Category Archives: Evie

Irish Dancing

March was a very Irish month for this man mostly descended from Scottish and Welsh ancestors and a splash of Cherokee. March Movie Night featured 2 of the most Irish movies around: LEPRECHAUN IN THE HOOD and MILLER’S CROSSING. In particular, LEPRECHAUN IN THE HOOD will definitely frame the way I look at the Irish for many, many days into the future.

In addition to watching the adventures of Postmaster P and Stray Bullet, I also made my way to Dublin Bay to watch Evie in an Irish Dance Recital.

It has long been established that I suffer from PTSD from being forced to watching every single minute of every single dance recital and dress rehearsals my sisters were in. From beginning to end.

To this day, I fear dance recitals.

However, on Saint Patrick’s Day, I responded to Jen’s invitation to go watch Evie do some Irish Dancing. It was definitely the most unique dance recital I have ever experienced. It was in a tent, outside a bar/restaurant filled mostly with screaming drunk people. For most of the recital I stood on a pile of mud. Talking to Sean Clubine as he was there celebrating his wedding anniversary.

Was it worth it? Take a look at the pictures and you can decide:


Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

Irish Dancing at Dublin Bay

April’s Movie Night’s date has yet to be determined, but the movies will be rabbit themed. I don’t think Evie has any rabbit themed dance recitals to attend though.

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 183 – FORMAL PORTRAIT

I believe that the submissions for FORMAL PORTRAIT are amongst the most solid collection of submissions we’ve had in a long time for the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

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


WEEK 183 - FORMAL PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 183 - FORMAL PORTRAIT - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

WEEK 183 - FORMAL PORTRAIT - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

WEEK 183 - STILL LIFE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 183 - FORMAL PORTRAIT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 183 - FORMAL PORTRAIT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 183 - FORMAL PORTRAIT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

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 184 - STILL LIFE
STILL LIFE

STILL LIFE! What a great theme! But what is a STILL LIFE image? Here is as good of a definition as I have ever Googled:

A still life (plural: still lifes) is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, etc.).

Seems pretty simple and straightforward. 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. 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 still Monday.

My Great Shame

A couple months back I stopped at Derrick and Jen’s house for reasons that currently escape me.

While I was there, Evie and Layla asked me if I wanted to watch their next soccer game. I said sure, thinking that they were in some kind of organized soccer league where I would stand on the sidelines and watch them run up and down a field for an hour.

I’m no fan of soccer, or as it is known around my parts, boringball, but I would be willing to endure watching a game of boringball if it involved Evie and Layla. My cutoff is dance recitals. I did more than my fair share of time in the dance recital circuit for my sisters. I can never go back!

However, it turned out that what they really wanted was for me to go outside and play a rousing match on the pitch that is their backyard. Despite it being against my very being, I went out there and kicked a ball around with them and Derrick.

Here are a few pictures:


Soccer with Evie and Layla

Soccer with Evie and Layla

Soccer with Evie and Layla

Soccer with Evie and Layla

Soccer with Evie and Layla

Soccer with Evie and Layla

When Evie and Layla saw that I had cracked out a camera, they insisted on posing for a couple pictures. While I’m not Mr-Posed-Photo, I do like these, since the subjects are adorable!

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 154 – COMPETITION

COMPETITION wasn’t an extremely popular theme, even in this non-competitive WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

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


WEEK 154 - COMPETITION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 154 - COMPETITION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 154 - COMPETITION - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 154 - COMPETITION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 154 - COMPETITION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 154 - COMPETITION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 154 - COMPETITION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 154 - BECKY PARMELEE - COMPETITION
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 154 - COMPETITION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 154 - COMPETITION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 154- COMPETITION - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 154- COMPETITION - 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:


WEEK 155 - CANDID PORTRAIT
CANDID PORTRAIT!

CANDID PORTRAIT! What a great theme! What does it mean? A candid portrait is one where the subject is unaware that a photo has been taken. The idea of a candid portrait is to capture people acting naturally. They should be unaware they are being photographed, as their behavior often changes once they become aware of the camera.

Remember! Next Monday is Labor Day. While the bank, your job, and the government might take that day off, Photography 139 does not! Plan on submitting your photo accordingly. No rest for the wicked! Money don’t grow on trees. I got bills to pay. I got mouths to feed. There ain’t nothing in this world for free. Oh no, I can’t slow down. I can’t hold back. Though you know, I wish I could. Oh no, there ain’t no rest for the wicked.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

1. 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.

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

A Photo Journal – Henry Carroll – Page 95

“Up next, we have a little dedication here. This journal entry is dedicated to all the player hating people that won’t let a little gangsta shine.”
-Uncle Chris

Niece Alert!

4 non-biological nieces in this post!

Page 95 for the PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT was one of the pages that I was most worried about being able to complete. It involves going to a party. When your the True Lone Wolf, you don’t get involved to many parties. The ones I do get invited to involved 1 to 3 year olds. At that point, I usually stop getting invited. Probably because I give books as gifts.

However, I was recently invited to Maven’s birthday party and I grabbed Sara’s camera, actually ripped it right out of her brother Steve’s hands and took a few pictures of some hardcore pinata action.

This is the picture that will be physically adhered into the Photo Journal:


Photo Journal - Page 95
Use flash to capture the energy of a party.

Here are a few others that I considered, but much like the Highlander, there can be only one!


Page 95 - Reject

Page 95 - Reject

Page 95 - Reject

Page 95 - Reject

Page 95 - Reject

Page 95 - Reject

Page 95 - Reject

Page 95 - Reject

I think I ultimately picked the picture of Layla because of Evie’s reaction behind her.

Thanks to Shawn for uploading these pictures to me. You are a scholar and tech savvy. Also, possibly a gentleman.

I need to get back to hitting THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT hard. I’ve only completed slightly over 30 of these pages. I already bought a similar book to do when I finish.

If you ever want to see the physical Photo Journal, it is housed at The Photography 139 Studio under lock and key. Guarded by a vicious guard dog. It can be seen by appointment only. So make an appointment.

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



FACELESS PORTRAIT

A FACELESS PORTRAIT is any portrait that doesn’t include the face. It could show any body part, just not the face. It doesn’t necessarily even have to include your subject. It could just include an environment that is uniquely the subjects.

Happy photo harvesting!

And I Wonder How the World Gon’ Take This; They Might Hate It, But You Don’t Know Anything About Me!

The world wasn’t ready for these MUSIC photos on Monday. Not sure the world is ready for them now, but I can’t hold them back any longer:


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Photography - Alternate

Photography - Alternate

Photography - Alternate

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Music - Alternate

Music - Alternate

Music - Alternate

Music - Alternate

Music - Alternate

Music - Alternate

Music - Alternate

Music - Alternate

Music - Alternate

The majority of the pictures were taken at Rieman Music in Ames. If you have any music needs, this is definitely the place to shop. Many of the guitars pictured are Derrick’s creation. He is creating a Jennifer guitar, an Evalyn guitar, and a Layla guitar to the honor the women in his life.

The rest of the pictures were taken at Boone First United Methodist Church.

You’re welcome world.

Won’t Take that Credit; I know Where We Get It; Them Blessings Be Comin’ from God Above

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Rather than my standard picture of an inflatable turkey, thought (with apologies to Lecrae, I’d give thanks for some of the many blessings in my life.

Count it up, count it up, count it up.
Line ’em up, line ’em up, line ’em up.


Bennett 2017 Family Photo
Blessed with a tremendous biological family. Blessed to share DNA and a life with these people.


Blessed to be a part of Olivia’s family. Blessed to learn a new definition of the word “family” from Shorty and Doris.

Mission Trip  - Day 0
Blessed to be a part of an incredible church family. From Youth Group to Methodist Men to the people I see in the pews on Sundays.

Thanksgiving - 2017
Blessed to have a job and double blessed to have a great work family. 7 AM comes pretty early, but so many of the people I work with make the struggle worth the effort.


Blessed to share a life with this band of brothers. Not one of us has any fashion sense, but I’d still take a bullet for any of them.


Blessed to fit in with this band of sisters as well.

Movie Club
Blessed to be able to share my love of weird cinema with like minded individuals once a month.

October 28, 2017
Blessed to be a Cyclone and double blessed to have somebody to share so many trips to Jack Trice (a spiritual place for me) with.


Blessed to have a roof over my head that belongs to me. Blessed that I can extend that roof over friends and family when their life needs it. Blessed that when I say, “Want to help paint by house?” 20+ people show up.


Blessed that friends from past jobs are still important pillars of my current life.

The Howard Children
Blessed that people that aren’t related to me consider me an uncle to them.

August 15, 2017
Blessed to have a car that I can drive out of town and not worry about the tire falling off.


Blessed to have so many people in my life that when I say, “I’m coming to your city”, they say, “You’re staying with us right?”

Tenderloining at Nick's
Blessed to have so many people in my life that fill gaps.

Selfie Project - March 5
Blessed that even though I’m aged, I still healthy enough to still ball. Although pretty poorly these days.

Selfie Project - January 27
Blessed that even though I’m aged, I still have people in my life that keep me young.

Selfie Project - January 21
Blessed to have people in my life that want to change the world for the better, when I get cynical.

Selfie Project -January 14
Blessed to have art in my life.

May 25, 2017
Blessed to have a beautiful beard. Even if the old guys at my church hate it.


Blessed to have people who will help with projects like this, no questions asked.

Photo of the Day 0003 - May 5, 2014
Blessed to share a life and a domicile with this crazy beast. Teaches me about selfless love every single day.

June 28, 2017
Blessed to have a chance to spread my blessings to others, sometimes, with some of my favorite people.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of my blessings. But I don’t want it to start to sound like I’m bragging.

Valley Lodge is Closed

Since a few people have been asking, I am making a formal announcement.

THERE IS NO CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA AKA BENNETT-FEST THIS YEAR!

The reasons are multiple and complicated, but it is probably your fault. If you search your heart, you know it to be true.

So there will be NO:

– Baby Got Rack Award Winning Barbecue
– Hardcore Firetub Action
– Bubbles
– Sidewalk Chalk
– Golden Retriever
– Master’s Playlist
– Cornhole
– Tent
– Stimulating Conversation
– Catching up with old friends
– No photos like the ones below



2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

2016 Birthday Party Photo Booth

Better luck in 2018. I have the idea for that year’s invite. I just need to find some volunteers and some costumes.

A Basic Human Right

If we pretend that I posted this on the day that I’m pretended I posted this picture on, this sign from the Women’s March would be apropos.


A Basic Human Right

There will probably be a big dump of the rest of these photos coming soon. In 2 weeks, I predict.

PARTICULARS

CAMERA: Sony SLT-A65V
ISO: 100
FOCAL LENGTH: 70mm
APERTURE: f/6.3
EXPOSURE: 1/160
DATE: 01/21/2017 – 12:21
LATITUDE; 41.59059°
LONGITUDE: -93.60603°
PHOTO ASSISTANTS: Shawn, Jen, Sara, Evie, Layla, and Gretchen
PHOTO EDITING SOUNDTRACK: WELCOME TO AMERICA by LeCrae from “Anomaly”

Happy International Women’s Day!

I figure that there is no better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than with another photo from the Women’s March in Des Moines back in January.


Rebel Women Unite

I love this picture even though the STAR WARS franchise is just one below average to middling movie after another.

If you don’t know what International Women’s Day is, it can be best described thusly:

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

This year the organizers are calling on people to “#BeBoldForChange… to help for a better working world – a more inclusive, gender equal world.”

Sounds good to me.

PARTICULARS

CAMERA: Sony SLT-A65V
ISO: 100
FOCAL LENGTH: 24mm
APERTURE: f/5.6
EXPOSURE: 1/100
DATE: 01-21-2017 – 12:11
LATITUDE: 41.59140°
LONGITUDE: -93.60542°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Gretchen, Evie, Layla, Jen, Sara, and Shawn
PHOTO EDITING SOUNDTRACK: “This Land is Your Land” by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings from NATURALLY