Triboro and Hell Gate Bridge in Astoria Park, Queens.

Since my wife is pregnant, the doctor ask her to do more walking exercise if possible. As her husband, I automatically turn myself as her walking companion as well. In order to keep this exercise interesting, I always choose some places which we rare have a chance to spend some times with. Astoria Park is one example.

I consider Astoria Park is one of the hidden treasure in Manhattan. It is located in the far North corner of Queens Boro. Unlike Central Park, Astoria park has more local and down to earth feeling. There is no hot dog cart, no horse carriage, and no tourist. It is absolutely a perfect place if you want to spend some quality time with your wife.

Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission. Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

Photo Expo Plus in New York City

I just came back from the Photo Expo Plus in the city. I can sum up a few things about the show this year:

First of all, a big huge applause to Canon this year. Vendors such as Nikon or Epson still hand out plastic or paper bags to the visitors as usual. This year, Canon handed out the recycle bag or "GREEN" bag to us. " GREEN, PEOPLE, GREEN!

I met Ms. Yoshie Yazawa from Pictorico / Mitsubishi Imaging again and she still remember who i am! I must admit that she is a big asset in the Mitsubishi Imaging, and whoever hired her at the beginning, he/she did deserve the big credit. I consider myself a small customer and honestly I spend about $500 on their products so far, mostly on their Gekko Green, Red paper and the Unryu paper. Because of her, i will even more consider using their product from now on than Moab or even Epson!

The size of this convention in Javis Center is getting smaller. I noticed that a few of big vendors didn't show up such as Fuji, Polaroid (of cux they are no longer in the instant film business) or Adobe (maybe Adobe hasn't get his CS5 done yet on time).

Kodak booth is getting smaller as well. They are still giving out their 120 roll film, and a lot of people lined up to get one? Wonder how many of these people will really use it, or they may try to save it for the ebay in the future if Kodak decide no longer to make those.

Sony is coming strong this year and is trying to compete with Nikon and Canon. For now, personally i think i still have more confident on their HDTV than their DSLR camera line. But their Cyber Shot camera is not bad since I have been using it for the past 5 years.

I finally get a hand on the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj, a camera with a build-in projector built in the front. So you can have a slide show right on the wall, instant the back screen as usual. But I will wait until its second or even the third improved version, then I may consider to have one.

Leica has a small space but showing a 28k camera body with 6k lens, which also offered the 3 years payment plan.

More and more hardcover book liked photo album printing service available and are getting very competitive.

Only a few wedding props vendors.

Gary Fong is in person and I listened to his 20 mins demo of his new product. I am impressed by his new invention which is a roll cage (to protect the camera) / Table top stand for the point and shoot. I am sure it is going to be another hit from Gary. But honestly, I still more enjoy his wedding works.

I missed the Polaroid honestly, because it did remind me about 8 years ago my wife and I had won the sitting in front of a 20x24 Polaroid Camera and a black and white print in the same convention. I can't believe it has been so many years when I went back home and looked at that print again.


Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission. Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

4 inches apart- (personal blog to the incoming)

Hello ______ :

We met again in the ultrasound room yesterday. You and I are only 4 inches apart, and you have no idea but we are not ready to meet in person yet. It is really funny because I know you are in there.

The doctor let us heard your heartbeat and she said it is very strong. Then she showed us your private part, I am really sure yours will be growing as "like father like son".

Do you know that I called you "panda" yesterday? Because you did look like one when i see your face in the monitor. There were two big shadow on your face from the ultrasound, and exactly image of "Panda" is the first thing came to my mind.

The doctor also said you are only 1 lb, and I believe your mommy did feed you well. Mommy didn't know how much is 1 lb and I told her you are like my half filled coffee mug. I tried my best to feed both of you because I want to make sure you will be a very strong one.

Few days ago I visited the library and borrowed some of Anne Geddes's book. No doubt you are going to be my exclusive model, and shuttle clicking sound will be non-stopped. Oh, i forgot, family portrait will be done in every week in different location.

We haven't get you a name yet, but I will tell you when I see you another 12 weeks.


Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission. Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

The First Official Autumn Foliage Photo 2009

Between the period of early Oct to Mid Nov is a good time to photograph autumn foliage. All of my amateur and professional photographer friends already planned to visit and spend a weekend or two to photograph in other state such as Vermont or New England.

Since this year I prefer to stay in New York if possible for personal reason, so getaway trip by myself won't be a good idea for me except if it is a job related.

I am very lucky to live in Westchester, where it is famous for the autumn foliage scenery during the month of late September and October. It is like you have your huge Monet painting in your backyard.

Since I have been photographing foliage for the past 15+ years, so it is time for me to move on to create something unique other than plain foliage photographs. I sort of have the idea what i want to concentrate on this year's foliage theme and style but as always, idea always develop while photographing. So in a few weeks I should have something nice to come out.

So consider this is the preview of my first official 2009 autumn foliage photo.



Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

See you in a few months part 2

Every morning I drive by the pond near my house, and there are always a pack of 50 to 70 Canadian geese live there.

Two days ago, there were only less than 10 still hanging there. I guess others already left to the South because the cold weather. The Cold weather surprisingly came early this winter, which usually happen in mid-Nov. So it makes us the shorter time to enjoy the Autumn chill.

Oh well, in case if i don't see you when I come back, take care and see you in a few months.

Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

Seven

Took two snap shots for one of my cat, before I leave the house today.

Her name is SEVEN.

We took her home when she is only 2 months old.

She is one strange cat compare to the others. She attachs to my wife very much. No matter where my wife goes, Seven follows. She even waits outside the bathroom when my wife takes shower. There has been a few occasions that my wife forgot to close the bathroom door while she is takes the shower, Seven will sneak into the bathtub.

Oh, maybe I forget to mention, she likes to eat Vanilla and Strawberry ice-cream. If you put a cup of green tea on the table, expect half cup of it will be gone in a few minutes. And also she "loves" Sam's Club's roasted chicken.

She gets seven toes on the front two paws that's how she got the name.


Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

Discovering treasures in my old hard drive part 3

Even the city is without the twin tower, the spirit is still here.

Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

Discovering treasures in my old hard drive part 2

These are another set of "treasures" found from my external hard drive.

It is still surreal for me whatever happened on that day, but it was part of history now. It was the part of history all the people don't want to see it again in anywhere in anytime.

Unfortunately, people in other countries still suffering.

I didn't want to be there on that day when I looked back, but SOMEONE made me there and needed me to record the history.

I don't want to detail whatever I saw or witnessed on that day because it was not the history i would like to recall about it.

"And the dream we would conceived in
Will reveal a joyful face
And the world we once believed in
Will shine again in grace
Then why do we keep strangling life
Wound this earth, crucify it's soul
Though it's plain to see, this world is heavenly
Be God's glow. "

- from Michael Jackson's "Heal The World"



Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

See you in a few months.

A lady living down the block plants a lot of flowers beginning of the spring every year. And she is very kind enough to let me photograph the flower anytime.

Today I walked passed by her garden again, and the only flower still "surviving" is this sunflower. The lady said she will give it about few more days and it will be done for the session.

See you in a few months.


Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

Return with the Glory

After the numerous complains from my wife for the past long 2 months (well, days are seem longger if she keeps bugging you every other 2 days non-stop. Hmm...actually it's been long), the photos I took for my friends who were in the 2009 Goldman Sachs Dragon boat team is finallllllly done.

In a few moment, I will send the other link to them and hope the photo will refresh their memory of the moments for those 2 days (8/8-9).

But there is one particular photo I would like to posted in here and summed up the whole experience.

and I titled it "Return with the Glory".

Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

Discovering treasures in my old hard drive part 1

When I decided to redo my website (or so-called the Blog-site now), I told myself that I will limit the numbers of my old works in here, because I want to keep motivate myself to post my new works in here instead enjoy my old glory prints.

Well, but I was wrong this morning.

I found these photos from an old external hard drive and I can't resist myself to post in here.

What a wonderful time at OCC...

Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

When is it the end?

Here is the conversation between me and my wife last night on the bed...

Me: My dear love. How are you?

Her: What do you want?

Me (with very soft and romantic tone): You know. My camera isn't working right lately and I think it can't handle my work load.

Her: Which camera are you talking about?

Me: The one I got 13 months ago.

Her: Isn't it the one you also told me the same excuse 13 months ago and asked my approval to get?

Me: Well, but you know, this new camera is different. It's Lecia S2.

Her: So?

Me: Well, it has 37.5 megapixel, which is HUGE, and also...

(my wife doesn't know anything about photography, so I have to speak like a salesman in Best Buy and start throw in some photography terms which makes her confuse, and also at the same time makes her feel this camera is the best)

Her: How much is it?

Me: Well, in here the website it said... 28 WHAT???? Forget it Honey. Good night"

Brooklyn Bridge

There are two photos of Brooklyn Bridge taken about 4 months apart. The bridge is still the same, but my mood changed when I photographed it.

Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved

Moon Cake Advertising

It has been about 4 years since I was commissioned to design the Moon Cake poster for the Tai Pan Bakery, a well known bakery store among the Chinese community in New York.

I am honored to see it again this year in the newspaper this morning. and it does remind me the a few funny thing during the working process of the poster, such as:

- Massive photoshop retouch for each items in the poster (The original poster contain more items compare to this newspaper advertising version);

- Endless time to find the right Chinese name for each kind of moon cake (since I don't know how to type in Chinese. I have to search the word in the internet to try to figure out each word correctly.);

- After the initial photo session is done for the first day, the owner insisted I should keep the entire collection of the moon cake as a gift (it was the only time in my life to have at least 18 different kind of mooncakes at once).

- The triangle shape fish fin is fake. I manged to have a block of wood shredded. After some craftsmanship, airbrush, and photoshop skill, it came out a very look alike the real one.

Hmmm....i am hungry now.


Images originally posted by Joseph Ng and Joseph Ng Studio. Images may not be used without permission Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Ng. All rights reserved