Monday, December 29, 2014

Tranquil Moon and Garden Collage


Such a peaceful garden area in the middle of the city for some fresh air. I decided to create a collage with these snapshots and add the moon, stars, and clouds onto it. The pastel colors along with the soft imagery complements the harmonious feel of the water fountain, plants and gorgeous stone steps.

There's a sense of calm by gazing at these light, delicate, earthly tones; this reminds me of the zenness of the Japanese gardens.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Sparkling Lights Outline Embarcadero Skyline


Rows and rows of four stunning Embarcadero Center skyscrapers and their lights (plus palm tree!) being shone up and above the sky by the waterfront.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Clear Winter Skyscraper Reflections


Love it when skyscrapers display reflections of other architectural buildings clearly--it makes for a perfect picture! Also nothing better than autumnal leaves in earthy, rustic shades blowing (and falling) in the distance.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Lights and Snowflakes: Happy Holidays Collage


Created a special holiday collage to reflect on all the cuteness and colorfulness of the season. Whether it is dogs, snowflakes, or bright trees, this is one of the best seasons ever. 

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Cottage Row of Delicate Dreams


Such cool pastel homes I stumbled upon during the day. With a bit of sunshine, some shade, and a little lighting effect, this peaceful, hidden alleyway gets the dreamy treatment it deserves.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Light In The Palm Trees


There is nothing more spectacular than holiday lights adorning palm trees at night and beyond.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Surreal Aqua Waterfall Imagery


A man-made waterfall at the Sun Terrace rooftop garden. Love the idea and design behind this unique creation--especially the gorgeous aqua color! It glows and stands out in the distance. 

*San Francisco has a series of unique, hidden privately owned public open spaces (POPOS) sprinkled throughout the city that are worth checking out.* 

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Chandelier Decor: Golden Decorative Lights


Chandelier Decor is always so impressive--hotels and restaurants have so many chandeliers on ceilings and every single one is unique and awe-inspiring in its own way. This one is no different. I approached this chandelier and decided to take a closeup view from the inside instead of taking the usual faraway shot to capture its enchanting quality.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Sparkle and Shine with Crystal Decor Imagery


Fun, bright crystal decor with translucent colors, iridescent tones, and remarkable transparency. Every angle you turn, you see different hues and reflections. I added some sparkles and gradient hues in the background, blurred it out, and enhanced the contrast.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Blue-Green Featheresque Palm Trees


Soft and small green palm trees that resemble feathers. I love how they looked, but decided to add an extra flair to the trees by including little hints of blue to the side of the leaves. This enhanced the overall color and tone of the image and gave an unexpected twist to what would otherwise be a generic picture.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Inspirational Quote of the Day: Past to Future


Optimism, hard work, humility, passion, and curiosity will get you far and reach things beyond your imagination. 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Beyond Imagery: Blurred, Scenic Collage


Recently I started blurring out different photos--it gives such a nice, magical, surreal vibe to a picture. I decided to use blur for the background of this collage. The original background picture was of a blurred garland decoration, but I decided to blur it out even more, letting the colorful circles stand out on its own.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Cloudy Goodness Scattered All Around


Went up to my rooftop and captured this perfect moment where cirrocumulus clouds hover the sky as the sun began to slowly set behind the mountains. It is spectacular how everything just comes together and forms...all at once.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Take a Look at Our Most Favorite Pyramid


This Transamerica pyramid in San Francisco is famous all over--this practically defines the skyline and just one look at this pyramid...and you've identified the city by the bay! This popular landmark has been taken by so many people and in so many different angles, neighborhoods, heights, and locations. I decided to approach the building and take a closeup view of it and was amazed by the spectacular details of it. 

Monday, October 13, 2014

Friday, October 10, 2014

Layers and Layers of Bracelets Imagery


I combined some of my bracelets into one stack, took a picture, and was inspired by a fashion spread to include layers of transparent bracelets in the background. I wanted to add a refreshing new take to jewelry photography by adding these various layered effects.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

The Castle by the Cliffside


A peach colored Julius' castle located on a hillside in the city--pretty much on a cliff off Telegraph Hill. After hearing about it, I decided to see it in person, and this area has such remarkable views of the bay. 

Friday, October 3, 2014

Charming Chain of Lakes Collage


Foggy, cloudy, or overcast days can have its perks and benefits. The solemn sky gave these pictures a mysterious feel to it. The clarity of the lakes and trees were nicely defined, and the reflections added to the charm. I decided to layer the fonts for the title of the collage, changed the opacity, and added it all over the image. This is the most serene chain of lakes I've ever seen. 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Friday, September 26, 2014

Water Fountain Perfection


Love how blue the water appears--and it looks so nice against the brown benches surrounding it! The sprinklers are also aligned so nicely together.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Salmon-Colored Rose


Closeup view of a salmon-colored rose from the backyard. This rose stood out from the rest and had to be captured on camera!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Future's Past: Awe Inspiring Art Display


Part I: This is a Future's Past art sculpture created by Kate Raudenbush located at Patricia Green Park in the Hayes Valley neighborhood. After walking inside, you can see the intricate details of the design. The shadows and reflections are so mesmerizing...If you look closely and stare a while, you will also notice a heart right in the middle. Such an exceptional creation that evokes tons of new inspirations!

Monday, September 22, 2014

Whimsical Pastel World of Happiness


Trees and flowers surround the nearby mountains. I changed the tone and color of this and gave it a more pastel look to it. Light, soft colors give this image a dreamy, easygoing vibe.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Stream of Sunlight Reaches the Trees


A sparkling day at a small park near the freeway. It was a few hours before the sunset, and with autumn quickly approaching, I added a brownish-orange glow and effect to the photo, added some sun flare, and lightened the overall image to celebrate the new season.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Cherry Blossoms Turn Into Winter Wonderland


This was originally a picture of the blooming cherry blossoms during spring time. After blurring everything out and changing the tone and color of the trees and the background, I decided to add extra lights to it for a mysterious, magical twist to winter. The ground resembles ice and the shadow brings in an extra depth to the dark winter atmosphere.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Are You On Cloud 9? — Scattered Cloud Formations


Looked up at the sky at the perfect moment: the cumulus clouds shifting through the sky and eventually forming the number "9".

Sunday, September 14, 2014

The Intensity of Palm Trees In Blue


Palm trees are spectacular in its natural shade: green and brown. Altering the colors to blue enhances its overall intensity, giving it an extra glow at night. The blue shade also showcases its unique details and texture that can otherwise be missed in its own form.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Multi-Colored Layers and Beautiful Views Collage


Created a collage with some of my favorite pictures such as a closeup view of the Golden Gate Bridge on a foggy day and beautiful homes around the neighborhood. I played around with the fonts, different layers and opacity of the images to create this collage. I particularly love all the white spaces in each of the images. Adding the white background intensifies the clarity of the pictures.

Friday, September 12, 2014

The Bright and Colorful Swirl Ripple Effect


Having a little bit of fun creating a rainbow colored swirl through various filters and effects. I was inspired by all the unique swirl creations out there and decided to recreate my own version of it. This has a bit of an ocean vibe and resembles the wind and the crashing waves. 

Monday, September 8, 2014

The Tropical Jungle Village Effect


Charming area inside the Embarcadero Center with colorful flowers and tropical plants. I added a warm, painterly effect to give it a more artistic look and feel.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Cherry Blossoms Get a Close-Up


View of cherry blossoms during spring time in a beautiful Japanese garden. Had to zoom in on this beauty!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

The Beauty of Autumn Falls


One of the most beautiful small parks in the city: spectacular in the winter, spring, and summer. Even cooler in the fall when the leaves begin to change into brown, yellow and orange hues. This picture showcases the beginning of autumn as the trees begin to turn into rusty autumnal shades. I added some sun flare and a filter to emphasize more of the changing season. 

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Blurred Reality on a Freeway


Looked outside the window and decided to take a picture of this tree. The car was moving so fast that I got a blurred photo instead. With a light pink filter and some sun lens flare, this tree ended up with a nice, dreamy effect.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Light Up The Sky(scrapers)


Best view ever from Pier 14...watching the sun slowly set on the other side of the city and patiently waiting for the lights to glow in the distance.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The Star Wand Sparkles Effect


I've had this wand for the longest time and was inspired to create a layout filled with some sun-flare and sparkles on top of a blue-green and bold orange gradient background.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Bright Sunset Glow at Dolores Park


A few hours before sunset at Dolores Park, I captured this warm yellow-orange sky and the glowing skyline in the spring time. A can't miss opportunity in one of the best spots ever.