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.