And now, for the money shots…

Truthfully, it is not easy deciding on my favorites for the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Photoshoot Challenge for a few good reasons. First of all, I had to rely on just two images that may have been agreed upon by the photographer and the creative team as the best captures of a candidate. So in essence, there is this element of luck with the click – that one or two split second when the subject and the lensman achieved an excellent shot simultaneously.

Be that as it may, I short-listed five ladies for different reasons – it could be the placement of the hands or the emotion on the face or the way the hips and waist are angled or the overall impact that the shot exudes. I also tried my best not to be too swayed by the gown or cocktail dress worn:

#MichelleMarquezDee – almost a linear shot, but one that brings across the quiet confidence (or fierceness, if you will) of a subject who can visualize her stance on a camera screen without actually looking at it up close;

Christine Opiaza – bombshell pose you might say, but one that does not extend the limits of what is possible; could be an off-balancing trick if she stayed too long but the camera snapped just in time;

Klyza Castro – you can get different angles here and they all cooperate with each other – from her two elbows to the hips and legs; it takes practice to mix them all together and with the right momentum in place;

Christine Arenas Salcedo – she surprised me with this shot, especially the face that brings a conjuring of emotions saying “I’m beautifully tired, capture me with my eyes closed fast!”;

Samantha Alexandra Panlilio – almost regal she is; the photo brings to mind a celebrity climbing up the Met Gala steps in style without avoiding the paparazzi, that is.

So there, who are your favorites?

#MissUniversePhilippines2023
#photoshootchallenge
#MUPH2023