About Me


Tommy Shen

Hi there! I'm a 18 year old computer engineering student at the University of Waterloo who is passionate about software development, photography, image processing, mathematics, and improving my coding skills through leetcoding and building impactful applications that revolve around my interests.

Development Tools


Languages

My go-to languages are Python and Rust . I use Rust for larger, more performance critical, and low-level applications. I also use Java and for academic applications and robotics.

Web Development

I also use & for frontend development alongside HTML & CSS and Vite for simple sites. For more complex applications, I use frameworks like React.js and Astro.js for static sites. For styling I use Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap . I sometimes also integrate my Rust programs into the web with WebAssembly .

For the backend, I use Flask , or its asynchronous counterpart, Quart, for lightweight APIs and web applications. For more complex applications, I use Rust 's Axum web framework.

Data Management

For data management, I use Mongo DB and SQLite for relational data storage. I also use Cloudflare R2 for object storage.

Libraries

My experience with image processing has gained me familiarity with various libraries in Python , including OpenCV , Pillow, and NumPy . Similarly, my passion for mathematics has led me to explore libraries like SymPy and Matplotlib .

This website was made with Astro.js with TS and Tailwind CSS

You can view some of my projects over on the Projects page and my GitHub

Photography


Photography is a way of freezing moments in time, preserving the beauty I come across, through visual storytelling. It allows me to see the world from different perspectives and appreciate the beauty in everyday life.

Gear

Nikon D5300 2024-
Nikon Z5II 2025-
18-140mm f/3.5-5.6
24-200mm f/4-6.3
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6

In the past I have also have shot on Canon R50s and Canon Rebel T7s in school, and my iPhones (13 and 15 Pro).

Genres

My favorite genres are architecture, street, landscapes & cityscapes, nature & wildlife (such as my own aquaria and plants), and macro photography. Most of my photos stem from my travels and exploration of urban and natural spaces. I try to focus on capturing through unique angles and interesting compositions as opposed to the most conventional angles.

A selection of my photos can be found over on the Photography page and my Instagram .

Aquaria


For over five years, I’ve gained experience maintaining a variety of aquatic life, including fish, plants, invertebrates and corals—both in saltwater and freshwater setups—across multiple aquariums and an outdoor pond.

Their uniqueness as pets, along with their natural beauty and calmness they bring forth, has always deeply appealed to me. While they may not be as interactive as dogs or cats, having nearly self-sustaining ecosystems in your home, complete with a range of creatures of all sizes, from microscopic to large, resonates with me differently.

Pictures and more information about what I have kept can be found over on the Aquaria page.