Black & White, Christianity, Formal Portrait, Jesse, Night, Sarah Toot, Self-Portrait, Steph, Still Life, Street Photography, Tim, Travel, Vacation, Vest

NYC – One

November 20, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

The pictures in this collection are in a folder called New York City. These pictures are from a trip I took with Jesse to visit my cousin Sarah and her beau Tim. They live in Manhattan. We made this trip in 2011 and I thought that I’d probably go out and visit every couple of years. I haven’t been back since, and that is really pathetic.

There are also pictures in this collection I took with a pinhole camera.

By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory:

PERSONAL PHOTO PROJECT OF THE WEEK #58

RANDOM NEW YORK CITY IMAGES

MORE RANDOM NEW YORK CITY – NEAR GROUND ZERO

The next time we take a stroll down memory lane, that memory lane will still be in New York City.

Flowers, Macro, Mom

Missin’ You

November 18, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Here is another collection of pictures I took of flowers from my Mom’s yard. These pictures were taken on June 20, 2021.

There are still more flower pictures to come.

Art, Black & White, Christianity, Flowers, History, Road Trip

Pocahontas County Auxiliary Images Vol. 1

November 17, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

Several weeks back I cruised around Pocahontas County harvesting their town signs. Pocahontas County is the home of the most awesome statue in Iowa. It is also home to one of the worst statues in Iowa. In this collection you will see the most awesome statue in Iowa.

Rolfe

Plover

Havelock

Laurens

I want to meet Bob.

There is one more collection of images from Pocahontas County still left to be shared.

Art, Mom, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Shelby County

November 16, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

A few weeks back I made a solo town harvesting trip to Shelby County.

Here are some facts about Shelby County:

+ Population is 11,746. Making it the 65th most populous county in Iowa. Below Lyon County and above Cherokee County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Harlan.
+ Formed in 1851.
+ Named after Revolutionary War hero Isaac Shelby.
+ Major highways are: US-59, IA-37, IA-44, IA-173, and IA-191.
+ Adjacent counties are: Crawford, Audubon, Cass, Pottawattamie, and Harrison.
+ Population peaked in 1900 at 17.932.

The Shelby County Courthouse is pretty:

The Shelby County Courthouse in Harlan, Iowa.

The Shelby County Courthouse is located in Earling, Iowa:

With Shelby County conquered, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

45 counties completed. 45.5% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Shelby County:

Harlan, Iowa
HARLAN
A growing tradition
Population: 4,893 (+48)

Shelby, Iowa
WELCOME TO SHELBY
Population: 727 (+76)

Elk Horn, Iowa
Welcome to ELK HORN
Population: 601 (+65)

Earling, Iowa
WELCOME TO EARLING
Population: 397 (+27)

Irwin, Iowa
Welcome to… IRWIN
Home of the…. STATE CHAMPS
Population: 319 (-25)

Defiance, Iowa
welcome to DEFIANCE
Population: 245 (+41)

Panama, Iowa
RIDE-WALK-RUN PANAMA
EST 1882
Population: 235 (+31)

Portsmouth, Iowa
WELCOME TO PORTSMOUTH
BIGGEST LITTLE TOWN IN THE U.S.
Population: 182 (+56)

Portsmouth back of sign.

Westphalia, Iowa
WELCOME TO WESTPHALIA IOWA
FOUNDED 1872
Population: 123 (-23)

Tennant, Iowa
WELCOME TO TENNANT
EST. 1903
Population: 78 (+8)

Kirkman, Iowa
WELCOME TO KIRKMAN
Population: 56 (-12)

Shelby County has a solid but maybe not spectacular collection of signs. I don’t know that there is a bad sign, but if I have to give a worst sign out, I’d give it to Westphalia. Looks like the cornerstone to a bank.

As for Best in Show in Shelby County, I love the sign in Portsmouth and I don’t usually count murals as town signs, but this mural is definitely the first thing you see when you pull into Panama, but Best in Show clearly goes to Elk Horn:

Elk Horn – Best in Show – Shelby County

There are a few alternate town signs in Shelby County:

Westphalia Alternate

Portsmouth Alternate

Portsmouth Alternate Back

Panama Alternate

Earling Alternate

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Cass County

Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Fremont County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Grundy County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hancock County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Montgomery County

Best in Show – Page County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Ringgold Count

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Taylor County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT it will take us all the way to Mills County.

Andy, Bill, Cathie, Christianity, Kim, Kio, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Naima, Shannon, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 322 – RELIGION

November 15, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

RELIGION turned out to be a fairly popular theme.

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

Bill Wentworth

Michelle Haupt

Tamara Peterson

Christopher D. Bennett

Teresa Kahler

Kio Dettman

Shannon Bardole-Foley

Micky Augustin

Andy Sharp

Cathie Raley

Kim Barker

Monica Henning

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:

REFLECTION

REFLECTION! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a REFLECTION picture? It is simply a picture that captures a RELECTION. You can find a REFLECTION in all sorts of things. A mirror. A mill pond. Tin foil. Mylar. Chrome. Bubbles. The options are nearly endless. Of course, there is more than one definition of the word REFLECTION.

Think on this quote when you consider all your possibilities for REFLECTION images:

We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.
Anais Nin

A proper REFLECTION on this quote will no doubt lead you to a great REFECTION image.

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.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of REFLECTION in this place that that is little more than a mirror held up to my life next Monday.

Becca, Bethany, Billy, Candid Portrait, Colleen, Dory, Event, J.T., Jonah, Laura, Nate, Nora, Still Life, Tim

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party

November 14, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

A few weeks back the Triplets and Jonah had a birthday party at the KOA near Adel. I wasn’t able to make the party because it was schedule for the same time as the Iowa State-Oklahoma State football game that I was scheduled to attend. But I did have time to drive down to Adel and hang out for about 90 minutes before I had to head to Ames to witness Iowa State beat a top ten Cowboy team.

Here are some pictures from my hang time:

The Triplets and Jonah Birthday Party - 2021

Having everybody meet up in kind of a central location and spend the weekend was a pretty cool idea I thought. I hope it happens again on a weekend where Iowa State doesn’t have a home game, so I can be around more than 90 minutes. It was also really cold that weekend. I mean not really cold, but it was definitely colder than you would want.

Derrick told me that KOA campsites suck and hate children, but that wasn’t my experience, in the 90 minutes I was there. I would consider staying there on a trip sometime. I didn’t know they rented cabins and tents.

It was the first time I’d seen many of these people since before the pandemic. I hope it doesn’t take so long to see them again. Although I pretty sure I’m going down to Manhattan for Nate’s graduation in about a month.

Animals, Black & White, Formal Portrait, Jesse, Jill, Photoshop, Shannon, Still Life, Street Photography

March Misc.

November 13, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

As I’ve indicated before, the 2011 folders are a disaster. These images cover most of the March 2011 folders. These are mostly pictures that were taken for the RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT (now called THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE), but a few were taken for a PERSONAL PHOTO PROJECT.

WEEK 9 - SILHOUETTE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT

By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory:

RWPE Y2 #9 – SILHOUETTE

RWPE Y2 #10 – STILL LIFE

RWPE Y2 #11 – COMMUNICATION

RWPE Y2 #12 – UNFOCUSED

PERSONAL PHOTO PROJECT OF THE WEEK #60

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve New York City.

Tenderloining, Teresa, WPC - Reminder

Tenderloin Appreciation Society – Slater Field Work

November 12, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 9 Comments

Last Sunday, after an emotional church service, Teresa and I went to Luther because I was having a hankering for the tenderloin there and I badly need to get started on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0. As we approached the restaurant, it was clear that is was so packed that there wasn’t anywhere to park. Rather than wait, we soldiered on.

I headed east and then south to Slater. We have often dined at Cole’s in Slater, but I’m efforting to try places that I haven’t supped at before and I have heard promising things about Nite Hawk. That is where we ended up. It was busy, but we were able to get a table right away.

My 5 word review is, they have a really good tenderloin.

Here are some cruddy cell phone pictures:

Here is how I break down the experience:

THE GOOD

+ Good bun.
+ Toasted bun.
+ Good cut of meat. Good thickness.
+ Proper meat to bun ratio.
+ Flavorful breading.
+ Fried mushrooms were divine. The onion rings were also good.
+ Service was really good.

THE BAD

+ Standard is with lettuce and tomatoes, which don’t belong on a tenderloin.
+ The tenderloin doesn’t come with fries or anything standard, so that is an extra cost.
+ Red onions.

THE UGLY

+ Serve Coke products.

I will add that Teresa’s Reuben was also delicious. I had it for supper that night while I watched season 2 of YOU. I really, strongly dislike Love.

I’m not sure when the next tenderloin will come down the chute, but I’m hitting the open road on Sunday with Michelle, so it is certainly possible that it will be soon.

+++++++

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

RELIGION

RELIGION! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a RELIGION picture? It is simply a picture of anything relating to the practice of a RELIGION. It can be a book used in the practice of a RELIGION. It can be a building that is used in the practice of a RELIGION. It could be a symbol of a RELIGION. It can be a picture of somebody practicing their RELIGION. So many possibilities!

Happy photo harvesting!

Flowers, Macro, Mom

Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)

November 11, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Here is another collection of pictures of my Mom’s flowers. Only this time, it is probably about 60% her flowers and 40% flowers in my yard. These pictures were taken on June 17, 2021.

Still many flower pictures left to share.

Art, Automobiles, Black & White, Flowers, History, Nature, Railroad, Road Trip

Hancock County Auxiliary Images Vol. 3

November 10, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Here is the final collection of auxiliary images I took while harvesting the town signs of Hancock County. Although I would say about 50% of these pictures were taken in other counties. Like Winnebago County or Cerro Gordo County or Worth County.

Forest City

Pilot Knob State Park

Fertile

Thornton

Dows

The next county I need to share auxiliary images from is Pocahontas County.