasn’t aiming to be overly technical but more fun and personal. I laid out the albums to show that the lightstick is part of a bigger picture. It’s more than just merch; it’s a lifestyle (a very expensive one….(´；д；`)).

This photo was inspired by some posts I saw on Pinterest—those soft, glowy, low-light shots. So I thought, why not try it myself? I set my external light to its lowest setting and let the soft blue glow of the lightstick do most of the work. The blue added a calming feel to the whole image, and I used it as the main light source. Since I was working with minimal lighting, I set my aperture to f/3.5 to let in as much light as possible, which also gave me that nice blurry foreground from the blanket. I paired that with a low ISO of 100 and a shutter speed of 1/250s, not entirely sure how it would turn out. I expected the shot to be underexposed and super dark, but somehow, it worked.

The composition follows the rule of thirds. The lightstick isn’t centered, but it’s placed in a way that naturally draws the eye. The slight tilt creates a diagonal line, adding a sense of movement and energy to the shot. I really like the contrast in textures here: the softness of the blanket against the smooth plastic of the lightstick. The design elements that stand out were texture and color. The cool blue tone from the lightstick itself helped create a warm, relaxed atmosphere with a slightly dreamy feel. I also love how the light highlighted the color of the handle, making it pop more than it usually does. There’s a strong visual contrast between the glowing lightstick and the darker background. Overall, the image feels balanced and calm.

This was actually one of my favorite shots to take because I didn’t use any fancy lighting, just the object and my camera settings. It really helped me see how powerful low ISO can be when you want clarity and mood. It felt like a small creative win, especially since I normally rely on editing, but here I didn’t need to.

Unlike my wide aperture shot, I had an idea in mind for this one. I wanted to highlight my lightstick as the main figure, almost like it was standing on stage under a spotlight. I used ISO 1600, f/5, 1/250s, and set the white balance manually to keep the glow looking natural without making the rest of the image too bright. Shooting in landscape helped give the scene more space and made the lightstick feel more isolated and important.

I positioned it slightly off-center using the rule of thirds, which helped balance the large area of black in the background. That black backdrop played a big part in creating contrast. It made the lightstick pop more and gave the photo a clean, focused look. The glow became the clear point of emphasis, and I liked how it felt both soft and striking at the same time. Shooting from a lower angle also made the lightstick feel taller, like it had presence. I added scattered photocards in the foreground to make the scene feel more dynamic. They gave the image some texture and color, and they also formed a subtle diagonal line that leads your eyes toward the main subject. I noticed elements of line in the handle, shape in the round dome, and form in the way the lightstick stood upright.

At first I didn’t think this would be the shot I’d end up liking the most. Yet, when I looked back, something about how simple and quiet it felt really stood out. It wasn’t overly planned or complicated, but it captured exactly what I was going for.

For this photo, I wanted to highlight the glow of my Seventeen lightstick and how it lights up. I used ISO 800, f/8, and 1/180s shutter speed, with manual white balance to keep the purple tones from fading out. I chose a smaller aperture so most of the scene would stay in focus, from the center of the lightstick to the reflections underneath it. These settings gave me enough brightness without adding too much noise, and I was happy with how the glow came through.

To bring out the light even more, I placed CDs around the lightstick to catch and reflect the purple glow. Finally, I got to use my album CDs for something other than just collecting, which made me laugh a little. I liked how the light bounced naturally and created rainbow gradients across the surfaces. It added color without overwhelming the subject. I followed the rule of thirds and placed the lightstick slightly off-center, and there was a nice bit of symmetry from its reflection and the circular CD layout. Design-wise, the photo plays with shape, form, texture, color, and pattern. There's clear emphasis on the lightstick because of the contrast between its glow and the dark background, and the repeated CDs added a sense of balance and harmony.

With creative shots like this, it’s easy for things to feel too busy or forced, so I was honestly surprised it all came together the way it did. It turned out to be one of my favorite shots. It felt polished without looking too staged, and everything worked together to highlight the object I really wanted to focus on. Definitely a photo I'd brag about! 

For this shot, I used a wide aperture of f/3.5 to separate the subject from the background and bring out the texture on the handle. Since the lighting was pretty direct, a fast shutter speed of 1/250s helped avoid any blur and kept the details sharp. ISO 800 provided enough brightness without introducing too much noise, and the white balance was set manually to preserve the natural tones of the scene. The soft iridescent greens and purples on the handle were an important detail, and this setup made them stand out clearly.

This was an attempt at using a Dutch angle, and surprisingly, it worked really well. Tilting the frame added a sense of motion and gave the lightstick a more dynamic presence. The diagonal placement of the subject guided the eye naturally from the diamond at the top down to the base, creating a strong sense of direction within the frame. The composition is clean, with intentional negative space that keeps the focus on the main subject. Design-wise, the image highlights line through the vertical handle, form in the three-dimensional build of the lightstick, and texture in the way light interacts with its surface. There is strong contrast between the dark background and the illuminated subject, creating emphasis and making the lightstick stand out. It even gives off the vibe of an official merch launch photo, like it’s being dramatically revealed which is funny, but kind of true. The result felt polished and intentional, and experimenting with this setup made the shot one of the more satisfying ones to take.

This shot was taken with the white balance set to 3000K because I really wanted to see how much it could affect the overall mood. I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right because no matter what I did, the result always came out blue-toned, even though 3000K is supposed to be “warm". I later realized that setting a low white balance like this tells the camera to correct for warm lighting by adding cool tones, which explained the icy blue shift. Macs don’t show the specific white balance values used in-camera, so I had to mention it here. It was actually my first time playing around with this setting on purpose, and I was surprised by how dramatic the change felt. My lightstick, which defaultly glows white, turned this really soft icy blue. Even the blanket in the background picked up that cool cast, which I didn’t expect. I used a 15mm focal length so I could get closer to the subject without cropping out the background. My aperture was set to f/3.5 to get a shallow depth of field, mainly to blur out the fairy lights a bit while keeping the lightstick clear. ISO 400 gave just enough brightness without bringing in too much noise, and I went with 1/250s for the shutter speed to keep everything steady. Honestly, after trying this, I get why people come up with their own “recipes” for photos. Most of the time, they’re just playing around with white balance to get a specific feeling, and now that actually makes sense.

For composition, I followed the rule of thirds and placed the lightstick a little off-center. It gave the image a nice balance, especially since there was a lot happening with the lights and shadows. Design-wise, I focused on color, light, and form. The blue tones set this kind of calm, distant feeling, while the yellow glow from the fairy lights added just enough warmth to keep it from looking too flat. I really liked how the contrast between the two brought attention back to the subject without needing to overdo anything. There's also a sense of emphasis here that felt unforced, the lightstick just naturally pulled the eye. Looking back, I didn’t expect a small change like adjusting white balance to make such a big impact, but it honestly shifted the whole vibe. This one taught me how something as technical as white balance could actually be a creative tool too.

For this shot, I manually set the white balance to 7100K, curious to see how much warmer I could make the image. Again, I was a bit confused, since higher Kelvin values technically represent cooler light but I learned that setting a high white balance like 7100K actually warms up the image to compensate. What really caught my attention was how the lightstick stayed true to its white light despite the warm shift happening around it. It didn’t change at all, almost like it was the one constant in the whole shot, which was fascinating to me. I think that’s the power of controlling white balance. It’s not just a technical thing but shaping the whole vibe of the image. I used f/4.9 to keep most of the lightstick in focus while getting a soft blur in the background. The 33.3mm focal length was perfect for isolating the subject, and ISO 1000 kept the image bright without too much grain. I also shot at 1/250s to avoid any blur, especially since I was shooting handheld. The external light I used helped brighten up the shadows without making the image feel too harsh.

Compositionally, I placed the lightstick in the upper third of the frame using the rule of thirds, and I love how the diagonal where the pink and yellow backgrounds meet naturally draws the eye to the lightstick. In terms of design, I think color played the biggest role. The warm tones in the background created a calm, inviting feeling, while the white light of the lightstick provided a sharp contrast. That contrast brought emphasis to the lightstick, and even though the shot is minimal, I think it works because of that dynamic between warm and cool. Honestly, this shot made me realize how important color is in creating mood. It’s funny because prior to MMS 173, I had no idea about white balance but now, I get why people put so much thought into it. I’ll definitely play around with it more after this!