Beauty in ‘Ugly’ Locations

CEBU, Philippines — Since January this year, social mediaholics of various age groups in the US have been posting glamour magazine-themed photos taken in “non-glam settings.”

Billed the #hobbylobbychallenge (Hobby Lobby being a popular arts-and-crafts store chain in the US), the idea behind the undertaking is to take glamour shots at locations that would otherwise not be the first choice for such photos.

Credited to have been popularized by 22-year old photographer Kelsey Maggart (who goes by the handle @_KelseyMaggart on Twitter), the ‘challenge’ has compelled many in the US into taking studio-styled photos that mimic the compositional theme that kicked-off the trend.

The trend’s initiator took part in an online “ugly location challenge” late last year, which resulted in a series of photos that went viral online. The photos gained her Instagram and Twitter accounts a cumulative 48,000 plus followers after posting.

She followed things through by posting a series of photos taken from a Hobby Lobby store in her hometown in late January. She accompanied a behind-the-scene (BTS) shot of the location and setting/styling where the photos were taken.

The photos – including the BTS shot – have since become her most popular work to date, so much so that it kick-started the now-popular #hobbylobbychallenge in the US.

Based on Maggart’s photo-post history in various social media platforms and online photography sites, the photographer has made shooting impressive photos in “ugly locations” her thing.

From taking photos outside fast-food stores to gas stations, she credits a lack of ideal locations for glamour shoots in her hometown as the driving point in her approach in photography – challenging the outputs of high budget photo sessions that are typically bankrolled by major glossy magazines.

Though the odds of the actual #hobbylobbychallenge making waves in Cebu is unlikely (there is, after all, no Hobby Lobby store here), Maggart’s take on glam photography has been a hot topic in local online photography and fashion circles – inspiring many into finding the beauty in everyday sights and locations.