Tag Archives: Photography

Last Year of My Teens

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Hi everybody! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Well, I’ve been up to a lot of cool things lately. Last weekend was my 19th birthday, and it was AMAZING! Let me show you some of the awesome things I did for my birthday.

This year, my birthday just so happened to land exactly on the day of the Daytona 500. It was incredible luck, and I couldn’t believe it. I knew I had to go to the 500 for my birthday.

This is me at the race! I’ve never seen so many people at the speedway before, and it was really cool to meet new people. I met a dad and his son who were from a little town in Illinois where I grew up. It was definitely eye-opening to see how many people traveled far and wide to come to Daytona Beach for the famous Daytona 500. And to think that this is my amazing backyard here at Embry-Riddle?

Through the Avion, I was able to take a camera and practice my photography skills! Here are some of the pictures I took while I was there.

Pretty neat, right?

After the Daytona 500, my best friend Annie (I went with her to the lacrosse game in my previous blog!) took me out to dinner. I let her surprise me with the restaurant, but I gave her one condition: it has to have burgers. Burgers are my all-time favorite, and I eat one at pretty much every restaurant I go to. We ended up going to Landshark Grill & Bar, and after a long day at the speedway, that was a really good burger!

After dinner, I went to sleepover at Grace’s apartment (yup, the one and only Grace Hamilton! She also writes blogs for this page too), where she and Emilee (our Editor-In-Chief at the Avion) surprised me with BURGER-themed birthday decorations! I was not expecting that at all, and it absolutely made my night. Not to mention my fabulous burger cake, which was the cutest thing I have ever seen!

My 19th birthday was one for the history books, and it’ll be a birthday I’ll never forget. Thank you to all my friends and family for making my day so special. Here’s to my last year in my teens!

It’s time to stop waiting for your life to be perfect. Be in the moment and enjoy it.

Catch you on the flip side,

Noelle 🌪️

Balancing School and Me-Time

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Hi everybody! I’m Noelle, and I’m so excited to join the team. More importantly, I’m excited to share my life at Riddle as a freshman. I think I’ll be able to give a different perspective, especially since I’m living on campus and I’m a part of some amazing clubs!

Starting off strong, and what I think is the most important, is your school to me time balance. My first semester at college was a busy one. I joined a lot of clubs, and I thought I could do it all. Homework assignment after homework assignment, I thought I would never break my cycle. I was losing my passion for my hobbies, and my days started to feel shorter. I realized that something needed to change when my answer to the question, “What’ve you been up to?” was always, “Eat, sleep, homework.”

Make time for yourself!

My first semester taught me that I wanted to live a comfortable life at Riddle. And that started with prioritizing “me time“. For my own definition, me time is when you set aside time to focus on your own body, mind, and overall well-being. It could be 30 minutes out of your day to take a walk, an hour to read a book, whatever your idea of “me time” could be. Lately, I’ve found comfort in the gym, reading, and photography. I was nervous about going to the gym at first, but you just have to do it, and then that fear will go away. I’ve always been into reading, but I never gave myself time to read. This semester, I’ve gotten through half of a book that I was putting off! Photography was something new to me, but through the Avion, I’ve had a couple really cool opportunities to practice and get better.

Here are some of the photos I took from the Rolex 24 (January 24th-25th)! It was my first time really working with a camera, and I had a lot of fun learning the different angles. I stayed 27 hours, and I slept at the speedway. I was unprepared for how cold it was going to be, so if you want to try that, bring a blanket! But truthfully, I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world, and I will definitely be going to more races in the future. It was also a time for me to relax from schoolwork and other responsibilities.

Be smart when planning out your days

I don’t know about you, but a good day-to-day schedule is what gets me through the months. Having a schedule everyday allows me to block out time for my allocated me time. That way, I can still get my studying in, but I’m using my time wisely. I have breaks between my classes, so after my earliest class, that’s my time to go to the gym. Before bed, I block out time to read some of my book. Giving yourself time during the day to get your work done will save you from the nights of endless red bulls and random scribbles on whiteboards. Trust me, it’s not always the best choice. Sleep should be another priority, because the mid-day naps WILL hit you hard if you don’t get enough sleep. Can’t wake up early? Don’t pick morning classes, because they might just be the bane of your existence. Can wake up early? Then pick those morning classes and get them done early.

Living comfortably

When you start to prioritize your mind and body, that’s when you truly begin to live comfortably. Good routines will start to sprout from building good habits. Consistency might sound overwhelming (it certainly was for me), but it’s just part of the process. Make time for your forgotten hobbies, because it can become your peace in a new environment, like college.

Going forward with the blog, I want to leave a favorite quote of mine at the end!

“Slow down, you’re doing fine,” (“Vienna” by Billy Joel)

Catch you on the flip side,

Noelle 🌪️

Summer B: EE in Berlin – Week 4

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And just like that, four weeks have come and gone. I’m going to miss my time here in Berlin. It was, as all cliches go, a life-changing experience that I would definitely do again. In typical Billy Nguyen fashion however, life is not always a walk in the park.

A week ago, I lost my camera and have been absolutely devastated. There were some photos on the camera that I might never get back, but the memories that remained will always be with me. But, I’m relatively optimistic. I know that I will never see my camera again but there is big news on the horizon soon for me. That, or it could just be another jab at my ankles while I’m already knocked down.

Anyway, let’s not dwell on the past. Actually, lets dwell on the past, but the fun part!

Last week, I traveled to the wonderful city of Budapest, which would make Hungary the fifth European country I’ve visited in my life. The city was originally split up into two different cities by the river. Not surprisingly, the names were Buda and Pest.

The city was super quirky and beautiful at the same time. Much like most major cities in Europe, a lot of the original architecture remained the same, though with some slight modern touches. Budapest’s transit system was also very unique in the offerings it provided.

The people we’ve encountered were super friendly, and the views were breathtaking. I definitely recommend visiting Budapest if you ever have the time to do so. Even if you can only do a day trip like I did, it’s totally worth it.

As I sit in my flat typing out this post, I know that another chapter of my life is coming to an end. While I’m very sad that it may be a while before I come back to Europe, the memories I’ve made and friends I’ve found are reminders of a time well spent in Berlin.

Traveling abroad is a surreal experience, and it makes me sad knowing that not a lot of people are as lucky as I am. Maybe that will change one day. For now, I think this is goodbye for now.

 

Summer B: EE in Berlin – Week 3

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It’s a somber feeling knowing that for each post I make, I’m one week closer to leaving this beautiful and vibrant city. Thankfully, these past few days have been nothing but fun. And, they have put my worries to ease…for now.

This has been my lovely home for the past three weeks. It’s near the middle of the city, with great access to a supermarket, public transportations, and local restaurants. Look closely and you’ll see one of my friends.

Sometimes me and my friends go explore the city at night. Here, a bunch of us are debating where should we go play soccer in the middle of the city.

Last Wednesday our whole class took a big trip to Vienna, Austria. We only stayed in the city for a couple of hours, but it was really nice to see another city, let along another country, other than Berlin.

Sometimes, guest appearances are scheduled, while others are not.
Top: My good friend Piers Chapman and his friend Kim George paid me an unexpected visit while in Berlin.
Above: Another one of my friends, who I know from back home, is studying in Vienna and it just so happened that our schedules lined up when I was set to visit the city.

I think this trip was the first time I boarded a plane from the tarmac. It’s definitely nothing earth-shattering, but it’s definitely something that all avgeeks should experience at least once in their life.

With my third week completed, it’s time to take care of some loose ends and to really make my last few days in Berlin count.

Summer B: EE in Berlin – Week 2

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Hello, hello! I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I’ve stepped foot into Germany. There’s just so much to do, but so little time to do it. I guess I need to make these last two weeks count.

Aside from the large assortment of Audis and Mercedes(es?), Berlin has a lot of really quirky and classic cars. Everything from Volkswagen Microbuses to Porsche 911s, Berlin has it all.

It rained consistently for a few days last week. A lot of thunder and lightening, but mostly just light to moderate rain. It almost reminded me of home.

Given how easily our professor, Dr. Ilteris Demirkiran, is able to traverse the city and seems to know everyone we run into, we low-key think his is a spy.

The city has such a rich and diverse mix of architecture styles, and every section (or district) of the city is different from the next.

With class starting to wind-down, there’s going to be a lot more time to travel and explore Berlin. My class is also taking a trip to Vienna, Austria this Wednesday! Not super excited since it’s a 6 a.m. flight and we need to be up by 3 a.m., but it’s worth it.

Summer B: EE in Berlin – Week 1

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Hello!

After a very long, an rather unexpected hiatus, I’m back! This time, I’m coming to you all the way from Berlin, Germany where I’ll be spending the entire month of July doing Electrical Engineering classes! Me and approximately 18 other Embry-Riddle students will be studying with one of Riddle’s finest professors: Dr. Ilteris Demirkiran.

My journey begins after a 16 hour journey from my hometown of Eatontown, NJ. Upon arriving in Berlin, I quickly found myself in a busting, vibrant city.

Classes were held in Embry-Riddle’s Berlin campus. After class, we would often travel as a group throughout the city.

The food in Berlin is also fantastic too! Though to be honest, with Demirkiran at the wheel, we mostly ate Turkish food.

The people I’ve met are so friendly and wonderful to talk to. This lovely dog is Minki. She belongs to a lovely couple we met while exploring our city. She’s four months old and is a giant fluff ball.

Berlin is extremely diverse when it comes to geography. One minute you’re inside a concrete jungle and the next you find yourself inside a massive park.
There is so much to do in Berlin that it honestly makes New York City feel super small.

Overall my first week was absolutely fantastic. I’m super excited to spend more time here, but am sad to know that every day I spend here puts me closer to leaving.

Two Cities: Two Weeks

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Wow, so a lot of stuff happened in the past two weeks, so let’s get started!

Two weeks ago, I traveled to Montreal and it was an amazing experience. But first, I had to endure a 10 hour train ride.

Everything about the city was perfect. The people were nice, the sights were breathtaking, and I was relatively comfortable traversing the city since I’ve been to New York City so many times.

I was staying with my friend, who generously allowed me to live with her for a whole week. We’ve been pen pals for the past five years, so it was amazing to finally meet her.

The city has some really interesting quirks, like the architectural headache that is Habitat 67 and getting Costo applications in the subway.

I got to try some delicious food as well…because that’s important!

Like all things in the world, my little adventure had to end at some point. I was extremely depressed to leave such an amazing city. But I will return…some day. More photos can be found on my Instagram: billynguyentm

Almost as soon as I got home, I had to get ready to travel once again. Destination: Metlife Stadium.

It took me nine years, but I finally got to see Coldplay live! It was so awesome seeing your childhood idols right there in the flesh. Aside from the concerts Touch-N-Go put on campus, this was my first legitimate concert ever!

These two things were easily the biggest highlights of my summer. I don’t honestly think anything can top them, but with school just three weeks away, I’m open for anything. Until next week!

School, Football, and Drones, Oh My!

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So apparently my last post was never approved, which isn’t good. And that kinda explains the lack of content on my part, so I do apologize! Unfortunately, not a lot has happened since I made my last post. I have some really awesome travel photos planned for my next post though! I won’t say where I’m going, but I’m definitely excited.

So my short and brief time at Rutgers has come to a close. I passed Thermodynamics and it was easily one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do this summer. I even brought donuts to our final because it was going to be a long, four hours.

Apparently Rutgers likes MLH.

One of my high school friends, who graduated Monmouth University for a degree in Media and Broadcasting asked if I wanted to help him shot some drone video for a football camp. I didn’t realize the camp was lead by some very well known football players and coaches.

I had a lot of fun and it kinda reminds me of high school. I miss those days.

And here’s my current draft of my drone video that I’m working on.

Drone Antics

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So the past couple of weeks I’ve been flying my Mavic Pro around my hometown and surrounding area. My ultimate goal is capture enough footage to make a short video showcasing all the cool things I did this summer. For now, a lot of videos I have now are place holders for what’s to come.

I primarily use Adobe Premiere Pro to edit my videos and originally used to use Sony Vegas. It was hard adjusting from Vegas since I’ve used it for over six years, but now I’m super comfortable with Premiere and even After Effects. Currently I’m reading up on color grading and color correction which is something I’ve been meaning to get better at.

If anyone’s interested, the draft of the video can be found here!

Summer Biweekly Photoblog is Now a Thing!

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Hello, hello! After receiving some feedback and suggestions from my lovely supervisor and boss, I’ll be starting a biweekly photoblog! The format won’t really change from what you’re already used too (it’s really just more photos and less words), so I hope you all enjoy it. I plan on doing a lot of really neat stuff this summer so I look forward to what the summer has in store for me the next few months.

Shortly after I completed my last final, me and two of my roommates went to Venice, FL. Basically the place I fled to in order to avoid Hurricane Matthew. Here’s a photo of me getting stuck in a tree, 16ft off the ground.

It was nice to finally come back to Venice. It’s really a nice town that has a lot to offer, and I fell in love with it after my first visit.

Aside from bike-friendly roads, awesome people, and neat architecture, Venice has some really nice beaches.

I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there’s a jetty in Daytona Beach.

It was really nice seeing a sunset on the west coast again.