NOTE: – THIS IS ONE OF TWO POSTS WHERE YOU CAN SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR’S THEMES. THE LAST MONDAY IN OCTOBER AND THE 1ST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER ARE WHEN SUGGESTIONS CAN BE MADE. THOSE SUGGESTIONS HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THOSE POSTS. NOT VIA EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGE, TEAMS, PHONE CONVERSATION, SNAPCHAT. ONLY IN THE COMMENTS SECTIONS OF THOSE 2 POSTS.
THANKS TO ANDY AND JOE WHO MADE SEVERAL STRONG SUGGESTIONS IN LAST MONDAY’S (ACTUALLY TUESDAY’S) COMMENTS SECTION!
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Thank you to everybody that has helped me with Naima’s passing either through helping with her remains to bringing me food to offering to talk or offering to attend a service or to just having kind words or to posting your own pictures of Naima. It all has been helpful.
I had Naima’s remains cremated and I’m not 100% sure what I’m going to do with the ashes yet. But I’ll figure that out in due course.
Below is sort of the THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT image I made of Naima for one of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes in Year 7.
Don’t think this will be the last time I share a story about Naima, but I do want to share a story about when I told my 85 year-old neighbor Stan about Naima passing. She was in many ways also his dog. Back when he and his wife were in better health, they would make special trips to Ames to buy Naima treats.
Stan had a dog well before I moved in and he has never really got over that dog’s passing. He has told me before and he told me that again.
He told me that he will miss her. That she was the best dog that loved everybody and didn’t have a mean bone in her body. Of course all of that is true.
Because he doesn’t move very well any more, he kept dog treats for her on his window ledge so if he saw her out he didn’t have to go inside to get her treats.
Stan’s wife has dementia and I’ve had the same conversation with her about Naima in the past couple of years at least 50 times. She always would say that Naima is the most beautiful dog she’s ever seen. She is the most beautiful color. She wished all dogs were that color.
Stan was the first person to ask me if I was getting another dog. Which I suppose I will. I guess it isn’t a shocker that Stan was the first person to ask. Naima was his dog as well and he will miss not having a dog too.
I told him I thought I would, but it wouldn’t be anytime soon. There was a 5 year gap between Karma and Naima. There were a lot of reasons for that gap. Most of those reasons aren’t around any more.
He told me okay, he would get rid of Naima’s treats cause he didn’t think they would still be good by the time I got another dog. I told him that was okay. Maybe early next year would be the right time.
The conversation did check off another box of closure for me. A bigger box than you would probably expect.
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SIGNS! They are everywhere if you open your eyes! But did many people find SIGNS to photography to make SIGNS a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 29, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Amy Peterson – 1 week
2-Mary Green – 3 weeks
3-Alexis Stensland – 3 weeks
4-Scott Degeneffe – 10 weeks
5-Sabas Hernandez – 11 weeks
6-Willy McAlpine – 11 weeks
7-Mike Vest – 17 weeks
8-Sheri Fakhouri – 20 weeks (2)
9-Logan Kahler – 21 weeks
10-Nathanial Brown – 22 weeks
11-Jesse Howard – 22 weeks
12-Tamara Peterson – 25 weeks
13-Mindi Terrell – 37 weeks (2)
14-Brandon Kahler – 61 weeks
15-Linda Bennett – 66 weeks (2)
16-Sarah Toot – 67 weeks
17-Angie DeWaard – 71 weeks
18-Dawn Krause – 75 weeks
19-Kim Barker – 81 weeks
20-Joe Duff – 82 weeks
21-Teresa Kahler – 93 weeks
22-Carla Stensland – 93 weeks
23-Micky Augustin – 95 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 96 weeks
25-Bill Wentworth – 97 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 101 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 102 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 104 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 106 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:
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 1 week
Suzie Brannen (Iowa)
Elainie Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week
Sara Lockner (Iowa)- 1 week
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week
Julie Sharp (Whatcha’ Smokin’ – Luther, Iowa)- 1 week
Mary Green (Iowa) – 4 weeks
Mary Green (Iowa)
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 4 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Kansas City, Missouri) – 11 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Kansas City, Missouri)
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 12 weeks
Willy McAlpine (Spain) – 12 weeks
Willy McAlpine (Spain)
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 19 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 21 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 22 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Lake City, Iowa) – 23 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa)
Jesse Howard (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 23 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 26 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)- 38 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 62 weeks
Linda Bennett (Poconos, Pennsylvania) – 67 weeks
Linda Bennett (New York City, New York)
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 68 weeks
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 72 weeks
Dawn Krause (Ames, Iowa) – 76 weeks
Dawn Krause (Iowa)
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 82 weeks
Joe Duff (Museum of Fine Arts – Houston, Texas) – 83 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Webster City, Iowa) – 94 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 94 weeks
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 96 weeks
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 97 weeks
Andy Sharp (Iowa)
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 98 weeks
Cathie Morton (Anaheim, California) – 102 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 103 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 105 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 107 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)
Christopher D. Bennett (Webster City, Iowa) – 529 weeks
35 participants! That is a great week!
There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Iowa
+ Missouri
+ Nebraska
+ New York
+ Pennsylvania
+ Spain
+ Texas
Here is the current calendar year list for states:
+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Hawaii
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Mississippi
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New Mexico
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Vermont
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming
40 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 75% of the way there! Every continental state west of the Mississippi is now accounted for.
The Outside of the United States map is currently:
+ Alto del Perdon – Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Ontario, Canada
+ Vallunareju Norte – Peru
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
+ Puenta de la Reina, Spain
+ St. John pied de port, France
+ Vienna, Austria
+ Munich, Germany
+ Rome, Italy
+ Cannes, France
+ Koper, Slovenia
The major milestone reached this week was Tamara hitting the Half Year Streak Club! WooHoo!
But it wasn’t all good news. Amy couldn’t build on her submission from last week.
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:
FOOD – SUGGESTED BY ANDY SHARP
FULL DISCLOSURE: Andy didn’t exactly suggest FOOD. He suggested like 10 different versions of FOOD and I just combined them all into FOOD.
FOOD! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
But what is a FOOD image? Simply enough, it is a picture of FOOD. Or a picture of a place that serves FOOD. Or a picture of something that is involved in the preparation of FOOD. You won’t be judge on the quality of FOOD you photograph. Or judged at all for that matter.
While considering possible FOOD to photograph, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will create a fascinating image!
Part of the secret of success is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.
-Mark Twain
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 due.
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 FOOD in this place that definitely eats next Monday.
That is a lovely story about Naima. I can only imagine the joy she brought Stan and his wife. If you ever would like some small dog cuddles, please know you are welcome anytime. It’s certainly not any sort of replacement or the same, but they would dote on you.
Some topics:
– Memories/Memorial/etc.
– Clothing
– Out-of-date (I was thinking specifically of technology or items like pay phones and outhouses here, but it could be more expansive)
– Hands
Thank you for doing all that you do Cousin, I so enjoy your WPC.
– Struggle (or challenge)
– A stranger
– Fashion
– Starburst
– Symmetry
– Rule of 1/3’s
– Wheels
– Self portrait
– Emotion
– 6:00pm
– Warmth
– Candlelight
– Window view
– Ugly
– Sunday morning
Theme suggestion that I know you won’t take: CATS
Theme suggestion I think you would consider: ANIMAL or PET
How about PASSION? Perhaps something the photographer feels passionately about.
Shannon
I can’t believe the 1st sentence of your message made it thru moderation…lol
Suggestion
Emotion
Also I’m I like some of cousin toots ideas like a 6pm ugly stranger…maybe not together
This is the only thing I do on the interweb, if it weren’t for this blog/photo challenge I’d be back to the stone ages off the grid. Thank you chris for dragging me into the 20th century!
Angie,
Thanks! My Monday morning was a muddled mess where the Computer Mine was kicking my ass while I was trying to put all that together. So the original run at that story was a typo haven. It has since been fixed. But you already got the jist of it.
Also, thanks for your suggestions!
Sarah,
I do what I can and am glad that you appreciate it. It is always good to not live in a vacuum. And just like last year, some great suggestions. I’m sure a few of them will make it into next year’s list!
Shannon,
I know you are being facetious, but you should know that in the previous week’s comments Andy suggested the theme ANYTHING BUT A CAT. Which is an idea with some merit. I think PASSION could definitely be included in next year’s themes.
Andy,
Shannon is actually pretty tech savvy, so she knows how to bypass the “moderation” process. But she makes the same CATS suggestion every year, knowing it will get shot down. She knows about my feelings on CATS. Easily one of the worst musicals ever. A terribly weak storyline. Even by musical standards. Plus pretty much devoid of likable characters. There is a reason that the movie adaptation was one of the worst movies ever made. Cause it was from one of the worst musicals ever made. If she were ever to suggest HAMILTON or STATE FAIR or WEST SIDE STORY. Those would have a chance of getting in.
I’m glad I can be your connection to the 20th century, but we are actually in the 21st century now. So I see I still have some work to do.
I would concur – the musical CATS is pretty awful. Well, at least the plot is. The music is decent.