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A while ago I posted some phone pics that I had been working on, well recently there was a challenge for shallow DOF and I created this image for it. Didn't do too badly actually but with the title "The Best of Blur.mp3" I think the US voters didn't really understand it as much as the UK ones and the US outweigh the UK many times over:



Wasn't really worried about the score though as it's one of my favorite still life shots to date

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EOS 5D | EOS 40D | 28-80 L f2.8 - 4 (took a swim) replaced with 24-105 F4 L IS USM | 70-200 L F2.8 IS USM | 17-85 | 70-300 | 100mm USM Macro | 50mm 1.4 | 50mm 1.8 II | 2x Extender | 100mm Macro USM 2.8 | 3x 285HV Vivitar Flash | Cactus V2s Wireless Trigger system | 430EX

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loving the picture title...., nice photo as well but the title and subject relationship makes 10/10 for me
actually laughing to myself

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Very nice shot. I like the bright surface, and the oof cellphone in the back. The composition of the earphone is tuie nice too. Well done [Thumbsup]

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Sonyian?

My Flickr - Comments very welcome
Gear: a200, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6 DT, Minolta 50 1.7 AF, Lowepro TLZ Mini, GorillaPod SLR Zoom
Saving for Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX HSM Macro II (50%)

As in the band Blur I take it? A shame more US voters don't know of them! I was actually surprised when I found out that Gorillaz was created by the singer from Blur. But then I thought it strange I had never noticed how similar the voice was.

Great shot by the way! It's weird because I find myself drawn to the phone, and my eyes try to tear away at it, but can make nothing of it. I think because it's such a large part of the picture, but the focus is on the rather minute earphone. I like it.

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Thanks for the comments guys.

With regards the Blur reference yeah it was a play on the band Blur, you are correct that Damon Albarn was one of the creators of Gorillaz, I am a fan of both groups

I don't think Blur ever really made it in the US where as Gorillaz did quite well I believe I think that had a very big impact on my score unfortunately the UK commentors really liked it and understood the title -> image reference where as I think the US voters just thought I was being arrogant

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EOS 5D | EOS 40D | 28-80 L f2.8 - 4 (took a swim) replaced with 24-105 F4 L IS USM | 70-200 L F2.8 IS USM | 17-85 | 70-300 | 100mm USM Macro | 50mm 1.4 | 50mm 1.8 II | 2x Extender | 100mm Macro USM 2.8 | 3x 285HV Vivitar Flash | Cactus V2s Wireless Trigger system | 430EX

My DPC Profile | My Website

Blur is great. They really didn't "make it" in the US until after their self titled release including the single 'song 2'. That song was played everywhere in the US for a very long time. They climaxed their career in America with that album and song; although there are still many Blur fans in America. And then there is that whole Blur vs Oasis documentary, its alright. Apples and Oranges. The best music documentary about a 90's rock band in my opinion is Dig.

But yeah, Blur will always be remembered as some of the best Brit pop, and pop-rock in general.

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Olympus E-520, Zuiko 14-42mm 3.5-5.6, Zuiko 40-150mm 4-5.6, Zuiko 50mm 2.0
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25mm

Great shot, Mark! I especially like the cold color tone. Very appropriate for the subject matter.

May I ask how you set up your lighting?

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Canon 40D
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New! EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5

...and too much other stuff to mention...

Thanks again for the comments.

The lighting was basically studio head (lowest power) at camera right with a large softbox (I still couldn't stop the corner blowing out) I had a silver reflector camera left just to soften the shadows a little. Behind the subject was a piece of white board again which reflected the light back in to the main area and also gave light for the reflector to bounce back in.

There was some fall off and as the challenge was basic editing (no cloning or spot editing allowed) the almost vignetting looking effect on the left had to stay, I did try an edit where I remove this just for personal use but to be honest it looked a bit too sterile.

I might try this shot again now I have the 285HV flash heads as I have much more control over them than with my studio heads.

EDIT: To correct my left and right mistakes LOL

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EOS 5D | EOS 40D | 28-80 L f2.8 - 4 (took a swim) replaced with 24-105 F4 L IS USM | 70-200 L F2.8 IS USM | 17-85 | 70-300 | 100mm USM Macro | 50mm 1.4 | 50mm 1.8 II | 2x Extender | 100mm Macro USM 2.8 | 3x 285HV Vivitar Flash | Cactus V2s Wireless Trigger system | 430EX

My DPC Profile | My Website

Thanks for the info, Mark.

I actually like the light falloff. I didn't really notice it until you mentioned it -- it's very subtle (on my monitor, at least), and think it adds a feeling of depth to the image.

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Canon 40D
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM | EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM | EF 50mm f/1.4 | 430EX Flash

New! EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5

...and too much other stuff to mention...

Nicely done, you actually made a not so interesting subject, quite intersting! This shot could be seen as an ad! Nice job, the composition and the use of the DoF is excellent

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Quentin

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