Category Archives: Bill

Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Drone, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Nature, Panorama, Railroad, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 374 – STRONG

November 14, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Thanks to the three people that left ideas for themes for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. I am very grateful for your suggestions. I will consider all of them, except for Andy’s last one, which was ridiculous.

So was STRONG a strong theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 1, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
3-Tamara Peterson – 1 week
4-Mike Vest – 1 week
5-Mary Green – 3 weeks (7)
6-Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks
7-Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks
8-Jesse Howard – 5 weeks
9-Sara Lockner – 7 weeks
10-Suzie Brannen – 11 weeks
11-Brandon Kahler – 12 weeks
12-Linda Bennett – 15 weeks (2)
13-Sarah Toot – 16 weeks (2)
14-Monica Jennings – 16 weeks (2)
15-Angie DeWaard – 20 weeks (2)
16-Dawn Krause – 24 weeks (2)
17-Kim Barker – 30 weeks
18-Joe Duff – 32 weeks
19-Logan Kahler – 33 weeks (3)
20-Teresa Kahler – 42 weeks (4)
21-Carla Stensland – 42 weeks
22-Michelle Haupt – 43 weeks
23-Micky Augustin – 44 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 44 weeks (2)
25-Bill Wentworth – 46 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 50 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 51 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 53 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 55 weeks (2)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Kio Dettman – 56 Weeks

Kio Dettman

Mary Green – 4 weeks

Mary Green

Tamara Peterson – 2 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 54 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 47 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Linda Bennett – 16 weeks

Linda Bennett

Brandon Kahler – 13 weeks

Sara Lockner – 8 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 43 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 21 weeks

Kim Barker – 31 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks

Myriah Sharp – 1 week

Andy Sharp – 45 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 52 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 12 weeks

Monica Jennings – 18 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 4 weeks

Micky Augustin – 45 weeks

Carla Stensland – 43 weeks

Carla Stensland

Sarah Toot – 17 weeks

Cathie Morton – 51 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 44 weeks

Joe Duff – 33 weeks

Joe Duff

Dawn Krause – 25 weeks

Dawn Krause

Logan Kahler – 34 weeks

Logan Kahler

26 participants! That is a good week! But a big fall from the 30 from the previous week.

There were submissions this week from (assumptions here) Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Puerto Rico. My picture was taken about 5 miles from my front door.

There was the first ever submission from Myriah Sharp. Her picture was the one from Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico to be exact.

Elizabeth reached a huge milestone. She is the third person to join the 1 Year Streak Club. WooHoo! Nice work Elizabeth!

But it wasn’t all good times, with good friends, and strong drinks in tropical locations. There was a streak bloodbath. Evie couldn’t extend her streak to 2 weeks. Willy couldn’t either. Vest also, a one week man. Jesse’s streak was snapped at 5 weeks.

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:

COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a COMMUNICATION photo? A COMMUNICATION photo is simply a photo where the subject or a major compositional element shows a form of COMMUNICATION. The theme reveal picture is of a sign that is COMMUNICATIONing that there are rules to using this parking lot. It is for church parking and no overnight parking is allowed. While signs are great at COMMUNICATIONing, there are all sorts of COMMUNICATION. The phone. A letter. A postcard. Talking. Just talking to somebody.

While considering possible subjects for your COMMUNICATION image, meditate on the following quote:

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
-Epicetus

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES
The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of STRONG in this place that is filled with my every day strength next Monday.

*This is not to be seen as any kind of endorsement of astrology, which is complete and utter nonsense.

Andy, Angie, Art, Becky, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Evie, Football, History, Iowa State, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 373 – DECORATION

November 7, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

REMINDER: This is the last week you can suggest themes for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. The one and only way to do that is to leave your suggestions in the COMMENTS section of this post. Do not email them to me or text them to me. The suggestions have to be left in the COMMENTS section of this post! So far only Andy has made any suggestions, but he also tried to question the definitive Candy Bar Power Rankings, so we’ll see what happen to his suggestions.

So was DECORATION a popular theme? Did Kio Dettman adhere to the Kio Dettman Rule? Did everybody adhere to the Kio Dettman Rule? Did Tamara Peterson make a comeback after having her 40 week streak snapped? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 31, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 2 weeks (3)
2-Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
3-Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks
4-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks
5-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks
6-Suzie Brannen – 10 weeks
7-Brandon Kahler – 11 weeks
8-Linda Bennett – 14 weeks (2)
9-Sarah Toot – 15 weeks (3)
10-Monica Jennings – 16 weeks (2)
11-Angie DeWaard – 19 weeks
12-Dawn Krause – 23 weeks (2)
13-Kim Barker – 29 weeks
14-Joe Duff – 31 weeks
15-Logan Kahler – 32 weeks (2)
16-Teresa Kahler – 41 weeks (2)
17-Carla Stensland – 41 weeks (3)
18-Michelle Haupt – 42 weeks
19-Micky Augustin – 43 weeks
20-Andy Sharp – 44 weeks
21-Bill Wentworth – 45 weeks
22-Cathie Morton – 49 weeks (2)
23-Elizabeth Nordeen – 50 weeks
24-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 52 weeks
25-Kio Dettman – 54 weeks (4)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Evie Gorshe

Will McAlpine – 1 week

Tamara Peterson – 1 week

Mike Vest – 1 week

Mary Green – 3 weeks

Mary Green

Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks

Jesse Howard – 5 weeks

Sara Lockner – 7 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 11 weeks

Brandon Kahler – 12 weeks

Linda Bennett – 15 weeks

Linda Bennett

Sarah Toot – 16 weeks

Sarah Toot

Monica Jennings – 17 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 20 weeks

Angie DeWaard

Dawn Krause – 24 weeks

Dawn Krause

Kim Barker – 30 weeks

Joe Duff – 32 weeks

Logan Kahler – 33 weeks

Logan Kahler

Teresa Kahler – 42 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Carla Stensland – 42 weeks

Carla Stensland

Michelle Haupt – 43 weeks

Micky Augustin – 44 weeks

Andy Sharp – 45 weeks

Andy Sharp

Bill Wentworth – 46 weeks

Cathie Morton – 50 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 51 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 53 weeks

Kio Dettman – 55 weeks

Kio Dettman

Christopher D. Bennett – 477 weeks

30 participants! That is a great week! So close to getting that 30 participant average!

Had submissions from (assumptions here): Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa.

I took my picture about 15 miles from my front door.

There weren’t any milestones reached this week, but there also weren’t any streaks snapped. So it is all good.

STRONG

STRONG! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a STRONG picture? It is simply a picture of something that is STRONG. This one might be a bit more of an abstract theme than many. But remember there are all types of strength. Something or somebody can be physically STRONG. Things can smell STRONG. Food can have a STRONG taste. Many people are STRONG in their FAITH.

For example, the theme reveal image is a picture of the Zodiac in the north entry way of the Memorial Union at Iowa State University. This picture is of something STRONG in a few ways. It is a picture of a bull. Bulls are STRONG. The bull is the zodiac symbol for Taurus. If you know a Taurus, they are very STRONG headed*. This zodiac symbol at Iowa State is of STRONG construction. It also represents a STRONG superstition held by the Iowa State community.

You don’t know about this superstition? Read a little bit about the history of Iowa State’s zodiac:

Architect/designer William T. Proudfoot chose to incorporate the ancient symbols of the zodiac into the north entry floor — classic Greek/Roman mythology for a classic-Greek/Roman-style building. In the 20’s, the zodiac was not as well known as it is now. Proudfoot planned for intentional wearing away of the bronze forms by placing them above the surface of the floor – to be sculpted further by building users until, eventually, they would be the same level as the floor. We know that by 1929, students had decided that if you stepped on the zodiac, it was unlucky – that you’d flunk your next test. Rumor has it that the students created this “curse” because they liked the raised effect of the zodiac and they wanted to preserve the zodiac signs even though it went against what the architect originally intended. Now most students, hedging their bets, walk around. If you accidentally invoke the curse, you can throw a coin in the fountain to take it away!

Information is from Iowa State’s Memorial Union website.

If you are wondering, I’m not a superstitious person. But I am a littlestitious. I’ve been graduated from Iowa State University for 20 years. I don’t take tests these days, but I still walk around the zodiac when I’m at the Union.

While thinking about possible subjects for your STRONG photo, meditate on the following quote:

I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.
-Maya Angelou

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of STRONG in this place that is filled with my every day strength next Monday.

*This is not to be seen as any kind of endorsement of astrology, which is complete and utter nonsense.

Andy, Angie, Art, Becky, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Drone, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Lists, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Suzie, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 372 – ART

October 31, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

It is Halloween! So happy Halloween everybody. On Halloween, I like to release my Candy Power Rankings. It is a definitive list of the 10 best candy bars on the market.

So without furth adieu…

CANDY BAR POWER RANKINGS
10. Caramel M&M’s
9. Baby Ruth
8. Payday
7. Heath
6. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
5. Twix Caramel
4. Snickers
3. Peanut M&M’s
2. Take 5
1. Whatchamacallit

Please respect my decision. There will be no interviews at this time.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

The short answer is, “no”. Some people think that there is a limit of one submission per person because I only present one submission a week, personally. I have the other 6 days to post my photography. So one is more than enough image from me.

However, the longer answer is, 3 would be a good guide to limit yourself to submit. Some people refer to this as The Kio Dettman Rule. Even though it isn’t a rule, but much over 3 begins to start to overwhelm the submissions of the others in the community. Also, if you are submitting multiple submissions, think about your submissions. Are they unique? Are they of wholly different subjects? Is each submission saying something unique? The goal is NOT to take as many picture for the theme as possible. The goal is to take the best picture for the theme you can, during the week.

The three photo suggestion would better be referred to as The Kio Dettman Suggestion or The Kio Dettman Best Practice.

The long answer is, there isn’t a limit, but 3 is a good rule of thumb. If I start to average about 30 participants a week, I will consider putting a limit of 1 per participant, to help manage my workload, but we are a long ways from averaging 30 participants a week. Although we did hit 30 participants last week, so maybe a hard limit of 1 per person is on the horizon.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough to me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their largest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point.

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I accept suggestions this Monday and next Monday, BUT only in the comments section of this post and next Monday’s post. Don’t email your suggestions to me. Don’t text them to me. Don’t Snapchat them to me. Don’t send them to me via United States Postal Service. Don’t call me with them. Don’t stop me in the grocery store with them. They can ONLY be submitted in the Comments section.

+++++++

REMINDER: This is repetitive since you just read the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE FAQ, but this is one of two weeks you can suggest themes for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. The one and only way to do that is to leave your suggestions in the COMMENTS section of this post. Do not email them to me or text them to me. The suggestions have to be left in the COMMENTS section of this post!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 24, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
2-Mary Green – 1 week (6)
3-Becky Parmelee – 1 week
4-Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks
5-Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks
6-Mike Vest – 2 weeks
7-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks
8-Sara Lockner – 5 weeks
9-Suzie Brannen – 9 weeks
10-Brandon Kahler – 10 weeks
11-Linda Bennett – 13 weeks (2)
12-Sarah Toot – 14 weeks
13-Monica Jennings – 15 weeks
14-Angie DeWaard – 18 weeks
15-Dawn Krause – 22 weeks (2)
16-Kim Barker – 28 weeks
17-Joe Duff – 30 weeks (2)
18-Logan Kahler – 31 weeks (4)
19-Teresa Kahler – 40 weeks (2)
20-Tamara Peterson – 40 weeks
21-Carla Stensland – 40 weeks (3)
22-Michelle Haupt – 41 weeks
23-Micky Augustin – 42 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 43 weeks
25-Bill Wentworth – 44 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 48 weeks (2)
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 49 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 51 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 54 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Joe Duff – 31 weeks

Kio Dettman – 55 weeks

Kio Dettman

Linda Bennett – 14 weeks

Linda Bennett

Mary Green – 2 weeks

Mary Green

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 52 weeks

Sarah Toot – 15 weeks

Sarah Toot

Angie DeWaard – 19 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 45 weeks

Andy Sharp – 44 weeks

Micky Augustin – 43 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 50 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Logan Kahler – 32 weeks

Logan Kahler

Jesse Howard – 4 weeks

Kim Barker – 29 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 41 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Carla Stensland – 41 weeks

Carla Stensland

Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 10 weeks

Dawn Krause – 23 weeks

Dawn Krause

Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks

Cathie Morton – 49 weeks

Cathie Morton

Brandon Kahler – 11 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 42 weeks

Monica Jennings – 16 weeks

Monica Jennings

Sara Lockner – 6 weeks

26 participants! A good week, but a pretty big fall from last week. I guess not everybody has ART in their life and that makes me sad.

There were submissions this week from (mostly assumptions here) Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.

I took my picture about 1 mile from my house.

There were a couple big accomplishments this week. Suzie joined the double digit streak club! Shannon reached a year straight of submissions. Only the second person to ever do that! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Jen couldn’t extend her streak to 2 weeks. Willy and Vest’s 2 week streaks are gone. But most tragically… Tamara’s 40 week streak is over. By far the longest streak to be snapped. But I won’t be sad that it is over. I choose to be happy that it happened.

DECORATION

DECORATION! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a DECORATION photo? A DECORATION image is simply a picture of a DECORATION or a picture where a DECORATION plays a heavy element in the composition. Seeing how today is Halloween, there are a ton of DECORATION(s) out there for you to photograph. Just for an example.

While considering possible subjects for your DECORATION picture, mediate on the following quote:

Like a rhyme with no reason
In an unfinished song
There was no harmony, life meant nothin’ to me until you came along
And you brought out the colors
What a gentle surprise
Now I’m able to see all the things life can be, shinin’ soft in your eyes

And you decorated my life
Created a world
Where dreams are a part
And you decorated my life
By paintin’ your love
All over my heart
You decorated my life
-Kenny Rogers

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of DECORATION in this place that is filled with everything that has decorated my life next Monday.

Andy, Angie, Art, Becky, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Drone, Elizabeth, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 371 – LINES

October 24, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

LINES. A quick and easy theme. But did it trigger the creative juices of a ton of people? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 17, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Harrison Gorshe – 1 week
2-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week
3-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
4-Mike Vest – 1 week
5-Jesse Howard – 2 weeks
6-Sara Lockner – 4 weeks
7-Suzie Brannen – 8 weeks
8-Brandon Kahler – 9 weeks
9-Linda Bennett – 12 weeks (3)
10-Sarah Toot – 13 weeks
11-Monica Jennings – 14 weeks
12-Angie DeWaard – 17 weeks
13-Dawn Krause – 21 weeks
14-Kim Barker – 27 weeks
15-Joe Duff – 29 weeks (2)
16-Logan Kahler – 30 weeks (4)
17-Teresa Kahler – 39 weeks (2)
18-Tamara Peterson – 39 weeks
19-Carla Stensland – 39 weeks (3)
20-Michelle Haupt – 40 weeks
21-Micky Augustin – 41 weeks
22-Andy Sharp – 42 weeks
23-Bill Wentworth – 43 weeks
24-Cathie Morton – 47 weeks
25-Elizabeth Nordeen – 48 weeks
26-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 50 weeks
27-Kio Dettman – 53 weeks (4)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Carla Stensland – 40 weeks

Carla Stensland

Joe Duff – 30 weeks

Joe Duff

Kio Dettman – 54 weeks

Kio Dettman

Linda Bennett – 13 weeks

Linda Bennett

Michelle Haupt – 41 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 51 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 40 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 44 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Micky Augustin – 42 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 18 weeks

Kim Barker – 28 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 49 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen

Teresa Kahler – 40 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Andy Sharp – 43 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 9 weeks

Sara Lockner – 5 weeks

Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks

Logan Kahler – 31 weeks

Logan Kahler

Dawn Krause – 22 weeks

Dawn Krause

Brandon Kahler – 10 weeks

Monica Jennings – 15 weeks

Monica Jennings

Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks

Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week

Jen Ensley-Gorshe

Becky Parmelee – 1 week

Cathie Morton – 48 weeks

Cathie Morton

Sarah Toot – 14 weeks

Sarah Toot

Jesse Howard – 3 weeks

Mike Vest – 2 weeks

Mary Green – 1 week

Mary Green

30 participants! That is a great week. Possibly 30!

Pictures this weeks from Madrid, Spain for the international flavor. Those were Joe’s pictures. From the States, I got pictures submitted that were taken in Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, and California. The California submission will probably be the last from California for a bit. Sabas has moved to Iowa and is becoming an Iowan. A welcome addition to the Cyclone State!

I took my picture about 4 miles from my house.

The big accomplishment this week was Brandon. He joined the double digit streak club!

It wasn’t all good news though. Harrison’s couldn’t extend his streak to two weeks. But submitting at all is a pretty big accomplishment from a toddler.

ART

ART! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is an ART image? It is simply a picture of something that is a piece of ART. I would urge you to not just take a standard straight on picture of a piece of ART. Try to see it from a different angle than it might be normally viewed. While your subject might be ART, your interpretation of your subject should be ARTistic. Now a truly arrogant photographer could just claim that every picture they take is ART.

While considering possible subjects for your submission, meditate on the following quote:

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.
-Aristotle

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of ART in this place where I record the art of my life next Monday.

Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Macro, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 370 – MACRO

October 17, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

MACRO. Close-up photography. One of my favorite types of photography, but was it popular on the aggregate level? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 10, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
2-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
3-Jesse Howard – 1 week (2)
4-Sarah Karber – 1 week
5-Sara Lockner – 3 weeks
6-Suzie Brannen – 7 weeks
7-Brandon Kahler – 8 weeks
8-Linda Bennett – 11 weeks (3)
9-Sarah Toot – 12 weeks (2)
10-Monica Jennings – 14 weeks
11-Angie DeWaard – 16 weeks
12-Mary Green – 16 weeks (2)
13-Dawn Krause – 20 weeks (2)
14-Kim Barker – 26 weeks
15-Joe Duff – 28 weeks
16-Logan Kahler – 29 weeks
17-Teresa Kahler – 38 weeks (2)
18-Tamara Peterson – 38 weeks
19-Carla Stensland – 38 weeks
20-Michelle Haupt – 39 weeks
21-Micky Augustin – 40 weeks
22-Andy Sharp – 41 weeks (3)
23-Bill Wentworth – 42 weeks
24-Cathie Morton – 46 weeks (2)
25-Elizabeth Nordeen – 47 weeks
26-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 49 weeks
27-Kio Dettman – 52 weeks (2)

As of that same time and same morning, this is a look at states I’ve received submissions from (this calendar year):

I have not created a world map, but I did get a submission for the Bahamas last week and I bet there is a submission from a European country this year. Sorry for the spoiler.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Andy Sharp – 42 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 39 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Bill Wentworth – 43 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 17 weeks

Joe Duff – 29 weeks

Joe Duff

Kio Dettman – 53 weeks

Kio Dettman

Linda Bennett – 12 weeks

Linda Bennett

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 50 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 39 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Kim Barker – 27 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 8 weeks

Jesse Howard – 2 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 48 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen

Willy McAlpine – 1 week

Carla Stensland – 39 weeks

Carla Stensland

Cathie Morton – 47 weeks

Brandon Kahler – 9 weeks

Harrison Gorshe – 1 week

Micky Augustin – 41 weeks

Monica Jennings – 15 weeks

Sara Lockner – 4 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 1 week

Sarah Toot – 13 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 40 weeks

Dawn Krause – 21 weeks

Mike Vest – 1 week

Logan Kahler – 30 weeks

Logan Kahler

28 participants! That is a good week.

Had submissions from (assumptions mostly) Pennsylvania, Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, and California. And… Spain.
Which picture was from Spain? Joe’s hot dog picture.

Last week I forgot to point out that Kio I had a year straight of submissions! Very impressive.

But it isn’t all good news and Spanish hot dogs…

4 streaks were snapped. Jen and Evie and Sarah Karber couldn’t add a second week to their streak. Most tragically, Mary’s 16 week streak has gone down in flames!

LINES

LINES! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE?

But what is LINES photo? Lines are a very powerful compositional element. The eye will naturally follow lines through the image. This is why they use of leading LINES is a very popular tool. That would be placing your subject at the end of a line in the picture. But you don’t have to just use leading LINES. Just any picture of a LINE(S) would work. Whether they lead somewhere or nowhere. Of course there are all sorts of different types of LINES. There are LINES to the bathroom (or so I’m told, I’m a man, I’ve never experienced such a thing) or LINES at a cash register. Traffic LINES. Some of us that are a little more aged even have LINES on our face. In some ways, it is practically impossible to take an in-focus picture that doesn’t include LINES.

While considering possible subjects for your submission, meditate on the following quote:

A line is a dot that went for a walk.
– Paul Klee

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of LINES in this place that is nothing more than a few million lines of code next Monday.

Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Monica, Ruins, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 368 – RUINS

October 3, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

The old. The forgotten. The abandoned. The falling apart. The rusty. The dilapidated. I love that stuff, but were RUINS a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 26, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1+ Sara Lockner – 1 week
2+ Willy McAlpine – 1 week
3+ Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks
4+ Jesse Howard – 6 weeks
5+ Brandon Kahler – 6 weeks
6+ Linda Bennett – 9 weeks
7+ Sarah Toot – 10 weeks
8+ Sabas Hernandez – 12 weeks
9+ Monica Jennings – 12 weeks
10+ Angie DeWaard – 14 weeks
11+ Mary Green – 14 weeks (2)
12+ Dawn Krause – 18 weeks
13+ Kim Barker – 24 weeks
14+ Joe Duff – 26 weeks
15+ Logan Kahler – 27 weeks
16+ Teresa Kahler – 36 weeks (3)
17+ Tamara Peterson – 36 weeks
18+ Carla Stensland – 36 weeks (2)
19+ Michelle Haupt – 37 weeks
20+ Micky Augustin – 38 weeks
21+ Andy Sharp – 39 weeks
22+ Bill Wentworth – 40 weeks
23+ Cathie Morton – 44 weeks
24+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 45 weeks
25+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 47 weeks
26+ Kio Dettman – 49 weeks (6)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Becky Parmelee – 1 week

Sara Lockner – 2 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 6 weeks

Brandon Kahler – 7 weeks

Linda Bennett – 10 weeks

Linda Bennett

Sarah Toot – 11 weeks

Sarah Toot

Sabas Hernandez – 13 weeks

Monica Jennings – 13 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 15 weeks

Mary Green – 15 weeks

Mary Green

Dawn Krause – 19 weeks

Dawn Krause

Kim Barker – 25 weeks

Joe Duff 27 weeks

Logan Kahler – 28 weeks

Logan Kahler

Teresa Kahler – 37 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Tamara Peterson – 37 weeks

Carla Stensland – 37 weeks

Carla Stensland

Michelle Haupt – 38 weeks

Micky Augustin – 39 weeks

Andy Sharp – 40 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 41 weeks

Cathie Morton – 46 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 46 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 48 weeks

Kio Dettman – 50 weeks

Kio Dettman

Christopher D. Bennett – 472 weeks

26 participants this week! A good, but not great week. But I’ll take it.

Submissions from (most of these are assumptions) Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, California, and Iowa this week. My picture was taken about 30 miles from my front door.

Congrats to Linda who joined the double digit streak club!

It wasn’t all fun and games this week though. Willy couldn’t extend his streak to two weeks. Jesse’s 6 week streak is a pile of rubble. Ruins, one might say.

VIOLET

VIOLET! What a great theme for year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a VIOLET photo. It is simply any picture where the color VIOLET (or purple if you will) plays an important part of the composition. It can be a picture of something that is VIOLET. Or it can be surrounded by VIOLET. Heck, you can crack out a VIOLET filter and make everything VIOLET.

While considering possible subjects for your VIOLET submission, meditate on the following quote:

I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.
-Alice Walker

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of VIOLET in this place that is very purple next Monday.

Art, Bill, Boone FUMC, Brandon, Derrick, Evie, Flat Earth Joe, Football, Iowa State, Jay, Jesse, Jorge, K.J., Kio, Nader, Naima, Self-Portrait, Self-Portrait Project, Teresa

Selfie Project – September 2022

October 1, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

I knew September was not going to be as busy as August, but looking at these pictures it is hard not to wonder if I ever left my house. Being sick for about 4 or 5 days didn’t help, but really… I’ll try to do better in October.

Here are some of my favorite selfies from THE SELFIE PROJECT in October:

September 1

September 2

September 3

September 4

September 5

September 7

September 8

September 9

September 10

September 11

September 13

September 14

September 15

September 17

September 18

September 19

September 23

September 24

September 25

September 28

September 29

While there can only be one picture to represent every day, thought I would share some of my favorite alternates from September.

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

I will try to be more active again in October, but I make no promises. Maybe the slacker lifestyle agrees with me?

Bill, Brandon, Derrick, Flat Earth Joe, Iowa State, Jesse, Jorge, K.J., WPC - Reminder

Taco Tailgate – 2022

September 30, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Last Saturday before the Iowa State-Baylor football game we rekindled the old tradition known as Taco Tailgate. It was in the new lot (D1), but it was still as great as ever. Here are some Taco Tailgate pictures:

We don’t have the most elaborate setup, but we get to tailgate so rarely. However, we might tailgate again later this year and there will be more things added to the setup. More and more.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO PROJECT theme is RUINS:

RUINS

RUINS! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a RUINS photo? It is simply a picture of something that has been abandoned, forgotten. Something that is rusting. Dilapidated. No longer being properly maintained. Or improperly maintained. This is one of my Top 5 favorite themes! It can be an old building. An old car. Just for examples. But there are a lot of things out there that have been abandoned. Forgotten. That are wasting away. Waiting for you to immortalize them through the art of photography.

Happy photo harvesting!

Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Christianity, Dawn, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 367 – SIGNS

September 26, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

It is our monthly time to look at the WPC FAQ:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

However, the longer answer is, 3 would be a good guide to limit yourself to submit. It isn’t a rule, but much over 3 begins to start to overwhelm the submissions of the others in the community. Also, if you are submitting multiple submissions, think about your submissions. Are they unique? Are they of wholly different subjects? Is each submission saying something unique?

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I will accept those the last Monday of October and the first Monday of November. I only accept suggestions in the “Comments” section of the journal entries on those days. Don’t text me or email me them or call me or Snapchat me. Put them in the Comments section of the journal entries on those days. I have my reasons.

+++++++

Was SIGNS a popular theme? You’ll have to scroll down to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 19, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks
+ Jesse Howard – 5 weeks
+ Brandon Kahler – 5 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 8 weeks
+ Sarah Toot – 9 weeks
+ Sabas Hernandez – 11 weeks
+ Monica Jennings – 11 weeks
+ Angie DeWaard – 13 weeks
+ Mary Green – 13 weeks (2)
+ Dawn Krause – 17 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 23 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 25 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 26 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 35 weeks (3)
+ Tamara Peterson – 35 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 35 weeks (3)
+ Michelle Haupt – 36 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 37 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 38 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 39 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 43 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 44 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 46 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 49 weeks (4)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Carla Stensland – 36 weeks

Carla Stensland

Linda Bennett – 9 weeks

Linda Bennett

Mary Green – 14 weeks

Mary Green

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 47 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 40 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 36 weeks

Joe Duff – 26 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 14 weeks

Kim Barker – 24 weeks

Dawn Krause – 18 weeks

Dawn Krause

Elizabeth Nordeen – 45 weeks

Micky Augustin – 38 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Kio Dettman – 50 weeks

Kio Dettman

Michelle Haupt – 37 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 36 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Andy Sharp – 39 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 12 weeks

Jesse Howard – 6 weeks

Jesse Howard

Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks

Willy McAlpine – 1 week

Monica Jennings – 12 weeks

Sara Lockner – 1 week

Brandon Kahler – 6 weeks

Cathie Morton – 44 weeks

Sarah Toot – 10 weeks

Logan Kahler – 27 weeks

Logan Kahler

27 participants this week! That is a good week!

Recently I’ve become curious where pictures were taken that have been submitted and decided to put together a little map of what states submissions have been taken from. It might not be 100% accurate, but I think it is pretty darn accurate. It doesn’t include submissions from foreign countries like France and Spain and Mexico, off the top of my head. That would be another project. Here is that map:

Obviously a heavy cluster around the midwest. But in a way, it does stretch from coast to coast. If you look closely, even D.C. is represented.

This week, I believe the states of Iowa, Alaska, California, Texas, Kansas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania are represented.

My picture was taken about 55 miles east of my front door, as the crow flies. Down US-30.

You might notice that Monica’s streak is back and magically intact. Maybe. I have no comment on the matter at this time.

There were not streaks broken, but there were a few milestones reached. Sarah reached double digits on her streak. Joe reached the Half-a-Year Club with his streak! Congratulations to you both!

RUINS

RUINS! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

While considering what you want to immortalize, meditate on the following quote:

Ruin is when man-made has become a part of nature.
-Marco Casagrande

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

RULES

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of RUINS in this place that will someday become a part of nature next Monday.

Andy, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Naima, Sabas, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 366 – PATHS

September 19, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

It was a long and a great day. Hopefully, PATHS was worth waiting for. You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 12, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Sara Lockner – 1 week
+ Becky Parmelee – 1 week
+ Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks
+ Jesse Howard – 4 weeks
+ Willy McAlpine – 4 weeks
+ Brandon Kahler – 5 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 7 weeks (2)
+ Sarah Toot – 8 weeks (2)
+ Sabas Hernandez – 10 weeks
+ Monica Jennings – 10 weeks
+ Angie DeWaard – 12 weeks (2)
+ Mary Green – 12 weeks (3)
+ Dawn Krause – 16 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 22 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 24 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 25 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 34 weeks (3)
+ Tamara Peterson – 34 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 34 weeks (2)
+ Michelle Haupt – 35 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 36 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 37 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 38 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 42 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 43 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 45 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 48 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Andy Sharp – 38 weeks

Andy Sharp

Sabas Hernandez – 11 weeks

Dawn Krause – 17 weeks

Joe Duff – 25 weeks

Kim Barker – 23 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 35 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Bill Wentworth – 39 weeks

Cathie Morton – 43 weeks

Carla Stensland – 35 weeks

Carla Stensland

Kio Dettman – 49 weeks

Kio Dettman

Linda Bennett

Mary Green – 13 weeks

Mary Green

Michelle Haupt – 36 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 46 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley

Tamara Peterson- 35 weeks

Sarah Toot – 9 weeks

Brandon Kahler – 6 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Micky Augustin – 37 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 13 weeks

Logan Kahler – 26 weeks

Jesse Howard – 5 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 44 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks

Monica Jennings – 11 weeks

25 participants. Not a great week. But not a bad week.

A couple things to note. Logan hit the half a year club with his streak. Shannon set a new record for the picture submitted that was taken the farthest north. Her pictures were taken north of the Arctic Circle! I received pictures from Alaska, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Kansas. Many of those are assumptions.

It wasn’t all good news. Sara and Becky’s steaks went kaput at 1 week. Willy’s was shot down after 4 weeks.

SIGNS

SIGNS! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

But what is a SIGNS photo? Quite simply is is a photo of a SIGN(s) or of SIGNS. SIGNS. SIGNS. There are SIGNS everywhere. Messing up the scenery. Breaking my mind. Do this, don’t do that. Can’t you read the SIGN(s)?

But one thing you should definitely do is find an interesting SIGN(s) and photograph it in an interesting manner. Of course there is more than one definition of the term SIGNS.

While considering your possible subjects for your picture, meditate on the following quote:

The very contradictions in my life are in some ways signs of God’s mercy to me.
-Thomas Merton

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of SIGNS in this place where I show many alarming signs next Monday.