tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-324966272024-03-13T12:23:06.419+08:00Journey of the MindR.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-91019135583346291352007-12-18T12:44:00.000+08:002007-12-18T12:49:25.185+08:00Journey of the MindWith access to blogspot.com being blocked from within China, I've decided to switch over to Windows Live Spaces to continue this blog - here is the link: http://journeyofthemind.spaces.live.comR.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-62305395845379184072007-12-07T16:30:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:46.789+08:00Painting in the ParkI found a website that has free downloads of stock photos. I'm thinking of joining myself and upload my own photos to share. The website is called Stock Vault.So now instead of relying on my own photos to play around with in Photoshop I can use others; this comes in handy of course when I want to explore with subjects that I may not have taken photos of.My first stock photo that I've used from R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-60420460159915394972007-12-06T14:06:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:47.129+08:00Glow EffectHave been busy and didn't get a chance much to do any photoshopping or photography... but here's a recent work I've done by following a cool tutorial on how to create a nice glow effect in Photoshop.The tutorial is located here: PSDTuts - Advanced Glow Effects.Update: 2007-12-06; another work based on the same techniquesR.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-36514826859402507682007-07-03T22:18:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:47.215+08:00GuardiansGrand Palace, Bangkok, ThailandR.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-73775492622299095642007-06-19T15:48:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:47.300+08:00Ferris Wheel in the ParkR.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-21611133377025560252007-06-18T09:41:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:47.467+08:00HuangPu River at Night 2At night, along the HuangPu river one looks over at the base of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower base from the Bund.This image is the second in a series; the first can be viewed in my previous posting: HuangPu River at Night.R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-75595854266670408922007-06-15T11:11:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:47.671+08:00HuangPu River at NightThe HuangPu River at night: looking at the base of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower on the PuDong side across the HuangPu river from the Bund.R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-50226659211549332552007-06-14T10:48:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:47.804+08:00Another Photo ChallengeThe image below is my submission for one of those themed photo challenges. A themed photo challenge involves coming up with a word and then people go around snapping pics they perceive the word to be about... example, the image below could be used with the theme: crowd.R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-54698190001910449072007-06-14T09:09:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:47.933+08:00Souvenirs 2More souvenirs available at Yu Yuan Gardens here in Shanghai as can be seen in the above image... if this isn't enough variety you can check out some more in my earlier Souvenirs posting.Some of these head carvings/masks would make for some interesting ornaments in your front doorway... people would get an immediate sense that they were being watched as they entered your place. And they would R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-7382185072609981982007-06-12T14:28:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:48.048+08:00Tiger in the MidstAt the Shanghai Zoo last year I was able to use my, at the time, new zoom lens to take some close-up photos of the tigers (and other animals). Luckily I had my big zoom lens with me, as it would have been difficult to get such a close range shot of the tiger without actually being so close.For this image I did the following steps in Photoshop:- sharpened the image- applied a levels layer- R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-9234244629322542982007-06-11T10:20:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:48.132+08:00SouvenirsIf you happen to be in Yu Yuan Gardens here in Shanghai, you could pick yourself up some interesting souvenirs (see image below):The giant spider looks particularly interesting, as well as the other smaller bugs/insects.If you have a penchant for doing some Chinese calligraphy, then you might certainly entertain the possibility for buying one of those over-sized calligraphy brushes to create someR.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-89968306862244260312007-06-10T15:56:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:48.245+08:00Xian Nu ErTook this photo at Yu Yuan Gardens here in Shanghai (May 2006). I think I should take another trip there some time in the early evening - you can see at the base of the statue there are faucet nozzles for water sprays. I think there might also be some colourful lights on too when the water comes on.I used a radial blur (zoom) effect to make the radiating light from the statue. As well, I underR.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-47168935158402397662007-06-09T18:55:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:48.337+08:00Mendenhall GlacierContinuing with another panoramic photo, here's one of the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. If you have been following my posts, my earlier blog posting titled "Pond reflection" had a photo of a pond in the same area that I took this panoramic snapshot.If was grey and cloudy most of the day but when I got to the glacier, the sun started to peak out a bit.You can see in the background the glacier...R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-6181328276144743952007-06-09T11:57:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:48.439+08:00Centre Island BridgeWhile I snapped the panoramic lake front view of Toronto's skyline from Centre Island (see my previous post: Toronto Postcard), I also took in other sights on the Island and snapped this one of a bridge. [I think it's rather incredible that we have the capability to build bridges.]If you get a chance to go to Toronto, I highly recommend a visit to Centre Island. There is a ferry that takes you R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-70340519699377035812007-06-08T10:37:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:48.535+08:00Toronto postcardIn May of 2006, I took a series of photos of Toronto's lake front view from Centre Island.I've "stitched" them together to create a panoramic image... and the result is shown below - looks like a postcard wouldn't you agree?Note: Click on the image to see the full size view. You're welcomed to use it as your computer's desktop wallpaper.R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-22236879462922976142007-06-07T10:29:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:48.615+08:00PatchworkA stone walkway that can be found in the place where I'm currently residing.R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-77232008143475440532007-06-06T18:04:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:48.750+08:00Pond reflectionThis photo was taken on my 2005 Alaskan cruise. I can't recall the name of the place now - I'll have to look it up again.The clear, calm water in the pond made for a really amazing natural mirror.UPDATE: The place where I took this pond reflection was at the Mendenhall Glacier area.R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-83197683153340928982007-06-04T16:54:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:49.060+08:00Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV TowerFrom the Shanghai Tour website on the Oriental Peal TV Tower:Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower was completed on Oct. 1, 1994. It is 468 m high, being the highest in Asia and the third highest in the world, only next the TV towers in Toronto in Canada and Moscow in Russia. It stands opposite to the bund on the west bank.. The architectural modeling of the tower is unique, expressing the flavor of R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-28217202778436132642007-06-02T23:38:00.000+08:002007-06-03T00:09:42.721+08:00Making Money OnlineI've started to think about how to earn some extra side money from my time surfing the Internet. I've done some research into this area and online advertising and affiliate programs look promising. Although I don't expect these activities to become my primary means of income, I hope that it will at least provide me with some extra spending money - either to save for a rainy day or perhaps to R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-12810247613586103292007-05-22T17:24:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:49.475+08:00Butterfly in the Sky"Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high"...Those are the lyrics that start off the theme song for the TV show Reading Rainbow. I used to watch that show as a kid. It's a really good show - it opens your mind and eyes to our world by exploring many different and fascinating things.If it's still on TV and you have children; I'd highly recommend allowing them to watch this.As for the image, R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-81843502997672012682007-05-17T21:47:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:49.761+08:00BoulevardContinuing along the same theme (see Taking Another Look At Old Photos) - I've created another image that resembles a watercolour painting.The original photo this watercolour-style image is based off of:The photo was taken on a street in Shanghai, Pudong New District near where I currently live. You may not be able to tell from the photo but that day was extremely hot and hazy! The greyish R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-74034679569445771092007-05-17T16:00:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:49.882+08:00Taking Another Look At Old PhotosIf you have some photos that you have previously taken, you can take another look at them and present them in a new way.For example, some of you may recognize the image below as the giraffe that I used in my Beyond the Edge posting. It's not the exact same photo but from a series of photos that was taken of the giraffe at the Toronto Zoo.What I've done here is to present this as a sort of R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-77215018367060145432007-05-08T23:41:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:50.914+08:00Auto Show FlowersI went back to an image that I worked on previously (in the Auto Shanghai 2007 pt.2 post).I adjusted the levels in Photoshop to give the image more of a 'pop' to it. The result is the image below, followed by the previous image from the earlier posting:I need to remember to try to bring out the details by enriching the shadows and highlights (or at least give the appearance of it being more R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-79954888510138893182007-05-07T19:39:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:51.064+08:00Night HawkIf you've seen my previous posts: Evening Over the Plains and Evening Moonscape; I think you can say there's a theme developing here. I would venture to say that the theme involves the evening or night time and silhouettes.You will need to click on the above image for the full size view (some details are lost in this smaller thumbnail image above).R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32496627.post-82916193071772305732007-05-06T23:42:00.000+08:002008-11-13T15:15:51.370+08:00Evening Over the PlainsI've continued with the silhouette theme... in fact, you can see that the moon is the same one used in the earlier posting (Evening Moonscape). I've used Photoshop brushes from The Luna Regina website to help create this piece.Hope you will enjoy it. Comments welcomed.I've updated the image (shown below); can you see the differences? The changes, I believe, are very subtle - I changed the R.Q. Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740652240324054492noreply@blogger.com0