NESOP Architectural Photography Class

Here are some of my photographs for my architectural photography presentation, I included some Boston skyline (day, dusk, night), Boston Public Library, Brooklyn building, and Medfield residential shots. http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmanlee/sets/72157622624672369/

I am really happy with the class at New England School of Photography (NESOP). I met a new group of creative photographers and instructor, learned about photography techniques and composition, and Photoshop!!!

But more importantly, it gave me reasons/excuses to explore Boston with a new set of eyes (like a tourist!) and take "amazing" photos.

I still have more to learn and hope to continue my photography track and share more photos with everyone.

Panoramic view of the Boston Public Library Interior

I have been taking a Architectural Photography class that is taught by Keitaro Yoshioka. The class is wonderful, I am learning a lot from Keitaro on style, composition and PhotoShop techniques!! For our last class next week, we will be presenting our top ten photos that we took since we started our class. I think I will be including this panoramic photo that I took recently at the Boston Public Library.

For some reason, I have never been to the McKim Building of the Boston Public Library! I always go in the library from the newer side. So it was amazing when I stepped in the old section of the library. I took the photo from the Main Stairs at the Entrance Hall. The tall ceiling, mural paintings, and the sculptures were totally mesmerizing. I took a few shots here and made this panoramic photo that capture the dramatic atmosphere.

The McKim Building reminds me the Great Hall at the Library of Congress. I cannot wait to go back to DC to take more photos at the Library of Congress. It is one of my favorite architectural building in DC.

Top 50 - Boston.com - October photo contest theme: Pink

** My photo made into the Top 50 in the October photo contest: http://www.boston.com/community/photos/raw/2009/11/october_pink_contest_final_50.html **

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Boston.com is holding a photo contest with the theme: Pink. I am really excited about that Boston.com chose this appropriate theme and dedicate for breast cancer awareness.

If you have a photo that fits this theme, you should also submit to the contest!!! Check out this link for what people have submitted already.

BTW - 2009 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Boston, MA is on this Sunday, October 4, 2009.

I selected this photo of a pink rose from the Hillwood Estate, Museum and Garden in DC. The Hillwood is a hidden jewel in DC and probably one of my favorite museum in DC. It is a bit off-beaten-path, locates around the Van Ness area in DC.

I think of the Hillwood in two parts, the mansion/museum that was once owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post which contains her personal extensive Russian art collection and other. The second part is the outdoor area that consists an amazing Japanese garden, rose garden and indoor green house.

You should definitely check it out if you had enough of the Smithsonian.

Photos from Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center - 24th Annual Oak Street Fair

DSC_6237, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/karmanlee/.

Over the weekend, I volunteered at the 24th Annual Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Cente (BCNC) Oak Street Fair with National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Boston.

Here's a recap for the day:

On Saturday September 26th, 2009 over 50 volunteers participated in the 24th Annual BCNC Oak Street Fair. NAAAP Boston has been working with BCNC to co-organize and recruit volunteers from NAAAP, Tufts University, Deloitte, and BCNC. Thanks to all the volunteers and their efforts, the fair a huge success.

The Oak Street Fair is a community event for children and families to come for some fun and informative resources. It’s open and free to the public. The fair featured games and activities, community resources and information, arts and crafts, entertainment, health screening and education, food, and the famous watermelon eating contest.

Volunteers in the morning started the nice sunny Saturday grabbing a light breakfast provided by BCNC while checking in and getting their tasks. Volunteers then helped to set up community tables, sponsor tables, welcome tables, food stands, the games area, and the performance area on Oak Street as well as on the playground area of Josiah Quincy School. After setting up, volunteers worked with their respective group leads to get instructions on what to do at their assigned tasks. The Oak Street Fair started at 11 AM with hundreds of families and kids from the Chinatown area taking part in all aspects of the fair. During the fair volunteers made cotton candy, caramel apples, helped pass out community information, cut watermelons for the watermelon eating contest, helped out at sponsor tables, coordinate the kids games, and much more. The Oak Street Fair also had performances every half hour that included dance performances, Tai Chi and Kung Fu demonstrations, and the Lion Dance parade. The fair ended at around 2:30 PM with the last performance and watermelon eating contest, after which volunteers helped clean up the fair.

Many thanks to everyone who helped out with the fair!

Check out all the pictures in our NAAAP photo section as well as from Karman Lee Photography