Middle of Nature: Sunset Colors at Loring Park

Loring Park Part II: Sunset calls for more golden colors in the sky and all around.

The soft lighting and deeper hues being reflected onto the buildings created a striking image in the middle of nature.

Simple Pleasures: Sunset Behind the Trees

Loring Park Part I: One of those perfectly situated moments where the sun begins to set and shines straight through between the trees at Loring Park, creating a gorgeous sun flare and golden colors.

Tranquil Aligned Trees at Palais-Royal Park

Perfectly aligned trees, creating the right amount of shade and zen-ness in the park. A beautiful hideaway away from all the bustling chaos and massive buildings.  

The Magnificent Eiffel Tower in Paris

So many replicas of the Eiffel Tower live all around the world, but nothing can compare to the real-life version in Paris. 

The Mix: Palm Trees & Gradient Skies at Sunset

Huntington Garden Part VII: The radiant moon shines nearby as the sun completely disappears from view. 

The sky resembles a gradient background with the soft blue afternoon hues drifting further and further away, being replaced with muted pink and purple hues.

Painted Strokes of Light: The Last Drops of Sunset

Sweetwater Wetlands Park Part II: The clouds fall deeper into the fiery red hues as the sky continues to darken preparing for the middle phases of twilight into the night.

Watercolor Sunset at the Lake: Like a Painting

Sweetwater Wetlands Park Part I: Waiting a few minutes after the official sunset and the sky continues to darken, creating sharper contrasts as the light pink-orange clouds become deeper and altering into dramatic red hues. With the reflections on the lake and the mysterious shadow-like vibes of the trees, this strongly resembles a sunset watercolor painting. 

The Majestic Himeji Castle in Japan

Himeji Castle Part I: Quite the trek to get to Himeji Castle, but worth it for the views from the exterior and six floors above later.

As the largest castle in Japan, it is also one of the most popular ones, even being registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country.

Chinese Garden of Friendship: The Heart of Sydney

Welcome to "an enchanting oasis nestled in the heart of Darling Harbour."

A completely zen haven nestled in between all the hustle and bustle of Chinatown. Light rain and cloudy skies hover above us, but that adds onto the quiet stillness and tranquil atmosphere. 

When Seasons Change: Red Autumn Foliage in Spokane

Japanese Garden in Manito Park Part IV: When warm turns to cool in a heartbeat. 

In the in-between months of summer and winter, temperatures drop, leaves change hues and fall in clusters all over the ground. A new season awaits as we shed all the layers from the past season.  

Anime Skies: Pink + Purple Sunsets in Real Life

Wishing for anime skies in real life. 

I love the spectacular, vibrant, and super saturated sunset skies in anime, where the clouds are sparkling and ever-inspiring. 

I decided to alter this photo of the sunset at the lake by enhancing the contrast and colors, embellishing it with sparkles, sun flare effects, and more for an extra dream factor. 

Into the Woods: Nature's Blue-Green Enchantment Effect

After the rain, everything sparkles and glistens. The air smells fresher. The sun comes out, brightening our moods and our views.

I loved the peacefulness of this scene and decided to add extra dreamy effects with a mix of blur and blue-green hues. 

Classic Sydney Harbor Bridge & Tropical Gardens

From this scene, it looks like a tropical, humid summer with vibrant plants and overcast slash rainy skies. 

The reality is more like winter...but still just as magnificent when you watch the contrast of nature and city vibes come alive from this garden. 

Sunset Storm: Remarkable Clouds & Contrast at the Park

There's nothing cooler (literally) than a surprising storm in the summer right during sunset. Dark clouds form on one side while the sun sets by the lake, creating a breathtaking scene with clear, striking contrast.

In the Islands: The Outlines of the Toronto Skyline

Postcard-perfect skies appear, ready for me to capture (and savor) the views of the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario. 

From Toronto Island Park, you get a full panoramic view of all the skyscrapers in the city. Fresh, earthy green leaves and grass bring extra serenity and contentment to the scene.  

Light It Up: The Pink Flowers Twilight Effect

Tidal Basin Part IV: I was amazed by all the captivating photos of sakura cherry blossom flowers at twilight at Meguro River in Tokyo and wanted to create my own version. 

I tweaked this photo from Washington DC, altering the hues and saturation, giving it a bright pink effect to showcase the flowers' sharp yet delicate colors and the eye-catching lights before darkness consumed the scene. 

Featured in Flickr's Explore. 

Rustic Autumn to Winter: Fall Colors with Lights

Filoli Gardens Part III: The autumn season doesn't make an appearance until winter in California. With the holiday lights and decorations added to the mix, the gardens come alive. An array of rustic colors create a marvelous scenery for us to behold.

The Manipulation Effect: Magical Twin Stairways

The Myriad Botanical Garden is everything you would dream of. Tranquil, tropical, and filled with all of nature's surprises. 

Unique plants are tucked into every corner of the conservatory with picturesque staircases throughout. I decided to manipulate this photo by duplicating the stairwell, adding sun flare effects and lightening the tones for a magical twist. 

Land of the Palm Trees and Skyscrapers in Honolulu

At the 18th floor of the hotel, we get a sweeping view of the skyscrapers in Waikiki, dramatic clouds in action, and the palm trees at the nearby park. It's been a blast watching the skies change every other minute - from rain to sunshine to rainbows and everything in between. 

The Reverse Effect: Palm Trees + Pink-Turquoise Skies

One set of palm trees sitting right by the beach at twilight. 

After cloning then reversing the image to create a mirror effect, I altered the skies with contrasting hues and vertical striped lines.