We all know the outcome of the game (in case you don’t, the Gators played the #1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners and they won 24–14), but the phone call that Tim Tebow received a couple of days later when he was back in Gainesville is where this story becomes interesting.We all hear about the incredible family Tim is a part of. With everything going on in the world, you just know there is no way Pam and Bob Tebow can be as perfect as they are made out to be.
I am here to tell you I witnessed the most amazing conversation which is the truest testimonial to how incredibly good the Tebows truly are.
A few days after the championship game I sat at a table in the back of the Ballyhoo restaurant with Tim, Pam and Bob Tebow. It was just the four of us and I listened in amazement as Tim’s future about moving to the next level of football was decided. Unbelievably, the NFL was never once mentioned. Tim’s dad started the conversation by saying that Brett Farve spoke about his faith and no one ever listened. Here was a future Hall of Fame quarterback and no one heard his message. Tim then said…”I can think of 93 million reasons why I would want to stay in school and play my senior year at the University of Florida .”
That’s how the decision was made.
Now I know there are skeptics out there, especially those who are anti-Gators and/or anti-Christian. Seems to me though, it’s very hard to deny that Tebow is the real deal. It no doubt helps that I’m a Gator fan through and through and that I graduated from UF at the same ceremony as Danny Wuerffel in 1996, but I am really hoping that Tebow has an unprecedented senior year at UF!
Go Gators!
If you know me, you know I’m no fan of FSU, I’m a GATOR all the way.
Congratulations Tim, you were the best man!
The absolute best time to get amazing travel photos is quite often early in the morning. Why is this? There are many reasons, one of the big ones is the lighting. Quite simply put, the lighting in the early morning hours is more colorful and less harsh than the light in the middle of the day. A second reason to get up early is to capture the ‘true’ local culture. In even the most exploited of tourists traps, the early morning scene is quite often dramatically different than what you’d see the rest of the day. Most travelers tend to sleep in, so the early morning hours generally belong to the locals. So if you want to catch local culture, bathed in beautiful warm light, set your alarm and get out out early!
There is nothing wrong with getting a little inspiration for your photography by looking at what other photographers have done in the same location(s) you plan on visiting. The internet provides a great avenue for checking out a location before you go. A photo site like 
One of the biggest mistakes made by less seasoned travelers is that they carry far more ‘stuff’ than what they actually need. This is just as true for photographers. When going out to shoot some photos, don’t take ‘everything’ with you. Think through the location you will be photographing and think about what equipment you will likely need. Avoid carrying around gear you will never use. Not only will this allow you to be more mobile, it will also keep you from standing out too much while moving among locals. There are definitely advantages for not ‘sticking out’ when traveling, I’m sure you can think of a few without me mentioning them.
If you really want to make a dramatic improvement in your photography, you can do it by simply changing your perspective. Make a vow to not take any photos with the camera five and a half feet off the ground. There is nothing that can add more interest to your photos than bringing your camera down low to the ground or finding a tall vantage point to shoot from. In addition to ‘height’ changes, distance can also make a dramatic difference. It’s been said that the most effective and the most under-used photographer’s resource is his / her legs. Taking ten steps closer to your subject, and then taking 5 more, can dramatically alter the results of your photography. Getting closer is almost always a great thing to try when trying to step up your photography.
At some point in your travels, you will likely encounter ‘inclimate’ weather. Don’t think this means that you should put your camera in your bag and wait for the sun to come back out before taking more photos. Dramatic weather can sometimes really help set the stage for amazing photographs. Some of my favorite photos were taken with thunderstorms looming over the ocean off the shore of Phi Phi Island in Thailand or heavy snow swirling around me while standing on the Great Wall of China. Another advantage to heading out when the weather gets ‘bad’ is that most of the tourists will run for cover and you’ll be able to get photos without dozens of other tourists cluttering up your shots.
This may seem obvious, but it’s amazing to me how many ‘obnoxious’ tourists I’ve encountered in my travels. Use some common sense, be considerate of others and of the site. Nobody likes the ‘obnoxious guy’ and if that is you, you can count out getting fun portraits of locals or getting useful tips from other photographers at the site. Being considerate will not only help improve your photos, it will help pave the way for those who come behind you to also have a positive experience in that same location.
Dr. J. Robert Cade, who invented the 