How to take really amazing photos like this (links included)?

So i have a tumblr account and i always see these amazing pictures that in my mind scream "cool alternative looking with awesome lighting" like this:

or this:

and i would love to be able to take photos like that with that lighting. Is it an effect added to a photo later or is it the camera that captured it? People have facebook profile pictures like that too and it is just amazing and yea, so thank you so much!
ps if it matters i would be doing the editing on a mac book pro and i have a nikon d7000 (i think, its either that or the 6000 i don't remember)

What kind of lens is good for brilliant focusing?

I have a nikon D3100,
I'd love to get a better lens, I want one that would have brilliant focusing
Can anyone help me? X x:3

Telephoto and macro lens advice for nikon dslr?

I think I have finally made up my mind: I'm going for the nikon d3100, which comes with a 18-55 VR lens. I would also like to get a telephoto lens (for my sports shots mainly) and a macro lens (for my super close ups of nature)… Of course I'm concerned about expense and quality. So I heard that sigma and tamron both make compatible lenses that work well. What specific lenses would you recommend that are high quality but don't cost too much of a fortune? Will they also have VR/stabilization built in? Is it possible to save money by buying the camera in some sort of "kit" with the lenses included (haven't found anything like that in my searching so far)? Thanks.

Added (1). What do you think of these lenses?
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras http://www.amazon.com/...B000A0UHXU

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Motorized Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras
http://www.amazon.com/...0012X61U2/

Can I take a panaroma sweep shot with Nikon D-90 and D7000 series, with automatic stitch?

Can I take a panaroma sweep shot with Nikon D-90 and D7000 series, with automatic stitch?

Photo shoot camera settings (Nikon D90)?

I'm going to be doing a shoot tomorrow. It's going to be kind of cloudy/dull outside. I'm wondering what manual settings i should use to get good exposure and clear sharp pics? As far as aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and iso? I also want the round circular bokeh affect in some of the background pics. I'm going to be using a Nikon D90 and a 50mm 1.8 lens!

How much did a nikon d70 cost?

I recently got a hand-me-down camera from a relative. It's a nikon d70. I'm curious what it cost when it was first sold. (My camera was probably bought around 2006, so what did a new nikon d70 cost in 2006?)

Added (1). I'm fairly sure it was bought from B&H in New York City.

Need opinions on which camera to buy?

I like to take pictures and I want to update into a really good camera that has nice effects, clear pictures just pretty much a camera that I can take a picture and make me go wow! So I've heard a lot of little wars between Nikon and Canon and i wanted to know which one out of the two is better to get?

Nikon D3000

OR

Canon EOS Rebel

What is the difference between SMALL format SLR camera and Medium format SLR camera?

Please explain me as simply as possible,
I'm reading in the book (have to do an assignment) but I can't understand the point. There's written in most of small format SLR cameras the shutter is in the focal plane inside the camera body.
I have Nikon D70, is it small or medium format camera? Because the shutter is in my nikkor lense, not in camera body

What weather can a Nikon D3000 be in?

I have a Nikon D3000 and I would like to take it out for some winter night shots.
Is it okay to take it in below freezing weather?
Any personal experiences?

Best Professional DSLR Camera, in your opinion?

I'm getting one pretty soon, and I'd like to know other peoples views on a few camera's?

And also, your thought on the Nikon D90?