Category Archives: Friends

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 64 – TOWN

December 5, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 13 Comments

This was definitely a tough week for participation rates. It was even a little tough for me. The early sunset. The national depression. The busy holidays. It has been tough the last few weeks. I get it. Hopefully there will be a bounce back next week.

But you don’t want to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You want to see the submissions. Here they are:

Kim Barker

Becky Perkovich

Cathie Raley 1

Cathie Raley 2

Christopher D. Bennett

Angie DeWaard

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:

FAMILY!

FAMILY! What a great theme. But remember, don’t necessarily define family as a group of people that share genetic material. Families are defined by love. I bet everybody reading these words is a member of multiple families.

Just off the top of my head I consider myself to be a member of the following families:

The Bennetts
The Millers
The Petersons
The other Petersons
The Paris(es)
The Majors
Cyclone Nation
FNSC
Baby Got Rack
The Rats
Boone County Sea Dogs
The Methodist Youth Group
The Methodist Men
The Methodist General Congregation
The Boone Outpost of the Evil Clown Empire Alumni
The Campus Outpost of the Evil Clown Empire Alumni
The West Ames Outpost of the Evil Clown Empire Alumni
The Engineering Team of The Computer Mine
The Brother/Sisterhood of The Cup

That is just scratching the surface. I know of way more families than just the ones I belong to as well.

For example. There is an extremely popular show on AMC called THE WALKING DEAD. The show takes place after the zombie apocalypse and current definitions of society and family has broken down. Now people huddle together into new families. One family is lead by a bumbling moron that does nothing but get people killed through his poor decision making. This family is lead by a “man” named Rick. While this family is highly dysfunctional and borderline evil, they are still a family. There is another family that has a smart and charismatic leader. A leader that makes good decisions. Keeps his people alive and makes his fair and just decisions based on the rule of law. This family is lead by a MAN named Negan.

While Negan’s family is way more successful than Rick’s family. They are both families. Both would be eligible for the FAMILY theme. Don’t judge the quality of the family when determining what fits the theme.

Or do whatever you want. Our little family here has limited rules. But what are those rules…

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. 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

Nothing new to report. I’ll try to do better next week.

Want your own Photography 139 email subscription? Call, email, or text me and I’ll get you the hook up.

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.

Art, Baier, Black & White, Candid Portrait, Formal Portrait, Jeff Daniel, Nader, Street Photography, Yin

Nader Day

November 29, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

A few weeks back I took Nader down to Des Moines for his birthday. We bummed around the downtown area and then met Jeff, Yin, and a couple of Baiers for lunch at Mad Meatball. Here are a few pictures from the bumming around phase of the day:

We also randomly ran into Shadi in the East Village. It was a good day. Nader messed around and got a triple-double.

Angie, Becky, Candid Portrait, Cathie, Dae Hee, Dawn, Kim, Nora, Shannon, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 63 – LOVE

November 28, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

There wasn’t as much LOVE in the world this week as one would have hoped. I’ll just hope that when we get to HATE, it isn’t a more popular option. But it is the world that we live in.

But you don’t want to listen to me talk all tommyrot about LOVE and HATE. You want to see the LOVE submissions:

Kim Barker

Shannon Bardole

Becky Perkovich

Christopher D. Bennett

Cathie Raley 1

Cathie Raley 2

Cathie Raley 3

Angie DeWaard

Dawn Krause

TOWN!

But what is a TOWN? Here is one definition:

an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government, and that is generally larger than a village and smaller than a city.

But for our purposes here, a village or a city work perfectly fine. This theme is a slight derivation of last year’s theme of HOMETOWN. This theme is a little more expansive because it doesn’t suggest a picture of a HOMETOWN, but of any town. What is it about that town or city or village that is unique to that town. A picture of any old downtown would do. A cityscape would work. A Christmas parade would work. A town sign would work. Let your imagination go wild! Define the theme any way you see fit.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nothing new to report. I’ll try to do better next week.

Want your own Photography 139 email subscription? Call, email, or text me and I’ll get you the hook up.

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 townie Monday.

Angie, Bill, Cathie, Dawn, Night, Shannon, Steph, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 62 – NIGHT

November 21, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

Participation rates may have dipped again slightly. The cool night air maybe zapping some motivation. Possibly. It even happened to me a bit this week. I was going to take my photo Saturday night and then fell asleep. Then I was going to do it Sunday night, fell asleep on my couch again. So I had to use a picture from Monday night.

I can sit here and talk all tommyrot about my own struggles, but you just want to see the submissions! Here they are:

Dawn Krause 1

Dawn Krause 2

Bill Wentworth

Angie DeWaard

Kim Barker

Mike Vest

Shannon Bardole

Stephanie Kim

Christopher D. Bennett

Cathie Raley

LOVE!

LOVE! That is an easy and painful enough concept! Everybody loves something. So there are a couple of ways at looking at this theme. You can get out there and photograph something you love. Or you could get out there and show somebody or something expressing love. Or you can get out there and photograph something that symbolizes love. I know we live in a hateful society in the middle of hateful world. But in this world full of hate, there is still love. So get out there and capture it.

After all, it is Thanksgiving this week. If you don’t see something or somebody you love or expressing love on that day… you’re doing life wrong. Better check the instruction manual again.

I’m looking at you people who have said they will participate some day, but haven’t.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nothing new to report. I’ll try to do better next week.

Want your own Photography 139 email subscription? Call, email, or text me and I’ll get you the hook up.

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 lovable Monday.

Flat Earth Joe, Flowers

State Center Backlog

November 18, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A long time ago, Joe and I hopped in the Camry and went to Marshalltown for some pizza. On the way back we stopped at the State Center Rose Garden. It was late in the evening, so I didn’t get as many images as I normally do. I will have to remedy that next year.

Man. We’re really closing in on 2017. I probably should make a decision on the calendar somewhat soon.

Alisa, Angie, Art, Bill, Kim, Steph, Still Life, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 61 – STILL LIFE

November 14, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

There weren’t a whole lot of takers for STILL LIFE. Must have been a depression of some kind out there.

But you don’t want to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates, you want to see the submissions. Here they are:

Kim Barker

Bill Wentworth

Angie DeWaard

Stephanie Kim

Cathie Raley 1

Cathie Raley 2

Christopher D. Bennett

Mike Vest

NIGHT!

NIGHT is a pretty self-explanatory theme. A NIGHT picture is any picture taken at night. Yes, I’d encourage you to get outside and take a picture with a long exposure or lit by the super full moon that will be out tonight. However, any picture taken at night or suggesting the night will do!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Great news! Alisa Baker is the latest person to show taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for a Photogrpahy 139 email subscription. Alisa is one of my favoritest people in the world. She was formerly the Youth Pastor at my church until she left us for a similar full-time position in some river town in THAT part of the state. Which reminds me that I need to go visit her soon since she still owes me dinner and I think you all know how I feel about free food. In addition to serving God as a “profession”, Alisa also is known to spend her free time serving God while doing mission work in Haiti. Alisa also introduced me to one of my current favorite musicians Lecrae. Go check out “Church Clothes” or “Take Me As I Am” or “Gangland” or “Nuthin'”. I’ll wait…… Alisa’s cat also has its own Twitter account. No. Naima isn’t getting her own Twitter account. Instagram account? Maybe. Twitter account… no. So if you see Alisa out walking the mean streets of River City feel free to give her a knowing glance and to teach her the Super-Secret Photography 139 handshake.

Want your own Photography 139 email subscription? Call, email, or text me and I’ll get you the hook up.

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 dark Monday.

Christianity, Event, Formal Portrait, Shannon

Harvest Vineyard Photo Booth

November 11, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

Last Sunday Shannon asked me to run a Photo Booth for her church’s party. It wasn’t exactly what I imagined, so I way over prepared, but that is cool, because it ended up being easier than anticipated.

Here are a few pictures from the day:

It was a very impressive event and I went home with quite a bit of the church’s creative ministry’s art.

Andy, Art, Youth Group

Old Salvation Army Building Wall Phase #2 Gamma

November 10, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

It gets dark at like 4:30 now and I was incredibly tired last night. So I only have pictures of hanging up the first mural and not many:

I wish I had pictures of the other murals to post, but you’ll have to trust me. They are really coming along. I think the hands one will be the next one finished, but the tree one is also coming along very nicely.

Holidays, Jay, Mom

Happy Jayoween

November 8, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

The Saturday before Halloween Jay and I got together for our annual tradition of watching horror movies and carving pumpkins. This year Willy joined us.

This year Jay carved a clown for my Mom:

My pumpkin will remain unpictured.

PARTICULARS

CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
ISO: 1600
FOCAL LENGTH: 60mm
APERTURE: f/2
EXPOSURE: 1/80
DATE: 10/29/16 – 21:59
LATITUDE: 42.05533°
LONGITUDE: -93.87070
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Jay and Willy
PHOTO EDITING SOUNDTRACK: “Start Over” – Flame featuring NF

Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Kim, Micky, Nature, Teresa, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 60 – LANDSCAPE

November 7, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Some of the stalwarts didn’t make it for LANDSCAPE. That’s okay. When one person falls, another person can pick up the torch and carry on.

But you don’t want to listen to me talk all tommyrot about torches. You want to see the submissions for LANDSCAPE:

Bill Wentworth

Cathie Raley 1

Cathie Raley 2

Cathie Raley 3

Cathie Raley 4

Micky Augustin

Mike Vest

Kim Barker

Teresa Kahler 1

Teresa Kahler 2

Teresa Kahler 3

Teresa Kahler 4

Dawn Krause 1

Dawn Krause 2

Dawn Krause 3

Becky Perkovich

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Carla Stensland 3

.
Christopher D. Bennett

A healthy and diverse collection of submissions!

STILL LIFE!

Yes! STILL LIFE! He heard a cry across the landscape. But what is STILL LIFE? Try this definition for size!

Still life photography is a genre of photography used for the depiction of inanimate subject matter, typically a small group of objects. It is the application of photography to the still life artistic style. An example is food photography.

So find a group of inanimate objects. Group them together. Take their photo. Bam! STILL LIFE!

As always… feel free to interpret the theme however you see fit.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Great news! Dan Pottratz is the latest person to show taste, class, AND sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. Dan is also a Toreador (Class of ’93 WOOT! WOOT!) and a huge Cyclone fan. That is all you need to know… to know that Dan is good people. If you see him out and about and walking the mean streets, feel free to give him a knowing glance and show him the Super-Secret Photogrpahy 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 inanimate Monday.