Just received my new Nikon D7000 a few days ago and I'm SO excited to start using it. The manual is an inch thick but I've never really been a manual kinda guy (it's gotten me in trouble before so go easy whilst judging me). I got a different book about the D7000 so I'm using that at the moment.
I've always had a deep fascination and love of photography. There's nothing like simply glancing at a photo and having your attention completely stolen away. My favorite types of photography include landscapes and still life. I believe God speaks through His creation and I love the connection I feel with Him when I am able to glance upon the mountains, valleys and streams He created by hand. I remember traveling through Europe with my family and passing through the Alps on our way to Switzerland and just feeling incredibly humbled by the vast mountain scapes I was witnessing. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I think I was so moved I threw up a prayer right then and there just thanking God for creating the earth with such beauty and divinity. Ever since that moment, I've had this desire to capture as much of the earth and it's beauty as possible.
Pictures offer a timeless artifact into memories and experiences from the past. I think pictures allow you to relive old moments, feelings, even smells. It's almost like magic; freezing time into a piece of digital information. I just love it.
I take a good amount of photos but they're quite amateurish in my opinion. It takes time and lots of practice to produce better photos. I've also realized I need to learn Photoshop. Much easier said than done. I downloaded my mom's version of Photoshop Elements and am currently looking at a book to help make using Photoshop easier, but let me just say...it's ridiculous. Every time I open Photoshop my mind has a conniption. I'm trying to tackle it slowly and in pieces, let's just say it's an arduous process at the moment.
I might start posting photos that I've currently been taking on here, not sure though. They have to pass my rigid standards of quality so we'll see. Even if photography isn't your thing, I implore you to explore your passions and hobbies and really go after them. God gave us gifts and interests in multitudes of things. Pursue those passions and find ways to glorify God in those passions and in all things that you do.
So yea, photography is awesome and I highly recommend getting into it. There's tons of blogs and websites out there that can help you with getting started or furthering your photo taking skills. I really like:
http://www.dphoto.co.nz
http://www.expertphotography.com
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/index.page (I use Nikon cameras and the Nikon website has a great 'Learn and Explore' page for tutorials, stories and tips about photography in general...and yea, Canon users are welcome, I guess :p).
Tim
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Customer Service?
Eventful week here for me: I started my job at Under Armour working as a customer service rep. I'm excited to get through training and really start working. I like talking to people and helping them sort through their issues. It's fun to be in an environment where innovation and customer service are at the forefront of everything that happens. I've been with companies where customer service is not a primary concern and frankly it is very hard to work in those situations.
Customer service is so essential to the modern day business. With social and print media, it's very hard to hide negative information from the public. If the service you provide does not match the quality of your product, people will find another avenue to fulfill their needs. You hear many stories about restaurants dealing with customer service. A certain eatery may have the best pizza in town, but if the waiters and cooks are rude and snobbish, people will find another place that serves good pizza.
My dad and I had a conversation about this very topic this morning (we attempted to vote so that I wouldn't have to wake up early on election day...only to find out it would be a 4 hour wait at our local community center...we decided we'd give it a go on another day). He told me a story about when my grandfather had passed away and he had forgotten to cancel a business flight from American Airlines (AA) during the time of the funeral. He called AA after everything had settled down to see if he could somehow find a way to get credited back the money he had spent on the flight he did not fly. Basically, the agent he talked to flatly rejected his request even when my dad had explained to her the situation he had just been through. She told my dad that it was his fault for not canceling the flight sooner and that was it. Now, it was my dad's fault for not canceling the flight but given the certain situation he was going through, there is a certain level of human sympathy that should have be shown. But to this AA agent, she did not want to take the time or put forth the effort to assist my dad and go above what was expected of her to make my dad's experience exemplary.
We've all experienced situations such as this at one point in time or another. I've had the honor of working for the Walt Disney Company which gave me a 3 month long exhibition of giving outstanding customer service to everyone who comes in contact with the Disney name. That's how Disney has been able to stay on top of the Entertainment industry for so long and in such a dominating fashion. Disney truly believes the magic is in their people or as they say, "cast members." People provide the magic of Disney for the millions of people who come to DisneyWorld, DisneyLand and all the other Disney facets throughout the world. Customer service is key. It's that simple. I won't talk too much about Disney...I talk enough about the mouse enough haha.
To finish up that conversation with my dad, we both agreed we don't understand how companies seem to skip over customer service when it comes to business practices. What's the point of making one sale when you lose a customer for life because of your poor service? I hope to start my own company one day, no idea what it will entail. But I know this, I will make it a point to have the best customer service possible. As a human being, as a christian, I want to treat people with the utmost respect; for I wish to be treated with the utmost respect by others.
Here's some music I've been digging lately:
Cray Button ft. Lecrae - Family Force Five
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rX23_xaWjU
Little Talks - Of Monsters And Men
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I (bizarre music video, you've been warned)
Blessed Redeemer - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzk0ygdAABM
Tim
Customer service is so essential to the modern day business. With social and print media, it's very hard to hide negative information from the public. If the service you provide does not match the quality of your product, people will find another avenue to fulfill their needs. You hear many stories about restaurants dealing with customer service. A certain eatery may have the best pizza in town, but if the waiters and cooks are rude and snobbish, people will find another place that serves good pizza.
My dad and I had a conversation about this very topic this morning (we attempted to vote so that I wouldn't have to wake up early on election day...only to find out it would be a 4 hour wait at our local community center...we decided we'd give it a go on another day). He told me a story about when my grandfather had passed away and he had forgotten to cancel a business flight from American Airlines (AA) during the time of the funeral. He called AA after everything had settled down to see if he could somehow find a way to get credited back the money he had spent on the flight he did not fly. Basically, the agent he talked to flatly rejected his request even when my dad had explained to her the situation he had just been through. She told my dad that it was his fault for not canceling the flight sooner and that was it. Now, it was my dad's fault for not canceling the flight but given the certain situation he was going through, there is a certain level of human sympathy that should have be shown. But to this AA agent, she did not want to take the time or put forth the effort to assist my dad and go above what was expected of her to make my dad's experience exemplary.
We've all experienced situations such as this at one point in time or another. I've had the honor of working for the Walt Disney Company which gave me a 3 month long exhibition of giving outstanding customer service to everyone who comes in contact with the Disney name. That's how Disney has been able to stay on top of the Entertainment industry for so long and in such a dominating fashion. Disney truly believes the magic is in their people or as they say, "cast members." People provide the magic of Disney for the millions of people who come to DisneyWorld, DisneyLand and all the other Disney facets throughout the world. Customer service is key. It's that simple. I won't talk too much about Disney...I talk enough about the mouse enough haha.
To finish up that conversation with my dad, we both agreed we don't understand how companies seem to skip over customer service when it comes to business practices. What's the point of making one sale when you lose a customer for life because of your poor service? I hope to start my own company one day, no idea what it will entail. But I know this, I will make it a point to have the best customer service possible. As a human being, as a christian, I want to treat people with the utmost respect; for I wish to be treated with the utmost respect by others.
Here's some music I've been digging lately:
Cray Button ft. Lecrae - Family Force Five
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rX23_xaWjU
Little Talks - Of Monsters And Men
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I (bizarre music video, you've been warned)
Blessed Redeemer - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzk0ygdAABM
Tim
Sunday, October 21, 2012
My dad got angry at me today cause I don't blog enough. Well here you go dad...
We started our beautiful Saturday by sleeping in and going to Harper's Ferry, WV for a day trip. Everyone but Hannah and I had been there before so we had a mixed level of experience in our group. I immediately enjoyed the scenery as soon as we got close to Harper's Ferry. The drive takes you down the Potomac River, eventually giving you a majestic view of Harper's Ferry from a bridge crossing the river. Ah, what a beautiful place! The trees are turning into the golds, reds and oranges of fall and it was simply stunning. I'm convinced a stream runs through my soul as I've always loved a flowing, free body of water. Not necessarily the ocean, but lakes, streams and rivers make me feel so refreshed and full of life. I think it has to do with the life giving properties of such streams and rivers to the wildlife that inhabit the rural parts of our planet.
The town is essentially on a hill, not much parking available as we discovered. A quick drive revealed all the parking full down near the water so we had to drive back up to a visitor center to take a bus ride down to the town center. Upon arrival, I was instantly fascinated with the 'preserved in time' look of the place. Shops on the streets were full of merchandise that you would have seen during pre-Civil War times and offered a material glimpse into what one could expect life to resemble in those times.
The historical aspects of Harper's Ferry got my nerd juices flowing. The barn in which John
Brown and his men were surrounded was still standing. It's always a humbling experience to visit monumental historical sights for me. John Brown's raid helped spark the entirety of the Civil War, along with the abolitionist movement and the changing of our country as a whole. John Brown was a visionary who understood equality values way before other people around him. His visionary approach to life mirrored a future America that hadn't been created yet. Truly remarkable. I purchased a biography of John Brown and his impact on American history, I'm excited to crack it open.
After walking a bit of the Appalachian trail and taking in the beautiful scenery, we walked up the road and got some food to tide us over until dinner. Sweet tea and nachos were on the board for me, while everyone else enjoyed different kinds of ice cream. We then climbed the hill and made it to the Catholic church in the town. Small, but very quaint, it had fantastic views of the river valley. Climbing a bit farther we discovered Jefferson's Rock. It was said that Jefferson himself would come to this rock and exclaim that the views he witnessed there were the best he's ever seen in the world. Worthy praise from an international traveler such as Thomas Jefferson.
I truly enjoyed myself at Harper's Ferry along with my family. I took a quick look into the bookstore and purchased some historical pieces to read further about John Brown and Lewis and Clark's adventures. I'm a bit of a history nerd and must watch myself when I find a historical section of literature.
We road the trolley back up to our car and headed to.....Mealey's Restaurant!!! This deserves much exclamation due to Mealey's being closed for several years. It was a Hamilton family tradition to visit Mealey's for a nice family Christmas dinner. To learn that Mealey's had closed caused tragic heartbreak as Mealey's held a special place in our hearts. But wait! Our drive to Harper's Ferry revealed that Mealey's had reopened in the quaint town of New Market and was open for business. Shocked, skeptical yet very excited we decided to visit for dinner. The decor had changed from an old 'Sir Walter Raleigh' feel as described by my mother, to a more modern restaurant look: more spacious with minimalist furnishings and decoration. The food was decent, the apple butter for the roles and the scallops stole the spotlight from my meatloaf and Hannah's salmon. It was a strange feeling being back in a place that was so beloved by our younger selves. We were able to now look back on the good times of the old restaurant and reflect on how it compared to the new and updated version. We all conceded that the old Mealey's was better than the newer Mealey's but still enjoyed being in the same location. Secretly, I had always had the idea to propose to my future wife in Mealey's, the atmosphere and sophistication being a perfect location, I thought, for a magical event such as a proposal. Sadly, that atmosphere no longer resides in Mealey's. I don't dwell too much on these thoughts, as a proposal will come with my future wife in mind and could really happen anywhere. The future is such an exciting thing to consider.
Our family dinners are always a great time and Mealey's was no exception. We laughed, we dined and when it seems like we can not get any closer, we some how manage to deepen our relationships with each other. My family is a beautiful gift and I must always remember to never take them for granted.
Tim
We started our beautiful Saturday by sleeping in and going to Harper's Ferry, WV for a day trip. Everyone but Hannah and I had been there before so we had a mixed level of experience in our group. I immediately enjoyed the scenery as soon as we got close to Harper's Ferry. The drive takes you down the Potomac River, eventually giving you a majestic view of Harper's Ferry from a bridge crossing the river. Ah, what a beautiful place! The trees are turning into the golds, reds and oranges of fall and it was simply stunning. I'm convinced a stream runs through my soul as I've always loved a flowing, free body of water. Not necessarily the ocean, but lakes, streams and rivers make me feel so refreshed and full of life. I think it has to do with the life giving properties of such streams and rivers to the wildlife that inhabit the rural parts of our planet.
The town is essentially on a hill, not much parking available as we discovered. A quick drive revealed all the parking full down near the water so we had to drive back up to a visitor center to take a bus ride down to the town center. Upon arrival, I was instantly fascinated with the 'preserved in time' look of the place. Shops on the streets were full of merchandise that you would have seen during pre-Civil War times and offered a material glimpse into what one could expect life to resemble in those times.
The historical aspects of Harper's Ferry got my nerd juices flowing. The barn in which John
Brown and his men were surrounded was still standing. It's always a humbling experience to visit monumental historical sights for me. John Brown's raid helped spark the entirety of the Civil War, along with the abolitionist movement and the changing of our country as a whole. John Brown was a visionary who understood equality values way before other people around him. His visionary approach to life mirrored a future America that hadn't been created yet. Truly remarkable. I purchased a biography of John Brown and his impact on American history, I'm excited to crack it open.
After walking a bit of the Appalachian trail and taking in the beautiful scenery, we walked up the road and got some food to tide us over until dinner. Sweet tea and nachos were on the board for me, while everyone else enjoyed different kinds of ice cream. We then climbed the hill and made it to the Catholic church in the town. Small, but very quaint, it had fantastic views of the river valley. Climbing a bit farther we discovered Jefferson's Rock. It was said that Jefferson himself would come to this rock and exclaim that the views he witnessed there were the best he's ever seen in the world. Worthy praise from an international traveler such as Thomas Jefferson.
I truly enjoyed myself at Harper's Ferry along with my family. I took a quick look into the bookstore and purchased some historical pieces to read further about John Brown and Lewis and Clark's adventures. I'm a bit of a history nerd and must watch myself when I find a historical section of literature.
We road the trolley back up to our car and headed to.....Mealey's Restaurant!!! This deserves much exclamation due to Mealey's being closed for several years. It was a Hamilton family tradition to visit Mealey's for a nice family Christmas dinner. To learn that Mealey's had closed caused tragic heartbreak as Mealey's held a special place in our hearts. But wait! Our drive to Harper's Ferry revealed that Mealey's had reopened in the quaint town of New Market and was open for business. Shocked, skeptical yet very excited we decided to visit for dinner. The decor had changed from an old 'Sir Walter Raleigh' feel as described by my mother, to a more modern restaurant look: more spacious with minimalist furnishings and decoration. The food was decent, the apple butter for the roles and the scallops stole the spotlight from my meatloaf and Hannah's salmon. It was a strange feeling being back in a place that was so beloved by our younger selves. We were able to now look back on the good times of the old restaurant and reflect on how it compared to the new and updated version. We all conceded that the old Mealey's was better than the newer Mealey's but still enjoyed being in the same location. Secretly, I had always had the idea to propose to my future wife in Mealey's, the atmosphere and sophistication being a perfect location, I thought, for a magical event such as a proposal. Sadly, that atmosphere no longer resides in Mealey's. I don't dwell too much on these thoughts, as a proposal will come with my future wife in mind and could really happen anywhere. The future is such an exciting thing to consider.
Our family dinners are always a great time and Mealey's was no exception. We laughed, we dined and when it seems like we can not get any closer, we some how manage to deepen our relationships with each other. My family is a beautiful gift and I must always remember to never take them for granted.
Tim
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Flipping quarters.
That's what I've been doing this weekend, cause I don't really have anything else to do. I finished my undergraduate degree on Saturday so now I'm foot loose and fancy free. It still hasn't hit me yet. I'm done with college (Unless I go to grad school, but that's a discussion for another day).
God has been so good to me. My first semester at school I got a 2.7 something GPA and I was having heart palpitations. I didn't know if I had what it takes to get through college. I had to do some re-evaluating and with the help of my parents and my God, I sit here now on the Dean's list for my last 3 semesters of school. Feels pretty darn good, let me tell you. I've had a great time at HPU and I can not wait for what the future holds.
I'll post more about my college experience later, I just wanted to get this on here now.
Love.
That's what I've been doing this weekend, cause I don't really have anything else to do. I finished my undergraduate degree on Saturday so now I'm foot loose and fancy free. It still hasn't hit me yet. I'm done with college (Unless I go to grad school, but that's a discussion for another day).
God has been so good to me. My first semester at school I got a 2.7 something GPA and I was having heart palpitations. I didn't know if I had what it takes to get through college. I had to do some re-evaluating and with the help of my parents and my God, I sit here now on the Dean's list for my last 3 semesters of school. Feels pretty darn good, let me tell you. I've had a great time at HPU and I can not wait for what the future holds.
I'll post more about my college experience later, I just wanted to get this on here now.
Love.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Finished the first week of classes and feeling alright. The new accreditation for the business school at High Point has this directive for teachers to have more group work for their classes which is death to me. I am not a huge fan of group stuff. I have a pretty high standard for myself and when I can't control all of my grade and creates a good amount of anxiety for me. Hopefully, it's not as bad as I think it's going to be and this semester flies by. I hardly have any tests or papers so that's a good thing.
I need to do some laundry and clean up my room, good thing there's football on tonight.
I need to do some laundry and clean up my room, good thing there's football on tonight.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Just got back to HPU after a nice drive down from Maryland (the best state). Classes start tomorrow and I'm pretty excited. I've got some classes that I actually want to take and experience rather than gen-eds or required classes, so it should be a good semester. The last semester at HPU is the last step to a new beginning.
I gotta make sure I keep reading Atlas Shrugged, I'm almost through it but I have a tendency to stop things when I get busy.
Almost as soon as I got back, I went on an impromptu run to Walmart with some friends. I'm sure gonna miss these times after graduation.
God is Good.
I gotta make sure I keep reading Atlas Shrugged, I'm almost through it but I have a tendency to stop things when I get busy.
Almost as soon as I got back, I went on an impromptu run to Walmart with some friends. I'm sure gonna miss these times after graduation.
God is Good.
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