Once again, I was hired to do the photography for Story County Philanthropy Day. Here are a few of the photos from the event:

You can see more pictures from the event by following the link below:

As you may recall, I like to check in on some statistics every 100 posts or so to see how things are doing in popularity. However, this statistical check-in will mark the end of an era. I am officially retiring the Snapshots Gallery and the Artistic Gallery.

The advent of the store has made them obsolete and why bother with galleries where you can’t buy anything, right Andree Jauhari, Marla Gorshe, and Jennifer Wohlgemuth of Minnesota! Right. Right?

Therefore, the only gallery that will remain is the Store. Check it out:

So here are the final rankings of the 10 most popular pictures in the Artistic Gallery. For the record, these are heavily skewed by spammers:

1. 669 Views


2. 497 Views


3. 410 Views


4. 375 Views


5. 352 Views


5. 352 Views


7. 351 Views


8. 350 Views


8. 350 Views


8. 350 Views

Here are the 10 most popular pictures from the Snapshots Gallery. Data heavily skewed by spammers.

1. 2010 Labor Day – 915 Views


2. Jesse & I Netting My Trees – 643 Views


3. Derrick & a Gunderburger – 245 Views


4. Tailgating Games – 229 Views


5. Baier & I at Chiefs Game – 169 Views


6. Shannon & I at an Inebriated Saints Show – 89 Views


7. Shannon in Backbone – 54 Views


8. Holding the White Trash Elixir – 49 Views


9. Brandon Tailgating – 45 Views


10. Gunderburger! – 43 Views

Here is the list of the ten people that have contributed (in some way shape or form) to this blog the most in the first 1199 entries. Plus how many entries they have been in since we last looked at these numbers. Plus where they were the last time we looked at these numbers.

1. Jesse – 174 – +9 – 1
2. Jay - 165 – +13 – 2
3. Shannon – 153 – +6 – 3
4. Derrick – 138 – +14 – 4
5. Jen – 124 – +16 – 6
6. Teresa – 118 – +9 – 5
7. Sara – 112 – +15 – 8
8. Willy – 110 – +8 – 7
9. Vest – 95 – +14 – 9
10. Carla – 84 – +10 – NR
10. Mom – 84 – +17 – NR

Who are the 3 greatest movers outside of the Top Ten?

1. Dad – +16
2. Jill – +14
3. Evie – +6

Thanks to this group of friends and family for their consistent efforts in aiding me in my photographic pursuits, either through assisting, modeling, inspiring, listening, or just being around a whole lot. I couldn’t do what I do with out them. And so many other people too!

There were a few submissions for GAMES. Here they are:

Mike Vest


Shannon Bardole

Geri Derner

Christopher D. Bennett

My picture may be confusing, but believe me, I only had time for one kind “game” this past week.

I’ve been to the Random Generator and it has spit out the following theme for this week:

FRAMING

Here is a look at last year’s submissions:

FRAMING

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING NOTES

A few weeks ago, Shawn designed a logo for me. The logo looks something like this:

•  The logo has been added to the header.
• 11 new header images have been created.
• The weather forecast for Boone, Iowa has been added to the Calendar.
• A miniature slideshow has been added to the sidebar of the About, Contact, Calendar, and Downloads pages.
• I have (with the assistance and nudging of Shawn) created a Photography 139 Facebook page. In order to get my own URL, I have to have 25 people “Like” it.  You can help me in accomplishing this task by going to virtually any page (except the Store and galleries) and clicking on the little “Like” link located in the sidebar.
• I have added a Google+ link to virtually every page on the website. So if you are on Google+ and like a Journal entry and want to share it with other people, you only need to click on the +1 icon in the sidebar and it will appear in your Buzz section.
• At the bottom of every single journal entry (individual page),  there is a Tweet icon.  If you really like a journal entry, you can click on this icon and it will Tweet a link to this page for you.
• On the Home page there is a slideshow tentatively entitled “Pictures of the Month”.  That title will change and it will eventually be a slideshow of my most recent photos.
• Underneath my Twitter Feed in the Journal, I have added a link to make it easier for you to follow my numerous brilliant outbursts on Twitter by clicking the Follow icon.

These are changes that are coming down the pipe. Some are partially implemented. Some are not.

• The Artistic Gallery and the Snapshots Gallery are being retired.  They will still exist, but I will not be adding new images to them and they will not be accessible through the Navigation Bar at the top of the website.  You will still be able to access them with a direct URL, at least for the foreseeable future. There just isn’t a reason to continue these galleries with the advent of the Store.
• Pictures for Journal Entries will be housed in the Store, rather than in the galleries.  The benefit is that the images will be larger and you will be able to click on an image and get even a larger image.  This doesn’t cover all images.  Some of the images that are published in The Archives just aren’t big enough to utilize this enhancement.  The same goes for the Slice of Life pictures.  But virtually all other images will benefit from this new feature when it is implemented fully.
• Email subscription deliveries will be handled by the website directly.  Currently, the website emails me and then I email everybody that has subscribed via email.   Last time I attempted this, there were some bugs in the system. However, this is an advantage to you because you won’t have to wait for me to crawl out of bed (or in the case of this weekend when I will be out of state), you won’t have to wait for my return to get your high quality Photography 139 content.  I should point out that I write my blogs up to 2 months in advance.  So if I’m struck by lightning and die at some point in the near future and you keep getting emails from me. It is an act of technology, I’m not talking to you from the other side. Of course, if you want to subscribe via email, you just have to drop me a line at bennett@photography139.com.

I was contacted a few weeks back by Shannon about doing some photography for the United Way campaign. They had a pretty specific request that required a fair amount of Photoshop expertise.

Because I had not the time or the patience to complete the project I talked Mike Vest into doing the Photoshop part of the project while I did the photography. The two images below are the result.

Rebecca Anderson acted as the art director for this project.

Next week’s random Wednesday pictures will cover a recent trip to Kalona.

The submission wire was a little more active this week for PEOPLE. Apparently I know some people that know PEOPLE besides me. Here are the submissions:

Mike Vest of Waxen Media


Christopher D. Bennett


Julie Johnson of The Joy is in the Journey


Shannon Bardole of Little White Lye Soap

I’ve been down to the Random Generator for a new theme for this week. This is what it spit out:

A look back at last year’s SOOTHING submissions:

Hopefully people don’t becoming so soothed thinking on this theme that they don’t take the picture.

This is a tradition that I have gotten away from for awhile, but I do wish to start it up again.

This photo tribute is my way of saying Happy birthday to Shannon.

I believe Jen Gorshe is up next for the birthday photo tribute.

Last week I removed and disassembled the Friend Wall. It is no longer in existence. No longer do I have friends on my wall.

I replaced the Friend Wall with the 9 Emotions Project Wall. The centerpiece of this new “exhibit” is a 24×36 print of the picture below. A picture that was the ultimate goal of the whole 9 Emotions Project.

I picked 1 person for each emotion. I like to think that there are reasons why each person was able to best represent each emotion.

Joy and Cousin Amy

Cousin Amy lives the joy of a life where she was told a diagnosis of her child by their doctor and told the doctor, “I don’t think so.” Then she went out and proved the doctor wrong.

Sadness and Willy

After the events of the last couple weeks, there isn’t a reason to cover this one.

Anger and Derrick

As hard as it is to believe, Derrick was the single angriest man I ever worked with when we were employed at the Boone Outpost of the Evil Clown Empire. I have numerous stories of him in my mind throwing searing tools across the room and punching things and telling the Store Manager to do unbecoming things to his anatomy that most people simply wouldn’t believe happened. Although once he was off the clock, he was the Derrick that everybody else knows.

Amusement and Shannon

When I think of Shannon I think of somebody that is amused by the simple things in life. Of course, that is the best way to be.

Fear and Jesse

Back in the days of Saturday morning basketball, I saw this look on Jesse’s face quite frequently. Pretty much any time he stood between me and the basket this look crept upon his face as he knew he was about to get embarrassed.

Jealousy and Jen

This one doesn’t really fit. Jen isn’t a jealous person and has very little to be jealous about. She has a great husband, a great kid, a great family and great friends. Basically she has all the right ingredients for the recipe to a happy life. I’m guessing that perhaps this is Jen showing off some long dormant acting skills. Perhaps she should pursue a role in one of the area community theaters. I know Jen LOVES community theater.

Surprise and Sara

While Sara is one of the most intelligent and best educated people I know, she lives life in a manner where whatever comes down the chute next is a gift and she seems genuinely surprised by it. While that might now seem like it is a compliment, I think that this is one of the best compliments I’ve ever given anybody. To live life with such unabandoned joy is a great life.

Sympathy and Jill

Jill fits sympathy so well as she has one of the best hearts of anybody I’ve ever known. She would tell you (yes we’ve had this conversation) that it isn’t that her heart is better than most people, but it is the fact that artists (Jill is an amazing flutist) are lead through life with their heart. While this is true, it doesn’t alter the fact that the first thing you notice about Jill when you meet her is her heart.

Boredom and Jay

I’ve always felt that people that are “bored” are boring people. Jay is a lot of things, but he is not a boring person. However, that doesn’t mean that I’ve never seen Jay bored. Being the closest of friends with Jesse, Willy, and I he has been subjected to more sporting events than many wives and girlfriends. Usually this is the look that glosses over his face right before he taps out and goes home to do things that interest Jay.

I also asked all of my models to pick out who they thought did the best job with each of the emotions. I gave extra credit to the people who were able to pick 9 different people for the 9 different emotions.

Here is the feedback I got fed back. In the order it came back to me.

Shannon’s Pick


Jill’s Pick


Sara’s Pick


Jen’s Pick


Jay’s Pick


Willy’s Pick


Jesse’s Pick


Derrick’s Pick


Amy’s Picks

Next week’s Personal Photo Project with involve that most magnificent of creatures… the turkey.

Shannon assisted me with doing the photography for the Red Cross Young Heroes Banquet.

Here are some of the images:

There are a couple hundred more pictures in the Young Heroes Gallery in the Photography 139 Store:

It was a very interesting and inspiring night. It is amazing what so many young people are doing to make our world a better place.

It is time once again for me to to do a random look at some of the statistics on the website.

First up is what are the 10 Most Popular Images in the Artistic Gallery.

This one is actually somewhat of a shocker. A picture of Brandon has went from nowhere to be the most popular picture and the long time reigning champ Outburst of the Soul has fallen all the way to a tie for 6th Place. Although admittedly, I think spammers might have something to do with the rather large shakeup in the standings.

1. Brandon Senior Picture


2. Johnathan Senior Picture


3. Battered School Bus – Hamlin, Iowa


4. Self-Portrait


5. Jen Between Sets of an UnHingd Show


6. UnHingd Publicity Still


6. Outburst of the Soul


8. 1900


8. Becca – Senior Picture


10. Abandoned Piano – McCallsburg, Iowa

There has also been quite a shakeup in the Snapshots Gallery Top Ten.

Here are the 10 Most Popular Pictures in the Snapshots Gallery:

1. Me White Trashing It


2. ISUCFVMB


3. Alexis Cheerleading


4. Shannon and I at an Inebriated Saints Show


5. Jesse and I with the World’s Largest Cheeto


6. Logan’s Tree-man


7. Jesse and I at the Surf Ball Room


8. Jesse Endorsing the Bob’s Dog


8. 2010 ISU Spring Game


10. Shannon Reading Map at Backbone


10. Jesse and I in Clinton

Finally, a look at the Top Ten People to either contribute or be written about in An Artist’s Notebook.

1. Jesse – 163 – (+20)
2. Jay – 151 – (+7)
3. Shannon – 146 – (+6)
4. Derrick – 123 – (+6)
5. Teresa – 109 – (+13)
6. Jen – 107 – (+6)
7. Willy – 101 – (+8)
8. Sara – 96 – (+8)
9. Vest – 80 – (+19)
10. Dawn – 73 – (+9)

Wondering who the biggest movers were outside of the Top Ten?

1. Dad (+19)
2. Carla (+14)
3. Jill (+10)

In case you were interested in what the standings looked like 100 posts ago:

The holiday weekend didn’t scare off everybody from submitting. Here are the submissions for HANDS:

Cathie Raley


Christopher D. Bennett


Shannon Bardole

I’ve been down to visit the Random Theme Generator for this week’s theme. This is what it gave me:

A look back at last year’s MOTION submissions.

I hope this theme is inspirational for lots of people out there.