Category Archives: Willy

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 56 – CHILDREN

Maybe there was a slight dip this week, but that was to be expected, since CHILDREN are so very, very creepy. I mean, we’ve all seen the groundbreaking documentary CHILDREN OF THE CORN. We know what they’re capable of doing. Don’t get me started on the companion documentary VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED!

But I could stand here and talk all tommyrot about CHILDREN. You just want to see the images:


WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - ANGIE DEWAARD 1
Angie DeWaard 1

WEEK 56 -CHILDREN - ANGIE DEWAARD 2
Angie DeWaard 2

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - DAWN KRAUSE 1
Dawn Krause 1

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - DAWN KRAUSE 2
Dawn Krause 2

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - CATHIE RALEY 1
Cathie Raley 1

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - CATHIE RALEY 2
Cathie Raley 2

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - SHANNON BARDOLE
Shannon Bardole

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - BECKY PERKOVICH
Becky Perkovich

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - ROBYN AUGUSTIN
Robyn Augustin

WEEK 56 - CHILDREN - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

Still a very healthy number of submissions though! Including a submission for first time from Robyn Augustin! Hopefully we can carry this momentum into the cold months. That is when participation really starts to take a hit. Prepare yourself, winter is coming.

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 57 - HANDMADE
HANDMADE!

I’m not sure HANDMADE needs much explanation. It was something that was made by hands. So if a robot made it, it is out. Unless that robot has hands. Then it is in! Things that might qualify would be paintings, things that are cooked, things that are knitted, things that are crocheted, things that are crafted… I mean the list is almost limitless.

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.

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 handy Monday!

The People’s Rack

Team Baby Got Rack competed in the Pufferbilly Days Barbecue Contest this past Sunday.

I will take away many cherished memories from this Sunday, I’ll share those when I share the majority of the Baby Got Rack images at a later date.

Here is what is important to know.

At this contest we debuted our two signature barbecue sauces:

Sweet + Mild
Anaconda Picosa

We also debuted our new signature drink: Thick Soul Sweet Tea.
We also debuted our new logo: Sir Pigs-a-Lot.
We also debuted a mascot, that at this time we are going to just call Cow or Bull.
We also attempted to debut a new signature style shirt to go with our signature fedoras. We weren’t quite there on that.

But what about the results? Well it wasn’t our best day. But even on a tiger’s worst day, it still gets to be a friggin’ tiger! We came home with the People’s Choice Award for the second straight year. Proving that you can’t spell D-Y-N-A-S-T-Y without Baby Got Rack.

Here is the team picture (with Cow or Bull) from Sunday:



Photo Credit: Melissa D.

Another unofficial category we dominated was The Fun Department. As you will see in a later post where I tell some of the stories of Saturday. Including my favorite guy from the day, who delivered the best line of the day.

In closing, I would just like to thank all the people that came up and supported us (helping ease the pain of Baby Got Rack Superfan Willy McAlpine’s absence), like my sisters and Mom, WB Joseph Lynch and his posse, the Howard Clan, the Thornburgs, and the Petersons to name a few. And of course, those that were there in spirit. Too many to name.

And to Sara for loaning us her chalkboards. To Jay for offering us the use of his can opener too!

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 51 – ROAD TRIP

Happy Labor Day!

Not so many submissions this week, but that was to be expected. Let’s get to it!

Here are the submissions for ROAD TRIP:


WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - DAWN KRAUSE 1
Dawn Krause 1

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - DAWN KRAUSE 2
Dawn Krause 2

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - DAWN KRAUSE 3
Dawn Krause 3

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - JODIE BENNETT 1
Jodie Bennett 1

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - JODIE BENNETT 2
Jodie Bennett 2

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - SHANNON BARDOLE
Shannon Bardole

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER 1
Kim Barker 1

WEEK 51 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER 2
Kim Barker 2

I have to confess that my photo took more effort than normal, mostly because I can’t find a piece that would’ve made this picture quite a bit easier. But it worked out, at least I feel.

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 52 - WILD CARD
WILD CARD!

So what is WILD CARD? Anything! Literally anything you want! A picture of your neighbor mowing his lawn without his shirt on. That counts! A picture of your favorite flower. That counts! A picture of your least favorite child. That counts! A picture of what you’re eating for supper on Thursday night. That counts! Take a picture of anything you want!

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 WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE DIVISION

After small amounts of consideration and consulting with a few people here and there, here is the list of themes for the next 52 weeks. Presented in no particular order:

1. ORANGE
2. YELLOW
3. PURPLE
4. PORTRAIT
5. FACELESS PORTRAIT
6. SELF-PORTAIT
7. SAD
8. HAPPY
9. ANGRY
10. LOW PERSPECTIVE
11. HIGH PERSPECTIVE
12. OLD
13. CHILDREN
14. NIGHT
15. SIGNS
16. WATER
17. RELIGION
18. STILL LIFE
19. BLACK & WHITE
20. MUSIC
21. ABSTRACT
22. ANIMAL
23. WEATHER
24. TREE
25. SILHOUETTE
26. RUINS
27. RURAL
28. SKY
29. TOWN
30. TRANSPORTATION
31. SMOKE
32. FLOWER
33. MACRO
34. ART
35. ROAD TRIP
36. MIRROR
37. GLITTERY
38. GOVERNMENT
39. HANDMADE
40. THE STREETS
41. HOT
42. COLD
43. HUMANIZE
44. TIME
45. AMERICANA
46. LOVE
47. HATE
48. POP ART
49. NATURE
50. LANDSCAPE
51. BODY PART
52. FAMILY

I swapped out more than half the themes from last year. I combined a few and I split up a few. I reworded a few. Some are riffs on previous themes. Some are completely new. Should be a fun year!

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

I am pleased to announce that Brooke Milligan is the latest person to show her taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. Brooke shares an office with longtime Photography 139 supporter and friend of the blog Michelle Haupt, but we won’t hold that against her. So if you see Brooke out and about walking the mean streets, feel free to give her a knowing glance and if you have the time, show her 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 wild Monday.

ROUNDBALL ORACLES – YEAR 12

I recently presented The Trophy for winning the 12th year of the Roundball Oracles to this year’s champion… Michelle Haupt

It was an exciting NCAA Tournament and an equally exciting Roundball Oracles NCAA Tournament Pool. If North Carolina would’ve won the NCAA Championship Game, Sara Lockner would’ve come home with the trophy this year. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Congratulations Michelle! May your reign be short.


Roundball Oracles - Year 12 Champion - Michelle Haupt
Michelle Haupt – Newest Immortal (Pictured with Lily)
Past Roundball Oracles Champions (The List of Immortals)

2005 – William McAlpine
2006 – William McAlpine
2007 – Tim Peterson
2008 – Mark Wolfram
2009 – Mark Wolfram
2010 – Mark Wolfram
2011 – Carrie Baier
2012 – Lowell Davis
2013 – William McAlpine
2014 – Brandon Kahler
2015 – Derek Dohrman
2016 – Michelle Haupt

Here be the final standings.
1.  Michelle Haupt –  275
2.  Sean Clubine –  270
3.  sara lockner – 259
4. Yours Truly 255
5. Micky Augustin 245
6.  Angie DeWaard 241
7.  Jackson Faust 241
8.  Derek Dohrman 237
9.  Frank Meiners 233
10.  Toby Sebring 230
11,  Lowell Davis 230
12,  Mark Wolfram 228
13.  Jason Baier 227
14,  Corey Faust 221
15,  Paul Golden 220
16,  Wily McAlpine 218
17, Jordan Toot 217
18.  Jesse Howard 216
19.  Shannon Bardole 215
20.  Benjamin Baier 214
21.  Liz Nordeen 214
21. Jill Gorshe 214
23 . Jon DeWaard 207
24. JJ Baier 204
25.  Dawn Krause 203
26.  Nader Parsaei 202
27,  Brandon Kahler 201
28.  Carrie Baier 197
29.  Jorge Rios 197
30.  shawn lockner 194
31.  Jen Gorshe 193
32.  Derrick Gorshe 193
33.  Andree Jauhari 193
34.  tim peterson 192
35.  Bill Wentworth 183
36.  Olivia Baier 180
37.  Russ Kennerly 180
38.  Carla Stensland 175
39.  William Baier 170
40.  Rachel Johnson 167
41.  Robert Henning 162
42.  Joe Lynch 156
43.  Laura Priest 152

Laura (Miller) Priest won the 3rd Annual “The Sara” for last place adult that tried. Joining the trophy’s namesake Sara Lockner and Derrick Gorshe as past winners. I don’t have a picture of Laura with her new trophy yet, but I will as soon as I get “The Sara” in the mail, it arrives in Manhattan, and she sends me a picture with her new pride and joy.

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 41 – HOMETOWN

A nice collection of submissions this week for HOMETOWN:


WEEK 41 - HOMETOWN - BECKY PERKOVICH
Becky Perkovich

WEEK 41 - HOMETOWN - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 41 - HOMETOWN - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 41 - HOMETOWN - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber

WEEK 41 - HOMETOWN - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

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 42 - TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION!

This is a pretty easy one. There are about a million sources of transportation. From helicopters to rivers to trains to planes to streets to feets. The list goes on and on and on. So find your voice and get out there and get a TRANSPORTATION photo!

Remember that next Monday is the 4th of July. While the government, your bank, and maybe where you work takes the day off… Photography 139 does not. Plan accordingly.

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.

MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

The latest person to show taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription is Willy McAlpine. I’ve known Willy for over 20 years now. Willy is known around these parts for his crazy workouts. Sometimes he runs in excess of 100 miles in a week. Sometimes he will run 100 miles in 24 hours. For fun! So if you see Willy running around the mean streets of Boone, feel free to give him a knowing glance and don’t be shy about teaching him the super-secret Photography 139 handshake.

That’s all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday.

HDR EFEX PRO 2 BETA

Today we take a look at the second half of the “made to order” HDR EFEX PRO 2 filters.

As a refresher, here is the original image:


Original Image

Here is a look at the filters:


HDR EFEX PRO 2 - BLACK & WHITE ARTISTIC
Black & White Artistic

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - DRAMATIC
Dramatic

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - SINISTER
Sinister

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - PALE & STRUCTURED
Pale & Structured

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - GRANNY'S ATTIC
Granny’s Attic

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - END OF THE ROAD
End of the Road

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - INDOOR 1
Indoor 1

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - INDOOR 2
Indoor 2

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - OUTDOOR 1
Outdoor 1

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - OUTDOOR 2
Outdoor 2

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - SOFT
Soft

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - VIGNETTED
Vignetted

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - GRADUATED 1
Graduated 1

HDR EFEX PRO 2 - GRADUATED 2
Graduated 2

Then, of course. If you want, you can play with the numerous options and come up with a creation of your own. Like so…


HDR EFEX PRO 2 - MY CONCOCTION
My Concotion

I am, once again, sorry for the disgusting subject of these photos, but like I wrote, tomorrow will be something fuzzy and cuddly.

We will touch base with the Nik Collection again in the near future.

THE CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT TRIVIA QUIZ

QUESTION 19

In youth, my friends and I tried and failed to make 1 horror movie STAYIN’ ALIVE: THE SPORTING twice, an action movie (SWORN TO VENGEANCE), and another horror movie (QUIETUS). However, we did successfully finish a movie starring Jay Janson (as an androgynous ne-er-do-well), Bill Wentworth as his manservant, William McAlpine as a short tempered natural philosopher, Anders Runestad as a hen-pecked husband with a gambling addiction, Corey Faust as an omniscient narrator, and Christopher D. Bennett as a trash talking homophobe, playing a deadly game of RISK. What was the name of this nearly cult classic?

ANSWER: GAMES

BONUS

What was the unfortunate name of the “studio” that produced this film?

ANSWER: CHEESEDICK FILMS

For Russell

I actually have been pretty lax about photographing flowers this year. That is partially because the 2017 Photography 139 Calendar will go in a new direction. Partially because I haven’t even planted flowers in my yard this year. Partially because my daffodils didn’t bloom this year. Partially because I missed my window of opportunity to go to Pella this year to photograph tulips. Regardless, my daisies were the first of my flowers to bloom this year.

So I dedicate the first flower picture of 2016 to Russell, because he hates my flower photography. He will be in mourning since flowers will start to become a bigger part of this here blog in the coming months. Probably. Sorry Russell, that is how the cookie crumbles.






PARTICULARS

CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
ISO: 125
FOCAL LENGTH: 60mm
APERTURE: f/20
EXPOSURE: 1/100
DATE: 05/22/2016 – 13:18
LATITUDE: 42.05511°
LONGITUDE: -93.87082°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: None

THE CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT TRIVIA QUIZ ANSWER SHEET

QUESTION 5

When Olivia and I got married, who were my 5 groomsmen?

ANSWER: Jesse Howard, Anders Runestad, Jay Janson, William McAlpine, and Eric Hiatt

BONUS

I’ve been a groomsman or bridesman 7 times. Name the 7 grooms/brides I’ve served:

ANSWER: Jesse Howard, Jay Janson, Anders Runestad, Scott Degeneffe, Derrick Gorshe, Sara Lockner, and Nate Miller

03-14-07, 03-26-07, 03-26-07 B

This dip into the archives covers folders 03-14-07, 03-26-07, & 03-26-07 B.

As promised, there is a picture of a Gra Lab Timer. Control your enthusiasm.




























Next Saturday’s images will probably include a few week attempts at Still Life.

THE CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT TRIVIA QUIZ ANSWER

QUESTION 4

When I was finally invited to play Saturday Morning Basketball, Bill Wentworth pulled me aside and told me that they just let two players do all the scoring. There was a standing rule that those two players could not be on the same team. Name those two ballers:

ANSWER: Dan Dill & Willy McAlpine

BONUS

One year later, the rule had changed so what two ballers were not allowed to be on the same team:

ANSWER: Christopher D. Bennett & Jesse Howard

The Birthday Party of Fate (Roundup)

I’ve thanked all these people in person, but I’d like to publicly thank everybody that helped out in some either small or big way with my birthday party on Saturday.

Big shout out to Scott for making tons of delicious mouth watering chicken and jalapeno cream corn. I only wish I would have had time to help do more than just brine the chicken. If I am so inclined to do this again next year and you are so inclined to help with the food next year, I will have to schedule this so I can be more hands on with the process. I may have been The Master, but Scott was undeniably the Smoker Master. I just can’t overstate how amazing the chicken was people.

Much love to Scott’s (better-other-less high maintenance) half for making the Pick and Pluck. If I would’ve thought of it, I would’ve bought several gallons of ice cold chocolate milk to knock down while setting up shop on that thing.

Thanks to Logan and Corinna for holding down the grill and making an assortment of hot dogs and sausages to compliment the mouth watering chicken. I don’t really have any photos of the event, perhaps next year I can talk him/them into doing some candid photography for the party.

I’m always able to count on Dae Hee when I need some assistance. He came over and helped put up the canopies for the outdoor dining area, the tent for an additional child area, moved all the chairs from the basement to the outdoors, and watched 2 hours of GAME OF THRONES. A pretty solid effort!

Thanks to Jason for loaning me his Cornhole set.

Thanks to Shannon for loaning me her canopies, although I’m still unclear where one gets tailgating tents that don’t have Iowa State colors. Or why a person would even want such a thing.

Thanks to Jesse for laminating the beverage identification signs.

Thanks to Teresa for helping out in various tasks before the party started.

Thanks to my Mom for making a copious amount of side dishes and desserts. Nobody went home hungry. That is for sure.

Finally, thanks to everybody that took time out of their lives to come visit me:


Teresa
Brandon
Logan & Corinna
Aunt Linda
Kio
Steph, Katie, Jeff, & Yin
Carla, Jason, Alexis, and Johnathan
Mom
Scott, Melissa, Austin, and Porter
Steve
Dawn, Kevin, Scott, and Kayelee
Jen, Derrick, Evie, and Layla
Sara, Shawn, and Gretchen
Jesse, Kelly, Kalista, Saydie, and Taylan
Willy
Dan and Angie
Suzie
Monica and Jeff
Bethany, Dae Hee, and Nora
Jason, Will, Ben, and Nader
Andree
Anders & Nicholas
Shannon and Jason
Geri
Michelle, Craig, and Lily
Kim and Kevin

A special thanks to Dae Hee, Bethany, and Nora who came from Minnesota. Aunt Linda who came from Kansas. Stephanie who came all the way from Brooklyn. I guess I’m morally obligated to visit her in October now. Right?

Since I think that this party was a success on some level, I am tentatively planning on doing it again next year. Tentatively thinking about some time on Memorial Day Weekend next year. We’ll see how the cookie crumbles.

Now to the less than stellar news…

The Photo Booth was a success, but far from perfect. It turns out that the photo booth program I used has a painful little quirk. If the “Finish” button wasn’t pushed at the conclusion of the photo session, the program timed out and didn’t save the photo strip! The good news is that it did save the original images. The bad news is that there will be a night in my future where I’ll be piecing together photo strips from saved images. Yeah me!

For that reason, I did load up all the images into the party gallery. Not just the “finished” photo strips.

To see those images, click on the link below… (You can also download them by clicking on the down arrow icon.)

MANOS & PHOTOBOOTH IMAGES

However, thought I would share a few of them here as well:


But the good news is that I now have a thousand different ways to improve the photo booth for next year. Tentatively.