Magnetic Winter Scene: Enchanting Walkway Imagery

After taking a bunch of photos, we always focus on finding ways to make the pictures more vibrant, which often means enhancing the saturation and contrast. 

For this photo of trees on a walkway, I wanted to give it a winter snow effect and do the opposite. The original pic was actually of green trees. Surprisingly, after lowering the saturation and giving it an almost black and white look (with hints of blue tones), the details of the trees actually end up popping out more. If anything, it's even more colorful now since the textures and hues actually stand out more than before. 

Into the Wild: Sun Breaking through the Sky

Astonishing aerial views of the waters and mountains of Canada. 

With the sun breaking through the sky, the stream of lights look particularly cool on the landscape, creating golden colors, shadows, and reflections. 

I added in some warmer tones to this to create the effect of an incoming sunset, included a faded turquoise streak, a couple snow droplets, and some extra human aspect to it.

White Christmas: Snowy Escape with the Trees

Fairbanks Trees Part I: I remember looking at this and thinking this came straight out of a black and white movie. 

With the falling snow, black spruce trees, and the extremely remote location in Alaska, this looks like one of those perfect white Christmas scenes!

The Chandelier Tree's Dazzling Light & Design

 

Such a clever and unique concept - a chandelier tree!

From the outside looking in, you would think it's an actual Christmas tree but looking closely, it's a Christmas tree chandelier dangling from the very top of the dome. Definitely a great way to start off the holiday season.

Faded to Pink: Magical Skyscrapers + Pastel Sunsets

 

I was in awe of how light, pink, and hazy the sky was and wanting to capture this view.

Behind all of the trees, you can see the hidden, faded skyscrapers and the pastel sunset hues from the sky.

Yellow Shades of Fall: Extraordinary Autumn Tree

Literally one of the yellowest and most symmetrical tree I've ever seen! 

Stumbled upon this one tree at a quiet neighborhood filled with tons and tons of yellow, orange and red trees all around!

Futuristic City: Dynamic Skyline + Blue Lights Imagery

It's always intriguing when you blend fiction with reality. 

I had so much fun creating this imagery. Inspired by Perfume's Tokyo Girl MV, I decided to create a futuristic world using Yokohama's gorgeous Minato Mirai waterfront as the starting point. 

After changing up the hues of the photo, enhancing the saturation and contrast, and lightening the overall effect, I added in cool blue details across the image. Various versions of blue gradient lights are shooting down from the sky with little snow droplets spread across it. Small sparkles are also added across the buildings to spread more magic into the air. 

Glimmer of Light: The Colors of Autumn

The best part of autumn is being on the lookout for vibrant fall foliage across different neighborhoods and cities. I particularly loved this set of trees - there's a bunch of these decked out in a row for a few blocks. With the sun lowering in the sky, the sun flare shined through one of the trees - making for a perfect capture!

Skyscraper Tower: Modern Twist at South Van Ness

 

New apartment tower soars at South Van Ness in San Francisco providing jaw-dropping views of the city from above and a modern architectural view from below. 

The futuristic twists and innovative designs keep on coming...transforming each neighborhood one at a time. 

The Charming Ferris Wheel at Golden Gate Park

The SkyStar Wheel soars 150 feet above the ground for the 150th anniversary of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. 

With the exceptionally clear blue skies and sunny weather, you can see crystal-clear 360 degree views of the park all the way from above the ferris wheel, including glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge and Twin Peaks!

The Magnificent Skytree: Towering Above the City

 

The tallest tower in the world is sitting pretty in Tokyo, Japan. 

Besides offering elevating 360 degree views of the entire city and surrounding areas, there's also a ton of shopping and dining at the indoor mall! 

Golden Pastels: Tree's Shadow Effects on the Walkway

Dreamy vibes of the bridge walkway at a neighborhood park, with clear, intricate tree shadows on the right.

I was amazed by how cool the tree shadows looked in this picture and decided to include golden pastel colors across this photo to change up the atmosphere of this. 

I added soft yellow hues to the trees, hints of peach and salmon paint splotches on the pavement, and aqua and light purple shades on the tree shadows to enhance the colors even more. 

Triangle Shapes: Transamerica Pyramid at Ground Level

One of those days where you wander through the outskirts of Chinatown and then head straight into downtown, directly to the Transamerica pyramid. 

This is definitely a landmark in the city, defining San Francisco's skyline for almost 100 years. The view of the pyramid from a distance is exciting enough, but being directly beneath it is equally amazing with triangle details all around the exterior. 

Dazzling Night Colors and Reflections at Cuyahoga River

Took one step outside and was mesmerized by the colorful dancing light reflections at night. Such clear orange and green-blue hues being reflected in the waters! 

Pastel Blur Effect: Ethereal Sky and Water Aesthetic

Pier 7 Walkway Daytime Part III: Mixing soft colors, textures, and landscape imagery all together always creates a dreamy, otherworldly work of art. 

There's so many inspiring graphic designs, anime artwork, and cartoon creations out there and what's always fascinating is the creator's ability to develop such unique fantasies and futuristic worlds. 

I saw a recent piece using blurred pastel colors and decided to manipulate one of my cityscape photos to create my own version of it. I added in blotches of pastel hues across the sky, unsaturated the photo, and added other elements to create a delicate yet mysterious and unreal aesthetic. 

Yokohama's Waterfront and Cityscape Fantasy at Night

Cosmoworld Ferris Wheel: One of my favorite ferris wheels ever - I spent so much time 69 floors above just staring at the dazzling, bright, ever-changing colors and lights, trying to soak it all in. 

At the Yokohama Landmark Tower, you can see all of the beauty around the Minato Mirai waterfront, decked out with an amusement park, cool-shaped buildings (hotels!), stadiums, freeways, and other spectacular skyscrapers shining brightly at night. 

City Treasure: Palm Tree Vibes on One Street

Such a beautiful treasure that I recently discovered. This is now one of my favorite places to go for a quick hike and to get picturesque views of the city (+ palm trees). 

Sitting right off of Buena Vista Park, this steep hill offers a glimpse at some of the most spectacular houses and SoCal-like palm trees on the block. 

Like a Pyramid: Soar Above and Beyond with Art

The 3D pyramid art piece that is even more exceptional when you look at it from certain angles - especially when you have the sun and shade in your favor! Definitely one of my favorite creations at the National Gallery of Art. 

One of the Hills: Architecture and Discovery in San Francisco

Telegraph Hill, one of those hilly neighborhoods you can get lost in for hours and hours - with widespread views of the city and the bay. There's so many hidden gems in the area and a lot of dead ends that lead to mysterious staircases, creating even more wonder and discovery. 

I particularly loved this view and decided to tweak the colors of the blue sky and residential buildings to give it more of a vintage-y, retro flair. 

 

African Penguins at the San Diego Zoo

Such a cute bundle of penguins strolling through the rocks heading towards us inside the San Diego Zoo! 

Featured on Flickr's Explore.

The Sunlight Shines Through: Hints of Wonder Reimagined

Letting the light stream through all of the redwood trees~

I wanted to create a pastel imagery with streams of light and trees all mixed together. This original photo had pockets of sunlight shining through but I wanted to add more to the imagination. I also included a nice, subtle peachy salmon and aqua green gradient across the background to further enhance the dreamy quality.

Palm Trees + Sunshine in Hollywood

Glistening sunshine and clear skies seen above the lines of palm trees, adorning famous Hollywood in Los Angeles. 

The vast blue skies and the natural beauty of this landscape are always a classic. 

Dreamy Digital Art: Pastel Colors and Bubbles Effect

Pastel Bubbles Part II: I'm constantly inspired by all of the infinite creations out there.

All the delicate pastel colors, array of textures, and vivid imagery of how the world can look like.

This piece was inspired by the blend of digital art innovations that have been created throughout the past decade. I incorporated a range of effects, with blends of pastels, bubble designs, waves, and other texture effects to bring this image to life.

The Sidewalk Garden: A Walk Around the Block

Stumbled upon this random garden right along the sidewalk. This was such a pleasant surprise and a great way to brighten up everyone's walk around the neighborhood!

An Ode to San Francisco Collage

All the sights and delights wrapped into one whole piece.

I captured a range of images of the famous city, from its cable cars to the ferry building to stand-out architectural designs and other outdoor spaces at night...

...and decided to compile it together into a nice, dark, moody collage with a mix of color-blocked designs, raindrop effects, and various textures to showcase the foggy city in a different light. 

Forest of Lamps Evolves: When Orange Meets Digital Art

Forest of Lamps Part II: Transcend beyond time--and all boundaries.

Within a few minutes, the lights changed into all different shades of the color wheel-- from green-blue hues to yellow-orange and then eventually venturing into the bright red territory. The mood changes as the colors shift each second, creating a stunning reality that can only be seen right in front of you. 

Winter Daylight: Soft Pastel Blue Trees Imagery

Magical winter scene with bare trees and no leaves.

I loved this view while on the road and decided to give it some extra special effects by blurring it out for a soft, mystical feel.Then I altered the background with light blue hues and mixes of pastel colors surrounding the trees for an added pop of delight, creating vibes that feel like it's straight out of a holiday card. 

Waking Up to San Francisco Bay Area at Sunrise

Aerial views of the marvelous bay area at sunrise. Clear skies pave the way for stellar visibility of the San Bruno mountain and the neighboring cities of South San Francisco and beyond.

Pockets of Flowers: Multi-Colored Origami Effect

From far away, these look like origami paper. 

I originally was planning to create a collage of flowers or a floral background image, but decided to switch gears instead and create smaller versions of those flowers to develop pieces of "paper" that resemble flowered origami paper. 

I played around with the layers, then shapes, hues and contrast to get these sets of colors. Later, I added in other cool filters to create a soft, texture effect, so it feels more like actual "paper" rather than just a flat image.  

Yokohama Chinatown's Eclectic Pagoda Entrances

Yokohama Chinatown Part I: The traditional beauty of all the spectacular Chinatown entrances and pagodas. 

I loved wandering through all of the entrances of Yokohama Chinatown and marveling at the uniqueness of each of these! This one lit up as twilight approached and I decided capture this one from the side to give it an even cooler vibe. 

The Row: Intricate Victorian Houses in San Francisco

The other, often overlooked Victorian houses that can also be compared to the "postcard row" and Painted Ladies of Alamo Square. 

I love the way these houses resemble and differ from each other all at once. Intricate details and art can be seen in the exteriors of these buildings, with its own unique touches added to incorporate the four evolving seasons' colors and themes. 

Refreshing Streets of Tokyo: An Evening in Shinjuku

Stumbling upon the streets of the busy Shinjuku district in Tokyo, Japan.

I saw this not-so-hidden alleyway on a brisk evening and loved the way the restaurants, display signs, and lamps lit up the night. 

Colors + Lanterns Adorn San Francisco Chinatown's Alleyway

Lanterns, colorful exteriors, and historical buildings surround Chinatown - one of the most photogenic streets in Chinatown is seen in this alleyway (at Waverly Place) between Clay Street and Washington Street.

Once Upon a Dream: Multi-Colored Pastel Flowers

I hiked up the hilly streets of San Francisco's Lombard Street and caught these multi-colored flowers halfway. Most of the crooked, curvy street consists of pastel pink flowers but this set was so unique with its cool blue and warm purple tones. 

Peer a bit closer and you'll notice an ombre effect on some of these flowers! 

Rainbow Explosion of Fireworks Effect

Fireworks are always a fun way to celebrate something meaningful and life-changing - independence, freedom, and change. 

I decided to create a background with a bunch of fireworks, infusing it with a fusion of rainbow colors and a dark night sky to let all the powerful details pop out on its own. 

A Palm Tree's Dream: Vintage Sunset Effect

Nearing sunset...the best time of the day. I was walking by the lake and just loved this view while looking back at the hotel and the surrounding palm trees, with the lowered sun in the distance. 

I decided to play with this a bit to create a vintage effect - with reduced color saturation, a slight hue change to create that dreamy yet mysterious vibe with faded pink and green-blue tones. 

Prismatic Glass Ceiling Art and Lights Reflections

Chihuly Garden & Glass Part III: Gorgeous multi-color glass ceiling art surround this room with light reflections all throughout the walls.

The stream of colors from the lights and the cool reflections add an eclectic touch to this already magnificent piece of work!

Featured on Flickr's Explore.

Sunny Aerial Views of Curvy Green Hills & Mountains

I peered outside the window and caught this breathtaking scenery of the green, curvy hills in the East Bay. Love that the sun was lower in the sky - the added light and the haziness around the outskirts of this mountain brought a cooler effect to this view (and photo)!

A Million Miles: Pier 7 Walkway Bursting with Clouds

Pier 7 Walkway Daytime Part II: What a dream. Walking across the pier a couple hours before sunset with a partly cloudy sky. These cumulus clouds shined so brightly with the sun blaring out from above, creating some pretty cool effects. I decided to add in some light red gradient filters to create a vivid contrast from top to bottom.

After the Storm: Cloudy Sunshine & Glass Reflections

Chihuly Garden & Glass Part II: Walked outside of this spectacular museum and caught this at the right moment. The sun decided to come out and created these saturated cloud reflections on the glass windows!

Magnificent Walkway: Colorful Gradient Imagery

Pier 7 Walkway Daytime Part I: One of my favorite spots in the city that offers the best views of downtown San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, and surrounding waters.

After taking this image, I decided to add in a faded gradient filter effect with partly saturated colors. The blue and red hues add the perfect contrast to this, offering up a warm yet cool vibe--the best contradiction.

Storm Clouds' Striking Colors at Sunset Collage

It was a humid, muggy summer day in the city after a downpour. The passing storm created some pretty shocking effects at sunset.

Color-blocked Pastel Watercolor Effects

I have a lifelong obsession with pretty colors, especially pastel palettes. I was inspired by a couple layouts in a magazine and wanted to create my own piece with a range of color-blocked pastels. I added in different colored blocks, a cool watercolor filter, and roughened the colors more with a darkened gradient background.

City Lights at Twilight in Downtown San Francisco

One of those days with super clear skies after the sun sets on the other side of the city, presenting us with a yellow-blue glow in the sky, as smooth as gradient colors as the lights began to shine even brighter from the darkened streets.

Suzzallo Library's Historical Architecture and Design

The famous Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington, often known as the "Harry Potter room" by visitors. 

The peaceful, mystical library is known for its historical collegiate gothic architecture and interior design and is one of the most recognizable building on campus!

Aerial Landscape: Snowy Mountains of Canada

One of the most stunning landscapes I've ever seen while on a plane!

As we continued to head north, we passed by so many snowy mountaintops and lakes that were surrounded by a mix of crystal clear blue skies and cumulus clouds throughout the journey. It was an epic couple hours indeed.

Featured on Flickr's Explore.

Soft Pastel Waves: The Gradient Effect

Going to the beach an hour or so before sunset is one of my favorite times to capture photos of the water, especially since you get so many different ranges of hues and textures from the direct reflections right off the sky.

I wanted to experiment more with this beach photo by adding a soft gradient touch to it--the result is a calming water pic with peach, pink and turquoise strokes of color and light.

Blossoming White-Pink Flowers Across Washington DC

Tidal Basin Part II: The Tidal Basin is filled with cherry blossoms all over--from pale white-pink flowers to vivid pink ones.

As the day slowly began to end, the hour or so stroll around the basin proved to be beautiful, peaceful and revitalizing, making it one of the most invigorating walks ever.

Twisted Architecture: Sign of Things to Come

A twisted skyscraper tower...the first of its kind seen in San Francisco. I remember looking at the construction of this MIRA tower for a couple years and now it's completed and ready for takeover. 

Glowing Gold Stars and Sparkle Gradient Imagery

I'm constantly getting inspired by cool magazine layouts and designs and decided to create a dark pink and purple gradient background piece filled with glowing gold stars all around (as seen from one of my favorite mags)! I added in some sparkle effects to really let the stars shine.