Introducing the Links section

I was browsing through my Flickr groups and I found this rather interesting Depth of Field calculator.
I have always wanted to play around with DoF but never really tried. And I had no idea of what settings to use either, but now, with that link, it'll sure be easier. For those who have no clue of what DoF is, check Wikipedia right here :D
Ok, anyway, back to my former link. You can choose your camera model, then you can input any focal length, f-stop, and subject distance to see what the DOF will be. It will also show the hyperfocal distance for your set-up. Pretty useful stuff, and obviously worth adding to a Links-section... but since we didn't have any, I had to make one. Check below the Chatterbox. Or should I bring it up? *shrug*
I'm not going to put too obvious stuff in there like Flickr.com or that kind of link. I'm sure you know that already. The useful hidden pearls I find out there are the linkable stuff that interests me, and who knows, maybe you too. So...

Maybe a DOF related Poll coming next time? We'll see...

Poll #4

'Aiiight!
It was already a pain in the ass to pick which shots would go here, but finally here they are. I don't know what's it about, actually. I can't say "sky", 'cos there are those branches on the way... aaand they were pretty much what made me take the pics. So I guess the criterion is interestingness.
If there's anything else to mention about the pics is: they're unphotoshopped. It's all about White Balance. You should know I love lying to the camera's sense of Whiteness. Mhooho. Again, I encourage you to do the same.
Now, voting time.

Poll #4

Pick the most interesting: View Results

Poll #3

Hello everyone (or onlyone!) :D

We’ve got a Bloody poll today. I feel you’ll have a hard time on this one. Tune your critical sense before reading any further. You’ll need to examine details carefully (shouldn’t be too hard if you’re… hmm… a molecular biologist or something like that, for example). Ready? Shoot!

As you will see, it’s not a poll about the final result of a pic. Noup. I finally tried to produce my own fake blood. I made it in two different ways – didn’t use any of the recipes I found on the web, they sucked – and I’ll tell you what: Fake blood is yummy!

I have ideas for a further bloody session, but first I want to know what looks more realistic in your eyes. My choice of blood’s been made, though. I’m not going to vote now not to influence anyone. But hey, I obviously have more conditions of making my mind about it, even because it’s not only about what it looks, it’s about what it feels too, and unfortunately I can’t make you feel the consistency of those babes.

So the poll is multiple today. First you’ll pick the Best Blood Splatter, then Best Blood On Skin, and finally Best Blood Dripping.

Pay close attention to details, for example: in the Splatter pics, observe that the right side of the pic shows the blood mixing in water. Also attention to how it seems to have fallen down: shape, color, concentration, etc.

On the Dripping pictures, the camera has a hard time focusing but I hope you can get the idea anyway.

Now, time to vote! And remember you can always vote on behalf of your mom. What would she get more shocked with? Actually, I suggest that you invite her to have a look at the screen. Hohoho.

Realistic Blood

Best Blood Splatter

Best Blood On Skin

Best Blood Dripping

View Results

Poll #2

HDR (or High Dynamic Range) is a technique that allows you to combine images with different exposure values. What does that mean? You get (usually 3, but can be done with more) pictures of the same scene: a dark picture, a "normal" picture, and another one with extra light, and combine them together. After that, comes a process called "Tone Mapping", and that is where you choose what to highlight, etc; that is when you play with the intersection of light and darkness, combine extreme opposites. Results? Amazing, 99% of the time.
You can mess around with the settings in Tone Mapping so that you get different effects every time. The possibilities are never-ending.
I often get the feeling the picture is so alive, that something may move anytime, maybe come out of the screen... and even abuse of me, we never know :P

So the Poll #2 is sticking to the Rose-theme, but HDRing it up.
These shots were taken about a couple of months ago in the Botanical Garden... and that theme is sure coming back in a future poll. And so is HDR.

Now it's time to vote.

Rose HDR

Choose the most stunning: View Results

Poll #1

Here's one of my experiments with my new light bulbs and long exposure. That dolly dude + rose = photogenic! The first pic was the sort of result I was trying to achieve, but it turned out that I like the second a lot, and that 3rd... well, it was originally an accident, but... what an accident!

Énéwé... cast your vote!

Wooden Dude With Rose

Choose your favorite: View Results

(*hopes Blogspot won't mess up the damn html!!*)

Primo

Alright!

This is finally up and running. I won’t promise perfection yet ‘cos I haven’t had the time/patience to test every little thingie in here, but the main stuff is working. Phew!

So yeah, what is this all about? I’m putting up some pics here and what I ask from you is a vote. Just vote for your personal favorite. Your comments and criticism are very welcome as well.

After trying out many many services, I decided for this sweet combo: Blogspot+BallotBox. These two seem to offer me what I need to integrate a poll system to a blog, and yeah… as I said, I haven’t tested every little detail of the whole thing, but I’m happy with how it works so far.

Yeahyeah, there’s a lot yet to customize, etc. Will do.

The first poll is coming soon…