SW GRAPHIC | Portfolio of Sarah Wu

Canon Expo 2010 in New York

swgraphic — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:58:00 +0000

Canon Expo 2010, a great 2 day event that showcase the full scope of Canon’s new technology. I’m glad I didn’t miss it because this event only happen every 5 years in New York. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to check out their latest products and technology in real scenarios.

They also offered many different seminars to attend, and it’s free. I went to the HD DSLR Cinema 101 by guest speaker Alex Buonon. He show and discuss how some of the scenes form Saturday Night Live are now shoot with Canon HD DSLRs (Mark ii 5D & 7D). The low-light capability and the mobility of the small camera changes the way people shoot movie these days. I was really impress by his lecture and the sample clips he had shown. Here are some of the photos I took from this great experience, enjoy!

(Going inside now)

(Canon 7D concept arts & models)

(Big imaging projection form a projector)

(So we can use 5D to shoot CSI now?)

(A lot commercials were done in Mark ii 5D now)

(New York experience, showcase Canon 60D)

(Lighting and demonstration for a fashion shoot)

(The photographer is explaining how it’s wireless transmit to his computer)

(Quick & easy print from the computer)

(leaving now)

(I’m so glad I attended this great event)

A Vintage Postcard Tour of Beantown, Boston 1905

swgraphic — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:49:59 +0000

There always seems to be a variety of postcards to pick through in most of the stationary or souvenir store when you travel. For just a dollar or two, I found myself collecting them. Especially collecting vintage postcard, which you can find through antique or museum stores. I got this Boston vintage postcards pocketbook set from a historic house museum I visit in Beacon Hill. Boston. Each card is a portrait of history in time. It describe the time period and even the latest fashion trends or architectures. It’s also lots of fun to go through them and discover the historical perspective as well.

So here are some of the Boston postcards from 1905-1920 that I scan. Most of them were hand colored, because this was before the cameras time. However, this makes each postcard an individual work of art. scroll through them and I bet you recognize most of the sites on these vintage postcards, Enjoy!

(All print belong to “A Postcard Tour of Beantown” by Earl Brechlin with John Bishop)

Oliver Wendell Holmes Called Boston “The Hub of The Universe” Shown

The Hotel Pieroni & The Old State House in Boston

Quincy Market & Paul Revere’s House

Boston Market, most famous market place

T wharf, Boston

The first underwater tunnel of its type built in America

Empty subway scene at 1914

Tremont Street known as today’s downtown crossing

Locatd Betwen Washinton Street and City Hall Avenue, Pie Alley was a favorite haunt of job printers and newsboys.

Ahh Fenway in 1912

Swan boats at Boston Public Garden

Boston Common, a neoclassical design

Boston known as the beantown.

My 5 Favorites, Not-to-Miss East Village Bites

swgraphic — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:37:15 +0000

It’s always good to know where to go for great food in the city. To start off, head to the East Village on the lower east side. There are hundreds of place to sample a variety of different cuisines and drinks. The neighborhood contains the most varied group of ethnic restaurants in New York City. There’s every type of food you could think about wanting to eat and you can find it there.

1- Motorino
Motorino is one of my personal favorites on 12th street. It’s best known as a brick-oven pizza joint and was featured on Time Out Magazine. Their menu is robust and features much more than just pizza. I went though their appetizers section and it was hard to pick just one out. One of the appetizers that catch my attention was the Warm Spicy Octopus & Potato topped with Chili Oil and Lemon. It turned out to be very delicious. I also order the Cherry Stone Clams and the Prosciutto Di Parma pizza. The crust is crisp and puffy at the edge with fresh sauce that lingered in my mouth.

(Spicy Octopus & Potato)

(Ommegang Wittle Beer at Motorino)

(Cherry Stone Clams pizza)

(Prosciutto Di Parma)

(My Ice tea at Motorino)

(Motorino’s menu)

2- Veniero’s Pastry
After all the delicious pizzas, I had a huge craving for dessert and a cannoli seemed like the perfect fit. I headed to the famous Veniero’s Pastry on 11th Street. They have a wide selection of choices including cannolis, tiramisu and much more. There’s definitely something for everyone.

(Veniero’s Pastry)

(Veniero’s Pastry on Left and Rice to Riches on Right, these two photos are from Akito)

3- Japanese Restaurant in East Village
Next I headed down to St Marks Street. This is where you’ll encounter a much different atmosphere. Walking through the endless strip of restaurants from Japanese, Thai, to Middle Eastern, it certainly whetted my appetite.

4- Pommes Frites
Be sure to check out the Pommes Frites for some Belgian fries. A few more blocks away is the Astor Wine shop, a great place for variety of Italian wines. I bought two bottles of wine.

(Japanese Restaurant in East Village)

(Astor Wine)

5-Rice to Riche
Finally, my last food venture was rice pudding at Rice to Riches. This place is bright and cute. They have many unusual flavors and toppings for the rice pudding. It’s very tasty, however, the price is a bit high just for the pudding ($7.75). So I’ve covered some of my favorite eats in East Village. Do you have any suggestions on which one is your favorite pizza or dessert place?

10 Beautiful Art Works From Chelsea

swgraphic — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:54:46 +0000

Chelsea, once known as the meat packing district on the west side, has become a popular capital for the art scene in New York. Many galleries have moved onto the blocks from 20th to 28th street between 10th and 11th avenues. Of course you don’t have to be a buyer or an artist to visit these galleries.

I came across Axelle, a fine art gallery on 25th street. They’re having an exhibition by one of my favorite painters, Michel Delacroix. He’s a French contemporary art painter from Paris. His subjects for his paintings are usually scenes from Paris or France. They’re very beautiful and you can just stand in front of his works and admire them. Of course there are many other works besides his. If you’d like some artistic stimulation it’s definitely worth the visit.

(All artwork copyrights belong to the artists and the Axelle gallery)

Michael Delacroix, Retour au Moulin Rouge 24″ x29″

Michael Delacroix, Notre Dame de Paris, Cote sud 24″ x 29″

(Left) Francois Bard, Hugo 64″ x 51″ (Right) Michael Delacroix

Axelle’s Main room

Axelle’s Main room with museum size canvas

JIVKO, Réalité éphémère chandelier Bronze 30″ x 20″ x 6″

Bungeoppang Pastry in Queens

swgraphic — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 05:47:22 +0000

I’ve lived in Queens for more than 20 years now, and I’ve fallen in love with this neighborhood. Yeah, it’s not as glamorous as Manhattan, but it is one of the most ethnically diverse areas of New York; let’s just say I can certainly experience the world and try its food in one day without leaving the city at all.

I can find food from Mexican and Chinese to Korean and Indian, Queens has it all. To get a sense of the borough take a drive to Union Street or Northern Boulevard in Flushing. I feel like I just arrived in Seoul. There are tons of Korean supermarkets and restaurants shops to pick from. H Mart Korean Supermarket, just on the right of Union Street, is a hidden gem for me. I stumbled on a video from New York Times about it and I decided to go for a visit. Although it is a Korean supermarket they also serve delicious Korean food inside the store.

I came across a stand inside selling fish shaped pastry filled with red bean paste and it was delicious. It’s called Bungeoppang similar to the Japanese Taiyaki. A bit of batter is poured into the fish mold, then the red bean paste is added followed by another pour of batter. The mold is then closed and roasted similar to a waffle maker. After about 4 minutes they’re done and ready for me to enjoy!

(Bungeoppang for sale)

(Bungeoppang Fish Mold)

(The Mold is Open)

(Batter is poured into the mold)

(Making the Bungeoppang)

(The mold is closed and turned)

(Is Bungeoppang ready?)

(It’s all done!)

(Fish Shaped Red Bean Cake)

(Bungeoppang Sign)

(Bungeoppang Stand)

(H Mart Korean Supermarket)

(Kimchee)

(Korean Instant Noodles)

(Korean Noodles)

(The supermarket)

(Namoodol)

(The variety of foods)

(Side dishes that came with the food)

(My food)

Discovering The High Line, Chelsea

swgraphic — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 05:44:12 +0000

In the trendy meatpacking district I took a stroll on the High Line promenade for the first time last weekend and it was great. The gardens with the beautiful flowers were so inviting. They were plenty of benches to relax on and all along the promenade there were views of the Hudson River and the West Side. It’s a brand new elevated park with a rich unique history.

( The High Line is elevated 30 feet above street level and has a beautiful view of the city)

(A view of the building looming hazily in the background)

(Tunnel)

(The remaining tracks)

(Us in the High Line Park)

The High Line was a former elevated freight railroad that was built in the 1930s to keep the trains off the street and out of the way of pedestrians and street cars. It was lifted 30 feet in the air due to so many accidents that occurred between freight trains and street level traffic between 1851-1929. The high line was built to connect directly to factories and warehouses, allowing trains to go through and drop off the goods. The railroad has not been in use since the 1980s due to the growth of interstate trucking. The High Line is now a new elevated public park on the West Side of Manhattan. With an interesting architecture and the beautiful garden, who would have guessed that an abandoned railroad could be turned into such a beautiful park?

(This became the Death Avenue Between 1851-1929)

(The Railroad by 11Avenue, Photo Credit: www.thehighline.org)

(The Railroad Between 1851-1929, Photo Credit: www.thehighline.org)

(For safety, men on horses, called the West Side Cowboys, ride in front of trains waving red flags, Photo Credit: www.thehighline.org)

(The High Line, Photo Credit: www.thehighline.org)

(Heading to Chelsea Market)

A nearby High Line staircase leads me to the Chelsea Market. It was a former Nabsisco factory complex where the Oreo cookies were invented and produced in 1912. Nabisco left the complex in the mid 1940s, but the building is intact and has been renovated over the years for commercial stores. Now with an assortment of small boutique bakeries and food shops, it’s another interesting place to wander though. You might want to pick up some yummy brownies from the Fat Witch while you’re there.

(The Chelsea Market)

(The Oreo Cookie History)

(Fat Witch)

(Fat Witch Brownies)

(I brought some home)

(Cup Cakes that looks so yummy)

(Kitchen supply store in Chelsea Market)

(A display window that talks about the history)

65 Beautiful Designed Travel & Tourism Websites

swgraphic — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:06:48 +0000

As I start to plan my vacation for the rest of the year I always take a look at websites that focus on that area first. The website can help me with my travel plans and perhaps give me some great web design inspiration. If you haven’t noticed, web designers play a important role when it comes to the travel industry. Nowadays people visit websites or blogs before they even decide where they plan to visit. Tourism websites often place an emphasis on designing a visually appealing experience because it will draw more interest and excitement for the visitors. A great design presents the atmosphere of that destination right away.

The designs involve beautiful graphics, fonts, colors, layouts and web accessibility. In other words, visitors are looking for an immediate feel and impact. So today let’s look at the beautiful tourism websites showcase that I put together. Hopefully this will get you inspired and help you to plan your next vacation.?Let me know if you know any other beautifully designed tourism websites by commenting.

Montreal Jazz Festival

TuristiÄka zajednica Grada

Summertime in Tennessee

Fall for Tennessee

Alpine Meadows

Go Glamping

Signature Attractions

Visit San Antonio

Visit Idaho

Vacation Rental Station

Trent Cruising

Hotel Paradiso

Club Manche

Visit Snowy Mountains

The Islands of Hawaii

Australia Plan

Visit Pennsylvania

Go:Teborg

Experience Washington

TaxiMe

Alaska Zipline Adventures

Lonely Planet Travel Guides

Washington DC

Tennessee Vacation

Tourism Australia

Atlantis, Paradise Island Bahamas

Kosciuszko Alpine Guided Walks

Clover Cottage

Little Palm Island

Delano Hotel in South Beach Miami

Brookside Resort

Rica, Costa Rica surf vacations

Alaska Trolley

Pier 66: The Frying Pan

swgraphic — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 07:34:59 +0000

I’ve been living in NYC for many years, but somehow I haven’t come across this popular outdoor bar + grill on the Hudson called the Frying Pan. But what’s so special about this place? Formally a lightship based off the coast of North Carolina between 1929 and 1964, it sank while docked in Maryland and spent three years underwater. Later it was salvaged and brought to New York in 1989. She is now a floating bar docked at Pier 66 Maritime by the Hudson. While the outside of the ship has been restored, the inside retains the sunken ship motif that speaks of her past.

(The Frying Pan at Pier 66 Maritime)

(Artwork by the entrance)

(In front Of The Frying Pan at Pier 66 Maritime)

(The Frying Pan Deck)

(The Frying Pan)

Also, the location of this pier is a former car float (railroad barge). It was used for Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad car floats. It was later purchased to be a permanent home for the historic lightship Frying Pan. And this is why I love this place, because of it’s history.

I would say this is definitely a great place to go when the weather is good in New York. Just grab a bucket of beer, a crab cake and head to the upper deck to watch the sunset on the Hudson. What could be better then this?

(The Train)

(The Railroad Barge)

(The Lighthouse Passport History)

(The Frying Pan Crab Cake)

(The Frying Pan Beers)

(I’m enjoying my crab cake)

(The Frying Pan Crowd)

(I love how they have the “Bar” sign on the ship)

(It’s past)

(My best friend trying to turn it…)

(Our Table view)

(Our Table View – watching people doing water sports)

(That is one big pan)

( The Water Sport Center’s Pug, Adorable!)

Historic Château Tours In Montreal

swgraphic — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:44:15 +0000

As a designer, I have always loved and appreciated different types of architectural styles. One of the first things I will pay extreme attention to in a new city is the architecture. Located near Rue Notre-Dame is the famous Château Ramezay. It is one of the most charming and well preserved historic buildings that I had visited. This building was built in 1705 as the the residence of Claude de Ramezay, the Governor of Montréal. It’s distinctive and simple architecture includes a sloping roof, stone wall and beautiful garden. Today the building has been converted into a historical museum and features a collection of 18th and early 19th century furniture and other historic artifacts.

(Château Ramezay Entrance)

(A miniature of Château Ramezay)

One of the highlights of this visit was the English guided tour of the Museum. I got to walk through all of the rooms with our guide. Each room has a historic story and artifacts relating to Montreal. The first room exhibits the first inhabitants of the Island of Montreal. The guide explained that when Jacques Cartier first arrived, he was greeted by nearby native American villagers. Jacques misunderstood the villages and thought the village name was “Hochelaga.” What he actually heard was “Oshahaka” which means “people of the hand.”

(The story of the “Oshahaka” which means “people of the hand,” photo by Akito)

In the next room, I saw more paintings, models, maps and historic artifacts. One of my favorite is the first car of Quebec with the license plate of Q1. Across form the car there is a photo on the wall dating back to 1884 from the Montreal Winter Carnival. I guess Canadians were trying to make winter as fun as possible. On the right side of that wall there is the Montreal Coat of Arms, Concordia Salus. It was made by Jacques Viger in 1933. The idea is to express the desire for the harmonious coexistence between French, English, Scots and Irish. He used the beaver as the cultural symbol for French, which is no longer in use in the modern days.

(Fashion for the upper class)

(Items belong to the upper class)

(The first car in Quebec)

(Standing next to the Q1 car)

(Montreal Coat of Arms, Concordia Salus)

We followed the guide to the basement area where we saw how the French colonists used to live. The guide explained that they have one big room similar to our studio apartment (all in one). The roller on the upper right allowed them to grill their food. It’s connected by a string to the fireplace. They put a dog and a bone inside the roller to let the dog run for it. This helps them grill the food without having to turn it.

(The roller and the fire place as described above)

(A folded chair/table used by the family, could it be the 1st Ikea invention?)

(They need to go out to get the water everytime so they made the sink very low to save the water usage)

(The worker posing for me outside the garden area)

Château Dufresne one of my other favorite architectures. It’s the former residence of the Dufresne brothers. They were wealthy French Canadian business men who asked Jules Renard to design their mansion. The interior of the mansion was decorated with murals and ceiling paintings by Guido Nincheri in the 1920s. On the ground floor there is an exhibition that explained more of the history and featured objects from that period. Overall it’s a fun tour that takes you back to the 19th century period.

(Left is the furniture photo and the right is photo before renovation)

(The ground floor exhibition)

(The beautiful plates own by them)

(Interior design)

(Cups from that historic period)

Cross-Processed Effect in Photoshop

swgraphic — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:10:54 +0000

Color has a profound effect on how I feel.Therefore, the use of color makes an impact on my photography. Before I process every photos, I’ll identify the mood first and adjust them. Occasionally, I like to use a blue tint to create a mood that feels tranquil and reminiscent of the ocean and sky colors.

I like to tried different methods when it comes to process the photos. Sometime I tweak the “Curves” parameters, other time I experiment with the adjustment layer. In this tutorial I will show you how to get the blue tint cross processed effect that I use a lot. Remember, to play with the adjustment layer by changing the color or the opacity as you wish. You’ll find a lot of different result as you experiment with them. Have fun!

Open up the original picture

Duplicate the original layer

Set the duplicate layer to “Screen” mode with 60% opacity.

Select the “Color Fill” adjustment layer and set the color to #06032c.

Set the blend mode to “Exclusion” with 50% opacity.

Select the “Color Fill” adjustment layer again and set the color to #093776.

Set the blend mode to “Soft Light” with 60% opacity.

In the layers palette click on the adjustment layer menu icon and select “Level”.

Set your level adjustment layer to 23,1.00, 249 as shown.

Final Result with a Blue tint over it.

Example 2 – Before

Example 2 – After

The Hudson River View at Pier 83

swgraphic — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:46:40 +0000

On Saturday, I visited Piers 83, home to Circle Line Cruise on the Hudson River. It was so hot, I figured a speed boat ride would be a fun excursion to do. It was a fun ride to see New York City from the water on the West Side, which was a highlight.

(Beast Speed Boat, a ride that get you wet!)

(Waiting for people to get out the Beast Speed Boat)

Located next to the Circle Line on the Hudson River is the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. We didn’t have a chance to go in that day, but we get a glimpse of It’s collection of aircraft, submarine and the ship outside the Museum. We’re definitely coming back to check out it’s large collection.

(Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum)

(John and I at Intrepid)

(View of Hudson River)

(Intrepid Gears Up for Firefighter Appreciation Weekend)

(Outside the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum)

Get Hatched

swgraphic — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:33:04 +0000

GetHatched.com, an all new destination created by Disney Family with Teri Hatcher focused on the subjects that matter most to women. This design project involves the concept, layouts and typography designs.

Best Fling App

swgraphic — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:31:45 +0000

Fling Chocolate team up with The Emmy Awards for a special Best Fling TV show voting App on Facebook. My role as a designer is to execute the concept and designs.

Day 3: Rue Notre-Dame, Reminiscent of the Past

swgraphic — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:38:57 +0000

We started our day by visiting Rue Notre-Dame. It’s one of the oldest streets in Montreal, which runs parallel to the St. Lawrence River. It’s also the home to where Basilique Notre-Dame reside. The church’s architecture is among the most beautiful in the world; I was impressed by the colors, size and the ceiling height, as well as the details in the church. It’s well worth the visit.

(Outside of Basilique Notre-Dame)

(Basilique Notre-Dame’s exterior)

(Basilique Notre-Dame’s interior)

(Basilique Notre-Dame’s interior design)

To top it off, we went to visit the Chateau Ramezay Museum, another great architecture. This famous chateau is named after the French colonial governor Claude de Ramezay in 1705. This was a great museum with lot’s of history in it. It housed French and British colonial governments before serving as the headquarters for the American Revolutionaries. We did a English guided tour which will be explained on my next blog post. Oh one last thing, make sure you check out the gardens on your visit before you leave the chateau.

(A mini version of Chateau Ramezay)

(First car of Quebec with license plate “Q1″)

As we headed down on Rue Notre-Dame, we stopped by Sir George-Etienne Cartier Mansion. This mansion is the former home of Sir George-Etienne Cartier a French-Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation. The home has been restored back to the Montreal bourgeoisie style during1860. The old French furnishing in the mansion made me feel like I just stepped into a different era.

(Sir George-Etienne Cartier Mansion)

(Bedroom inside Sir George-Etienne Cartier)

(Sir George-Etienne Cartier Mansion Showcase – Where did the number go?)

We had our last meal at Cabaret Du Roy. Their Duck Confit with Red Wine Caramel Sauce was top of the line. The meat was so tender and the flavor was so delicious. Check out the place if you happen to be in Montreal. We loved our trip to Montreal, but it’s time to say good bye to this beautiful city. with charms.

(Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel)

(French bread at Cabaret Du Roy)

(Beer at Cabaret Du Roy)

(Duck Confit with Red Wine Caramel Sauce)

(Us at Cabaret Du Roy)

(Day 3 Trip Plan: Rue Notre-Dame, Basilique Notre-Dame, Chateau Ramezay Museum, Sir George-Etienne Cartier Mansion, Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel and lunch at Cabaret Du Roy).

Day 2: Lovely Garden and Live Jazz

swgraphic — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:19:39 +0000

Day 2 was all about exploring this beautiful city. Our first stop is the Fur Trade at Lachine Museum located at Lachine Canal National Historic Site. They have a fascinating exhibits explained the history of the fur trade in North America. Which help us to learn about the role of the fur trade in Canadian history. Afterward, we headed to H20 Adventures and rented a electric boat which allows us to admire the city from the historic Lachine Canal for an hour. Then we visited The Planetarium de Montreal.

(H2O Adventures Boat Rental)

(They can’t wait to get into the boat)

(Do you see that big smile?)

(The Planetarium de Montreal)

(Kayak rental)

We drove over to The Chateau Dufresne from The Planetarium de Montreal. This chateau belong to the former residence of two French Canadian wealthy entrepreneurs, Marius and Oscar Dufresne. The house is now a museum with exhibition of many historic period objects. My favorite part of the tour was the wall and ceiling paintings.

(The Chateau Dufresne furnishing)

We also spent a few hours at the Jardin botanique de Montréal. Montreal Botanical Garden is a beautiful spot for the summer season. The plants and flowers were spectacular. I was most impressed with the Chinese garden, as well as the Japanese Koi pond.

(Montreal Botanical Garden, photo by Akito)

(Flowers in Montreal Botanical Garden)

(Chinese Garden’s Doorway)

(The beautiful Chinese Garden)

(The Chinese Garden Collection)

(The Chinese Garden Arch)

(The Koi Pond by The Japanese Garden)

(The Japanese Tea Exhibit)

After a long walk at the Montreal Botanical Garden, we went to La Ronde at 6pm. The line for the rides were not bad at all at night. To top it off, the admission price was only $29 after 5pm. We had a really good time and I would recommend this park to my friends.

(La Ronde’s ride)

(It’s getting dark)

(I shot this from the La Ronde Train Ride)

We ate our dinner at Jardin Nelson located in the Place Jacques-Cartier (Old Montreal). The ambiance of this restaurant is so beautiful. We sat in the terrace overlooking their garden. The restaurant has a indoor and outdoor section complete with a stage of jazz musicians which I really enjoyed. Overall we had a great experience and fun on our 2nd day.

(The Jazz by the Terrance)

(Roasted Beef Sandwich, My Dinner)

(Day 2 Trip Plan: Lachine Canal, Fur Trade at Lachine Museum, H2O Adventures, Planetarium de Montreal, The Chateau Dufresne, Montreal Olympic Stadium, Jardin botanique de Montréal, La Ronde, and Jardin Nelson Restaurant in Old Montreal).

Day 1: Montreal, A Taste of Europe

swgraphic — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:02:57 +0000

Bonjour! I took a long weekend to visit Montreal with my fiancé and my friend, Akito. We arrived safe and sound after a 7 hour drive from New York to Montreal. Montreal has a very European feel and it was a lot more French than I’d imagined. We wandered around the city center for a little bit, getting a feel for the place. I did a quick walk down towards the tourist office to collect some tourist brochures. With only a very short time (3 days) in Montreal I planned to do and see as much as possible.

(Interesting car meter painted with stripe colors)

We stopped by the Cathedral of Marie-Reine-du-Monde Montreal (Mary Queen of the World Cathedral). It’s the first catholic cathedral in Montreal. Also known as one-third replica of St. Peters in Rome. Many people pass off this church to go to Notre-Dame instead, but it is not to be missed by me!

(Mary Queen of the World Cathedral Exterior)

(Mary Queen of the World Cathedral Altar)

(Mary Queen of the World Cathedral’s Candles)

(Mary Queen of the World Cathedral Interior)

Then we headed into the Rue Notre-Dame and stumbled into the Notre Dame Basilica, the oldest church known for it’s intricately designed interior. There were a wedding ceremony going on, so we couldn’t get to visit the church. So we decided to do the Calèche (horse-drawn carriage) tours which lasting 30 minutes ($48). The thing I enjoyed most about the horse carriage is that it feels like stepping back in time. The scene of old French architecture with cobblestone streets fool you into thinking you’re in Paris.

(Rue Notre-Dame)

(My fiancé and I sitting inside the horse carriage)

(My best friend Akito sitting inside the horse carriage)

(View from the horse carriage, Old Montreal)

(Performance and activities in Place Jacques-Cartier Square)

(Old Montreal filled with tourists)

We spent rest of the day strolling in the beautiful, historic Old Montreal, admiring the architectures, walking around the Vieux-Port, and touring Bonsecours Market and Rue Des Artistes. Old Montreal had plenty of charm and sights that I couldn’t resist. There is so much to see and do here – from museums, neighborhoods with all that history.

(Old Port, the piers offer boat tours and trips to the islands.)

(Old Port, the views of the city and the St Lawrence River are great. )

(Cirque Du Soleil by the Vieux-Port)

(The oldest Montreal’s streets is home to the Bonsecours Market and the Notre-Dame De-Bonsecours Chapel.)

(Souvenirs shop inside the Bonsecours Market)

(Performers sing on the street by Rue Saint -Paul, photo by Akito)

It was getting late and by this time, I was really feeling tired and hungry. We picked out a Steak House called Vieux-Port Steak House. It food was worth the 45 minutes wait, I highly recommend.

(Vieux-Port Steak House Menu)

(Rue Des Artistes in Vieux-Montreal)

So, I brought some souvenirs and got some great food in my stomach. We explored the entire area and were so impressed at the European atmosphere. I love my trip to Montreal! Day 2 to be continued…

(Day 1 Trip Plan: Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, Underground City, Notre-Dame Basilica, Calèche – horse-drawn carriage, Old Montreal, Vieux-Port, Place Jacques-Cartier Square, Bonsecours Market, Vieux-Port Steak House, and Rue Des Artistes).

Photoshop Action, Time Saver!

swgraphic — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 07:56:45 +0000

Action are a tool in Photoshop that can save time and increase productivity by automate tasks. I often used them for reproducing techniques for web or photos. Sometime I created a special effects web button and save them for later use. Action is a great way to record my steps as I work and play them back as I needed. They are extremely helpful when I want to achieve some sorta of cool effect in my photography. Think it as the presets for Adobe Lightroom 3. Just one click and I’ll get the effect I’m looking for on my photos. It can be vintage, colorful or even grey scale. In this post I’ll gather some of the great Photoshop Action sets that you can download and use for your design, travel, and photography needs.

www.ps-actions.com

Showcase of Stylish Photoshop Actions

PSAction Scripts

65+ Excellent Photoshop Actions For Your Design

Coney Island Photography

swgraphic — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:08:38 +0000

Coney Island, a time capsule – as well as the home of Nathan’s Hot Dogs and the Hot Dogs eating contest. It’s one of most popular beach resort before the World War II in New York. It’s history go way back. Some people say Coney Island is “Brooklyn’s Playground by the Sea”. Some has been referred it to as a poor man’s paradise. Despite it all, it’s all part of Coney’s charm.

The beach at Coney Island is not the best quality beach in the east coast. I saw broken glass in the sand and murky water. Come to think of it, I ‘m glad I didn’t jump into the water. However, the Nathan’s Hot Dog and the boardwalk with carnival rides was worth for taking a photo tour. I especially love the taste of Nathan’s Hot Dog right before I go. Overall it was a full day of laughter for me and my friends.

(Building right on the Coney Island Amusement Park)

(Coney Island Amusement Park)

(The famous Nathan’s Hot Dog)

(Doesn’t this look like the Mr. bee is posing for me?)

(The famous Nathan’s Hot Dog’s Ketchup)

(Stores in Coney Island)

(Allen and I)

(Another Nathan’s sign on the side)

(Love the retro fonts)

Red Bull Air Race Liberty State Park

swgraphic — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:11:23 +0000

We drove into Liberty State Park over the weekend for the qualifying rounds of the Red Bull Air Race Championship, in Jersey City. The two qualifying rounds of the race begin at 2p.m, with New York skyline as a backdrop. The race features inflatable gates, which pilots race through just over the water. It’s all all about the “speed”, precision” and”skill”.

(My fiancé, Myself, Diana)

(Liberty State Park Food Venders)

(Lady Liberty as a backdrop)

(Large crowd watching the race)

(Trying to figure out which pilots will win)

(Inflatable gates)

The first plane is piloted by Germany’s Matthias Dolderer. The second one to fly will be USA Kirby Chambliss, the 2006 Red Bull World Champion. I was hoping the USA kirby can get the 1st place, but he didn’t. Overall it was a fun and exciting experience.

(Plane soaring through the skylines)

(This is called skill)

(Speed is great)

(Plane soaring through the skylines)

(International Championship Air Show)

After the Race, I also got to walk around Liberty State Park. The view of the Hudson river, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is so beautiful. As a New Yorker , this is actually my first time to see Lady Liberty. Fun event + historic sightseeing = great day!

(Ellis Island)

(New York City as backdrop)

(My best friend Akito is using his tele lens)

(My first meeting with Statue of Liberty)

(Liberty State Park, Jersey City)

Vanderbilt Mansion and Museum Tour

swgraphic — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 05:40:20 +0000

There are so many hidden gems to explore in New York. Not so far from the center, is the North Shore of Long Island – Gold Coast. An area where the wealthy industrialist made Long Island their home in the 1800-1900. One of the greatest Gold Coast Mansion was the Vanderbilt Mansion. A great property that I did enjoy very much walking on the grounds. The museum exhibits a large collection of mounted animals or marine life. They’re all collected by Vanderbilt when he travel all around the world.

(A planetarium – the only one on Long Island – opened on the grounds)

(Display inside the Planetarium)

This estate was the summer home of William Kissam Vanderbilt II, whose family fortune was created by his grandfather, “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt, shipping and railroad tycoon. He was the richest man in the world, worth some $105 million in 1877. Imagine you’re the richest man in the world, won’t you buy a mansion for yourself?

(Fountain and motif)

(Several building is meant to evoke a Spanish style. Vanderbilt was inspired by a church he had seen in Guatemala)

(The mansion itself)

(Beautiful mansion with fountain everywhere)

(Master bedroom overlooking the water view)

(Another Spanish influence design)

(Diana, myself and my sister)

I wish they allowed picture taking during the mansion tours or the museum visit. All around the property, many strange collections can be found. They’re over 600 species of fish in “The Hall of Fishes”. Second floor of this place need a strong stomach. I find preserved remains of fishes in all kind of jars. All of them are pale color and white. What’s even more fascinating is that the curator for his collection, William E. Belanske, was the same man who later created the Museum of Natural History in New York. I was completely blown away by his collections of artifacts, animals, species even Egyptian mummy.

(Northern Pupper, 1923)

(The Hall of Fish, 2nd floor)

The place is a fabulous place to take the family or friends for a nice afternoon to the mansion, the marine museum and the grounds.