Category Archives: Railroad

So You’d Think I Was Smart

Hitting up the backlog again. This is a collection of images I took in April of 2022 that never found their way into a previous “An Artist’s Notebook”. There are pictures of the old Bennett Mine safe, a couple self-portraits, and pictures for the old Kate Shelley Museum in Moingona to name most of them.


So You'd Think I Was Smart

So You'd Think I Was Smart

So You'd Think I Was Smart

So You'd Think I Was Smart

So You'd Think I Was Smart

So You'd Think I Was Smart

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

Kate Shelley Museum

I assume everybody know the story of Kate Shelley and I’m sure I’ve told it before, so I won’t go into it again. Maybe tell it again at some point in the future. Still have plenty of backlog to keep me occupied for the perceivable future.

Allamakee County Aux – Vol. 4

I need to start today by wishing my sister Teresa’s best friend and also a good friend of all of our family, Sheri a happy birthday! Happy birthday Sheri!


Slice of Life Volume 28

That is a picture of Sheri graduating high school taken by my Dad.

I hope your birthday is/was as awesome as you wanted it to be!

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Time to share the last collection of images I took while on a road trip with Teresa to harvest the town signs of Allamakee County.


Fayette County -
Lansing

Fayette County -

Fayette County -

Fayette County -

Fayette County -

Fayette County -

Fayette County -

Fayette County -

Fayette County -

Allamakee County

Allamakee County

Allamakee County

Allamakee County

Allamakee County

Allamakee County

Allamakee County - Harper's Ferry
Harper’s Ferry

Allamakee County - Harper's Ferry

Allamakee County - Harper's Ferry

Allamakee County - Harper's Ferry

Allamakee County - Yellow River Forest
Yellow River State Forest

Allamakee County - Yellow River Forest

Allamakee County - Yellow River Forest

Allamakee County - Yellow River Forest

Allamakee County - Yellow River Forest

Allamakee County - Yellow River Forest

Allamakee County - Waterville
Waterville

The iconic Lansing Mississippi River Bridge can be seen in the movie THE STRAIGHT STORY. It is the bridge Alvin Straight crosses to get to Wisconsin to visit his brother.

The next county of auxiliary images we will visit is Washington County.

Just for You to Say You’re Not the Compliment Type

One of my unwritten (spoiler: they are all unwritten) goals for 2023 it to bring back the wishing of happy birthdays to the important people in my life.

So happy birthday Tim!



If I don’t wish you a birthday of happiness on this website, it is because I forgot, or don’t know when your birthday is, or don’t love you. You will have to figure out which one it is.

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One of these days, I’m going to get back to Formal Portrait Sunday. I swear it. But, this isn’t this Sunday. This Sunday I’m going to clean out all the pictures from February of last year that just didn’t have a spot in other posts for various reasons.


Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Just for You to Say You're Not the Compliment Type

Another month cleaned up. Feels pretty good!

Fayette & Winneshiek County Aux – Vol. 4

Time to share the final collection of auxiliary images I took while harvesting the town signs of Fayette and Winneshiek Counties. Included in this collection are pictures taken at Montauk. Montauk is the mansion and home Iowa’s 12th Governor William Larrabee. I don’t know anything about William Larrabee, but I’m guessing his entire platform wasn’t to destroy rural schools to line the pocketbooks of the out-of-state interests that funded his campaign.

Here is the final collection of images:


Allamakee County - Postville
Postville

Allamakee County - Postville

Allamakee County - Postville

Allamakee County - Postville

Fayette County - Montauk
Montauk

Fayette County - Montauk

Fayette County - Montauk

Fayette County - Montauk

Fayette County - Montauk

Fayette County - Montauk

Fayette County - Montauk

Fayette County - Clermont
Clermont

Fayette County - Clermont

Fayette County - Clermont

Fayette County - Clermont

Fayette County - Clermont

Fayette County - Clermont

Fayette County - Clermont

Fayette County - Elgin
Elgin

Fayette County - Elgin

Fayette County - Elgin

Fayette County - Elgin

Fayette County - Elgin

Fayette County

Fayette County

Fayette County

Fayette County

If you don’t know what The Straight Story is, here it is from the Wiki:

In June 1994, Straight’s 80-year-old brother Henry Straight (Palisade, January 4, 1914 – Iowa, June 15, 1998) had suffered a stroke. At the age of 73 and in poor health from diabetes, emphysema and other ailments, Straight could not see well enough for a driver’s license, so he decided his only option was to travel on his 1966 John Deere riding lawn mower.

Setting off in early July 1994, Straight drove the mower along highway shoulders, towing a trailer loaded with gasoline, camping gear, clothes, and food from his home in Laurens, Iowa to his brother in Blue River, Wisconsin.

About four days and 21 miles into the trip, the lawn mower broke down in West Bend, Iowa. Straight spent $250 on replacement parts, including a condenser, plugs, a generator, and a starter.

After traveling another 90 miles, Straight ran out of money while in Charles City, Iowa. He camped there for a few days until his next Social Security checks arrived in August. He was interviewed by local newspapers. On August 15, Straight’s lawn mower broke down again when he was two miles from his brother’s house near Blue River. A farmer stopped and helped him push it the rest of the way. At a top speed of 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h), the trip took six weeks in all. After the visit, his nephew, Dayne Straight, drove him back to Iowa in his pickup truck.

Henry Straight recovered from his stroke and moved back to Iowa to be closer to Alvin Straight and the rest of his family.

Paul Condit, president and general manager of Texas Equipment Company, Inc., in Seminole, Texas, heard about the trip and gave Straight a 17-horsepower John Deere replacement riding mower worth $5,000. Straight disliked the media attention from the lawn mower trip. He turned down offers to appear on various TV talk shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Show with David Letterman.

David Lynch (of all filmmakers) turned the story into the movie THE STRAIGHT STORY. Richard Farnsworth played Alvin Straight and was nominated for an Oscar for his performance.

The film was shot in chronological order along the original route that Alvin Straight took. Richard Farnsworth was suffering from terminal cancer during production and the paralysis of his legs shown in the film was real. He took his own life they year after the shooting of the film.

The movie currently streams on Disney+.

The next county we will visit for auxiliary images will be a little bit different. It will mostly involve a camping trip I made with Carla and Jason, but I consider them to be auxiliary images because I did take one town sign picture on the trip.

Tried So Hard to Be Everything that You Liked

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.


2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

Last Penny - 2022

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject

2023 Photography 139 Calendar Reject


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!

Weekly Photo Challenge Year 9 Review

Thought I would take a quick look back at Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Here are a few quick stats:

+ 44 different participants
+ 1811 photos submitted
+ Least popular theme for participation was ROCK with 16 participants
+ Most popular theme for participation was SELF-PORTRAIT with 31 participants
+ Least popular theme for submissions was ROCK with 20 submissions
+ Most popular theme for submission was LINES with 51 submissions
+ The average week had 24.6 participants
+ The average week had 34.8 submissions

If you want to look back at all 1811 images that were submitted this year, click on the link below:

Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 9

Michelle once told me that her kids think that THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is a contest and they always ask her if she “won” this week. It isn’t a contest and I’m not really sure art should compete against other art (yes I run and enter photo contests), but I thought I would share my favorite picture from all 44 participants this year:


WEEK 332 - TRIANGLE - ROBYN AUGUSTIN
Robyn Augustin
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 362 - WEEKENDS - TIM CUCULIC
Tim Cuculic
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 339 - GOVERNMENT - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 361 - FAMILY - BROOKLYN ERB
Brooklyn Erb
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - STEVE MARTIN
Steve Martin
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 2
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MYRIAH SHARP
Myriah Sharp
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim
Weeks Participated: 2 – 4%
Submissions: 2
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous
Weeks Participated: 3 – 6%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 340 - ABSTRACT - HARRISON GORSHE
Gorshe Twins
Weeks Participated: 3 – 6%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 341 - SHADOW - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 8 – 15%
Submissions: 8
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber
Weeks Participated: 10 weeks 19%
Submissions: 10
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 377 - ANIMAL - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 16 weeks – 31%
Submissions: 17
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 351 - FLOWER - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 18 weeks – 35%
Submissions: 18
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 342 - FRAMED - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest
Weeks Participated: 19 weeks – 37%
Submissions: 19
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 380 - EXPLORE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine
Weeks Participated: 21 weeks – 40%
Submissions: 23
Current Streak: 7

WEEK 371 - LINES - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez
Weeks Participated: 23 – 44%
Submissions: 23
Current Streak: 3

WEEK 365 - GREEN - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler
Weeks Participated: 24 weeks – 46%
Submissions: 24
Current Streak: 20

WEEK 363 - CIRCLE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot
Weeks Participated: 24 – 46%
Submissions: 37
Current Streak: 24 weeks

WEEK 360 - PEOPLE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green
Weeks Participated: 26 – 50%
Submissions: 66
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 365 - GREEN - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner
Weeks Participated: 32 – 62%
Submissions: 43
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 353 - SERVICE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee
Weeks Participated: 32 – 62%
Submissions: 36
Current Streak: 3

WEEK 379 - WATER - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen
Weeks Participated: 35 weeks – 67%
Submissions: 38
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard
Weeks Participated: 36 – 69%
Submissions: 44
Current Streak: 28

WEEK 362 - WEEKENDS - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard
Weeks Participated: 40 – 77%
Submissions: 46
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 357 - WORK - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett
Weeks Participated: 42 – 81%
Submissions: 94
Current Streak: 23

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Jennings
Weeks Participated: 44 – 85%
Submissions: 60
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker
Weeks Participated: 48 – 92%
Submissions: 59
Current Streak: 38

WEEK 363 - CIRCLE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause
Weeks Participated: 48 – 92%
Submissions: 70
Current Streak: 32

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
Weeks Participated: 49 – 94%
Submissions: 63
Current Streak: 39

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler
Weeks Participated: 49 – 94%
Submissions: 102
Current Streak: 41

WEEK 377 - ANIMAL - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson
Weeks Participated: 50 – 96%
Submissions: 55
Current Streak: 9

WEEK 338 - HOBBIES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 51
Current Streak: 51

WEEK 377 - ANIMAL -  TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 106
Current Streak: 50

WEEK 368 - RUINS - CAR;A STENSLAND
Carla Stensland
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 93
Current Streak: 50

WEEK 349 - HAT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 57
Current Streak: 52

WEEK 355 - ENTERTAINMENT - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 53
Current Streak: 61

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - CHRISTOHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 52
Current Streak: 485

WEEK 367 - SIGNS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 156
Current Streak: 63

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Morton
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 56
Current Streak: 58

WEEK 347 - #INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 64
Current Streak: 59

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 71
Current Streak: 53 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 54
Current Streak: 54

Don’t think I put a ton of effort into picking my favorite images from each person. But I did put some effort in it.

2022 was a great year for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Hopefully 2023 is even better!

WPC – WEEK 381 – BODY PART

The last theme of Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! Going into Year 10 I am going to make one change. I am making the Kio Dettman Suggestion the Kio Dettman Rule. In Year 10 there will be a limit of 3 submissions per participant. This could go lower if the number of participants goes up. I considered moving the time of the deadline and the publishing time of this post to later in the day, but for now I’m going to leave everything as it is.

The reason for the Kio Dettman Rule isn’t to squash anybody’s creativity. On the contrary, limitations actually fan the flames of creativity. Compare Spielberg’s early movies to the movies where he had an infinite budget. However, the limitation isn’t about encouraging creativity. It is because a ton of submissions by one person overwhelms the submissions of other people. Also, on average it takes me 5 minutes to process every image I receive to get it from where I got it, to store it locally, to rename it, to upload it, to label it, and to code it so it shows up on these posts. So the Kio Dettman Rule is a way of streamlining my workload.

So what happens if somebody submits more than 3 pictures? Will I choose the 3 that I think are best or fit the theme best? No, I will use the first 3 I get. Sorry, but it is a blessing that participation numbers are up so high, but I have to balance the workload too.

One more thing, I’m toying with retconning the first 2 years of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, when it was known as the RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT into the numbering scheme. So if next Monday the week number jumps 104 numbers (technically 105), you weren’t in a coma for two years. You didn’t gets sucked into a wormhole. You didn’t accidentally trigger a time machine. There wasn’t a blip. It was just me retconning like the director of a HALLOWEEN movie*.

So, was BODY PART a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, December 26, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks
2-Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
3-Willy McAlpine – 6 weeks (3)
4-Tamara Peterson – 8 weeks
5-Brandon Kahler – 19 weeks
6-Linda Bennett – 22 weeks
7-Sarah Toot – 23 weeks
8-Angie DeWaard – 27 weeks
9-Dawn Krause – 31 weeks
10-Kim Barker – 37 weeks
11-Joe Duff – 38 weeks (2)
12-Logan Kahler – 40 weeks (3)
13-Teresa Kahler – 49 weeks
14-Carla Stensland – 49 weeks (2)
15-Michelle Haupt – 50 weeks
16-Micky Augustin – 51 weeks
17-Andy Sharp – 52 weeks
18-Bill Wentworth – 53 weeks
19-Cathie Morton – 57 weeks
20-Elizabeth Nordeen – 58 weeks
21-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 60 weeks
22-Kio Dettman – 62 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - BEKCY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 7 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 9 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 20 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 23 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 24 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 28 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 32 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 38 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 39 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 41 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 50 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 50 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 51 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 52 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 53 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 54 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 58 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 59 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 61 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 63 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett – 485 weeks

28 participants! That is a pretty great week considering it was coming off a holiday weekend.

I received submissions (assumptions mostly on my part) from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas. Elizabeth’s picture was from Ohio. That is the first submission from Ohio for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

And since the next theme will beginning of Year 10, it will wipe the map clean and we will start again. I do ask you, if you took your picture in a different state than the one you live in, please let me know where the picture was taken. For example, Bill lives in Nebraska, so when I get a picture from Bill I will assume it was taken in Nebraska, unless he tells me that it was taken in say Wyoming.

My picture this week was taken in the middle of my house. Well, not the exact middle.

Tomorrow, hopefully, I will be putting together a post with a bunch of statistics and what not from Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. A bunch of stuff that only me and Joe Duff will probably care about.

The big milestone this week was Micky joined the 1 Year Streak Club! There are some whispers that he was going to throw in the towel after he hit 52 weeks. I guess we will find out next week.

There were no streaks snapped this week! Huzzah!

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  382 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES
TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMIBLES! Oh my! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

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.

Boone has lots of TRAINS. Plenty of AUTOMOBILES. Technically 3 airports! If Boone has all that, I bet your town does too.

While considering your subject for TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES meditate on the following quote and you will no doubt create a great image:

You can start by wiping that f****** dumb-ass smile off your rosy f****** cheeks. Then you can give me a f****** automobile. A f****** Datsun. A f****** Toyota. A f****** Mustang. A f****** Buick! Four f****** wheels and a seat!
-Neal

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is ude.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES in this place that was heavily influenced by a book on trains next Monday.

*Thanks to the maybe two people that will get that joke and quietly guffawed to themselves. Which another 2023 goal is to replace LOL with QG. Quietly guffawed.

Fayette & Winneshiek County Aux – Vol. 3

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


2023 Calendar - September
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:


Winneshiek County - Spillville
Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County - Spillville

Winneshiek County- Ossian
Ossian

Winneshiek County- Ossian

Winneshiek County- Ossian

Winneshiek County - Calmar
Calmar

Allamakee County - Postville
Postville

Allamakee County - Postville

Allamakee County - Postville

Allamakee County - Postville

Allamakee County - Postville

Allamakee County - Postville

Allamakee County - 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.

Westhaven Christmas

I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas. This little picture is my way of saying Merry Christmas to all of you:


Merry Christmas - 2022
Merry Christmas!

I would like to share a Christmas Devotional with you:

Merry Christmas
By Rev. Ronald Carlson Jr.
Dean of the Cabinet and District Superintendent of Riverview Park District
“Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them.”
– Luke 2:18 (CEB)
In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. 2 This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. 3 Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. 4 Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. 5 He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. 8 Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. 9 The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. 11 Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 14 “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” 15 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. Luke 2:1-20 (CEB)
Luke says it all… perfectly.

Let us pray.

O almighty God, by the birth of your holy child Jesus, you gave us a great light to dawn on our darkness. Grant that in his light we may see light. Bestow on us that most excellent Christmas gift of love to all people, so that the likeness of your Son may be formed in us, and that we may have the ever brightening hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen (The Book of Worship 1965, ALT.)

On certain holidays, I like to share some power rankings. I’m not going to go in depth on this as I originally intended. When I made some plans for this, I didn’t realize a new season of JACK RYAN and EMILY IN PARIS were both being released this weekend!

But without further adieu, here is my Christmas Movie Power Rankings.

CHRISTMAS MOVIE POWER RANKINGS
10. Meet John Doe (1941)
9. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
8. Gremlins (1984)
7. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
6. Die Hard (1988)
5. Elf (2003)
4. A Christmas Story (1983)
3. Scrooged (1988)
2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
1. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

Please respect my decision. There will be no interviews at this time. Maybe next Christmas I will go in depth on this list.

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


2023 Calendar - June
June

This image was my submission for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme SLICE OF LIFE. That theme is named in honor of my Dad’s postcard company. This image is my interpretation of his style of postcard designs. However, you can look at this and know it wasn’t that hard for me to put this together in Photoshop, but try to think of how hard a similar design would have been to make in a darkroom.

You might have noticed that usually the June image in the Photography 139 Calendar is Black & White. That is because I affiliate my Dad mostly with black & white photography because he had a black & white darkroom in our house at 415 Greene. The 38th anniversary of his death was on Friday. He was born in June and that is why this homage is the June picture for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar.

There are no technical details for this image since it is a composite image.

Tomorrow I will unveil the July image for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar.

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Once again I am going to skip Formal Portrait Sunday. Instead I’m going to share some pictures from when I got together with some of Olivia’s family for Christmas at Westhaven a couple weeks ago. Not everybody could make it because of illness, but sometimes in life you have to be happy for who is there and not be sad about who isn’t there.

Here are a few pictures from the celebration:


Shorty Christmas

Shorty Christmas

Shorty Christmas

Shorty Christmas

Shorty Christmas


Triplets man… So much energy!

Fayette & Winneshiek County Aux – Vol. 1

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


2023 Calendar - February
February

I took this macro image of a hollyhock in my yard. It is a little known fact that I am one of the premiere hollyhock farmers in all of Boone, Iowa. People comes from miles around to walk down my alley to see the numerous hollyhocks that line my back fence. While that isn’t true, it should be. Hollyhocks are a Top 5 flower in my flower gardens. Maybe even Top 3. You can make dolls out of them. I don’t know how to do that, but my Aunt Linda assures me it can be done.

This picture doesn’t have a strong connection to February. February is the month that houses the one true holiday that hasn’t been commercialized at all…. Valentine’s Day. So I like to put a “romantic” image here. Flowers are romantic, right?

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: July 19,2022 – 8:21 PM
LENS: Tamron 105mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm
APERTUFE: f/6.3
EXPOSURE: 1/13
ISO: 400
EXPOSURE BIAS: -.3
FIELD OF 19.5 degrees

Tomorrow I will reveal the March image.

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Several months back I tooled around Fayette and Winneshiek County harvesting their town signs. I would have spent more time in Winneshiek County, but I actually been to the stunning Decorah a few times, so I didn’t spend as much time there as I would like. I need to get back there and photograph it sometime soon though.

Here is the first collection of images. All from Fayette County:


Fayette County - Oelwein
Oelwein

Fayette County - Oelwein

Fayette County - Oelwein

Fayette County - Oelwein

Fayette County - Oelwein

Fayette County - Oelwein

Fayette County - Oelwein

Fayette County - Oelwein

Fayette County - Oelwein

Fayette County - Maynard
Maynard

Fayette County - Maynard

Fayette County - Maynard

Fayette County - Randalia
Randalia

Fayette County - Fayette
Fayette

Fayette County - West Union
West Union

Fayette County - West Union

Fayette County - West Union

Fayette County - West Union

Fayette County - West Union

Fayette County - West Union

Fayette County - West Union

Fayette County - West Union

Fayette County - Saint Lucas
Saint Lucas

Fayette County - Saint Lucas

Fayette County - Saint Lucas

Fayette County - Saint Lucas

Fayette County - Waucoma
Waucoma

Still a ton more pictures to share from this road trip!