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I'm now back in the UK – somewhat fatigued from the travelling – and will be posting another eight shots that I took while in Dubai. In the meanwhile though, here's the very last frame I shot before coming home.

As I mentioned last week, my favourite shot of Rhowan – the snow queen – was used to publicise GPP 2008 in Dubai this year. Her face was everywhere – on pamphlets, other publicity documents, posters, and so on – and I posted an HDR shot of one of the posters on the day I arrived in Dubai.

Anyway, to cut a long story short – as I'm half asleep this evening – this one was taken after the closing event on Sunday evening, and while I'm mildly offended that someone would discard the pamphlet in an ashtray, I do think it makes a good photograph.

I'll tell you more about my trip tomorrow when I'll post another HDR of the DIFC.

captured
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
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RAW converter
cropped?
8.58pm on 4/5/08
Canon 1Ds Mark II
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
24mm
f/5.0
1/60
manual
n/a
evaluative
100
580 EX II
RAW
C1 Pro
16x9
 
3x2 + travel [Dubai, UAE] + children [portraits]
comment by Adam Swords at 10:36 PM (GMT) on 6 May, 2008

I had an absolute blast this week and it was good to meet you, Dave.
Hopefully next year the line up will be just as good and I'll be able to get back there again.
If you ever fancy doing some shooting around the Birmingham / West Midlands area, just give me a shout and we'll arrange something.

Cheers mate.

comment by DedicatedRR at 10:54 PM (GMT) on 6 May, 2008

Wow...what symbolic image! Well, I mean, it irks me, too, to see that in the ash tray, but it makes me wonder what sort of person would put the pamphlet there?

comment by Garry at 10:55 PM (GMT) on 6 May, 2008

I think I'd be more than 'mildly' offended for someone to do that to a picture of my kids! It does work well though...
Let me know if you guys do get together in the Midlands - I'd love to stalk the two of you and pick up some tips and tricks
G

comment by micha at 01:59 AM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

it is a superb pic and even inside an ashtray the"snow queen" is always a great queen! nice catch!

comment by Alice at 03:23 AM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

Nicely captured. I like the DOF.

comment by kate at 03:52 AM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

edgy. intriguing/alarming at first glance. nice.

comment by Jennifer at 06:52 AM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

Excellent shot - hope you 'rescued' her ;-)

comment by Navin Harish at 09:26 AM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

I would have been very proud to see my son's picture used in publicity material like this but I am not sure how I would have felt one of them thrown in an ashtray like this

comment by onewayphotoblog / Mark at 09:34 AM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

Like you said, it's a shame but it does make a good shot! And the original portrait is one of my favourites too; I think I commented on it at the time.

comment by Lon Green at 11:41 AM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

Very symbolic picture for the end of the event. However, I would favour to have the focus on the eyes instead of the back rim of the ashtray.

comment by EyeVision at 12:14 PM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

Excellent shot, David. The contrast between the dirty, smelly ashtray and the nice, innocent girl is shocking. One of the best shots of you I think. Congratulations.

comment by jkm at 01:58 PM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

Great capture and interesting juxtaposition. The Snow Queen was greeting us at the beginning of the photography forum and now she bids us farewell.

comment by Mohamed at 02:16 PM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

I'm going to hunt them down - throwing away valuable GPP promo material!! Thanks Dave - it was a blast! Talk soon..M

comment by djn1 at 06:16 PM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

Thanks all.

Adam/Garry: I'm planning on visiting various places around the UK this year so will give you a shout at some point.

Jennifer: no, I'm afraid I left her there, but I did bring plenty of copies home with me.

Lon: I did focus on her eyes, but probably should have shot at a slightly smaller aperture.

comment by Richard Trim at 06:28 PM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

I think this sends out a whole load of mixed and basically negative messages ...and that is what the bottom line of photography it is all about ... not the technical merit of the shot. Can't work out if this is really going to get into the world wide public domain or be swirled around in your blog. I suppose the difference is minimal. I think if I was Rhowan ... I'd be pretty pissed off.
richard

comment by djn1 at 06:32 PM (GMT) on 7 May, 2008

Richard: she didn't mind, because it isn't really of any great consequence. There were hundreds, if not thousands of these pamphlets, in addition to a whole load of posters, timetables and so on – that one ended up in an ashtray isn't too much of a disaster.

comment by mehdi at 12:50 PM (GMT) on 13 May, 2008

it's a great picture i like it. i'm begining to feel the 24-70mm f:2.8L is your favorite.