Category Archives: WPC

WPC – WEEK 199 – ROAD TRIP

We are approaching the Boone County Fair, which means that I need to select pictures for the Boone County Fair Photo Contest. I am picking those pictures in the same way that I did last year. I’m letting other people pick them for me.

The next FOUR people that text me that they are interested in picking one of my entries will get to pick my five entries for the Boone County Fair. Once you have been selected as a selector, I will send you instructions on how to make your selection.

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I don’t know if it was the holiday or if ROAD TRIP was just a particularly popular theme, but there were several submissions for the ROAD TRIP theme. The submissions were taken as far east as Chicago and as far north as near Canada.

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


WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP - 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 200 -SIGNS
SIGNS!

SIGNS! What a great theme! But what is a SIGNS photo? A SIGNS photo is literally any picture of a SIGN(s). Remember, there is more than one definition of SIGNS.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

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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.

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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 signed Monday!

Rapid City Mission Trip – Day 3

I woke up Wednesday morning and it was the first night I got something that resembled sleep. My hair was starting to look greasy as the ice cold shower wasn’t being 100% effective in washing out the travel shampoo-conditioner combo I had brought on the trip.

We got up and went to Black Hills Works. What had been awkward on the first day was now becoming routine. I knew the names of most of the clients and how to communicate with them.

It was the first day that I made a connection with Amy. Amy was one of my favorite clients because I think she has the system worked out. Amy spends most of her day in the fitness center. In the fitness center is one massage chair. Amy monopolizes that chair.

I also had a good conversation with Mike in one of the learning centers and helped with BINGO in the other learning center. I also played lots of War and Go Fish and UNO Attack and Yahtzee.

When we went to the shower site I went down to the basement shower with I think his name was Ken. I freely admit that one of my biggest weaknesses is learning the names of the other adults from the other church’s. It was either Ken or Steve. I know the Pastor from one of the other churches was named Tom because I had a couple long conversations with him. I had a long conversation with Ken or Steve as well, but I just can’t pull the trigger on his name.

The only thing I can remember about the other adults is that the kids in our church were convinced that a couple of the other adults were having extramaritals. I don’t believe that they were, but I didn’t put much effort into trying to convince them otherwise. This usually throws gasoline on the high school imaginations. Best to let those embers rest.

As Ken/Steve and I were waiting for the kids to finish up there showers so that we could enjoy the mountain stream that was the shower, a guy came walking down our hallway wearing a raccoon tail. Not a raccoon hat. A raccoon tail. Coming from his backside. He tried to go into the youth shower but we stopped him and let him know that there were kids in there and he would have to wait.

When our last youth came out of the showers, Ken/Steve and I went into the locker room and got ready for the shower. Raccoon Tail followed us in and then just sat in the locker room staring at his phone.

When I got out of the shower, he was still just sitting there. Staring at his phone. I never feared for my safety, but man was it creepy. I hoped I wouldn’t see Raccoon Tail again.

That night our cultural event was going to the Club for Boys and learning to dance with the Lakota. I can tell you that this was a tremendous workout. I must have sweat out about a gallon and my quads were on fire by the end of the night.

Despite Wyatt ratting us out, I still took the group to Armadillo’s for ice cream and our Church Time. This is always a light Church Time. With the set up at Armadillo’s it is difficult to communicate as a group. Jaxon wanted to run Church Time, so I let him. We went around and shared our favorite part of the trip so far.

Then we announced that anybody that we were going to take an early morning trip to Dinosaur Park. Anybody that wanted to go needed to be awake by 6 AM.

Here are some pictures from the day:


Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

Rapid City Mission Trip - 2019

The pictures with the potato dancers was a contest. I think Andy and I finished just out of the medal stand. Kyle and Autumn finished second, but they were bested by experienced potato dancers, so I consider them to be the winners.

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Here is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is ROAD TRIP:


WEEK 199 - ROAD TRIP
ROAD TRIP

A ROAD TRIP photo is any photo you take on a ROAD TRIP or preparations you make for a ROAD TRIP.

Happy photo harvesting!

WPC – WEEK 198 – CANDID PORTRAIT

While BREAKFAST was a universally hated theme, CANDID PORTRAIT made a bit of a rebound.

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


WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

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 199 - ROAD TRIP
ROAD TRIP!

ROAD TRIP! What a great theme! But what is a ROAD TRIP photo? A ROAD TRIP photo is any photo that involves the act or preparation of going on a ROAD TRIP. It doesn’t have to be a huge ROAD TRIP. Some time just driving to work in the morning can feel like a ROAD TRIP to me.

I look forward to your interpretations!

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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 open road Monday!

WPC – WEEK 197 – BREAKFAST

As it turns out, BREAKFAST was an extremely unpopular theme. One of the most popular themes ever. Which means that I will definitely bring it back next year. I like to give unpopular themes multiple chances.

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


WEEK 197 - BREAKFAST - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 197 - BREAKFAST - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 197 - BREAKFAST - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 197 - BREAKFAST - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 197 - BREAKFAST - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

Hopefully this week’s theme will rebound the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE to greatness.

A Photo Journal – Page 109

Ever since the first time I flipped through THE PHOTO JOURNAL and landed on Page 109, I knew exactly where I wanted to take that picture. I flipped flopped on what I wanted the subject to be, but I never waiver on the setting.

It wasn’t until a week or so before I took the photo that I decided on what I wanted the subject to be. I decided the subject should be me.

Occasionally on Wednesdays I shoot over the ISU Surplus Sale. I don’t usually buy anything, (although I occasionally I come home with a gem) but I like to peruse. A week before I finally pulled the trigger on Page 109, I planned on taking this picture. However, after I left the ISU Surplus Sale and headed west on Airport Road to take the image, I found something terrible. The setting had been fenced off. It now required a security code to get there. A security code I didn’t have. It became obvious that Page 109 was going to need a new setting.

Then out of nowhere I got an email that Micky, I, and others were going to take a Computer Mine Field Trip out there. Boom! Plan back on!


Photo Journal - Page 109
Page 109 – Photograph a word to change its meaning.

While I can only physically adhere one image into the physical A PHOTO JOURNAL, I did take one more photo that I feel like sharing:


Photo Journal - Page 109

I think I have about 10-15 of these pages left.

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Here is you weekly reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is CANDID PORTRAIT:


WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT
CANDID PORTRAIT

Happy photo harvesting!

WEEK 198 REVEAL

If things went right for me yesterday, I’m currently in Rapid City, South Dakota on a mission trip with the Boone First United Methodist Church with 20 youths and 4 other chaperones. In fact, at 12:01 PM, I am most likely sitting down and taking a lunch break at the worksite. Eating, perhaps, and ham and cheese sandwich on a bagel. Delicious!

Since I’m nowhere near a computer (Thank God!) I won’t be posting the numerous delicious BREAKFAST photos that are no doubt waiting for me in my inbox. I will post those sometime after I return Friday night. Most likely sometime on Saturday or maybe even Sunday.

In case, you are interested in hearing about the Mission Trip, those that went on it will be talking about it during both church services on Sunday, June 30th. I’d love to see you there!

Even though I am unplugged, that doesn’t mean you can’t get started on this week’s theme:


WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT
CANDID PORTRAIT

CANDID PORTRAIT! What a great theme! But what is a CANDID PORTRAIT? A CANDID PORTRAIT is a portrait where the subject matter isn’t posing for the picture. That is it. Simple enough!

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

RAGBRAI – VOLUME 1

In 2018, RAGBRAI went through Boone on its way to its overnight destination of Ames.

If I remember correctly, I worked 7-9 in the morning, then hung up my pick axe and came to Boone to photograph the riders as they came through Boone or stopped in Boone to enjoy the festivities that we offered.

At the time, I remember being worried that I would miss most of the riders as I saw many of them already pouring into Ames on my way from the mine back to the Photography 139 Studio. As you’ll see, that was a fool’s worry.

I took 400 pictures, so as I pick out a few of my favorites, they will be broken into a few volumes.


RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

There are plenty more RAGBRAI pictures in the chute!

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This is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is BREAKFAST:


WEEK 197 - BREAKFAST
BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST. Easy enough.

Happy photo harvesting!

WPC – WEEK 196 – TREE

Once again, we had a week of double digit submissions. I believe that to be the third consecutive week. People like TREE(s). A bunch of TREE huggers,the lot of you! Which is good, because people who don’t like TREE(s) aren’t good people.

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


WEEK 196 - TREE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 196 - TREE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 196 - TREE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 196 - TREE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 196 - TREE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 196 - TREE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 196 - TREE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 196 - TREE - SHANNON BARDOLE=FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 196 - TREE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 196 - TREE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEKLY 196 - TREE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEKLY 196 - TREE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda 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 197 - BREAKFAST
BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST! What a great theme! In fact, it is such a great theme because it was suggested by long-time Photography 139 fan Andy Sharp. But what is a BREAKFAST photo? Easy enough. A BREAKFAST photo is any photo of somebody eating BREAKFAST, preparing BREAKFAST, items used to make a BREAKFAST, or anything to do with BREAKFAST.

However, there is something to note. Next Monday at this time, I will be on a mission trip to Rapid City, South Dakota with my church’s Youth Group. I will be as far away from technology as a guy can get. So that changes things for next week. Sorta.

I will not be publishing the BREAKFAST submissions until I return. However, that does not change the deadline, the deadline is still 11 AM Monday.

There is a slight change in the rules below going forward, you might want to read them because it might make life easier for some of you!

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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 sausagey Saturday or Sunday. Probably Sunday.

Misc. Flora

Hitting the 2018 backlog. Here are some pictures of flowers, all from my yard that I took on June 10.


Yellow Rose

Yellow Rose

Flower

Daisy

Daisy

Daisy

Daisy

The roses are just starting to bloom now, but I didn’t have any daisies this year. Daisies seem to be an unreliable flower, but the weather has also been crazy this year.

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This is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is TREE:


WEEK 198 - TREE
TREE

A TREE picture is any picture that involves a TREE or a TREE byproduct.

Happy photo harvesting!

WPC – WEEK 195 – PARK

Insert comment on reaching double digits in submissions again.

Insert vague reference to GONE WITH THE WIND.

Submissions:


WEEK 195 - PARK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 195 - PARK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 195 - PARK - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 195 - PARK - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 195 - PARK - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 195 - PARK - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 195 - PARK - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 195 - PARK - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 195 - PARK - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 195 - PARK - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 195 - PARK - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 195 - PARK - AUBREY and KATELYN AUGUSTIN
Aubrey and Katelyn Augustin

Insert reference to PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE:


WEEK 198 - TREE
TREE

TREE! Insert an explanation of what a TREE is, as if there is anybody in the world that doesn’t know what a TREE is.

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. 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 this week showed taste, grace, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription.

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Insert reference to Hank Willimas Sr.