WPC – WEEK 350 – THEME REVEAL

As you should know, I’m still down in Miami, working for the man. I don’t have access to my computer or website, so I can’t post all the brilliant submissions for HAT that I received. I will post those when I return to the Cyclone State. Either late Tuesday night, but more likely at some point on Wednesday.

However, just because I’m being worked to the bone, in the worst state in these United States of America, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to get started on Week 350 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. All you need to know is the theme:


WEEK 350 - HISTORY
HISTORY

HISTORY! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a HISTORY picture? A HISTORY picture is simply any picture that deals with a HISTORI(Y)cal artifact. Could be something found in a museum. It could be something found on the side of the road. It could be an old church or an old building. It could be living history. It doesn’t have to be anything as grand as the spot where a President of the United State spoke. It doesn’t have to be political HISTORY or military HISTORY or religious HISTORY. It could very easily be personal HISTORY.

When thinking on possible subjects for your submission, meditate on the following quote:

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.
-Karl Marx

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

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 your idea of HISTORY in this place that definitely records my daily minutiae next Monday.

Kyle – Volume 6

It is another Formal Portrait Sunday. It is another time to share some pictures from Kyle’s Fall Photo Shoot. Kyle’s open house was yesterday, but unfortunately, I missed it because I was in Miami. Sucks that I missed it because sounds like there was going to be an impressive spread of food there. Also, Kyle’s a good egg. Sounds like he is taking a bunch of scholarship money and going to DMACC to get his general education credits out of the way while he figures out what he wants to concentrate on. Seems like a good plan to me.

Here are some more Kyle pictures:


Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Kyle Sharp

Next Sunday’s formal portraits will involve Jayton’s Summer Photo Shoot.

Clinton County Auxiliary Images Vol. 3

Here is the final collection of auxiliary images I took on a trip to Clinton County and southern Jackson County. Most of these images are taken in Clinton County. A few in Jackson County. I think the last three are taken in Benton County. Possibly Linn or Tama as well. But I’m pretty sure it is Benton.


Clinton County - Goose Lake
Goose Lake

Clinton County - Felton
Felton

Clinton County - Felton

Clinton County - Felton

Clinton County - Felton

Clinton County - Delmar
Delmar

Clinton County - Delmar

Clinton County - Delmar

Clinton County - Delmar

Clinton County - Delmar

Clinton County - Delmar

Clinton County - Delmar

Clinton County - Delmar

Clinton County - Delmar

Jackson County - Buckhorn
Buckhorn

Clinton County - Monmouth
Monmouth

Clinton County - Monmouth

Clinton County - Monmouth

Clinton County - Monmouth

Clinton County - Monmouth

Clinton County

Clinton County

Clinton County

Clinton County

The next counties we will visit through auxiliary images are Pottawattamie and Harrison.

Clinton County Auxiliary Images Vol. 2

Time for another collection of auxiliary images I took while harvesting the town signs of Clinton County and the southern part of Jackson County. All of these pictures were taken in Jackson County.


Jackson County - Sabula
Sabula

Jackson County - Sabula

Jackson County - Sabula

Jackson County - Sabula

Jackson County - Sabula

Jackson County - Sabula

Jackson County - Sabula

Jackson County - Sabula

Jackson County - Sabula

Clinton County
Miles

Clinton County

Clinton County

Clinton County

Clinton County

Clinton County

Jackson County

Jackson County - Spragueville
Spragueville

Jackson County - Spragueville

Jackson County - Spragueville

Jackson County - Spragueville

Jackson County - Spragueville

Jackson County - Spragueville

Jackson County - Spragueville

Jackson County - Spragueville

There is one more collection of images coming from this road trip.

+++++++

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


WEEK 349 - HAT
HAT

A HAT picture is just a picture that features a hat somewhere in the composition.

Don’t forget that I won’t be in a position to remind people to submit their images on Monday morning. Going to have to be some self-reliance going on here. Hopefully a ton of streaks don’t bite the dust.

Happy photo harvesting!

The Friendly Skies

I have to start this post, as I do every May 18 post by wishing Stephanie Kim a happy birthday. Happy birthday Steph!

When this publishes, I should still be in the skies on an airplane heading towards Miami. Or I could be stuck in an Atlanta airport cause I hear that airport is the worst. However, this is my first experience there. I hope it does not live up to its reputation.

Since I’ll at the very least be doing something flight related, thought I would share some airplane images I took with the Sony RX0 II on my trip to Pittsburgh back in February today:


The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

The Friendly Skies

Most of these pictures were taken flying into Chicago. Another terrible airport.

Town Sign Project: Woodbury County

A few weeks back Jesse and I went to Woodbury County on our way to Harlan, the most direct route, and harvested the rest of the Woodbury County signs that I needed.

Here are some facts about Woodbury County:
+ The population of Woodbury County is 102,687 making it the 6th most populous county in Iowa. Below Black Hawk County and above Story County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Sioux City.
+ Established in 1851 as Wahkaw County (which is an infinitely better name), but had the name changed to Woodbury to honor Levi Woodbury. A senator, a governor and Supreme Court justice from New Hampshire.
+ The Ho-Chunk Tribe of Nebraska owns reservation land in Woodbury County.
+ The 3rd largest county by area.
+ Home of Morningside University and Briar Cliff University.
+ Major highways are: I-29, I-129, US-20, US-75, US-77, IA-12, IA-31, IA-140, IA-141, and IA-175.
+ Population peaked in 1960 at 107,849.

The Woodbury County Courthouse is fascinating looking:


Woodbury County Courthouse
The Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Woodbury County Freedom Rock is located in Anthon, Iowa:


Woodbury County Freedom Rock

Woodbury County Freedom Rock

Woodbury County Freedom Rock

Woodbury County Freedom Rock

Woodbury County Freedom Rock

Woodbury County Freedom Rock

With Woodbury County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:


Town Sign Project - 71 Counties
PURPLE=COMPLETED

71 counties completed. 71.7% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Woodbury County:


Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
WELCOME TO SIOUX CITY
Population: 85,797 (+3,029)

Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
Sergeant Bluff
est. 1854
Population: 5,015 (+788)

Moville, Iowa
Moville, Iowa
Welcome to MOVILLE
est. 1887
Eastern Gateway to Western Hospitality
Home of the WOODBURY COUNTY FAIR
Population: 1,687 (+69)

Sloan, Iowa
Sloan, Iowa
Welcome to Sloan
A Great Place to Grow
Population: 1,042 (+69)

Lawton, Iowa
Lawton, Iowa
Welcome to LAWTON
Hands down… the best town
Population: 943 (+35)

Correctionville, Iowa
Correctionville, Iowa
Welcome to Correctionville
Jog down our main street
Population: 766 (-55)

Anthon, Iowa
Anthon, Iowa
135th Anniversary
“My Kind of Town!”
Anthon, Iowa
1888-2013
Population: 545 (-20)

Pierson, Iowa
Pierson, Iowa
PIERSON
SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG HEART
Population: 337 (-29)

Danbury, Iowa
Danbury, Iowa
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF DANBURY
GEM CITY OF NORTHWEST IOWA
Population: 320 (-28)

Salix, Iowa
Salix, Iowa
Welcome to SALIX
Population: 295 (-68)

Bronson, Iowa
Bronson, Iowa
BRONSON
1 1/2 MILE
a SMALL CITY that is a BIG COMMUNITY
Population: 294 (-28)

Hornick, Iowa
Hornick, Iowa
WELCOME TO HORNICK
Population: 253
Established in 1887
Home of the Willow Workers 4-H Club
Population: 255 (+30)

Cushing, Iowa
Cushing, Iowa
Welcome To CUSHING
Population: 230 (+10)

Smithland, Iowa
Smithland, Iowa
Welcome to SMITHLAND
The Oldest City in Woodbury County
Home of the First School House in Woodbury County
Population: 181 (-43)

Oto, Iowa
Oto, Iowa
OTO
Population: 72 (-36)

Climbing Hill, Iowa - Unincorporated
Climbing Hill, Iowa – Unincorporated
WELCOME – 6 MI.
CLIMBING HILL
EST. 1868

There are lots of good signs in Woodbury County. So the worst one is pretty easy to pick out. It is the snorefest sign in Sergeant Bluff.

What is the best sign in Woodbury County? What gets the purple ribbon? I really like the sign for Sioux City. For a big city, it has a surprisingly good sign. Not unlike Cedar Rapids. I love the sign in Bronson and Hornick and Anthon and Lawton and Oto. But I think the Best in Show goes to Sloan.


Sloan, Iowa
Sloan – Best in Show – Woodbury County

There are several alternate signs in Woodbury County:


Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
Sergeant Bluff – Alternate

Bronson, Iowa
Bronson – Alternate

Anthon, Iowa
Anthon – Alternate

Pierson, Iowa
Pierson – Alternate

Pierson, Iowa
Pierson – Alternate

Correctionville, Iowa
Correctionville – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:


Fontanelle, Iowa
Best in Show – Adair County

Nodaway, Iowa
Best in Show – Adams County

Audubon, Iowa
Best in Show – Audubon County

Norway, Iowa
Best in Show – Benton County

Moingona, Iowa
Best in Show – Boone County

Readlyn, Iowa
Best in Show – Bremer County

Storm Lake, Iowa
Best in Show – Buena Vista County

New Hartford, Iowa
Best in Show – Butler County

Manson, Iowa
Best in Show – Calhoun County

Coon Rapids, Iowa
Best in Show – Carroll County

Anita, Iowa
Best in Show – Cass County

Lowden, Iowa
Best in Show – Cedar County

Dougherty, Iowa
Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Washta, Iowa
Best in Show – Cherokee County

Murray, Iowa
Best in Show – Clarke County

Rossie, Iowa
Best in Show – Clay County

Low Moor, Iowa
Best in Show – Clinton County

Ricketts, Iowa
Best in Show – Crawford County

Dexter, Iowa
Best in Show – Dallas County

Weldon, Iowa
Best in Show – Decatur County

Popejoy, Iowa
Best in Show – Franklin County

Tabor, Iowa
Best in Show – Fremont County

Scranton, Iowa
Best in Show – Greene County

Beaman, Iowa
Best in Show – Grundy County

Menlo, Iowa
Best in Show – Guthrie County

Stanhope, Iowa
Best in Show – Hamilton County

Britt, Iowa
Best in Show – Hancock County

Ackley, Iowa
Best in Show – Hardin County

Modale, Iowa
Best in Sow – Harrison County

Bradgate, iowa
Best in Show – Humboldt County

Ida Grove, Iowa
Best in Show – Ida County

Millersburg, Iowa
Best in Show – Iowa County

La Motte, Iowa
Best in Show – Jackson County

Lynnville, Iowa
Best in Show – Jasper County

Anamosa, Iowa
Best in Show – Jones County

Titonka, Iowa
Best in Show – Kossuth County

Springville, Iowa
Best in Show – Linn County

Lucas, Iowa
Best in Show – Lucas County

George, Iowa
Best in Show – Lyon County

East Peru, Iowa
Best in Show – Madison County

Leighton, Iowa
Best in Show – Mahaska County

Pleasantville, Iowa
Best in Show – Marion County

Haverhill, Iowa
Best in Show – Marshall County

Malvern, Iowa
Best in Show – Mills County

Onawa, Iowa
Best in Show – Monona County

Melrose, Iowa
Best in Show – Monroe County

Grant, Iowa
Best in Show – Montgomery County

Paullina, Iowa
Best in Show – O’Brien County

Melvin, Iowa
Best in Show – Osceola County

College Springs, Iowa
Best in Show – Page County

Mallard, Iowa
Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Kingsley, Iowa
Best in Show – Plymouth County

Plover, Iowa
Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Bondurant, Iowa
Best in Show – Polk County

Walnut, Iowa
Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Malcom, Iowa
Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Maloy, Iowa
Best in Show – Ringgold County

Nemaha, Iowa
Best in Show – Sac County

Elk Horn, Iowa
Best in Show – Shelby County

Orange City, Iowa
Best in Show – Sioux County

Collins, Iowa
Best in Show – Story County

Tama, Iowa
Best in Show – Tama County

Gravity, Iowa
Best in Show – Taylor County

Creston, Iowa
Best in Show – Union County

New Virginia, Iowa
Best in Show – Warren County

Humeston, Iowa
Best in Show – Wayne County

Badger, Iowa
Best in Show – Webster County

Buffalo Center, Iowa
Best in Show – Winnebago County

Sloan, Iowa
Best in Show – Woodbury County

Joice, Iowa
Best in Show – Worth County

Woolstock, Iowa
Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT we will visit Black Hawk County.

WPC – WEEK 348 – SLICE OF LIFE

SLICE OF LIFE got more results than I am expected. You people have impressed me!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, May 9, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Linda Bennett – 1 week
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks
+ Angie DeWaard – 3 weeks
+ Jesse Howard – 3 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 5 weeks
+ Sara Lockner – 5 weeks
+ Becky Parmelee – 5 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 6 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 6 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 7 weeks
+ Monica Henning – 8 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 8 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 16 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 16 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 16 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 17 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 18 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 19 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 20 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 24 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 25 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 27 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 30 weeks

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 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 17 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Jennings – 9 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Jennings

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Jennings

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 26 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 7 weeks
View from “The Mount” of several harden by Hermann Park in Houston

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
“Inside the Octopus”. The main ballroom of the Octopus where countless Christmas parties, summer socials, and special evets were held.

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
TPC Group “Octopus”, built 1959. An octagonal building with ballroom and meeting facilities. Built by employees from wood harvested on site.

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 6 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 19 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 1 week

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 31 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 17 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - WILLIAM MCALPINE
William McAlpine – 1 week

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 21 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - CHRISTOHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 28 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennet – 2 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 4 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 25 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 18 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 8 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 9 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 6 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 4 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 20 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 17 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 6 weeks

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner

31 submissions from 24 participants! That is a great week! Better than I expected, considering the extra rule for this week. Don’t worry none of the remaining Year 9 themes have a bonus rule.

Also, the following people earned this week’s bonus points by submitting a black & white image:
+ Teresa Kahler
+ Monica Jennings – 1 out of 3 anyways
+ Joe Duff – 1 out of 3 anyways
+ Mary Green
+ Kio Dettman
+ Linda Bennett
+ Angie DeWaard
+ Suzie Brannen
+ Logan Kahler
+ Andy Sharp

Be sure to check your mailbox, those bonus points should be arriving any day now.

This was an exciting week for new participants. Mary Green participating for the first time ever. As did William McAlpine. Willy’s submission came all the way from Portugal!

Also you may have noticed a couple name changes from a couple of the participants. I wonder what that means? Congratulations is what is means!

But it wasn’t all good news. 2 streaks did bite the dust. Jen’s two week streak. Gone. Dawn’s 6 week streak. Poof. I have no doubt they will be back with great submissions again in the future!

Here are the current top streaks:

9. Teresa Kahler – 17 weeks
9. Tamara Peterson – 17 weeks
9. Carla Stensland – 17 weeks
8. Michelle Haupt – 18 weeks
7. Micky Augustin – 19 weeks
6. Andy Sharp – 20 weeks
5. Bill Wentworth – 21 weeks
4. Cathie Morton – 25 weeks
3. Elizabeth Nordeen – 26 weeks
2. Shannon Bardole-Foley – 28 weeks
1. Kio Dettman – 31 weeks

Congratulations to Elizabeth as her submissions (all the way from Florida) made her the third person to have a streak extend for half of a year! WooHoo!

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 349 - HAT
HAT

HAT! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a HAT photo? It is very simple. Just any picture that features a HAT in the image works. There are all sorts of hats out there ranging from fedoras to beanies to fedoras to bucket hats to fedoras to baseball caps to fedoras. Did I mention fedoras?

There is a warning on this theme though:

NEXT MONDAY I WILL NOT BE IN ANY POSITION TO SEND OUT ANY KIND OF REMINDERS. YOU ARE DEFINITELY ON YOUR OWN ON THIS ONE.

While considering subjects for your HAT image, mediate on the following quote:

Live your life, do your work, then take your hat.
-Henry David Thoureau

I look forward to seeing your interpretations.

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 your idea of HAT in this place where I hang many of my hats next Monday.

Monroe and Mahaska County Auxiliary Images Vol. 3

I promised you more information about the Great Pyramids of Iowa. Here is information from a Des Moines Register article titled: “Pyramids? Haunted angels? These are 6 of Iowa’s oddest graveyards to visit before you die.:

Three small Egyptian-style pyramids at the back of Hickory Grove Cemetery near Avery are the lone remnant of one man’s unrealized dream to be entombed inside one.

According to local records, their construction was commissioned in 1939 by newspaper publisher Axel Peterson, when he was 70 years old. Peterson’s plan was that, when he died, he and his friend, Anton Heymooler, would be placed inside, seated and facing each other with his printing press between them.

The pyramids were built, but neither Peterson nor Heymooler were buried inside. Peterson died at age 78 and was instead buried in nearby Cuba Cemetery. But the pyramids remain at Hickory Grove to this day.

Here are the rest of the pictures from this trip:



Lovilia


Cedar


Rose Hill


Keomah Village


Albia


The next time we hit the open road to look at auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will hit Clinton County.