Category Archives: Nature

The Last Derecho

This is a collection of pictures I took a few days after the derecho struck Iowa. It is the last of damage caused by the derecho pictures that I have.


Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

Derecho Damage

I happened about 7 weeks ago, but it feels like it was forever ago.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is SIGNS:


WEEK 264 - SIGNS
SIGNS

A SIGNS image is any photo where a SIGN is an important compositional element of the picture.

Happy photo harvesting!

Rodan139: Loess Hills

One of my goals when I was on vacation was to hit 5 State Parks that I’ve never been to before. I made this goal, but not quite like I anticipated. The two parks I definitely wanted to hit were Mines of Spain and Preparation Canyon. The other 3 were to be somewhat negotiable. In the end, I hit 3 State Parks I’ve never been to and 2 State Forests I haven’t been to.

1. Mines of Spain
2. Walnut Woods
3. Preparation Canyon
4. Loess Hills State Forest
5. Pilot Mound State Forest

In retrospect, it is kind of shocking that I’ve never been to Pilot Mound State Forest, considering it is in Boone County, but it is also exciting to think that there are places in my own backyard that I still haven’t really explored.

The drive to Preparation Canyon was very rainy, but not very long. I consider the three most beautiful parts of Iowa to be northeast Iowa, the Loess Hills and the Des Moines River Valley. The Loess Hills area did not disappoint, even if the part of Preparation Canyon I saw wasn’t overly impressive. However, I have no doubt that I’ll revisit this area again in the future and see Preparation Canyon from a different perspective.

However, the Loess Hills State Forest did not disappoint. In fact, it might have been even more beautiful than I expected. Here are some pictures from the area taken from Rodan139:


Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

The last few images is of one of the infamous unmaintained roads of Monona County. I badly wanted to go on it, but it had been raining all day and that road was all mud. You couldn’t even walk on it. The other problem is that I drive a Camry. Not exactly built for what basically amounts to an off-road adventure.

This concludes the drone pictures from my vacation, but there are still plenty of vacation pictures to come.

Rodan139: Water Alternate

I need to start today off by wishing my Mom a happy birthday. Without here, none of this would be possible. Not only would I never exist, she also bought me my first camera. A Minolta Maxxum 450si.

Happy birthday Mom!


Mom and Grandma

WEEK 34 - PORTRAIT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT

Photo of the Day 0036 - June 7, 2014

Custer State Park

Bennett Family Photo Shoot - 2017

December 25, 2019

Bennett Family Photo Shoot - 2017

Vacation 09/23/18 - 10/01/17

Mom

Mom

It hope is as amazing a birthday as you want it to be!

+++++++

I went to Ledges on Sunday morning to take my WATER picture for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. I took several pictures. Here are some of the others I took that weren’t ready for the world on Monday.


WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

WPC - WEEK 262 - WATER ALTERNATE

I hope to take Rodan139 out again this weekend. On Tuesday I came off a self-quarantine from a potential exposure from a previous Sunday. As it turns out, I wasn’t exposed, so good news for the friendly skies!

+++++++

This is your reminder that STILL LIFE is this week’s theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


WEEK 263 - STILL LIFE

A STILL LIFE image is a picture of an inanimate object. Usually posed.

Happy photo harvesting!

WPC – WEEK 262 – WATER

Can you believe it? 51 straight weeks of double digit submission! 1 week short of a full year of double digit submissions! WooHoo!

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


WEEK 261 - WATER - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
ELIZABETH NORDEEN

WEEK 261 - WATER - ANDY SHARP
ANDY SHARP

WEEK 261 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
CARLA STENSLAND

WEEK 261 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
CARLA STENSLAND

WEEK 261 - WATER - MICKY AUGUSTIN
MICKY AUGUSTIN

WEEK 261 - WATER - TAMARA PETERSON
TAMARA PETERSON


CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT


BECKY PARMELEE

WEEK 261 - WATER - BECKY PARMELEE
BECKY PARMELEE

WEEK 261 - WATER - BECKY PARMELEE
BECKY PARMELEE

WEEK 261 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
CARLA STENSLAND

WEEK 261 - WATER - KIO DETTMAN
KIO DETTMAN

WEEK 262 - WATER - KIM BARKER
KIM BARKER

WEEK 262 - WATER - CATHIE RALEY
CATHIE RALEY

WEEK 262 - WATER - 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 263 - STILL LIFE
STILL LIFE

STILL LIFE! What a great theme! But what is a STILL LIFE photo? A STILL LIFE photo is any image of an inanimate object. Usually one that you have posed, but not necessarily. From this week, Elizabeth, Kio’s, and Kim’s photos are excellent examples of STILL LIFE.

Here is a look back at the 7 previous times STILL LIFE was a WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme:

RWPE #25 – STILL LIFE

RWPE Y2 #10 – STILL LIFE

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 12 – STILL LIFE

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 61 – STILL LIFE

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 127 – STILL LIFE

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 184 – STILL LIFE

WPC – WEEK 214 – STILL LIFE

A look forward to your new 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.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

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 still Monday!

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

I suppose I should report on how I did on my vacation goals from last week:

1. I want to visit 5 state parks I have never visited. Including Mines of Spain and Preparation Canyon.
I DIDN’T EXACTLY HIT 5 STATE PARKS. BUT I DID HIT 3 STATE PARKS AND 2 STATE FORESTS. SO I’M COUNTING THIS IS AS A WIN.

2. I want to add at least 20 new signs to THE TOWN SIGNS PROJECT. A project I’ve mostly ignored this year, despite the fact that this would have been a good year to work on it.
I BELIEVE I GOT 21 OR 22 NEW TOWN SIGNS. SO ANOTHER WIN.

3. I want to finally meet Jen and Derrick’s dog.
I NEVER EVEN CONTACTED THEM. MY FAULT, BUT I’M LEERY TO ENTER THE COVID DRENCHED TOWN THAT IS AMES. PLUS I’M PRETTY SURE THAT DERRICK’S PHONE DOESN’T WORK.

4. I want to finally tackle those POSTCARD PROJECT pictures that I have put off for like 3-4 years now.
I TACKLED ABOUT 5 OF THESE. SO WIN.

5. To play with a new lens I hope to purchase between now and then, but the verdict is still out on what new lens I’m going to purchase.
OH YEAH. DEFINITELY PLAYED WITH THAT LENS. PROBABLY A REPORT ON THAT LATER THIS WEEK.

6. Take some near full moon photography. The next full moon is September 2. Which is a Wednesday. But I figure there will still be plenty of moonlight left on September 4.
ANOTHER FAIL. IT WAS TOO CLOUDY ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY TO TACKLE THIS. AFTER THAT, THERE WASN’T ENOUGH MOON. NEXT FULL MOON IS OCTOBER 1. THAT IS A THURSDAY, WHICH ALL OF A SUDDEN IS SEEMING LIKE A REAL GOOD REASON TO HAVE A 3 DAY WEEKEND.

4 out of 6, I’ll consider that a success. There were a couple other failures out there, that weren’t stated goals. I wanted to go to Pike’s Peak State Park, but I cut my Monday road trip short because Naima hurt her leg the night before, so I felt it was best to get back early to check on her condition. She might have been milking it as she seemed fine by 8 PM Monday night. But probably not.

I also wanted to take Rodan139 out to the High Trestle Trail Bridge again, but it rained about every day of my vacation. So that didn’t happen. It’s all good though.

I did make accomplish my number one goal from the week though. That was visiting Mines of Spain. I was originally going to do this on Tuesday, but I ended up going on Labor Day so that Teresa and my Mom could go. I didn’t want to get stuck in a State Park with a ton of people, plus I wanted to get there with some good soft morning light. This meant leaving at 5 AM. My sister and Mom didn’t seem to understand that I was serious about this, until I showed up at their door at 4:55 AM.

I’ll go into more details about that trip later, but here are some pictures from Mines of Spain taken by Rodan139. Mostly at Horse Shoe Bluff, but also around the Julien Dubuque Monument:


Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

I will definitely need to visit this park again. I considered this a good scouting trip, but now I have more ideas of how to best drone photograph the park.

Pixel 3 Test Flight

Last Monday, I took Rodan139 out for a quick flight in Ledges to test it with Teresa’s spare phone. I wanted to use her spare phone for a potential road trip I was planning for Labor Day. That way I could save the battery on my old timey Pixel 2 for other road trip fun times. Like the Snapchat or the Instagram or for GPS type stuff.

The spare phone did work masterfully. Here are some pictures from Rodan139’s test flight:


Pixel 3 Test Flight

Pixel 3 Test Flight

Pixel 3 Test Flight

Pixel 3 Test Flight

Pixel 3 Test Flight

Pixel 3 Test Flight

Pixel 3 Test Flight

Pixel 3 Test Flight

Pixel 3 Test Flight

I don’t know if there is anything particularly special in this collection, but some of them are not without merit.

WPC – WEEK 260 – SKY

We did it! 49 straight weeks of double digit submissions! This week, I did have to pull over next to Ulysses S. Grant’s house and rattle a few cages, but we did make it to double digit submissions!

This is a wrap on the 7th year of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. There were 857 submissions for this set of 52 themes. If you want a walk down memory lane, click on the link below:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – YEAR 7

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


WEEK 260 - SKY - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 260 - SKY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 260 - SKY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 260 - SKY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 260 - SKY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 260 - SKY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 260 - SKY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 260 - SKY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 260 - SKY - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 260 - SKY - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

WEEK 260 - SKY - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 260 - SKY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 260 - SKY - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 260 - SKY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 260 - SKY - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

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 261 - MACRO
Macro

MACRO! What a great theme! But what is a MACRO photo? It is basically a close-up photo of something.

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.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

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 close Monday!

Morning in America

Last Saturday morning I was able to take get up at the crack of dawn and drive down to the High Trestle Trail to take Rodan139 on a flight around the Des Moines River Valley. Well, we didn’t go much around the valley as a I was pretty cautious with flying it there, since it was our first flight in that area.

Here are some of the pictures from the flight:


Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

Morning in America

If anything, I need to leave my house even earlier next time. Although as we quickly approach the fall, sunrise keeps getting later and later. Sunset keeps getting earlier and earlier.

I’m 95% sure one of these pictures will grace the pages of the 2021 Photography 139 Calendar.

Derecho Gamma

On Saturday morning before breakfast I took the drone out to take some pictures of the “Stop Eminent Domain Abuse” semi trailer and the Luther grain bins. It was very peaceful and quiet. I might have to make this a Saturday morning tradition. Gets me off the couch and more active on Saturday mornings. Plus early morning is a good time to take the drone out There aren’t many people. The lighting is usually okay and there isn’t usually much wind. I might have to go out to the High Trestle Trail Bridge this Saturday. Depending on how late of a Friday night I have.


Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Derecho Gamma

Probably one more post with derecho damage in the future, but we will see. Some of this damage isn’t going away any time soon.

Red Fish, Blue Fish

I meant to publish a post on this subject a week or so ago, but the derecho put those plans on hold. I’ve meant to be more proactive about writing about when I get new equipment, even equipment that is fairly small or seemingly inconsequential to most people. Hopefully this post starts just such a new era for “An Artist’s Notebook”.

The most recent thing I purchased was a fisheye lens for the mirrorless camera setup. Have a look:


Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish


Here are some specs for the lens:
FOCUS TYPE: Manual
CLOSEST FOCUSING DISTANCE: 7.9″
FOCAL LENGTH: 12mm
ANGLE OF VIEW: 180
MAXIMUM APERTURE: f/2.8
MINIMUM APERTURE: f/22

On a 35mm camera or a full frame sensor camera, a 50mm lens is the same as human sight. When you look through a viewfinder with a 50mm lens on the camera, what you see should be about the same as when you aren’t looking through the lens. Your angle of view won’t be the same, but objects should be about the same distance.

To illustrate how a fisheye lens, I took pictures of Jesse with a 50mm lens and with my new fisheye lens so you can see the difference between human sight and a fisheye lens.


Red Fish, Blue Fish
50mm

Red Fish, Blue Fish
Fisheye

Red Fish, Blue Fish
50mm

Red Fish, Blue Fish
Fisheye

Red Fish, Blue Fish
50mm

Red Fish, Blue Fish
Fisheye

Red Fish, Blue Fish
50mm

Red Fish, Blue Fish
Fisheye

I wanted to make this example to be more scientific, but I couldn’t find a football field in Boone with yardlines already painted that wasn’t being used. So these distances are mostly eyeballed, but they are pretty darn close.

Now that you know what it is and what it does, here are a few sample pictures I have taken:


Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish

The next piece of equipment I will talk about is a macro bellow I recently picked up. Then maybe a remote camera trigger. Then I need to purchase some stuff.