#I always love the contrast of this version compared to the actual me x''d

[renata-dp]

Forgot to post this drawing I made for my friend and mine's b-day (bc we share b-day and tbh I think that's cool XD)

Also have silly doodles of this version of mine x,p

It's actually a redraw of another drawing I made for an inside joke of ours, so I'll leave the old one after the cut (actually this is a second redraw lol)

[clericbyers]

I have been thinking about the exchange between Will and Mike at the end of ST3 and in particular their word choice. In artistic media, whatever is articulated is there with purpose. It’s not coincidence (an old example is that if a gun is mentioned in text to be on a wall to a reader, then the reader expects the gun to be important in some manner, whether it is for metaphoric narrative or is literally used because it was explicitly pointed out in the narrative). In terms of cinematic media, the published take was used instead of other versions for whatever reason the director(s) decided, so everything has intent. (Finn even said in a Hollywood Reporter interview that the Duffers shot “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls,” with different phrasing, adding “yet” in one take that ended up unused. So, there’s definitely attention payed to what exactly is being said between Will and Mike.)

That being said, I wanna focus a lot on Mike’s, “Yeah, but what if you want to join another party?” and Will’s, “Not possible.” Before this exchange, Will donates his D&D manuals. He’s not taking it with him despite spending a good while three months back trying to regroup the Party through it. He states that he’ll use Mike’s set, if “we still wanna play”. Here he puts the ball in Mike’s court while acknowledging that they both might grow up and grow out of the interest but Mike holds the means to pursue D&D again. Mike says, “Yeah, but,” and it’s simple acknowledgement neither here nor there because he had something more important to say, something that unnerves him enough to let his gaze wander. He seems a little unsure and he pauses before continuing on, gathering his thoughts. He doesn’t make eye contact with Will until he says, “What if you want to join another party?”

[x]

Now party had two meanings in ST: party as in D&D in general and the Party (which I’ll capitalize) which is the best friend circle of Mike, Will, Lucas, and Dustin. Max and El join later but those four are the Party when it comes to D&D. Mike’s question is loaded. He asks if Will wants to play D&D with other people, he asks if Will wants to find a new friend group to replace the Party. He paints it as a hypothetical, a possibility for Will to pursue if he wants to, not when he plans to. Mike doesn’t say, “Yeah, but you can still find another party while you’re gone.” That is giving explicit permission for Will to move on, it’s what he already expects in a way but doesn’t want. He doesn’t say, “Yeah, but you might want to find a new party.” That paints the Party (and in turn himself) as old and something of the past, which Mike is battling with himself in terms of what it means to grow up.

Mike is asking about this loaded hypothetical situation. “What if,” hypothetically, “you wanna join another party?” ‘Another party’ implies in addition to the Party, an alternate of sorts. It’s not necessarily a replacement, just an addition. He’s offering the possibility because much like what Mike did when El joined the Party, the addition can very well become a replacement. Consider it ironic I suppose, but he doesn’t want Will to replace him.

Will’s response though...his response kills me dead. Will didn’t say, “Impossible.” He said, “Not possible.” There’s a difference between impossible and not possible. Impossible means it can’t occur, it cannot exist. It’s simply not able to be done no matter what. Every single possible event in the world can occur and this one thing simply cannot be done. It’s very finite and, well, pretty extreme and intense. ‘Not possible’ though? It’s technically the same meaning but context and delivery matters. ‘Not possible’ is so much more freeing in terms of interpretation than impossible.

[x]

For example, “It’s impossible to give you a ride,” vs “It’s not possible to give you a ride.” The former phrase implies defeat. It’s literally never going to happen for whatever reason. Maybe the car is full already or you have too much luggage that can’t fit. The bounds of the real world inhibit you from the car ride. It’s frankly just not gonna happen. The latter phrase though infers that there are other circumstances that means this simply isn’t possible. Giving you a ride isn’t in the list of possibilities at the moment. Maybe the car has an extra seat but there’s a dog you’re allergic to in it. It’s not impossible for you to ride in the car—there’s a free seat—but it’s not a possible option for you if you don’t want to have an allergic reaction.

In the context of Will’s reply, impossible would mean that Will can’t ever find another party. That’s frankly false; he could probably find another party, which Mike hypothetically thinks may happen given his question. Will knows this, he could find more people to play D&D with, it’s not impossible to join another party. But he looks down at the box between them—a box full of old toys to donate and move on from, a symbol itself of growing up—and then shakes his head with a soft smile. It’s technically possible to join another party—he has that choice—but in actuality, it’s not possible for him. It’s not possible for Will to replace the Party. It’s not possible for Will to replace Mike. Those cards aren’t in his hand despite them being in the deck.

Will is saying so much just with those two words, reassuring Mike that even though they have growing up in front of and between them (literally in terms of the donation box that’s only there because he’s moving away), the one thing that won’t change is how he feels, and his relation to Mike. That change is not possible. He will always love Mike.

And then Mike smiles.

[x]

Mike smiling with Will isn’t new, but the thing to note here is how he smiles. It’s not just a simple grin. He’s shy, he’s soft, he’s careful, he’s cautious. Mike being cautious about showing affection to Will? That’s new. He’s always been the first to reach out with Will, always caring and checking in, reaching out physically and emotionally. Throughout ST3, he’s shutting Will out and throwing that in his face and when he does that, Mike’s not cautious (as usual), but in ST3 it’s to the negative extreme of brashness.

Now though, Mike is questioning. He even called Will ‘dude’ earlier, trying to get a handle on his relationship with Will. Will is a boy, he’s a dude, he’s Mike’s male friend, right? He could have said “Woah, Will,” or “Whoa, Byers,” or even just, “Whoa,” but saying dude? Why would he ever have to do that, especially if he was still with El? Why is he reinforcing the fact that Will is “dude”? There’s all sorts of interpretations to be had on that but I wanna focus on Mike’s behavior afterwards. As stated before, Mike’s eyes wander when he gets a little unnerved, he worries if Will might forget about him, he’s nervous. Why would Mike be nervous about this? If he’s confident in his friendship with Will, there shouldn’t be any question about it even with the move. Yet, he questions being replaced, questions where he stands, questions what they are.

In response to Mike’s smile, Will smirks.

[x]

It’s a direct contrast to Mike. Will’s not shy, soft, or cautious. He knows what he said, what he implied (at least for himself if Mike doesn’t). He’s blatantly flirty. He’s figured out where he is and what he wants. He showed Mike the level playing field (“I’ll just use yours when I come back. I mean, if we still wanna play.”) and he’s kinda like, “I’ll see you when you get there.” There being acknowledging his feelings. I think it’s also Will noting maybe that Mike likes him, too, compared to three months prior when Mike basically broke his heart and Will proceeded to breakdown over it. Here, Will sees Mike’s shy smile, he sees his nervousness. Will has successfully put his heart out on the line (again) and this time Mike didn’t stomp on it. Mike is pleased to have it, and he’s careful about it. This is something new, them both noting that there’s something different between them. Now, it’s up to Mike to shoot his shot if he wants to.

(And later, when Mike mentions Will in his conversation with El, he gets excited about playing games again when El and Will come back to visit, excited about taking that shot (given games and D&D is Mike and Will’s metaphoric narrative about their friendship while growing up), and then backtracks. He says he sounds like he’s 7. At 7, Mike’s best friends were Will and Lucas. (There’s no explicit age stated when Lucas befriended the two but I assume it to be maybe like a year after Mike and Will became friends.) Mike basically said he sounds like a kid again, naive about many things yet deeply caring toward his friends and well, not dating anyone. In Mike’s character profile in the concept bible, he plays D&D to escape from the fact that he doesn’t have a girlfriend. D&D came out in 1979, which is when Mike is 8 (or 7 depending on his birthday). He wants to restart that D&D obsession, noting that D&D is a metaphor for Will and Mike’s relationship. He wants to return to this closeness from being kids, where it didn’t really matter what the affection meant. But he also knows that he’s 14 and growing up. This isn’t something he should want yet he says it right in front of El, his supposed girlfriend, the one he claims to love yet can’t tell her himself and then can’t return the statement or the kiss after she confesses too. He says it after the exchange with Will, where D&D turned from the game used to maintain the friendship into the game where they can take go further if Mike is ready for it.)

tl;dr Mike likes Will, too and Will gave him a second chance to try again if he’s done being a clown and wants to own up to his feelings.

[ first two gifs by ilu-3000 and last two by cath-avery, as credited above ]

[drink-n-watch]

I’ve been promising this post for a while now. I did a voice actor version some time ago and it was one of my favourite lists to put together. I think you guys enjoyed it too.

As we all know, an actor’s performance can really drag down an anime. There’s something heartbreaking about a painfully wooden performance in the middle of a wonderful story that rips you right out of the fantasy. On the bright side, I’ve seen more than a few characters go from boring to endearing on the strength of an actor’s charisma. Voice actors don’t have as much to work with as conventional actors. They can’t rely on body movements or smouldering looks to get their message across. So it’s doubly impressive when they manage to convey subtle emotion and complex feelings though inflection and tone alone.

And for me, these ladies do just that.

Today let us celebrate the artistry that goes into bringing some of our favourite characters to life. In no real order we have!

5. Aoi Yuuki

I don’t care how petty it sounds, I’m just going to put this right here. This young woman is shorter than me!!! A musician and traditional actress, Aoi unique voice has made her quite successful in the field. Here are a few selected roles out of the tons she has had:

Hana – Ben-To

Tsuyu – My Hero Academia

Mina – Vampire Bund

The Energetic Ringo – Daily Lives of HighSchool Boys

Sosuke – Free!! (surprised? – I was)

Victorique – Gosick

Mihoshi – Gundam

Russia – Hetalia

Kino – Kino’s journey

Futaba – Persona 5

Iris – Pokemon

Mélie – Radiant

Shinra – Durarara!!

Sunako – Shiki

Borr – SSSS.Gridman

Tanya – Saga of Tanya the Evil

Oh yeah – she’s also Madoka in some magical girl show…

She’s set to play Touka and Boogiepop in the upcoming remake and I am psyched for this!

Not to mention roles in March Comes In Like a Lion, ACCA 13, Asobi Asobase, Welcome to the Ballroom, Gangsta, Gintama, Goblin Slayer, Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens, Hyakka, Hyouka, Your Name, last exile, One Punch Man, Seraph of the End, Sword Art Online II, Tanaka-kun, Tokyo Ghoul, Snafu, Yuru Yuri, and I seriously skipped over most of them. This lady works!

The surprisingly raspy quality of her vocals, and the counterintuitive depth of her tone makes her suitable for a wide range of diverse characters. A small actress with a big voice! Irresistible.

4. Chiwa Saito

Miss Saito has been acting for some time which means she’s had the chance to amass a pretty impressive portfolio. One of my favourite random facts out there, is that she is part of a voice acting groups called “MORE PEACH SUMMER SNOW”. That’s the best name ever. I’m going to rname Buddy that. (His actional name if Sir Buddy Livingston Master Chief Brown). Sadly, she is taller than me.

Yona – Yona of the Dawn

Aika – Aria

Hitagi – Monogatari series

Sigyn – Break Blade

Yuki – Vampire Bund

Chloe – Fate/Kaelid series

Natsumi – Keroro

the fantastic Riko – Kuroko’s Basketball

Louise- Gudam 00

Anita – R.O.D. TV

Kotori – rewrite

Meru – Zetsoubu Sensei

Nadeshiko – Yuru Yuri

She’s also Homura in some magical girl show…I swear I didn’t know this before researching for this post. I never realized how much I liked the Madoka casting before!

Of course there’s like a billion more titles but I’m going to name these ones because, reasons: Amanchu, Arakawa Under the Bridge, Boccano, Berserk, Dog & Scissors, D-Frag, Daily Lives of HighSchool Boys, Gintama, Girls Bravo, Kino’s journey, Last Exile, Log Horizon, Lyrica Nanoha, Murder Princess (I just like this title) One Piece, Sward Art Online, I’m just going to stop now.

You can actually hear her sing in some roles and she truly has a beautiful singing voice. It has a rich timber and she obviously has a great ear for melody. If ever she chose to switch career paths to the musical instead, I’m sure she’d have a great future. We would miss her as an actress though so let’s not encourage that!

3. Megumi Hayashibara

A more classical voice actress and one of the best known in Japan, Megumi almost became a nurse instead. There’s a certain personality that goes along with choosing a career in nursing. Caring but also resilient. You can see that peek through a bit in Megumi’s character and acting choice. Then again, there are so many to pick from I could probably make an argument for any character type.

Pai and IV – 3×3 eyes

Ai – Detective Conan

Haruko – FLCL Progressive

Haruka – Love Hina

Todomatsu – Osomatsu-kun

Paprika and Chiba – Paprika

Musashi – Pokemon

Ranma – Ranma 1/2

Lime – Saber Marionette J

Anna – Shaman King

Lina – Slayers

Ai – Video Girl Ai

Genkai – Yuu Yuu Hakusho

Hello Kitty…this woman is Hello Kitty

The incomparable Faye Valentine – Cowboy Bebop

Probably best known as Rei Ayanami – Evangelion

She can also be heard in Blue Exorcist, Bakuretsu Hunters, Sailor Moon, Blue Seed, Chihayafuru 2, Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor, Macross Plus, Lupin III, Maison Ikkoku, One Piece, Project A-ko, Shadow Skill, the Doreamons, Tenchi Muyou, and obviously a million more shows.

This lady’s body of work speaks for itself. I have to say I was already pretty amazed that spunky, opinionated Faye, with her womanly register and quiet monotone Rei were played by the same person, add in Hell Kitty to the mix and my mind is a little broken…and then you have comedy queen Ranma. This is the type of career you look up to!

2. Romi Park

Did you know that Romi studied Korean in university. I just find that intriguing, obviously she’s always liked languages. Ok I’m beating about the bush so let me just say it, miss Park’s performance was one of the best parts of FMA: Brotherhood for me. I literally caught myself in the middle of scenes just going, OMG the acting is phenomenal. I’ve heard great things about the English language cast but you really are missing ouy if you didn’t catch this performance.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya –  Bleach

Teresa – Claymore

Akane – Danganronpa

Tanaka – Daily Lives of High School Boys

Igarashi – Deadman Wonderland

Kenichi – Cyber Coil

Ken – Digimon

Sena – Eyeshield 21

Natsume – Gakuen Alice

Walter – Hellsing Ultimate

Switzerland – Hetalia

Angelina – Black Butler

Taiga – Major

Falis – Murder Princess (love this title)

Temari – Naruto

My precious, precious Naoto – Persona 4

Jiro – Pokemon

Syrup – Precure

Alma – Radiant

Zoe Hange – Attack on Titan

Everyone’s favourite rocker Nana Osaki – Nana

And of course Edward Elric – Fullmetal Alchemist

And if that wasn’t enough, you can hear her in Air Master, Beelzebub, Blue Dragon , Clannad After story, Detective Conan, Devil May Cry, Garo, Granblue Fantasy, Hunter x Hunter, Kill la Kill, Lupin III, Gundam 00, One Piece (everyone is in this), RahXephon, Sengoku Basara, RDG, Samurai 7, Terra Formars (cause it’s terrible), Aquarion, White Album

Romi Parks has the most devastatingly emotional voice I know. She often plays calm, cool and collected genius type characters (a lot of boys as you can see) but when an emotional contrast is needed, she really knows how to deliver, making her characters feel so real and raw.  One of the greatest performers in my opinion, she tends to make me want to see a show just to hear what she can do with the character.

Honorable Mentions

Ami Koshimizu

C,mon, she Ryuko from Kill la Kill. Always loved that sexy alto voice! Apparently she was also both Hiro and Naomi in the recent Darling and the Franxx. I loved her as Ibuki in Danganronpa. She was Kallen in Code Geass, Holo in Spice and Wolf and Yuiko in Persona. Obviously I’m skipping over st of her work including some very big roles. I suggest you look her up! The only reason she isn’t on the list proper is that I simply haven’t seen that many of her shows even though a lot are very popular.

1. Megumi Ogata

OK fine so this is a subjective choice. Well they all are really, it’s my top 5 list. Fact is, I’ve been a fan of Megumi Ogata for a long long time and I’m just always going to be. She’s the first voice talent I ever learned about and I absolutely love her work. Sure, she might have voiced a few of my anime crushes but surely that did not influence my choice in any way…. She’s much taller than me.

Ayato – Angel Beats

Haruka (Sailor Uranus) – Sailor Moon*

Jun – Captain Tsubasa

Yukito and Yue – Cardcaptor Sakura*

Makoto – Danganronpa

Nagito – Danganronpa***

Shinji – Evangelion*

Izumi Rio – Searching for the Full Moon*

the terrifying Fairies – Humanity has Declined

Cranberry – Raising Project*

Ichigou Fujimoto – Magical girl Ore

Ken – Persona 3

Yukimura – Samurai Deeper Kyo*

Akagi – Slam Dunk

Valkyrie – UFO Princess Valkyrie

Yuugi – Yu Gi Oh!*

Karuma – Yuu Yuu Hakusho*

And just o drive the point home, here are a few more at random. If you want to full list, you’ll have to look it up. I just can’t type that much! Bleach, Detective Conan, et Backers, Great Teacher Onizuka, Kino’s Journey, Magic Knight Rayearth, Tamayura, Tokyo Mew Mew,

Megumi Ogata is a revered veteran in the field. Comparing Nagito to Makoto (purposefully similar characters with a lot of very similar lines) will reveal her mastery on inflection and subtle vocalisation to embody a character way beyond their dialogue. Anyone still under the illusion that voice acting is simply reading your lines, please see master Ogata’s work!

Good list isn’t it!?! I discover new voice talent all the time mind you. I’ll be watching a show and suddenly realize that the actor is doing fantastic work. And I’m always so happy when I discover a new favourite. So please, share yours with me!

that was a lot of pics to find….

  Top Five Voice Actresses in My Harem I've been promising this post for a while now. I did a voice actor version some time ago…

[asfeedin]

The Quickest Way to Do In-Camera Paintings: Lensbaby Velvet 28 Review

The blur is worth embracing with the Lensbaby Velvet 28.

As this piece is being written, it’s becoming more difficult to drown out the cries of anger from photographers bound to misunderstand the Lensbaby Velvet 28. I didn’t get it either until I really started applying it to my own photography. This has to be Lensbaby’s softest and more blurry lens yet. And in fact, it’s very much designed to be that way. With an f2.5 aperture, photographers will be happy to know that the quirks about this lens allow it to be opened up slightly beyond that. I’m not going to call it a one-trick pony as it can become pretty sharp when stopped down. But, this lens is designed for a photographer that wants to embrace the world in a specific way. How often do you want the world to look like a Monet painting, though? Well, if you like long exposures, the painting method, or being experimental, then you’ll love the Lensbaby Velvet 28; this is a lens for an artist. However, you should know that this is very much a specialty tool.

Video Review

Pros and Cons

Pros

Solid metal build quality

Can be very fun

Very soft images at wider apertures

Very sharp when stopped down

Small

Cons

Hard to focus because it’s so soft, and the depth of field scale isn’t always reliable

Not quite sure I’d pay $549.95

It’s probably about time that Lensbaby started putting exposure and focusing contacts in their lenses

If this thing had weather sealing, it would be the single most enjoyable lens to use in the rain

Gear Used

We tested the Lensbaby Velvet 28 on the Canon EOS R.

Tech Specs

Focal Length: 28mm

Aperture Range: f/2.5 – 22 with bonus ⅓ stop of light (indicated by + on aperture dial) beyond 2.5

12 aperture blades

Minimum Focus Distance: 2 inches

Maximum Focus Distance: Infinity

67mm filter threads

Focus type: Manual

DSLR version Size/ Weight: 1.04 lb (471.74g)

MIL version Size/Weight: 1.31 lb (594.2g)

8 multi-coated glass elements, in 7 groups

The Velvet 28 comes in standard lens mounts, including Canon EF, Nikon F, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E, Fujifilm X, and Micro Four Thirds. It will be available for pre-order $549.95

Ergonomics

Like any other Lensbaby lens, the Lensbaby Velvet 28 has a metal cap. In fact, the entire body is metal and built very solidly. Hit the cap against the body, and it’s going to sound like a Zeiss lens.

Here’s the front element. It’s recessed into the lens body a bit and allows you to put a filter on it. We found that using Polarizers gives the best image quality. The colors are better, the images are sharper, etc.

Here’s the main body of the Lensbaby Velvet 28. The aperture control is near the mount, and the focus ring is towards the front. There is a zone focusing scale that’s designed to work best with 20MP sensors. Here’s what Lensbaby told us:

The funny thing about being an expert TTL focuser with Leica lenses is that focusing with our Velvet lenses is nearly the opposite. We’d guess you are looking for contrast when you focus, but with Velvet lenses you want to focus for the details. So if you aim to give the eyes the most contrast with Velvet, you’ll miss they eyes but get the ears in focus. For more detail on the 20MP vs 30PM, etc: The current Hyperfocal scale is a bit too wide for f/8 & f/16. The f/16 hyper focal scale on the prototypes is close to the final f/22 hyper focal scale. If you use a 30MP camera it will have a slightly smaller depth of focus so you may find that setting focus just a little narrower than the lines will work. However, 30MP is overkill for all but the largest prints and so nearly any mode of displaying that image will be lower resolution than the error in the hyper focal scale. R&D has tested the focus scale at all marked distances on three random samples and it was spot on on all three. Stopping down to f/4 (or maybe f/5.6) is essential for setting focus to ensure best detail. Focusing wide open or at f/2.8 can yield an image with good contrast but poor detail.

With that said, you probably shouldn’t rely on the zone focusing scale.

Build Quality

There are both good and bad things about the Lensbaby Velvet 28. It’s made of metal on the exterior, and the build quality there is solid: folks will love that. But the problem is a lack of weather sealing. I’d typically never say this about a Lensbaby lens, but of any optic they’ve made, this is the single one I’d want to shoot with while in the rain. If you can imagine bright city lights reflecting off of the streets because of a storm, you understand what I’m talking about. Imagine all the reflections being blurry because of how this lens works. I feel like Lensbaby missed an opportunity here, especially for the price point.

But otherwise, the Lensbaby Velvet 28 is pretty solid. Something to note is that the aperture ring actually goes beyond f2.5 to open wider. Perhaps that’s why they’re calling it the Lensbaby Velvet 28 and not the f2.5. We’re just calling it the f2.5 because that’s the widest marked aperture.

Something else to expect: this lens is small and feels great in hand. That’s because of the design of the rings around the focusing and aperture rings. You’re always going to have a good grip on this lens.

Ease of Use

So basically, this lens is more natural to use on APS-C and Four Thirds bodies; on full-frame bodies, it’s more complicated. You have to rely on focus peaking when shooting on a full-frame body. Magnifying your subject helps too, but ever so slightly. The lens is pretty soft wide open, and details only become visible when stopping down past f4. I purposely shot the above photo at the slower shutter speed and dragged the camera down. It gave me a very painterly look I’m in love with. For photography like this, you’re never going to get bored as long as you’re careful about your subject matter. But the thing is that if you’re shooting like this, you’re putting foresight into your shots; you have to imagine what the shot will look like when blurred.

Focusing

The Lensbaby Velvet 28 is a manual focus lens. It would be a million times easier to work with if there was full communication with the camera you’re using, but you instead have to rely on focus peaking and magnification. And that’s annoying. When stopping the lens down a lot, you won’t have any trouble. F8 and landscapes with the Lensbaby Velvet 28 are lovely to look at. And when you add in a Circular Polarizer, you’ll be getting even better photos.

Image Quality

You can’t really compare the Lensbaby Velvet 28 to anything else out there. While many lenses play the measurbation game, the Lensbaby Velvet 28 slaps that in the face and lives its best life. The image quality is soft, and even when it’s sharp it’s not going to win any awards. The bokeh is always there, and it never disappears, really. And no matter what, photographers are going to like it once you understand the effect of the lens. The colors are punchy, and luckily it doesn’t have any issues with purple fringing. But my favorite thing about this lens is how you can be more creative and deliver truly unique images if you embrace its flaws.

Quick Note: The following images were edited by us:

One more quick note: we did no post-production to these images. But if you want to most from this lens, then we recommend doing some post.

Bokeh

IF you’re a fan of bokeh, this lens has all the bokeh. In fact, the Lensbaby Velvet 28 has so much that you’re never going to run out of it. If you want to think about it in a specific way, it’s like wearing glasses with oil on them at all times. The details are lost and even more so because it’s always soft.

Chromatic Aberration

We couldn’t find any issues with chromatic aberration in the images this lens produces. It’s got distortion, but we can live with that.

Color Rendition

The color rendition of the Lensbaby Velvet 28 is the best thing about it for sure. The colors are vivid, punchy, and gorgeous. This helps to add more to the painterly look it delivers. Again, the folks who like paintings will adore the Lensbaby Velvet 28 for the images it can provide.

Sharpness

Stop the lens down to get the best sharpness. At f5.6 the lens is acceptably sharp enough for most uses. But open the aperture up, and it’s going to get all blurry again. This really shouldn’t be a lens judged for its sharpness. It’s not really designed for that.

Extra Image Samples

Conclusions

Likes

Image quality

The painterly look

Dislikes

No weather sealing

A tad pricey

A bit too niche

I like the Lensbaby Velvet 28 for artistic purposes, but when I buy a lens, I want to be able to use it for pretty much anything. And you can say that about any Lensbaby lens, but the other ones aren’t this soft wide open. The Lensbaby Velvet 28 is purposely designed to be super soft. And if you want to embrace that look for creative purposes, then please do so. I encourage anyone looking to seriously experiment to purchase the Lensbaby Velvet 28, but know that you shouldn’t consider it a 28mm replacement. Think of it as a supplementary lens of some sort. And make no mistake that you’re paying for that novelty. If you want your images to have that lovely softness that you’re going to edit in post, then go right ahead.

The Lensbaby Velvet 28 receives four out of five stars.

Related

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Tags: 28, InCamera, Lensbaby, paintings, Quickest, Review, Velvet

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[yogaadvise]

Yoga Mat Review: How to Find the Best Mat for Your Needs

Yoga floor coverings are the most up to date advancement of yoga's 5,000-year journey. Not only do floor coverings make the practice of yoga less complicated, the floor covering itself has actually concerned represent the peace as well as serenity which yogis experience when they tip off of life's merry-go-round as well as into the quiet of their own being. There is a special link you have with your floor covering, you instantly begin to take a breath more deeply simply by setting foot on your spiritual space.

Yet, finding the very best yoga mat can be a daunting job. There are so numerous elements to consider:

Thickness

Stickiness

Durability

Cushioning

Weight

Texture

Color

Design

There is no magic mix of these elements that develops the excellent yoga mat. The secret is to identify the right floor covering for your unique body, type of yoga, as well as design preferences.

After quizzing numerous trainees about their yoga mats and testing out a few of one of the most popular ones on the market today, seven yoga mats made the cut for intensive testing. For two straight weeks, each yoga floor covering was "dated." They went to every yoga exercise course, taken pleasure in every vehicle flight, endured the misuse of four youngsters, took journeys to parks, traveled on airplanes, and survived on the living area flooring when not in use. These floor coverings experienced warm, restorative, sculpt, vinyasa, and also slow flow classes. They withstood the warm of the scorching San Diego sun and the cold of the Alaska hills. After two weeks, it came to be clear that each mat has its very own individuality as well as is best-suited for different styles of yoga.

If you are in the market for a new floor covering, begin by asking on your own the complying with inquiries:

What style of yoga exercise do I exercise the most (e.g., warm, mild, flow)?

Do I prefer to feel the cushioning of my mat or the strong ground underneath it?

Does it matter to me what products my mat is made of?

Do I favor an average-sized or large mat?

Exactly how much am I going to invest in my mat?

Do I choose to maintain my mat for the long haul or would I instead obtain a brand-new floor covering every couple of years?

After addressing these concerns, examine the listed here and pick the floor covering that will certainly work best for you. Any one of these yoga exercise mats is a great choice. Simply remember your requirements, spending plan, style, and also ecological preferences. Discover your suit as well as have fun getting to understand your new mat.

Gaiam Studio Select Longer Wider Dry-Grip

Thank you to Gaiam for producing the perfect measurements for this mat. The length is long sufficient that you don't come off the front or back edges when you shift between positions, and the size suits all type of body. It's not so lengthy that you can not fit in the center row of a yoga class.

In addition to the ideal size, the mat itself is rather ideal. It is soft underfoot, with an extremely solid grip. Comparable to the Lululemon mat, the Gaiam Dry-Grip in fact boosts in grip toughness as you sweat. The cushioning is superb. It really feels as comfy as the thicker Manuka Pro, making it an excellent all-around selection from vinyasa and power classes to restorative as well as mild flows. This mat is also devoid of latex and the six most dangerous phthalates, enabling you to relax simpler knowing that you are aiding protect the atmosphere. With a life time warranty as well as a rate point well under $100, you truly can not go wrong with this mat.

Dimensions: 78 in. x 26 in.

Thickness: 5 mm

Weight: 5 lbs

Warranty: Lifetime guarantee

Price: $74.98

Recommended for: All styles of yoga

Manuka PRO

The Manuka PRO Mat is regularly one of the premier yoga exercise mats according to yoga exercise experts all over the world. With a density of 6 mm, it is one of the thickest mats readily available. The thick cushioning is excellent for those with delicate knees and wrists. With latex cost-free, non-toxic materials, you can take a breath a little much deeper without having to hesitate about what you are inhaling.

At 7.5 pounds, nonetheless, lugging this mat resembles bring a child. Thankfully, if you like children, and also have brought a great deal of them, the weight will certainly not be a concern. What could be an issue is the slipperiness of the floor covering when you sweat. Even after breaking the floor covering in with a salt scrub, it can still became means as well unsafe. It's still very easy to love this mat due to the fact that it's so comfortable. It's an excellent choice for corrective as well as gentle flow classes.

Measurements: 71 in. x 26 in. (certain colors are available in an 85-in. length)

 Thickness: 6 mm

 Weight: 7.5 lbs

 Warranty: Lifetime guarantee

 Price: $124

Recommended for: Restorative and also mild flow

Lululemon Reversible Mat

The Lululemon reversible floor covering is good in that it can suit two kinds of yoga. One side is smooth as well as glossy, and enhances its grasp as you get sweaty. The other side has exceptional grip without moisture, however has a tendency to get a little unsafe as you sweat. As such, this floor covering is well suited for vinyasa, form, and power courses as it is for mild as well as slow-moving circulations. Okay for one mat!

The cushioning is great and also thick, though in contrast to various other mats, the 5mm of density does not feel as helpful as a few other brands. It might not be the best option for corrective practices. There are 2 factors of factor to consider with this floor covering: the initial being the solid rubber smell, and the second is that this mat consists of latex. If you remain in any kind of way conscious latex, this might not be the mat for you.

Dimensions: 71 in. x 26 in.

Thickness: 5 mm

Weight: 5.24 lbs

Warranty: 1 year

Price: $68

Recommended for: Power, vinyasa, and sculpt

Jade Harmony

The Jade Consistency floor covering is a mat that will linger. There is no doubt that it has grasp. Though not always soft underfoot, it will absolutely help you preserve traction in also the warmest environments. Made from all-natural rubber, which is a renewable energy, this floor covering can also make you feel good concerning yourself for supporting the atmosphere. The firm plants a tree for every yoga mat sold.

This is a leading choice for courses in which you sweat. There is absolutely nothing even more frustrating that slipping throughout your yoga practice. The Harmony mat will certainly alleviate that worry while keeping your body devoid of toxic chemicals as well as your principles clear from environmental sense of guilt. If you determine to buy this floor covering, go on and also invest the additional $5 to get the longer length. 68 inches is simply shortly enough.

Dimensions: 68 in. x 24 in. (also available in a 74-in. length)

Thickness: 4.76 mm

Weight: 4.5 lbs

Warranty: 1 year

Price: $74.95

Recommended for: Vinyasa, flow, as well as hot yoga

Manuka PROlite

A lighter, thinner variation of the Manuka PRO, the Manuka PROlite still offers a dense, comfortable floor covering made from environmentally friendly products. Similar to its larger predecessor, this floor covering includes a life time assurance. Obviously, Manuka creates its mat to last. Which is a good idea as the burglary procedure can take fairly some time. Also with the salt scrub technique outlined on their web site, the Manuka PROlite is mosting likely to take a while to damage in. Relying on your use, it might take months prior to the mat reaches its complete stickiness possibility. Nevertheless, utilizing it regularly might be easier than with the PRO if you are carrying it from vehicle to workshop and back again. It is conveniently portable.

If you such as the feeling of solidity below your feet, but still want an apparent level of cushioning, the PROlite might be your match. As with the thicker version, slipping can become a trouble when you get sweaty. If you are looking for an exceptional top quality mat under $100 to sustain your restorative or mild circulation technique, the Prolite is an outstanding option.

Dimensions: 71 in. x 24 in. (likewise available in 79-in. size)

Thickness: 4.7 mm

Weight: 4 lbs

Warranty: Lifetime guarantee

Price: $80

Recommended for: Restorative and mild flow

Jade Voyager

This will most definitely not become your all-time preferred yoga exercise floor covering, however it may become your favorite traveling mat. It is so slim that it can in fact fold right into an extremely tiny square and also glide right into your traveling bag. It is exceptionally grippy for such a little mat. Nonetheless, it is the thinness that actually triggers it to capture underfoot and also crease up. You can invest equally as much time smoothing this floor covering out as exercising yoga.

Hardcore yogis would probably rather take their favored floor coverings with them when they take a trip. But if somehow that is not an alternative, this floor covering is better than nothing. It is made from the exact same environmentally friendly products as all Jade mats.

Dimensions: 68 in. x 24 in.

Thickness: 1.6 mm

Weight: 1.5 lbs

Warranty: 1 year

Price: $34.95

Recommended for: Travel

Hugger Mugger Para Rubber

This mat is thick, thick, and also heavy. The density and weight resemble the Manuka Pro, though the feel is decidedly various. This mat has a strong grip and an unequalled resilience. You can exercise every moment for the rest of your life and never ever use it out. Think about a tire that is made to go 100,000 miles as well as you will certainly obtain an idea of this floor covering. As a matter of fact, this floor covering is made from sustainable rubber, so it is a bit like a tire. The surface area, nevertheless, is smooth. Despite the fact that the floor covering is thick, the thickness of the mat maintains it from having a soft helpful feeling. It is not your best wager for delicate knees and also joints.

Dimensions: 70 in. x 24 in.

Thickness: 6 mm

Weight: 6.05 lbs

Warranty: 30 days

Price: $84.95

Recommended for: Vinyasa, power, and also sculpt

Join Dr. Deepak Chopra as well as Chopra Center master teachers at our 6-day reflection and yoga retreat, Seduction of Spirit. Click here to learn more.

[rockmiyabideusexmachina]

2017 Megaman Valentine’s Day Contest: Talent Category Winners and Art (*Image Overload!*)

Sorry for the delay on this again, but you guys definitely made judging this a challenge, with all the awesome entries! And my internet connection cut out last night, so I had a little retyping to do today. ^^;

There were so many Talent submissions, 25, that it alone was pretty much bigger than any amount of total entries I’ve ever received for a whole year’s contest! Thanks for overwhelming me!! ;D

For this category, entitled “Step into this Capsule X...And Receive This Fashionable Formalwear!”, entrants were required to draw at least one couple in their best formal attire, enjoying time together for an anniversary/party/date.

So both for simplicity, and the fact that it wouldn’t be fair or even remotely easy to rank each one, I will just be listing the Top 3 prize winning entries, and follow that with the remaining entries in alphabetical order. Even if you did not place, I am humbled and wowed by the effort you all put into your artwork. Believe me, I enjoyed them all, and so many were deserving of placing! But unfortunately, even with all I’m giving away this year, I can’t give you all something in return, other than my sincere appreciation. And I’m sure you all will love them, too!

This year, judging was done by @annamariacoppi and myself. With her experience as an illustrator/package designer, AnnaMaria brings some  different insight from my own, as I always try to have some added perspective, besides just mine. Commentary from at least one of us on your art will also be seen below.

Each artist’s name will link to a (hopefully) larger version I’ve uploaded, that will work until you guys upload your art on your own pages, followed by their tumblr handle or deviantArt page, if applicable. If a link is broken or I screwed up somewhere, let me know. This was a lot to verify!

Without further ado, here are your winners (who I will contact soon) and the rest of spectacular, snazzily-dressed contest entries:

1.) Kaitlin.EXE (@kaitlinexe) - Zero x Iris, X x Alia, Axl x Pallette:

AnnaMaria said: Love all the outfits you designed! So much detail went into this! I like how "classic" looking everyone is dressed. It's so different compared to the other entries. Even their hair styles look great. I like how their hair is more shiny than their clothes. You can tell it's a different material quality. Would have liked to see a proper background. Right now I can't really tell where they are.

Miyabi said: In many ways, this piece feels like an X meets Disney sort-of-tale, with the elegant Victorian-era fashion flair. Both the overall intricacies of their clothing, like Zero’s braided booblight tassels (I don’t care if you disagree, that’s what they are!! LOL), to their glammed-up hair, I felt your piece overall had the strongest detail and creativity concerning the theme, which involved formalwear and the celebration of love. And still a touch of humor involved, with Pallette’s clumsiness, most likely as she’s getting used to dancing in heels.

2.) Tabby (@digitallyfanged) - Maverick Party Limo:

AnnaMaria said: I like the lighting you have going on. Feels very glowy, and I can tell it's in the evening. Their outfits are nice. Very elegant looking! I like the movement in the champagne glass in the back a lot! Helps make the scene feel alive. I would have liked to see more detail in the clothing. Since this is a very shadow heavy scene, textures should show up more. That being said, the pattern texture on Sigma's outfit is really nice looking. The other outfits look a bit plain in comparison. Would have loved to see that feather boa fleshed out more. A softer edge around it will help make it look "fluffier". Some more color would help. It's very heavy in the purple and black as it is.

Miyabi said: Those Maverick bosses always have to glow in the dark, don’t they? The fancy digital limo ceiling is fitting for evil robots, while the deep pinks and purples fit the common color theme that links most of them together, besides their penchant for inflicting pain on those Maverick Hunters. The gentlemen look dapper, although paperboy Lumine seems just as uncomfortable in his clothing as he is partying with the squad. I liked how you still kept Ferham and Berkana’s armor motif tied into their dresses. As funny as the bonus Vile image is, I have to imagine he’d rather be popping out the sunroof, with shoulder cannon ready, in his fancy new stretch ride armor! ;p

3.) Iris-Sempi (@iris-sempi) - Zero x Iris, X x Layer, Axl x Marino:

AnnaMaria said: I really like how this looks it could be strait out of an animation scene. It's got all the right framing for it! The emotion with the colors are really nice. The outfits are nicely done, and I like the perspective in Iris dress. It feel like it's moving! I can clearly tell what's going on, and the story is very strait forward. I think if there was a spotlight above Zero and Iris, that would help put the focus even more on them. I would also move them over a tad more to the left. It would make for a even better composition.

Miyabi said: With all the warm colors towards the upper half of this pic, my eye was definitely drawn to the cooler hues of Iris’ dress. Her shocked look, along with the way it flows, definitely gives me the feeling that Zero has some pretty outstanding SA-class Foxtrot Paso Doble skills. I love the looks of excitement and pride on the faces of the other couples, as the lovebirds hit center stage. Truly, a wonderful scene!

And to keep this from extending too long on your dash, the remaining 22 entries for this category are after the cut...

Continuing with the rest of these fantastic pieces, alphabetically by alias:

 - Archer-Poyochu (@archer-poyochu) - Subaru x Misora:

Miyabi said: While the bright city lights would probably cancel out viewing of the beautiful shooting stars in the sky, it looks like Subaru is showing Misora the more earthly light show on that romantic balcony overlook. Nice touch with her clef hair clip.

- Artistic Sunny (Artistic Sunny) - Enzan x Meiru:

Miyabi said: Cute details on Meiru’s dress, tying in the floral hair clip and pearls with it. Going with the nighttime scene, obviously it should be darker, but the heavier shading on Enzan makes it a little harder to see the details in his outfit. But with arms intertwined, it’s obvious they are both enjoying the night out on the town.

- Bassrocks (@bassrocks) - Prom Dance:

AnnaMaria said: Really cute! I like the feel of this one! Color choices are nice. The pinks and purples feel very "Valentines". The punch bowl and cup stack are a nice touch. I like the effort that was put into the background, but it could use some perspective work. Anatomy is bit off in some places, but if you work on the perspective a bit, that would help correct it a bit. Would have liked to see more detail in their outfits. I like the accessories you added, but the girl's dresses seem a bit plain. Some clothing construction seams could help.

- Borockman (@borockman​) - Zero x Iris (w/ Sigma x Nana):

Miyabi said: What’s this? Why aren’t Sigma and Nana the stars of this red carpet gala?! It’s probably because of that Willy Wonka outfit. Didn’t rate high with the fashion police. Love trying to make out faces in the crowd, and how they are all enjoying their eyecandy. Both couples look quite elegant!

- Chocoorchid (@chocoorchid​) - Zero x Layer:

Miyabi said: A cute closeup, and with the border design, almost reminiscent of a camera’s frame. Pinstripes are a sharp look for Zero, and in fact, I think you’re the only one to try that design in this contest. Just would have liked to see a little more of them in the image!

- CptRedder (cptredder) - Aeolus, Thetis, Atlas and Siarnaq:

Miyabi said: Aeolus isn’t sure if he needs to blow out Atlas’ flame with that rose offering! At the very least, he’s getting a little hot under the collar. I really like the sketchy, splotchy white border around them, it’s a different look. And keeping the pink hues to the shading bounces off the background pretty good.

Creator of Worlds (@thecreatorofworlds) - Anniversary Dance, Complete With Rock and Roll Clothing Changing Capsule .gifs, and Instagram party post:

AnnaMaria said: I appreciate the fake Instagram comments! They were fantastic! I like how the outfits feel, like I could actually go out and sew these myself if I wanted. Shows you know how clothing construction works. The outfit designs are very nice. Not too upper classy, but a good fit for them. The slight glow in the eyes is a nice touch. Would have loved to see a proper background. Right now the characters feel a bit disconnected from the background you have right now. Either the character tones/color should be a bit darker, or the background a bit lighter, so they feel more apart of that world.

Miyabi said: I think it’s awesome that you took the time to create the animated .gifs that had both Rock and Roll changing in the capsule, perfectly echoing the title of this category! Creatively, one of my faves, due to all the little extras that come with your submission. Clean lines and colors, where simple is better and still stands strong. Skull Man is adorable in his bowtie!

- Cuddlesnowy (@cuddlesnowy) - X x Zero:

Miyabi said: Blushin’ buds captured in a moment frozen in time. Cute innocent pic, and the photo frame helps show it was a special pic for both of them. Or that there’s still a Sears portrait studio near Maverick Hunter HQ...LOL

- DarlinHope (@darlinhope​) - X x Merti:

Miyabi said: I really dig your painterly style, as it creates a really unique look that stands out. The starry sky seen through the large window behind them is gorgeous! The grey vest/pants combo is a nice muted contrast on the dapper X, compared to the bright yellows and gold of Merti.

- DreamingandGaming (@dreamingandgaming​) - Ice Man x Roll, Kalinka x Rock, + Blues:

AnnaMaria said: Very cute. I like how the outfits are simplified to match the very cartoony style. Would have liked to see some center pieces on the tables, or other decorations to make it feel more like a party.

Miyabi said: Blues is too cool for your dances! I really thought Roll’s heart-shaped dress and all of Kalinka’s frills were unique touches to their dresses. Kalinka’s reminds me of a delicious multi-tier cake with black frosting trim, actually. LOL The Valentine’s fireworks cap off a fun, adorable scene.

- Gingler (gingler) - Swanky Couple Anniversary Dinner Party:

AnnaMaria said: I like how many characters are in this piece. You've managed to make it look not too cluttered, and I can easily tell what's going on. Each table and dancing couple is telling a different story, and I love that! Some constructive criticism would be to add some proper lighting. There's a light coming from above, yet there aren't any shadows. It makes it feel a little off. However, this is great example of storytelling!

Miyabi said: I really hope a bolo tie impresses Akane...a ninja wearing a western tie, what is this?! ;p I love the doctors just soaking in the evening while their humanized robo-children all intermingle. Enjoy having a few waiters and musical entertainment in the scene, too. You have a unique take on all the RMs, yet they are all pretty recognizable. Also, pimp Wily is pimpin’!

- IrisClou (@iris-clou) - Storm Eagle x Axl:

Miyabi said: Eagle looks so casual suave with his open-buttoned shirt and martini. Both he and Axl can leave the penguin suits for...well, Chill Penguin! Your rainbow hues for the warm background and cool couch are an awesome looking contrast. The colors on this are pretty unique.

- Jewel Maiden (@jewelmaiden​) - Dynamo x Layer (w/Zero x Iris):

Miyabi said: Dat Iris grin! Seems like she had a plan to keep Layer away from Zero. LOL The floral lace pattern of Layer’s dress is gorgeous, and ties in to the mechanical forest background. Dynamo’s space-y tie is pretty neat, too!

- LightLabs (@lightlabs) - Sigma x Sigma’s Reflection (w/Zero x Iris):

AnnaMaria said: Very funny, but still serious... Nice! This has a nice feel to it. I like your choice of colors a lot. The background looks nice. Would have loved to see more detail in the outfits. I can see a lot in the mirror, but a good chunk is hiding behind the rose.

Miyabi said: I like the dimly lit restaurant scene, and the little details like the heart-shaped chair and Green Biker Dude host. Hilarious giving Sigma those narcissistic qualities, loving himself more than anything else in the world.

- Metakit (@metakit) - Freeze Man x Star Man:

Miyabi said: The background pattern here is pretty unique, and I like how you were able to tie their main colors into it, while still not blending in too much that it takes away from the duo. Freeze in particular gives me a James Bond character vibe in his fancy getup. LOL

- Myan - Gemini Man x Gemini (Wo?)Man:

Miyabi said: Love the movement of Gemini Man taking a dip back! The bottom trim of his shirt coming out also sort of ties into looking like his crystal headpiece, too! Never one to shy from the spotlight, his twin proves that a Gemini can look good in a dress as well.

- Nat-Grim (Nat-grim) - Atlas x Aeolus:

Miyabi said: Rolling out the red carpet, Atlas rocks the V-Day red pantsuit well, while I like the extended tail on Aeolus’ suit, along with his heart-shaped tie. Definitely feels like a gala event photo op!

- Paranoid King Cepheus (@paranoidkingcepheus​) - The largest entry ever known to mankind that I can’t even begin to thumbnail on tumblr...so I’ll just crop out this image of Akane dancing with Shadowman.EXE while Top Man spins to the beat:

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.

Miyabi said: You are insane for once again adding in all the characters that you have! And I love the massive effort! An adorable tale of Jack getting to the dance and so many hijinks and easter eggs in-between, with a very cute ending.

- Prosaic Wonder (@vava-fett​) - Anniversary Dance:

AnnaMaria said: I really like all the characters packed into here! Each one is telling a different story, and a lot of them are actually pretty funny. I especially love the random leg with the high heel sticking out. I also appreciate you trying to match the original art style somewhat. The cell shading is really nice here! Ok, I'm gonna get super picky here. If those are Roll's hands holding up the cellphone taking a picture... They look more like adult hands. Child hands should be a bit more dainty and rounder looking. The style of her nail polish is also a bit "adult/older looking", even a bit out of fashion in style. I would have expected her to wear some glitter polish, perhaps even some fake rhinestones. Yes, this is silly comment, but since this category is focusing on the attires, I felt I had to address it. That being said, I really wish I could see more of their outfits. You did a great job designing so many of them, but all we really see are their heads a bit of their torso.

Miyabi said: I don’t know which I’ll be able get out of my head first: Gemini Man in a feather boa and thong or Top Man’s sexy stocking leg... A lot of fun and amusing interactions between the characters/couples here; I agree that it’s a little unfortunate for most that we can only see their heads, but there is so much to enjoy about your style and all that’s going on in the scene! It’d work as an awesome cover image, for sure!

Soulivium (@su5anlee​) - Dark Kirisaki x Iris.EXE:

AnnaMaria said: I really like the costume design. It's very formal and modern looking! I especially like the lace around the dress, and how they are both wearing purple and red to match each other. Would have loved to see a background.

Miyabi said: Very fancy attire on both. I love the dueling abstract lacy sides to both Iris’ dress and necklace. It’s really gorgeous. The heart-shaped Killer Eye with scythes on top of Kirisaki’s top hat is fun and unique for a character like him to wear.

- Wimzik (@wimzik​) - Netto x Food (and also Meiru + Jasmine) + Laika x Pride:

Miyabi said: Typical oblivious Netto, stuffing his face rather than mingling with the ladies! Great job telling a story, showing Meiru’s jealousy over Jasmine’s flirtation, and Laika’s nerves keeping him from leaving Netto’s side. The girls’ dresses are all unique and tailored to their personalities, and I’m amused that Netto felt like a striped tie would double as a fancy headband to make him feel dressed up!

- Wintesm (@wintesm​) - Prom Photo Memories Bulletin Board:

Miyabi said: I love the continuity from last year’s prom entry continuing here, with a photo memory board. And there are still Search Snakes running amok! A lot of cute scenes, although I think I lean heavily towards the 3 on the far right as my favorite ones.

Thanks to all once again! Be proud of what you submitted!

Still working on typing the Humor Category results. They are coming soon, too! *faints from organizing this*

[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 28th October 2018

Top 10

This will be the last episode on a Thursday for a while as it returns to weekends, in fact, there’s going to be a new episode tomorrow, most likely. Let’s get this week over first though, and we start with a bang as we have a new number-one – yep, “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper takes the top spot on its fourth week after a three-space increase. This becomes Lady Gaga’s fifth and Bradley Cooper’s first #1 on the UK Singles Chart.

This also means that “Promises” by Calvin Harris and Sam Smith is down a spot to number-two.

As is “Funky Friday” by Dave and Fredo pushed back to number-three.

Oh, as well as “Happier” by Marshmello and Bastille, also down a spot to number-four.

“Let You Love Me” by Rita Ora has entered the top five at number-five after a one-spot boost.

Little Mix’s “Woman Like Me” featuring Nicki Minaj fell a spot this week to number-six but the video will definitely keep it in the top 5 next week.

We actually have a debut at number-seven, as Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower”, the lead single from the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack. This is Post’s fifth top 10 hit and Swae Lee’s third (second as a solo artist).

“ZEZE” by Kodak Black, Travis Scott and Offset is up three spots to number-eight, to my surprise and dismay.

“Electricity” by Silk City and Dua Lipa is steady at number-nine.

Finally, “In My Mind” by Dynoro and Gigi D’Agostino is starting to fall out, down two spots to number-ten this week.

Climbers

We don’t have too many at all this week, in fact, it’s pretty much just a handful. Thanks to the release of the Suncity EP (#20 debut on the albums chart if you’re wondering), Khalid’s lead single “Better” is up four spots to #18, entering the top 20 and becoming Khalid’s sixth top 20 hit in the UK. Otherwise, however, there are just a few boosts for A Star is Born songs, with “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga up six positions to #25, whilst “I’ll Never Love Again” with Bradley Cooper is up seven spaces to #27.

Fallers

There are only a few of these as well, actually, with “MIA” by Bad Bunny and Drake falling off eight spots to #21, “Venom” by Eminem dropping five spaces to #28, “Thunderclouds” by LSD (Labrinth, Sia and Diplo) making its way out, falling five positions to #34, and thankfully, “Falling Down” by the late Lil Peep and XXXTENTACION is down seven to #40, and hopefully will be going soon.

Dropouts

My website that I use to easily get drop-out info is finally updated, and while I won’t correct myself on the weeks where I didn’t have it, this two-week hiatus has made me wonder about this source’s reliability, to be honest. Anyways, we actually have quite a lot of dropouts here, as “breathin” by Ariana Grande is out from #26, “Best Life” by Hardy Caprio and One Acen is out from #35, “Drip Too Hard” by Lil Baby and Gunna is out from #36, “Lucky You” by Eminem featuring Joyner Lucas is out from #37, and, finally, “Taste” by Tyga and Offset is out from #38. A lot of good songs here, most of which had quite a bit of longevity, so, yeah, big drop-out week.

No returning entries this week so it’s straight to the new arrivals.

NEW ARRIVALS

#39 – “I Want You to Freak” – Rak-Su

Rak-Su are an English R&B act and boy band who won the 14th series of The X Factor last year, and had a massive hit with “Dimelo” that featured Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy. All of the original songs they played throughout the run of their series were actually pretty damn good, with a lot of fun groove and songwriting chops present, so how do Rak-Su follow this up in their second top 40 hit? Well, it’s just one of the original songs in a studio version, and honestly, yeah, this was the worst one they sang, with the exhausted drum pattern present in reggaeton being drowned out by really ugly, disgusting buzzing synths, like, they just sound so freaking awful, how did this get past the executive producers? Anyways, the vocals are pretty fitting for this track, but no-one really shines, and the blatant interpolation of “Freak Like Me” by Adina Howard in the hook is just too much of a soulless hook grab for me to ignore its cheap inclusion – there’s not really any repurposing here at all. Yeah, sorry, boys, but that cluttered instrumental is borderline unlistenable, hence making this song pretty awful. Ditch your producers, guys, because Simon Cowell and Banx & Ranx clearly aren’t using your potential the way they should be.

#36 – “Kiss and Make Up” – Dua Lipa featuring BLACKPINK

Dua Lipa released a second deluxe edition (titled “Complete Edition”) to her self-titled debut album last week, and it included this new song that kind of blew up due to how big the featured artist, the K-pop girl group, BLACKPINK, are right now, and you know that when K-pop fans have new material they try and make it as big as possible, I mean, just look at BTS’s success. This is BLACKPINK’s first ever charting song in the UK, yet alone top 40 hit, which Dua Lipa now has 11 of, by the way, but does it live up to the hype? Well, sort of, yeah, actually, but can we just discuss the little intro vocal fragment because the manipulation makes it sound like the vocalists are saying “Beyblades”... which actually segues into the content of being in a constant spinning cycle of saying sorry, making up, and then breaking up again, maybe too perfectly. Oh, and I I love Dua Lipa’s performance here (as always), with the tropical vocal fragments throughout the verses popping up pretty sporadically being a nice little addition, whilst the skittering hi-hats may not have been as they just kind of don’t add to the energy of the song at all, which elevates with the pretty decent drop, may I add. I don’t know the names of the BLACKPINK girls and I’ve quite literally heard nothing from them before, but their performance here works with the beat effortlessly, so maybe I should check more out from them in the future. Good song.

#35 – “nASSty” – D-Block Europe (Young Adz and Dirtbike Lb) featuring Lil Pino

I have no bloody clue who any of these people are, so what I can say is that this is definitely the first top 40 hit for everyone involved. D-Block Europe is a collective lead by someone who’s way too enthusiastic about commercials and one of the strangest “riding” metaphors this side of “Body Like a Back Road”, and this particular song, featuring a dude who I’m sure named himself after those little novelty pine tree air fresheners you stick to a car, is their first to blow up, and I’m already having Vietnam flashbacks to Big Sean’s verse on “Mercy” based off the title alone, but is the song itself good? Well, I’ve been getting into more British trap and hip-hop recently, and while I haven’t heard that much, I can confirm this is probably not the best out there at all. The synths sound like stock loops, while the “nasty” vocalist that starts off the song loses any chance at being intimidating with the high-pitched, nasal autotuned voice, and cartoonish ad-libs. If you sound like kids, which they might as well be, you’re not going to exactly going to be very effective when you threaten to shoot me and take my girl. I love the ad-libs actually, they’re so energetic and easily the best part of this song, it reminds me of Desiigner’s hype man vibe actually. I would not be able to tell the difference between each one if Lil Pino didn’t state who he was in his incredibly short verse (seriously, it’s only a pathetic two bars). This is trash, but at least it’s amateur trash and not made by a major label, and instead just a couple kids having fun. I can forgive that.

#31 – “Ruin My Life” – Zara Larsson

Not this, though, and not because it’s all that bad, but become I feel like I’ve heard it before. Zara Larsson is a Swedish singer-songwriter who has made it pretty big for herself in Europe in recent years (with only some US crossover success). This is her eighth top 40 hit in the UK, and it is just as bland and cookie-cutter as everything else she’s ever released. Larsson sounds okay (especially in the hook, where the janky rapping flow actually works with the trap drums), but the airy synths are like clouds that never rain, as it’s not like what sound like incredibly fake handclaps are making anything interesting here. The chorus doesn’t have any pay-off until after the second chorus, where in the bridge, we actually see a pretty damn nice guitar riff return from the promising intro and immediately get abandoned in favour of the nothingness that the rest of the song consists of. What a snore.

#7 – “Sunflower” (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) – Post Malone and Swae Lee

Post Malone and Swae Lee – the more versatile half of rap duo Rae Sremmurd – have got big enough to start making soundtrack hits for big budget films, and I couldn’t be happier for the both of them, Post is an immensely talented songwriter and Swae’s a great vocalist, however they clearly don’t share the same traits, because Post’s unlistenable warbling is way too present, and his whining voice is something I just can’t dig, whilst Swae makes his songs way too long and often doesn’t have any worthwhile content. I feel like they’re polar opposites in a way, so this collaboration actually got me excited, especially with how much I’ve liked Swae’s input this year (not so much Post). I’m just as excited after listening because this is a fantastic freaking song. The record scratching over those snares, making it sound like static, just makes for such an interesting contrast when compared to the plinking and beeping synths, Swae’s smooth vocals and the dark, deep horn line – seriously, that instrumental is actually beautiful, with the vocal contributions from Swae adding a fun, catchy, melody in both the hook and verse, with his childlike naivety in his dynamics being incredibly charming. Then we have Post’s grittier, more mature voice that probably works even better on this production, especially when the beat cuts and we have that ticking in the background, and it’s pretty much just that and Post. Oh, God, that part’s amazing, and it ends on such a sweet guitar line. I’m not going to mince words, this is eligible for my best list and would easily be top 3 but since I think and hope this is going to stick around, I’m saving this for 2019 when I have more to say. One of the best pop songs to break into the top 40 this year, easily.

Conclusion

Well, what do you think? Of course, Post Malone and Swae Lee get Best of the Week for “Sunflower”, with Honourable Mention going to Dua Lipa and BLACKPINK for “Kiss and Make Up”. Worst of the Week should be obvious as well, Rak-Su get it for the awful “I Want You to Freak”, and Dishonourable Mention is going to D-Block Europe and Lil Pino for “nASSty”. See ya tomorrow, I guess.