Category Archives: Macro

Animals, Art, Flowers, Macro, State Fair

Hard Way Home

February 2, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

I never did learn how to follow the rules
I never was good at sleeping while the moon was full
I just lie and burn
Wreck my mind while the planet turns
I sometimes wish I could start again
I’d try and do the right thing every now and then
I’d step in line
That’s what I would do if I could turn back time
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers! This Thursday I’m going to share the final collection of flower images I took at the Iowa State Fair this year.

This is the closest I’ve ever come to getting a decent picture of a hummingbird.

I can’t wait to get back to the Discovery Garden again this year and do some more flowertography. One of the truest tonics for the soul that this guy has ever come across.

Anders, Animals, Birthdays, Flowers, Macro, State Fair

Oh Dear

January 26, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

I need to begin by wishing Anders a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Anders! I hope your birthday is sufficient in every way you want!

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Heart breaks, mistakes
Catching up to me in old ways
I know of hard days
Had my share of lonely nights

It’s only you that my heart desires
Only you alone can break my fall
I pace the floor and I wish for more
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers. This collection once again comes from the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair from the last day of the Fair.

I do love me some Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair!

Flowers, Macro, State Fair

Touching the Ground

January 19, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

I swear when we touched, I saw heaven in your eyes
And jewel studded clouds floating in your skies
Seas of blue and fields of green
Looking like you’ve fell out of someone’s dreams

Why do my troubles turn true
Whenever I rest my eyes on you?
Why must my heartache be found
Wherever your feet are touching the ground?
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers! This Thursday flower collection was taken in the Discovery Garden on the last day of the Iowa State Fair.

Still many flower pictures from the last day of the Iowa State Fair left to share!

Art, Christianity, Flowers, History, Macro, Road Trip, Ruins, Teresa

Allamakee County Aux – Vol. 2

January 18, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share the second collection of images from my road trip to Allamakee County (and Clayton County) to harvest their town signs with Teresa. The first couple pictures are in Clayton County. The rest are in Allamakee County.

Monona

Hardin – Ghost Town

Waukon

Lycurgus

Lansing

There is still many more images from this road trip left to share. On the next collection I will talk about the bridge in the last picture that crosses the Mississippi River from Iowa to Wisconsin in Lansing. Enjoy it now, cause it won’t be around for much longer.

Flowers, Macro, State Fair

If There Was No You

January 12, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

When I see myself I’m seeing you too
As long as I remember and I’m feeling like I knew
That my jokes aren’t funny the truth isn’t true
If there was no you
-Brandi Carlile

Thursday are for flowers and this collection of flowers is from my second trip to the Iowa State Fair.

Still so many flower pictures to share!

Art, Black & White, Calendar, Christianity, Drone, Flowers, Jesse, Lensbaby, Macro, Nature, Railroad, Road Trip, Ruins, Still Life, Travel, Willy, WPC - Reminder

Tried So Hard to Be Everything that You Liked

January 6, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Today seems like a good day to share the rest of the pictures that I considered for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar, but did not use.

Just because I rejected these images this year, doesn’t mean that one of them couldn’t show up in a future calendar.

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES:

WEEK 382 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

PLANES, TRAINS, & AUTOMOBILES

But what is a TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOBOMILES picture? Simply put it is a picture that involves a TRAIN or a PLANE or an AUTOMOBILE. All 3 don’t have to be in the picture. One will suffice. The picture can also be of anything that is tangential to TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMBILES. Roads, bridges, train tracks, terminals, stations, are all fair game.

I made this a theme this year because it will be one of the categories in this years Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. If you submit a photo for this theme, you have a picture you can enter in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.

Happy photo harvesting!

Animals, Flowers, Football, History, Iowa State, Macro, State Fair

I Will

January 5, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

It’s not the end of the world
It’s not even over, but it will be soon
I never learned my lessons, I just changed my tune
And no one seems to notice
But you will, you will

It’s no big deal
But the last thing I think of when I close my eyes
And the first thing on my mind when I arise
It is a day and you’re not really in my life

You can try and you won’t find it where you’re looking
You can hold it till it’s putty in your hands
And you can’t break a heart that wasn’t even yours to break
You can never be there for me in the end
And I will do the right thing
I will, I will, I will
I will, I will, I will

Thursdays are for flowers. And this flower collection was taken at the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair on the same day that Baby Got Rack dominated the barbecue competition.

You know I love flowers. You know I love flowertography. You know I love Brandi Carlile (in fact just paid $230 to go see her in concert with Sara and Shawn). You can probably guess I love the song “I Will”.

However, I can’t publish a post with the title “I Will” without mentioning the “I Will” that is most important to the Cyclone Family.

If you don’t know, the stadium where Iowa State plays football in the only major football stadium in the country named for an African-American. It is named for Jack Trice. Jack Trice was the first African-American to play football for Iowa State.

Trice was an Iowa State student of animal husbandry and a member of the Cyclone football and track and field teams. He suffered severe injuries in his second collegiate football game and died in Ames on Oct. 8, 1923. He was 21.

Before his last game, he wrote the following letter to himself at his hotel:

To whom it may concern:

My thoughts just before the first real college game of my life. The honor of my race, family, and self are at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will! My whole body and soul are to be thrown recklessly about on the field tomorrrow. Every time the ball is snapped will be trying to do more than my part.

On all defensive plays, I must break through the opponents line at (sic) stop the play in their territory. Beware of mass interference, fight low with your eyes open and toward the play. Roll block the interference. Watch out for cross bucks and reverse end runs. Be on your toes every minute if you expect to make good.
~ Jack

His I will! Has become an important rally cry for Iowa State University. 2023 is the 100 year anniversary of Jack’s death. The university is honoring his legacy with an art installation, changing a street name to Jack Trice Way, a lecture series, art exhibition, and the team will wear throwback uniforms at a home game in the upcoming season.

For more information on Jack Trice and how Iowa State is honoring him, visit: https://jacktrice100.com/

Also, you know I have more flower pictures to share!

Calendar, Drone, Flowers, Macro, Nature, State Fair

Before it Breaks

December 29, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

It is time to reveal the October image for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar:

October

The October image was taken with Rodan139. It is Oriole Road shortly before it enters Ledges. This picture was taken for Week 371 of THE RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. The theme was LINES. I placed this picture in October since it was showing some of the fall colors of Ledges. I often put pictures of ruins in October, but not this year.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Hasseblad L1D-20c
DATE: October 21, 2022 – 5:17 PM
LENS: 28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
APERTURE: f/4
EXPOSURE: 1/120
ISO: 100
SEA LEVEL: 332m

Tomorrow I will reveal the November image for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar.

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Around here, it’s the hardest time of year
Waking up, the days are even gone
The collar of my coat
Lord help me, cannot help the cold
The raindrops sting my eyes
I keep them closed.

But I’m feelin’ no pain
I’m a little lonely and my quietest friend
Have I the moonlight? Have I let you in?
Say it ain’t so, say I’m happy again

Say it’s over, say I’m dreaming,
Say I’m better than you left me
Say you’re sorry, I can take it
Say you’ll wait, say you won’t
Say you love me, say you don’t
I can make my own mistakes
Let it bend before it breaks
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers and this Thursday is nothing different. This Thursday’s flower images were taken on August 16 at the Iowa State Fair:

2023 is almost here and so many more flower pictures to share in the new year!

Art, Calendar, Flowers, History, Macro, Mom, Railroad, Road Trip

Fayette & Winneshiek County Aux – Vol. 3

December 28, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to reveal the September image for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar:

September

The September image is a macro image of a gazania. This picture was taken in my yard. I put this picture in September because that is the birthday month of my Mom and she taught me the joy of growing flowers. She had some of the best flowerbeds and was constantly experimenting with new flowers.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: June 23 – 1:23 PM
LENS: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro
FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm
APERTURE: f/11
EXPOSURE: 1/160
ISO: 800
EXPOSURE BIAS: +.3

Tomorrow I will reveal the October image for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar.

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Time for another collection of auxiliary images from my road trip to Fayette and Winneshiek Counties to harvest their town signs. Many of these pictures were taken at the Bily Clocks Museum in Spillville.

Here is some information on a pretty cool little piece of Iowa history and some amazing clocks:

The history of the Bily Brothers, Frank and Joseph, began on the farm where they were born and raised. Located between Ridgeway and Spillville, Iowa, the farm is where the two brothers started their carvings. These uniquely designed clocks have attracted people from all areas of the United States, Canada and from many foreign countries as well.

Beginning in 1913, the brothers employed the idle hours of long winter days and evenings with their skills of woodcarving. Being farmers and carpenters, they carved only as a hobby while still doing their regular chores and maintaining a well kept farm. In 1915 and 1916, they built the Apostle Clock from which the Twelve Apostles appear on the hour. During the period of 1923-1927, the Bily Brothers added their masterpiece to the collection, The American Pioneer History Clock. A memorial clock to Charles Lindbergh was carved in 1928 commemorating his historic flight. In these beautiful artistically carved clocks the brothers have used woods from a number of foreign countries as well as numerous pieces of walnut, butternut, maple and oaks from North America.

The Bily Brothers moved their collection to Spillville in 1946. They bequeathed the clocks to the town of Spillville with an agreement that they would never be sold or moved from their present location.The second floor of the building was the home of the famous Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak, and his family during the summer of 1893.

-From https://www.bilyclocks.org/the-bily-brothers

It is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Here is the 3rd collection of auxiliary images from these counties:

Spillville

Ossian

Calmar

Postville

Postville is actually mostly in Allamakee County and partially in Clayton County.

One more collection of pictures from this road trip still to come.

Animals, Art, Automobiles, Black & White, Calendar, Christianity, Drone, Flowers, Macro, Nature, Ruins, Street Photography, Teresa

I Know that You Loved Before

December 27, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

It is time to reveal the August image for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar:

August

This picture is of the only fire watch tower in the state of Iowa. It is located in the Yellow River State Forest in northeast Iowa. It is only accessible via forest road. So if you plan on going to see it, don’t take a sedan. That isn’t to say the road is really rough. It doesn’t require a 4×4, but you definitely want something with some ground clearance. It is also basically a one lane road, so if you meet somebody coming the other way, you do need to make some room.

You can not climb up the fire watch tower. There is a fence around it. If you stand near it and look straight up, there is no floor.

I took this picture with Rodan139. There is not necessarily a strong reason for it to be with August. Teresa was with me when I took the picture and she was born in August. However, she never got out of the vehicle. She might have thought what we were doing was illegal. Which it wasn’t. I will let you know if what we are doing is illegal or questionably legal.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

CAMERA: Hasselblad L1D-20c
DATE: June 25, 2022 – f/2.8
LENS: 28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
APERTURE: f/5.6
EXPOSURE: 1/400
ISO: 100
EXPOSURE BIAS: -.7
ALTITUDE: 363m Above Sea Level

Tomorrow I will reveal the September image of the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar.