Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Sales Rep Conversation Chronicles: Episode #1

In case anyone was unaware - I am currently employed as what I refer to as an "Ad Monkey". The best part about my job - aside from all the air conditioning I can handle and birthday cake binges - is the awesome art direction I receive from sales reps and clients alike. I say it with a small side of humor as one has to find and love the humor in the little things day to day...  'cause unless you live in a sitcom (which sometimes I pretend I do) nothing hugely funny is going to happen to you every 24 minutes.

I was looking back at some small "notes" I had written about particularly amusing moments and will share them periodically - as well as add new ones. If you too are an ad monkey - you will appreciate the humor (and the mental cramping) of moments like these.

So without further adieu...

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Dear Sales Rep,
Let me get this straight. You have sent me the same email 5 times to make a 'very important change' to an ad. Now this 'change' is - you sent me a lores file, by the way, but let's not dwell on such small details - the customer is most insistent that I change out the black and white photo in their ad to a color one - the photo of the black and white dalmatian on a white rug being painted over with white paint...

Let me repeat - the photo of the black and white dalmatian on a white rug being painted over with white paint - it should be in color?

*whimper*


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I do really love the people I work with - it's the work that keeps me giggling.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Reminders to self



I will never blame others for the place I am – or am not. The actions and choices of others, while they may effect my feelings, do not define me. It is my reactions and choices that steer my direction. Period.

I am not so small in this world that I have ever seen myself as the "victim" in my life. I am wise enough to be responsible for myself.

People will hurt my feelings. They will trample on my kindness and mistake it for weakness. These people are broken. I will try not be angry with them. This is difficult to do when one has been hurt, but rather, I will pity them because they have demons to conquer and do not know any other way to be. {This one is the hardest.}

I will always be kind. I know my actions - large or small - can effect others. I will never knowingly hurt anyone else for any reason. 

People come into your life, stay and grow with you. Cherish and appreciate them. They help shape the way you see yourself.

People come into your life and people fall out of your life. Some with dramatic exits and some with quiet endings. They are fleeting visitors who leave but always impart a lesson. They also help shape the way you see yourself and how you handle yourself in the future. I will learn from them - but let them go.

I will let go of anger. It is useless to hold onto it.

I will remain silly, thoughtful, slightly weird, sometimes serious and always wonder what I will be when I grow up because I am determined to always be growing.

I will love my children more with every passing moment and cherish the nose and hand prints on the window even though I just cleaned the darned window – because one day they will move away and I will have perfectly clean windows. 

It is easy to feel alone when I am scared - even when surrounded by the largest of crowds. I will feel blessed and thankful that I have found a strong hand to hold, that won't let go, won't give up and reminds me that not only I am supported but my dreams are supported as well.

I will never forget to say "I love you" and "Thank you" – but if I do please remember that I carry your heart with me always and you have mine - even when I'm cranky and overtired.

Top 3 Things I Learned at Planet Fitness


1) NEVER use the elliptical glider 3rd from the right during sunset. The reflection on the floor will burn your retinas and blind you.

2) The cast of characters in PF is amusing. If it wasn't creepy, I'd bring the camera to provide evidence of the troops. Spandex is not for everyone. Mesh tank tops are not for anyone. Period.

3) Reading my kindle while gliding my way to better health may make me look worldly and knowledgeable - however reading humorous books will do nothing to differentiate me from the {afore mentioned} colorful cast. Between gasping for breath and wheezing, I periodically burst into {seemingly} spontaneous laughter. I may have been the craziest looking kook there.

BONUS LESSON!!!!!!
I'm pretty sure that a woman who has to be no less than 75 {if she's a day} kicked my ass on the elliptical glider.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

people {pictures}


This is my very first people picture.  It was taken in 2007 at the beginning of my photographic journey.

I worked in downtown Nashua, NH for a few years and had formed an evening rapport with this gentleman named Arthur. I could never figure out if Arthur was homeless or not - I never asked. By appearances, one would assume he was, but I had heard from locals that he had a subsidized room somewhere near downtown. Regardless of his living situation, I had noticed him for a few weeks when I first started working there and like most people, I would pass without speaking or even making eye contact with him.

One day, I was standing on the corner of the street waiting to cross when I saw him pushing his bicycle down the side walk. Granted, I saw him quite often - but this day I looked at him. I saw his tattered clothing and unkempt face. I noticed the big wire basket on the front of the bike and the almost comical brass horn on the handle bars. I glanced around and noticed most everyone about pretended not to notice him – like he didn't exist in that space, in that moment. What an awful feeling that must be. Everyone is a person. Everyone exists. Everyone deserves a smile and a hello. And to my shame, I was guilty of doing that exact thing previously.

As he passed by me I simply said "Hello" and shared a smile.

After that, every evening without fail - rain or shine - Arthur would be sitting on the bench at the corner opposite of my office, waiting to say good evening and comment on the weather or to let me know he was selling Avon should I need any Skin So Soft. He would smile and wave to me from across the street when he saw me exit the building and press the cross walk button.

I remember working late one evening – it was dreary and raining – and I didn't leave my office until well after 7:30pm. Now normally, I was out of the office and on my way home by 5:00pm, so I naturally assumed Arthur would not be there. But he was. Sitting on that bench, with his umbrella, waiting to say good evening and comment on the particular fat drops of rain around us. Every evening. Without fail. Just for that 2 minute interaction and then we went our separate ways. I admit, it was both flattering and a little frightening.

When I decided to purchase my first digital SLR in 2007 - a Canon Digital Rebel XT - I brought my new toy to the office for "show and tell".  I was so excited about finally splurging on something I had so longed to purchase but had yet to master. I had a very vague, general idea of what I was doing (technically speaking) from a high school photography class years before – things like shutter speed, ISO and aperture. Time has a way of fading knowledge and in all honestly - I probably didn't have a strong grasp of it then. I never used the automatic "green box".  To my tiny credit, I shot everything on manual - fumbling as I figured things out.

These two things relate. I promise.

That evening, like every other, Arthur was sitting, waiting for me to say hello. But, unlike previous interactions, I deviated from our normal script and showed him my new camera. We talked for a few moments about the camera and the reasons I had gotten it. Then, I asked if I might take his picture. He looked a little surprised but quickly recovered and said "Of course!".

I stepped back and fumbled with my settings. I was so nervous because I didn't want to seem intrusive. I quickly set the camera as best I could and shot a couple frames. I look at the EXIF info now and give myself mental palm slap to the head. ISO 400, 1/100 second, 7.2/f. My today (somewhat technical) mind says  "Gheesh - you should have shot this at no more than 4.0/f and bumped that shutter up, silly girl".

My artistic mind of yesterday and today says "Well done." It's not perfect in a technical sense - I know - but it is a good "people picture" that has the undertones I strive for in every image I create. To this day, it is remains one of my favorite images that I have taken.

Recently, I was asked to define what I think a good "people picture" is. This is infinitely harder than it first sounds. My mouth opened to answer quickly, but I found my self at a loss to sum up what I thought into words. I had to pause and really think about this. I had to look at photos that I loved and consider what about them draws me to them and holds my attention - even long after I have seen them?

I think a good people picture is emotive. It reaches beyond the boundaries of its frame and captures not only a moment, a person or people - but it exposes something hidden just below the surface - a small truth not always spoken and very subtly seen.

I love taking photos of most everything. I have a bend towards abandoned and dilapidated buildings as as well as people. Even without an actual person in the photo - it's something touched or neglected by people. It has an emotion and a history. It tells a story.

Thinking about this has re-energized me to continue my photographic journey and to one day create that one photo that someone will see and carry with them. I'm not there yet and wonder if I ever will be. I wonder if any artist ever believes that they have attained their goal. But I believe that this subtle doubt about the ability to attain achievement is what I carry with me  - what pushes me to continue, to grow, to create and to see the world at a slightly askew angle.