Category Archives: Carla

WPC – WEEK 233 – FASHION

FASHION barely drew enough interest to march our double digit submission streak all the way to 22. I mean, if you’ve seen the way my friends dress, it is obvious that FASHION wasn’t going to appeal to many of them. Not everybody is a dandy like me.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 233 - FASHION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 233 - FASHION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 233 - FASHION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 233 - FASHION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 233 - FASHION - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 233 - FASHION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 233 - FASHION - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 233 - FASHION - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 233 - FASHION - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 233 - FASHION - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 233 - FASHION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 233 - FASHION - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:



JUNK

JUNK! What a great theme! But what is a JUNK photo? Well for starters, I should start by pointing that there is a difference between JUNK and GARBAGE. JUNK is often something that has been discarded or set aside because it has little value. GARBAGE is something to be thrown away because is has ZERO value. For example Congressman Steve King is a piece of garbage. He has zero value. It should be pointed out that JUNK has more than one meaning. It can be something of poor quality. JUNK is also slang for drugs. People can have JUNK in their trunk. For examples, I direct you to my friend Tim’s Snapchat stories. A JUNK is also a type of ship. JUNK is also slang for male genitalia, but please don’t send those to me. Send them to that girl you met at the bar last night that gave you a fake phone number. (Okay, don’t do that either.)

As always, I look forward to your interpretations!

+++++++

HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very junky Monday!

WPC – WEEK 232 – OLD

OLD was not the most popular WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme, but we still managed to have double digit submission for the 21st straight week with a certain amount of ease!

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 232 - OLD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 232 - OLD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 232 - OLD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 232 - OLD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 232 - OLD - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 232 - OLD - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 232 - OLD - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 232 - OLD - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 232 - OLD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 232 - OLD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 232 - OLD - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 232 - OLD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 232 - OLD - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 233 - FASHION
FASHION

FASHION! What a great theme! But what is a FASHION photo? It doesn’t have to be a high FASHION photo. You don’t need to go to a FASHION show. You don’t need to find somebody that is a fancy dresser. All a FASHION photo needs to be is a picture that shows what somebody is wearing. Probably best to look for somebody that is dressed at least interesting. You can ask them to make their best FASHION model pose, but it isn’t necessary.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

+++++++

HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very fashionable Monday!

WPC – WEEK 231 – FAMILY

20 WEEKS IN A ROW! That is right, this is the 20th straight week with double digit submissions! Glad to see there are so many people out there that belong to a FAMILY and like them enough to take their picture!

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates! You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 231 - FAMILY - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 231 - FAMILY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 232 - OLD
OLD

OLD! What a great theme! But what is an OLD photo? An OLD photo is a photo of anything that you consider to be OLD. People can be OLD. Animals can be OLD. Things can be OLD. Of course OLD is a relative term. When I was a kid, I thought something that was 20 years old was an antique! But now I think something that is 20 years old is just getting broke in!

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

+++++++

HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very aged Monday!

Walking the Floor Over You

It was a bittersweet Christmas for the Bennetts. As always, there was much joy when the family gets together, but while the 2019 Christmas will always be known as the first Christmas with Kanoa. It will also be the Christmas when Amanda and Logan announced that they are expecting a new bundle of joy in 2020. It will also be known as the Christmas where Grandma passed away.
The good outweighs the bad though.

Here are some pictures from the Bennett Christmas, some are cruddy cell phone pictures that I took while experimenting with a camera phone app:


Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

Christmas - 2019

I don’t usually dwell on the names of my blog posts. I either figure that people don’t care or that they google it and figure it out. Although Google won’t always unravel the riddle.

This riddle is a reference to Ernest Tubb, who was my Grandma’s favorite musician. I’d like to share the lyrics to one of my favorite Ernest Tubb songs to close this post out:

Yesterday’s tears are still fallin’ yesterday’s dreams are still broken
Yesterday’s love is still livin’ a love that will never be spoken
I’ve tried so hard to forget dear tried not too smart everything
You are the one who has given but all you’ve received dear is pain
My life has been such a sorrow my world has crumbled like clay
My heart has slowly been dying since you told me goodbye that day

Long weary years you have suffered to keep from hurting someone
If only I could repay you for all of the kind things you’ve done
You haven’t spared me my darling everything to you I owe
All I can say is I love so much more than anyone know
So yesterday’s tears are still fallin’ yesterday’s dreams are still broken
Yesterday’s love is still livin’ a love that will never be spoken

WPC – WEEK 230 – REFLECTION

Today is a very big day in the history of my oldest friends. Not just because one of my old friends climbed a building and set his shirt on fire and got arrested yesterday. No, because today is Bill’s birthday!


February 9, 2010

9 Emotions - Bill

March 12, 2019

Happy birthday Bill!

+++++++

Looks like the streak lives on for one more week. 19 weeks in total. REFLECTION struck a chord with the absolute bare minimum to extend the streak of double digit submissions!

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 231 - FAMILY
FAMILY

FAMILY! What a great theme! But what is a FAMILY picture? A FAMILY picture is any picture that involves a FAMILY. And don’t let any Scrooge McDuck’s from Ankeny try to tell you that FAMILY can only be defined by DNA. Remember, a true family provides its members with emotional and spiritual kinship through:

+ Shared values, beliefs, and traditions
+ Common experiences and activities
+ Unconditional, non-judgmental support

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

+++++++

HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very familial Monday!

WPC – WEEK 229 – WORK

A HUGE week for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! A COLOSSAL week! WORK was the 18th week in a row with double digit submissions!

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 229 - WORK - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 229 - WORK - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 229 - WORK - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 229 - WORK - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 229 - WORK - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 229 - WORK - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 229 - WORK - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 229 - WORK - CHRISTOPER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 229 - WORK - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

WEEK 229 - WORK - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 229 - WORK - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 229 - WORK - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 229 - WORK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 229 - WORK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 229 - WORK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 229 - WORK - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 229 - WORK - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 229 - WORK - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 229 - WORK - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 229 - WORK - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 229 - WORK - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:



REFLECTION

REFLECTION! What a great theme! But what is a REFLECTION picture? Well, a REFLECTION picture is any picture that includes a REFLECTION as an essential part of its composition. A picture with a mirror would be the most common kind of REFLECTION picture. But many things have RELFLECTIONs. Including water and really anything that is shiny.

Remember that REFLECTION has more than one meaning. I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

+++++++

HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very reflective Monday!

WPC – WEEK 228 – COUNTRY

Another big week for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Double digits for the 17th week in a row. Double digits easy. Easier than walking a Thunderbird.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 228 - COUNTRY -MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - WILLIAM MCALPINE
William McAlpine

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 228 - COUNTRY - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 238 - COUNTRY - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 229 - WORK
WORK

WORK! What a great theme! But what is a WORK photo? It doesn’t just have to a picture from around your WORKplace, but that would certainly WORK. A WORK picture is a picture of anything that is used in WORK. Anybody that is engaged in WORK. Can be at their place of employment, but certainly doesn’t have to be. Remember the physics definition of WORK, the measure of engery transfer that occurs when an object is moved over a distance by an external force at least part of which is applied in the direction of the displacement.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

+++++++

HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Congrats to Aaron Barnett. He is the latest person to show taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for an email subscription to Photography 139’s online journal “An Artist’s Notebook”. I worked with Aaron in another life at the Boone outpost of the Evil Clown Empire. So if you see Aaron out and about, give him a knowing glance and teach him the super secret Photography 139 handshake.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very worked Monday!

WPC – WEEK 227 – TEXTURE

I would be remiss if I didn’t open today without wishing everybody a Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Today, I want to share some of his words following the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Often our movement has been referred to as a boycott movement. The word boycott, however, does not adequately describe the true spirit of our movement. The word boycott is suggestive of merely an economic squeeze devoid of any positive value. We have never allowed ourselves to get bogged in the negative; we have always sought to accentuate the positive. Our aim has never been to put the bus company out of business, but rather to put justice in business.

These twelve months have not at all been easy. Our feet have often been tired. We have struggle against tremendous odds to maintain alternative transportation. There have been moments when roaring waters of disappointment poured upon us in staggering torrents. We can remember days when unfavorable court decisions came upon us like tidal waves, leaving us treading in the deep and confused waters of despair. But amid all of this we have kept going with the faith that as we struggle, God struggles with us, and that the arc of the moral universe, although long, is bending toward justice.5 We have lived under the agony and darkness of Good Friday with the conviction that one day the heightening glow of Easter would emerge on the horizon. We have seen truth crucified and goodness buried, but we have kept going with the conviction that truth crushed to earth will rise again.6

(later)

This is the time that we must evince calm dignity and wise restraint. Emotions must not run wild. Violence must not come from any of us, for if we become victimized with violent intents, we will have walked in vain, and our twelve months of glorious dignity will be transformed into an eve of gloomy catastrophy. As we go back to the busses let us be loving enough to turn an enemy into a friend. We must now move from protest to reconciliation. It is my firm conviction that God is working in Montgomery. Let all men of goodwill, both Negro and white, continue to work with Him. With this dedication we will be able to emerge from the bleak and desolate midnight of man’s inhumanity to man to the bright and glittering daybreak of freedom and justice.

If you are ever in Memphis, I can’t urge you to visit the Civil Rights Museum strongly enough.


Civil Rights Museum

Civil Rights Museum

Civil Rights Museum

It is an extremely powerful and rage inducing experience.

As white supremacy continues to be emboldened in this country and has made an ugly resurgence in the last couple of years, I pray that after this current shameful chapter in American history closes, that there is some real healing in this country.

+++++++

WooHoo! TEXTURE makes is 17 straight weeks of double digit submissions! I was a little worried about this week because TEXTURE is one of the more abstract themes. Not technically difficult, but a little on the obtuse side. Plus, at least in central Iowa the temperature barely climbed into positive digits all weekend. But, we hit double digits and I barely had to twist any arms this morning!

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates, you came to see the submissions:


WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 228 - COUNTRY
COUNTRY

COUNTRY! What a great theme! But what is a COUNTRY photo? A COUNTRY photo is really just any photo that is taken outside of a town, city, village, or hamlet. This should be easy enough. I know plenty of you (like me) drive through the COUNTRY to get to work. Some of you live in the COUNTRY. But something doesn’t have to be in the COUNTRY to suggest the COUNTRY. Plus, remember that the word COUNTRY has more than one meaning. A quality tip for people who live in the middle of say Brooklyn or Minneapolis.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

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HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

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That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very country Monday!

WPC – WEEK 226 – FOOD

FOOD was another very popular theme. We have reached 16 straight weeks of double digit submissions! Someday I’m going to have to have a look and see what is the record for the most submissions for one week. I don’t think today is that record, but there were a healthy number of people that enjoy photographing their food. I spoke about the “Doris Gene” when I wrote about my Grandma recently. Photographing your food is definitely a “Bennett Gene”. I discovered that when I visited my cousin Sarah in New York City what feels like… well way too long ago.

In fact, there could have been even more submissions, but apparently people don’t eat cats. I’m sure there are some people out there that eat cats, but I digress…

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about submission rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 226 - FOOD - WILLIAM MCALPINE
William McAlpine

WEEK 226 - FOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 226 - FOOD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 226 - FOOD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 226 - FOOD - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 226 - FOOD - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 226 - FOOD - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 226 - FOOD - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 226 - FOOD - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 226 - FOOD - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 226 - FOOD - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber

WEEK 226 - FOOD - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

WEEK 226 - FOOD - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 226 - FOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 226 - FOOD - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 226 - FOOD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 226 - FOOD - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 226 - TEXTURE
TEXTURE

TEXTURE! What a great theme! But what is a TEXTURE photo? A TEXTURE photo is simply a picture that accents and object that has TEXTURE. An object that isn’t smooth. If you are looking for more of a challenge than just taking a picture of your siding, here is a good opportunity to combine two pictures to add texture to a subject that doesn’t have texture. This would be called multi-exposure in the old film days. But you can replicate double exposure in image editing software.

Here is another hint, black and white photography shows off texture more than color photography.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

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HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Congratulations to Randy Rios (not actual last name) for being the latest person to show taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I don’t know that she really wanted the subscription, but Jorge told her it would be good for her. Jorge is the law.

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That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very textured Monday!

Selfie Project – December

December was a truly busy month. I actually left the state more than one. I visited places like Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

I feel I ended this attempt at THE SELFIE PROJECT fairly strong. Here are some of my favorite pictures from December:


December 1, 2019
December 1

December 2, 2019
December 2

December 3, 2019
December 3

December 4, 2019
December 4

December 5, 2019
December 5

December 6, 2019
December 6

December 7,  2019
December 7

December 10, 2019
December 10

December 12, 2019
December 12

December 14, 2019
December 14

December 15, 2019
December 15

December 19, 2019
December 19

December 20, 2019
December 20

December 21, 2019
December 21

December 22, 2019
December 22

December 23, 2019
December 23

December 24, 2019
December 24

December 25, 2019
December 25

December 26, 2019
December 26

December 27, 2019
December 27

December 28, 2019
December 28

December 30, 2019
December 30

December 31, 2019
December 31

January 1, 2020
January 1

I might do a year-end look at THE SELFIE PROJECT, at some point, but if I don’t, you can peruse all THE SELFIE PROJECT pictures by clicking on the link below:

THE SELFIE PROJECT

I’m not duplicating this project in 2020. I might do a “selfie-type” project, but it will be completely different.

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This is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is HDR:


WEEK 225 - HDR
HDR

Remember an HDR image is a combination of several images to create on image with expanded dynamic range. Pretty much every camera will have an HDR setting that will do this for you automatically. If you can find me, I can show you the setting on your camera.

Happy photo harvesting!