Life's Options

As we look towards the New Year we are faced with options and I suggest that options are a good thing, right? Just like this old bike on the street of a sleepy beach town in Mexico this person has the option to ride the bike or walk, but the option is his. We too have options to face maybe not as basic as to walk or ride, but we have options still to contend with both daily and beyond.  I have had options most of my life and for that I am truly thankful, the most recent have been in the job market type of options. Some people would categorize my work history as unstable or entrepreneurial, I would say it’s been full of options and I believe if you have the opportunity to try something new and sail uncharted waters, usually I have sailed down that path of the untraveled. I spent twenty plus years in retail photography both as an owner and as an employee. Then I had the opportunity to become a district manager for a national early childhood education company and I took the chance to be stretched and challenged to become uncomfortable and to expand my experience base, then I had a chance to own a restaurant when I had once again no prior experience and I took the risk to really grow as a person and learn another facet of business. What’s next for this year I’m not sure yet, but I can tell you as long as I have the options put before me I will pray, ponder, and meditate about these potential options we weight the risk and move forward. The real fun for me isn’t the day to day part of the opportunity it’s the process of bringing that opportunity or dream to reality and living it. As long as there are options you will have the opportunity to sail another uncharted sea, options can be very good!

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Merry Christmas

I love Christmas Eve services and my favorite is at Grace Church in Plano Texas, it's a candlelight service that ends at midnight. There is something peaceful, beautiful, and magical about your day calmly coming to an end and you can feel the transition from Christmas Eve into Christmas Day it feels like a rebirth in many respects, I feel a true dawning of a new day, a new life coming to light from within. Merry Christmas to all and to all may the blessing from the Lord rain down on your family.

Sandcastles Are Fun!

Sandcastles are fun, goofy, and silly and unless you’re a professional they aren't that great looking. Who has ever built a sandcastle? I have, my kids have, their kids will and so will their kids and so on, as long as there is a beach with sand, sandcastles will continue being built and smiles with pictures will go on until time stops. I started thinking how far back in history was the first recorded sandcastle sculpture? Documented evidence goes back 500 years ago, during the 14th century records show that poet Balaram Das created devotional sand sculptures in India. Others claim the ancient Egyptians recreated the pyramids and other shapes in sand, of course proof of this isn't really around, but I'll go with that, it sounds possible obviously Egypt has plenty of sand and they had artist. In the 1970's California became the site of a new kind of sand castle builder: the professional sand artist, not to be confused with a sandwich artist. Sand Art, Sand Folk Art, or just families playing in the sand building memories that will last a lifetime, either way they are fun and it's a very interactive event, complete with Dads sculpting a mermaid body on his daughter, or a Mom turning her son into a super hero, it's a greatness at the beach, what vacation isn't complete without burying Dad up to his neck in sand :)

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Mission Accomplished?

This Mission in New Mexico is one of my favorites and yet I often wonder did the missionaries ever consider their mission accomplished? I know just from religious basics that the mission of the priest or fathers or padres probably never felt that their mission was completed but the foundation for generations to follow. I know that most religious doctrine reflects the concept of the long race and you must pace yourself, one that takes a lifetime. I love to photograph missions, old churches because of the architecture some are simply magnificent and some are simple and beautiful. This is a mission on the main square in Albuquerque New Mexico the time of day cast a shadow on the walls of the crosses and yet it was very peaceful not very many people on the streets that day either. Next time you’re traveling and come across an old mission or church stop and take a moment to reflect on what a small group started out in spreading the word of God to the people of the world and see how their work is still making an impact on their local community’s centuries later.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Do Whales Know Its Christmas?

Do Whales know its Christmas? I wonder how much the creatures of the sea know about what we land bound creatures really do, maybe it’s silly or is it. When I am at the beach in the winter and it’s the holidays you really can't tell what the season is on land based on the perspective, if your ocean bound you would know the season changes except for the weather and migrating habits. While on land without the benefit of advertising, calendars, displays in retail and homes would you really know what time of year it is? In the sea its business as usual the sole concern of every creature is survival of the species, keep the family intact, don't get eaten. On land we get so distracted by obligations and the hustle of life! If we could live a simpler life and be focused on the very basics would we know when the holidays are, I say yes and I say we would get more joy out of them. We would be able to really enjoy the season because we would not be trying to keep up with the Jones or what advertising thinks we should be and we could live more like we were meant to be. I wonder if God ever says to his Angles, look at these people how could they have gotten so far of track, I hope they are listening I can get them back on the right track, back to peace on earth and good will towards all men.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Ancient Astronauts or Bored Youth

Graffiti has been around as long as man has existed, we have documented scratching from ancient Greece, Rome, Mayans, and in Americas South West. We usually perceive modern-day Graffiti as vandalism, defacing property, but the truth be told some pretty amazing art has had its roots in Graffiti. I have seen some elaborate cave drawings, markings on tablets, and on monuments either way the primitive etching, scratching, use coals and today’s paints and paint pens have raised our conciseness and acceptance to appreciate this form of artistic expression. My photo is from a trip to Progresso Mexico and this was a wall on a back street near the school grounds and most places I have traveled from modern cities to remote islands you can find the local art being express by bored youth or ancient astronauts either way it’s pretty cool!

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Time to Cruise Away

Whenever I'm at the tipping point I put myself in a cruise frame of mind, I take a couple of deep breaths and I can feel the ocean and sun wash over me. It's like experiencing a rebirth of sorts, it’s type of mental getaway from the ordinary and I can taste my favorite Caribbean umbrella drink with Margaretville is playing in the background of my mind. I'm literally transported to my favorite unpopulated port of call, I'm home and my soul is at rest once again. As my mind is replaying the photographs, snap shots, the flash cards of my life a smile slowly appears, I can smell the suntan oil ...Then suddenly just a fast I'm snapped back to reality with the familiar sounds of take out the trash, check the mail, Dad listen and what’s for dinner! As much as I love my ocean adventures, my private life as a pirate, I love my real life just as much, I could imagine not being a Dad a family man, not being needed even if it's just being asked to listen for a moment, even if it's to run to the store for milk, being a Father is truly the adventure that is more rewarding and more exciting than any exotic tropical port of call, there is plenty of time to visit these places later in life, for now I'm needed at home sweet home :) 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Take A Long Walk Off A Short Pier

I have always wondered where this saying originated from and what were the circumstances when it was first uttered. It always struck me as odd when people would say; "Take a Long Walk OFF a Short Pier". I get the spirit of the phrase; get lost, take a hike, get out of here, go do something that will get you permanently out of here and leave us alone, you’re bothering me, go jump in a lake, you’re not welcome here, etc. My take away is either you are interrupting a person or they are pissed off at you? Now if I'm going to par take in this type of request I would prefer to take that long walk off this pier in Cozumel Mexico or any other short pier in the Caribbean as long as it’s not infested by Sharks at feeding time, but that’s just me. So, before you tell somebody this request, I believe you should be responsible for supplying this said pier and at the location to be determined by person being requested to take the long walk…

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Fishing Boats of Mexico

I was going to call this post "Three Amigos" mainly because these three weather worn fishing boats have sailed this area of Mexico for God knows how many years or generations, more than likely they go out every morning and bring back the local catch of the day and this harvest ends up at local restaurants and the market. I walked to the market just a few 100 feet from the beach and they had fresh fish and local veggies and fruit, this market is the place to meet up with old friends and conduct business for the day. You know long before most of the world got industrialized and the internet became king, these local market places were the hub of every community on the planet and it's too bad that this personalized face to face way of daily life and doing business has been mostly replaced by the wireless market place of the future, it’s no wonder people have such a hard time communicating with other people once they get their face out from their mobile devices, the art of face to face communications is truly a lost and dying art and that is cause for concern and sadness.

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Iceageddon 2013 Our Winter Blast!

Iceageddon 2013 or the Big Ice storm of 2013 or how about the freezing rain and crappy driving conditions we had in Dallas this past week. I love how in North Texas the weather people go crazy with the description of how the next Ice Age is upon us and the end is near? So, everyone hits the street which is the last place they should be and they invade the local Wal-Mart and proceed to empty the shelves of food (mostly consisting of junk food), water, and anything else they think they'll need to hunker down and not move for the next several years, days, or hours. Then the population waits for the end of civilization as we know it and we proceeded to get icy roads and nobody goes to work for the next couple of days and Jerry Springer gets to benefit from this act of nature with a ratings boost! (Disclaimer; I understand that other parts of the country had some really bad weather and some loss of life occurred and I am in no way making lite of anybodies tragic experiences, this is written from a North Texas point of view and I am making light of the over zealous reporters who love to hype up any potential weather we might be experiencing during the winter months). I do imagine that with the ratings wars in local television and out of mere boredom the weather writers try to make any potentially sever weather sound more entertaining and dramatic than they might convey to their family or friends. So, I say to the Ice Age of 2013 thank you for making my walk across any parking lot an adventure and my 5 minute commute as exciting a Roller Ball the movie, goodbye for now and I'm sure we have not see the end of you yet...To Be Continued...

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

The Hotel Del Historical and Haunted

The Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego California aka the Hotel Del is a California Historical Landmark and was opened in 1888 and at the time is was the largest hotel in the world! If you have ever visited or stayed you know it’s a fantastic property. The beach is beautiful and serene even with that as the backdrop the real star is this Victorian wonder that played host to Hollywood stars in the 1920’s and presidents, world leaders and a multitude of dignitaries though tout its history. Some even say it’s haunted? A single young lady traveler checked in with no luggage in November of 1882 and a few days later she took her own life by shooting herself in the head. When guest have stayed in room #3312 they have claimed to witness the haunting, believe it or not, but what you can believe that this grand hotel is well worth the trip. You can enjoy a drink at the pool and explore the vast property and its stunning grounds and don’t forget the lobby which has inspired romance and major business deals whatever your desire the Hotel Del has it! 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Diligent or Passive?

After many months of struggle it's very easy to have all your efforts and dreams move from a very "Diligent" mind set to a more "Passive" outlook. The truth is when we all start a journey we are out to change the world; we have big aspirations of grand success in either our personal or professional relationships.

We live in an instant gratification society, and that puts unreal expectations on our goals. I know first hand coming from the stressful and exhilarating world of event and retail photography where everything happens instantly, but when you try to implement this mindset in your everyday life it doesn’t always happen instantly. It is an adjustment in real life where relationships are everything and things may take months or years to see the result of your hard work, you must learn to keep Diligent and not let this knock you into a Passive mind set. Anything great in life never happens over night, but it does happen when we put in the time and effort over an extended period of time. As parents or professionals the frustration you can feel and at times you feel like you’re pounding your head against a brick wall, at this point you need to remember the reasons you started this journey. All I'm saying is you should re-visit the reasons why you took this path, what made you choose this relationship or profession. If you write down the top 10 reasons why you wanted this life’s journey you might rediscover what your passion was when you made this decision and what your goals were?

I believe you could be on the verge of your success and you need to keep Diligent in your focus and not become a Passive person. Don’t settle; expect the best for your life! 

 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

La Isla Bonita

La Isla Bonita or The Island Beautiful that's how some refer to the beautiful Island of Cozumel Mexico in the Caribbean Sea and I would have to agree. From the moment you step on the shores and look out onto that amazing white sand and the clear turquoise Caribbean ocean you know that life just got a whole lot better. The people are so welcoming and charming and the food is really good. I have been traveling to Mexico for over 30 years and I have been to some of their great cities, beaches and historical sites but somehow I never made it to Cozumel and now I sure wish I would have followed many of my Friends recommendations, it was simply wonderful.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Who's Watching Me?

As a society we have to decide sometime in our life, what do we stand for? Are we a person of integrity? Everyone says they are all about honesty, and integrity. At the same time many people will compromise and adjust there integrity depending the situation. The reality is you either are a person of integrity, or you are not. The question you should ask yourself "who's watching me?"

Every time I make a decision in my life based on an issue of integrity, I ask myself “who's watching.” The answer is my kids, my family and is this the type of choice I want them to model or not? Is this the type of person I want them to be? Is this going to reflect the proper behavior for there life? One could argue that this is more important or has more impact when your family is younger and I would argue this is a life long discipline.

Whenever you make a decision based on integrity, ask "who's watching me?"  The answer is everyone in your world! Your family is observing where your boundaries are, and what you consider acceptable behavior. Your family, friends, co-workers, church members, neighbors are seeing what you believe is important. What signals are you sending? Are your actions consistent with the words you use?

You as the leader of your family you set the standard of acceptable behavior and you show the world what your convictions truly are. Every person you come in contact with in your personal and professional life, you model what you stand for. At that point you are simultaneously training the people you have contact with and every person they share this experience with. Your span of influence is much greater than you think and the words you use and the actions you model are showing the world who you are.

Ask yourself am I living a life of mixed signals or am I living a life of integrity? 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Beach Time Good For The Soul

While laying on a beach in Progreso Mexico with a Corona in one hand and my camera in the other, I wonder why the beach as a lifestyle so popular again, it was in the 60's and now it's at the top of pop culture consciousness again. Next to love and broken hearts the beach is in so many songs, books, movies, advertising, it's a lifestyle now marketed to the max! I must admit it does strike me as a little funny growing up in San Diego where it was our normal for ever, it wasn't a fad, it was who we were and who we still are, beach bums til the end, we just have better accessories now. I thought if the universe kept everything even based on what you deserved or how much work you invested into your jobs, you would live with the results, for me I should have ended up in a trailer park in Chula Vista married to a Wal-Mart cashier thank God the universe was kind to me and I did exceed that expectation :) I'm still near a beach just took me 30 years to get back to my roots. Have you ever looked back on your life and said....How did I end up here or That was an interesting journey or like I say every day, God Thank You for all the blessings in my life!

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

When Traveling Keep Looking Up!

Lingshan Buddhist temple holds many functions a year, culture, art, meetings and other functions in one; the building is at the base of the Giant Buddha in Lingshan China famous due to its size, it's the second largest Buddha statue in the world. What really stuck with me is the ceiling of the temple inside the main hall; it's huge in scope, simply awesome! When traveling, it's important to keep looking up because you might catch a true visual treasure, something you can't see back home. In this case it was this ceiling, I'm glad I had my head on a swivel. In the words of the late Kidd Kraddick, keep looking up because that's where it's all at.

Visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Art Show in North Dallas

If your in North Dallas/ Plano come see great art and you can view three of mine up close!

Bird of Paradise?

When I'm at the beach I often wonder what the birds think about us watching them watch us. This bird might be part of the gull family and then again maybe not even close, I have no idea. What I do know a bird like this one was very cleaver and resourceful and I didn't have my camera that day to photograph the escapade, darn. I was napping one foggy morning and I caught glimpse of a bird getting on top of a beach chair and pecking his way into this brown paper bag and he pulled out a sandwich in a zip lock bag, he grabbed it and proceed to hide from his flock mates and tried to open it this went and this went on for quit a while before some kid ruined the fun and took it away and buried it in the sand. I though that butt head, what fun was that? Then the guy returned to find his bag ripped open and his snack missing :) That was just as much fun. Now, I'm thinking what's the bird thinking about all his hard work taken from him in a moment's notice? I think he would be thinking… I'm gonna fly over and poop on that kids head! That would be justifiable pooping in my opinion or at least that’s how I wanna believe the story ended.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

It's Bigger Than Us...

Another day is done and what better way to relax and find your sweet spot than taking your best friend for a walk on the beach. It's not just man who finds peace and tranquility uniting with Mother Nature so does all of Gods creatures both pets and wild life. It's an awesome feeling knowing that life on earth has rallied around the ocean and standing at any shoreline you know that Adam and Eve, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Caveman and Cave women, and all of life throughout history you are at that moment standing and looking out the same view the past civilizations and inhabitants had in there day. This is the same ocean from biblical times to Atlantis, the Mayans, the Romans, and Columbus all sailed on to travel, work, and explore it’s bigger than any of us, more vast than we can truly comprehend, it seems to be infinite, but is it? Of course not and if we don’t respect it and nurture it one day we might damage it beyond the healing point and then we will be robbing future generations the same awe inspiring vision we have all enjoyed and have been inspired by and have fallen in love with over the centuries. 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

A Magical Place...

The Magic Kingdom has a powerful image, it stirs up found childhood memories and after we take our kids and grandchildren to Disneyland or Disney World it becomes precious memories to pass on for generations. Going to the “happiest place on earth” is almost a right of passage in our family, I grew up visiting the park mostly because growing up in San Diego it wasn't a very far drive under two hours to Anaheim and when I became a driver I took many trips there with friends. I have been a huge fan of Walt Disney his story inspired me to take a path in life trying to make my dreams and visions become a reality, obviously not on the scale or scope of his dream, but never the less they are my dreams. Once you create a business from dream to reality there is no feeling like it, there is something magical about customers coming to your place of business and supporting it with their hard earned money and with that act of support it allows your vision to grow and expand in mind and then in reality. The entrepreneurial life is not for everyone that’s for sure, not everyone can live not knowing if the dream will continue or end any day. This life style makes you appreciate every day as a gift and not to ever take it for granted. I do believe when the person quits dreaming, the person slowly dies, keep dreaming, keep the faith not every dreams comes to life but it’s the process of the dream to reality lays the joy of being a dreamer. 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

“I Stalk Because I Care” (Clueless Parents on Facebook)

My official disclaimer is, I’m going to offend many parents who read this post, and others will relate and think before they do anything on their kid’s social media sites. Naturally, of course, if you “stalk because you care” as many parents have told me, just using the word “stalk” shows an obsession to begin with. Maybe at that point your kids would be better of blocking you immediately, but I digress…. Social media and Facebook are great tools for keeping in touch with distant acquaintances, old buddies, relatives, close family who are geographically not close and ex-work mates, etc. This does make our world smaller, but with that said this post is directed at parents who are lucky enough to have their kids or young adult offspring “friend” them to begin with, and with this act of respect comes great responsibility, your kid is counting on you to act age appropriately and show a little tech savvy. Every time your child posts something or is tagged by a friend or classmate, we have the urge to post a witty “comment” or “like” it right away. That’s usually because we are truly excited for them, happy for them, and it shows the world how much we love our kiddos. You need to suspend your point of view for a moment and try to see this from your Childs perspective. Here comes the part where I upset the masses… Do not do it! What are you thinking? Pull your head out and think! You just embarrassed them and ruined any chance your young adult ever had of being friends or maybe even dating that person ever in the future! You have now become a social media detriment to your kid. Here’s my best analogy to this situation so the parents reading this can draw a parallel. I was a teenager, rather young adult in the 70’s and 80’s, we didn’t have social media, but remember when you were playing a sport and that parent in the stands that yelled the loudest to cheer for their kid, or if they did something good? Remember how they were teased the following days? Well every time you click “Like” you are yelling the loudest. However, instead of 30 people and their friends hearing that parent in the crowd, your kid was just embarrassed in front off all his friends and each one of his friend’s friends, and so on, and so on. It’s the drop in the water ripple effect times 1,000! It’s their spear of influence, not yours! It’s their life, not yours! If you have a close relationship with your child or children, then you already know whom their friends are, what is going on in their life, and you can view their social media pages at will. You don’t have to embarrass them at the same time. A note to the kids, if your parent doesn’t have a filter in real life, what made you think they would on social media? One last point, when you post anything about your child on your Facebook page do not type in their full name at that point you just tagged your kids FB page and now all his friends, friends, friends just show that same post. Just use your Childs first name, remember it’s on your FB page, your friends should already now who you’re referring to just by their first name. Parents please don’t be that stupid parent use your filter, show some good judgment, and think before you click! If not prepare to be blocked by your child and if you live vicariously through your kids social life, then get a life of your own. But, don’t worry they will probably still come home for the Holidays, even embarrassed and humiliated kids still want gifts!

Taiwan Bikes

In Taiwan and most major cities in Asia traffic is very intense and they do drive really crazy! With that said gas is expensive; it's hard to find parking. In Taipei they have great public transportation that is affordable, clean, safe, and convenient still the cheapest mode of transportation is the bicycle. This photo was in Taipei and I was amazed with how many bikes were parked on this corner, then when you visit the college you find even more bikes...Knowing the poor air quality I prefer the subway system or walking and experiencing the local ambience, but most people on scooters or bikes wear a mask to filter out most of the pollutants caused from massive traffic congestion, air quality isn’t in the forefront as it is in the states. As I traveled through Taiwan and China the trend continued, here a bike, there a bike, everywhere a bike bike!

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

People Taking Photos Of People Taking Pictures Of People Taking Photographs…

This is a post that just came to mind while looking through some photos and it seems to happen on every trip and that’s walking by a photographer taking either engagement shots or pics of the wedding party on location in plain public view. Now it might just be my luck or lame timing but it happens all the time and of course I take a pic of people taking pics of the photographer taking the actual photographs. I started to wonder is this as common as I perceive it to be or am I just lucky? I have two friends that I know have captured many wedding events and they have mentioned that they might be one of many photographers at a great location capturing engagement sessions at the same time, but I haven’t really asked about the actual wedding day sessions…Maybe I will, if you get a chance you should check out their websites; Redheaded Ninja and Photos by Eleonore. I was just wondering if it’s me or have many people out there experienced this phenomenon while traveling in and out of the US? 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.