Monthly Archives: December 2017

Alisa, Animals, Iowa State, Jesse, Naima, Road Trip, Self-Portrait Project, WPC - Submissions

2017 – Year in Review

4 Comments

Time for a look back at 2017. While it was a disaster for our country and for the world, it wasn’t so bad for me personally.

Here are the 5 Most popular Photo Galleries on my website:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – YEAR 4 (96932 VIEWS)

SELFIE PROJECT – 2017 (58566 VIEWS)

2007 – JULY-DECEMBER (30046 VIEWS)

2007 – JANUARY-JUNE (21923 VIEWS)

9 EMOTIONS PROJECT (21752 VIEWS)

The 5 Most Popular Blog Entries (BASED ON COMMENTS):

YOU CAN CALL IT A COMEBACK (15 COMMENTS).

YOU, YA JUST GET IN THAT HEAD SPACE, YA KNOW (15 COMMENTS)

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 76 – GOVERNMENT (14 COMMENTS)

I LOST MY NERVE (11 COMMENTS)

“THE WRONG GUY GOT ELECTED” (11 COMMENTS)

The 5 Most Popular Photos on my Website (BASED ON VIEWS):


Selfie Project - January 27
Alisa & I at Winter Jam – 9565 VIEWS

07-01-07
Ground Squirrel – 4349 VIEWS


Me and Naima – 2619 VIEWS

WEEK 61 - STILL LIFE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Sidewalk Chalk – 1862 VIEWS

2017 Big 12 Tournament Championship
Jesse and I at the Pep Rally Before the Big Men’s Basketball Championship Game – 1800 VIEWS

There were 400 blog posts in 2017. Pretty sure that is a record.

In 2017, I got to see Beale Street, Mount Rushmore, The Civil Rights Museum, and the Badlands. All places I’ve wanted to see for years.

In 2017, I got see Iowa State win a Big 12 Championship in Men’s Basketball and win a bowl game and watch Iowa State beat the #5 team in the country.

In 2017, I got to be President of the Methodist Men, serve on the Administrative Council for my Church and go on a Mission Trip with the Youth Group to Saint Paul.

In 2017, I attended birthday parties, birthday dinners, 4 weddings (I think), and too many funerals. Even though, there weren’t many.

In 2017, I went on vacations to Minnesota, Kansas, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

In 2017, I established a new tradition of The Union Street Movie Theater Movie Night.

In 2017, I didn’t spend enough time with friends and family.

In 2017, I watched too much television and read too few books.

This brings me to my goals for 2017:

1. I’m gonna step my game up and get what’s coming to me. (My standard goal.)
2. I’m going to read at least 20 books in 2018.

I don’t have any new photo projects for 2018. I’m not continuing the Selfie Project. My Instagram account is going to go 100% black and white in 2018. I will finish the Photo Journal Project.

These are the things that I will do in 2018.

Becca, Commercial, Sara, Shannon

02-10-08/lwlenhanced

2 Comments

These images were in the folder 02-10-08/lwlenhanced:


Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

Little White Lye Soap

There are some examples of really bad Photoshop work in this collection.

If you have forgotten, Little White Lye Soap is a company ran by Shannon. It is high quality soap that I highly endorse. I’d recommend you go out and buy about 20-30 bars!

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve some artwork by Becca and Sara Junckner. Or it will involve more Little White Lye Soap. You never know.

Animals, Black & White, Flowers, Macro, Mom, Nature, Photoshop

Cinco de Mayo

Hopping back into the backlog I found some pictures I took back on May 5. Some pictures of a beautiful toad that lived in my woodpile for a few weeks and some pictures of gross lilacs.


Backyard Toad

Backyard Toad

Backyard Toad

Backyard Toad

Backyard Toad

Backyard Toad

Backyard Toad

Alley Lilacs

Alley Lilacs

Alley Lilacs

Alley Lilacs

I was, of course, being facetious when I called lilacs ugly. Those lilacs can be found between my back fence and the alley. I transplanted 3 lilac bushes from my Mom’s lilac patch 3 years ago. Only 1 survived. This was the first year that the surviving bush bloomed. It was very exciting times around the Bennett homestead!

Event, Road Trip, Scottie D., Tenderloining

Tenderloin Appreciation Society – Webster City Field Work

On Saturday, the Tenderloin Appreciation Society hopped in one of Scottie D.’s many vehicles and headed north on 17 to Webster City. Home of the Grid Iron Grill and Sports Lounge. The current reigning Best Tenderloin in Iowa according to the Iowa Pork Producer’s Association.


Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Scott and Porter had their game faces on. Although Porter actually ordered chicken strips. He is still in training.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
They have one of those pin your location maps.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Boone! Represent!

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
They also have coloring contests.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
The official plaque!

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Our waittress delivering our tenderloins.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
The tenderloin.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Austin. About to become a man.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Scottie D.’s first bite.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Austin with a “tenderloin bomb”.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Austin makes it official.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Side view.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Are you taking the picture?

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
My first bite.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
The aftermath.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Christopher D. Bennett was here.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
His work done. He retired for the day.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
They have a mailbox for Santa.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
They’ve won some awards. Dilly dilly!

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
Their nightly specials.

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill

Tenderloining at Grid Iron Grill
The Tenderloin Appreciation Society

THE VERDICT

THE GOOD

  • The meat to bun ration was nearly dead on. Could have used a touch more meat, but awful close to the golden ratio.
  • A good thick cut of meat. Not one of those flat pork fritters masquerading as a tenderloin.
  • A light breading, which worried me, but the breading had a good flavor.
  • The bun was toasted.
  • It is a clean restaurant with good service.
  • They serve Pepsi products.

THE BAD

  • Red onions. Not a complete miss, but not the preferred tenderloin onion.
  • Kaiser bun. Seemed to distract from the tenderloin. But at least it wasn’t as terrible as a panini bun.
  • Standard tenderloin came with onion, pickles, lettuce, and tomato. The standard tenderloin SHOULD come with onion and pickles. You should put the mustard and ketchup on yourself.  Get rid of the lettuce and tomato.

THE UGLY

  • Sweet pickles. This was the biggest miss by far. Sweet pickles don’t belong on a tenderloin.
  • Very greasy.  I know. A tenderloin. But so greasy that the bottom bun was very soggy and made it a challenge to finish the sandwich and keep my glorious beard relatively clean. I’m not sure if this sogginess was a result of the kaiser bun OR because the tenderloin wasn’t properly drained after it was pulled from the fryer. My gut reaction is that it is a conglomeration of both.

THE FINAL WORD

The Grid Iron Grill serves a good, but not great tenderloin. I would gladly eat it again, but I would not pursue it. It is does not belong in the Pantheon with Nick’s or Cole’s or The Legal Limit (may she rest in peace), but it is certainly several notches above garbage tenderloins like you see at The Lucky Pig or Gramma’s Kitchen or Thunderhead Sports Bar & Grill.

Next Up

Sometime in January the Tenderloin Appreciation Society will be visiting the 2017 runner-up in Winterset. If you would like to apply for a spot on our next field work trip, you know how to contact me.

Black & White, Nature

Not Entirely Frozen

I had some free time on Christmas Eve between church services and feedings to go out to Ledges. I didn’t get as far into Ledges as I wanted because of time constraints and temperature my feet can take restraints, but I did get a few photos that I like:


Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

Ledges State Park - Christmas Eve 2017

I hope to make much longer sojourn into Ledges in January. When my schedule frees up a little bit more and the days are longer.

Holidays, Night

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish all my friends, family, and subscribers a very Merry Christmas!


Christmas - 2017

To quote Linus:

And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men. I hope your Christmas and Christmas season had all 3 of these things!

Black & White, Kim, Movies, Photoshop, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 119 – SCARY

I want to come straight out of the chute with a reminder that next Monday is a holiday of sorts. I expect there to be a similar hit in in participation rates for that holiday as well, but if you want to participate, plan accordingly. While the government and banks might take holidays, Photography 139 does not. The struggle is real.

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


WEEK 119 - SCARY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 119 - SCARY - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

That is it! Only 2 submissions this week! Special thanks to Kim for her drive and commitment to our little community art project!

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 120 - LOW PERSPECTIVE
LOW PERSPECTIVE!

LOW PERSPECTIVE! What a great theme! But what does it mean? You’ll want to get down low for this photograph. Look at the world the way one of nature’s most magnificent creature, the noble rat, sees the world.

As usual, I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge 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

Nothing new to report. I’ll try to do better next week.

Want your own Photography 139 email subscription? Call, email, or text me and I’ll get you the hook up.

**************************************

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 low Monday!

Black & White, History, Road Trip, Ruins, Travel

The Burned Bridge of Madison County

2 Comments

Hitting the back log again. These are images I took the day after some young hooligans set fire to the Cedar Bridge near Winterset.


Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

Cedar Bridge

I’m not really sure what possessed people to burn down this bridge. While I do agree that the efforts of Robert James Waller are an affront to literature, I’m not tempted to set any of these bridges on fire.

If Nicholas Sparks had written about these bridges, that is another story!