Cosfest X.2 @ Downtown East!

I've not been to a cosplay event for about 2 years, because:

1) I'm not that into portrait photography.
2) I don't know when the next cosplay event is coming until it is over.
3) DOWNTOWN EAST IS FREAKING FAR FROM MY HOME.

But, being free, bored, invited, and accompanied by friends, I decided to go down and have a look. It's no much different from the event two years ago, with many character I don't even know who they are (except for Final Fantasy, because I play Dissidia). Well, I believe like many photographers there, they simply don't care who they are. They just want a free model.

(The technical stuff!)
Recently, I've been pondering if a EF-S 15-85mm at 85mm f/5.6 can take better pictures than a EF 50mm f/1.8. Or maybe even a EF-S 55-250mm lens might come into handy. Afterall, many pros carry the EF 70-200mm lens as a portrait lens. I thought it will be a good idea (stupid idea) to try out the lenses that I have during the event. But... It's a really stupid idea, because my bag gets freaking heavy, and I needed to rest after walking for only 3 hours.

Still quite glad that I made a couple of good shots during my time there. Photos below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dallasgoh/6785710182/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dallasgoh/6785742322/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dallasgoh/6931841495/

Many thanks to these ladies. The rest of the photos (un-edited) can be view on my facebook photo album here:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3365725591196.2157779.1510836410&type=3&l=cb1e6ac709

An Untold Story in Guilin Village

During my time in Guilin, China, I visited one of the many villages hidden in the mountains. Although the village is designed as a tourist attraction, it was still rather rundown. Toilet facilities are still as bad, the roads not paved, and the buildings made out of wood.

The view was fantastic, I must say, and I like the rural feeling of the whole area. What had not changed was the food. The food is still very much original taste, which isn't suited to my more-meat-and-modern-foods lifestyle. I believe that is true for the rest of the people traveling with me. So I left the dining table early, and started to walk around the village, when I saw this rather interesting view.

See this photo on flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dallasgoh/6801299533/sizes/l/in/photostream/

HDR information:
ISO 100, 10mm, f/11
1st shot: EV + 0, 1/20sec
2nd shot: EV - 3.0, 1/160sec
3rd shot: EV + 3.0 , 0.4sec

Post processing information:
Combined to HDR using photomatix
shadowmapping in photoshop
Chromatic aberration correction
Sharpening
Enchanced details, and added tonal contrast, and other various color & luminosity adjustments
Noise reduction