It is a colorful city. Config: Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 28-300mm f/2.8 USM.
Sitting in one of the canal locks (there are many).
You also see some interesting wildlife on the canals. To answer your question, yes – it really is that big. This is not the zoom making it look bigger.
I love this time of the year. Holiday music is everywhere .. the food seems to be better. Sure, there are the year end pressures but there is also opportunity at every turn to find something fantastic. How can you not find yourself smiling?
I found myself wondering about that question at a recent lunch. I was early and observed a smiling rep and his Blackberry carrying, email sending, frowning manager. The customer arrived and the rep engaged but the manager/executive never broke the frown. Had I been his client, I would have simply expedited the lunch to get out of there. It looked painful. I felt like walking up to him and saying ‘Smile, it is the holidays and this is your customer!”
I remember when I first moved to the UK, I had someone comment that they thought it was odd that I smiled so much. We control our mental state … so why not smile? Especially at this time of year.
Smile.
Today I received an e-holiday card from an old client and colleague from Europe. On a personal note, I am not a big fan of e-cards simply because my email is cluttered enough and it lacks the personal – handwritten touch. But to each his own.
What sets this e-card apart was the sent from header in the email.
(His assistants name) on behalf of (The individual).
He didn’t even care enough to invest the time to send it out himself. I am not sure how it could be even more impersonal and in this case, I would recommend not even sending it.
The holidays should be about sincerity, a little extra effort ….
Michael Weening: a few pictures 