Category Archives: Art

Art, Road Trip, Town Sign Project, WPC - Reminder

Town Sign Project: Marion County

May 28, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

I recently drove around Marion County to harvest their town signs. Marion County includes two of the more famous Iowa towns, Pella and Knoxville.

Here are some facts about Marion County:

+ Population is 33,309.
+ Pella is the largest city.
+ Knoxville is the county seat.
+ Named for Francis Marion, a brigadier general in the Revolutionary War.
+ Home to the Pella Tulip Festival, which is one of the most popular town festivals in Iowa.
+ Home to the Knoxville Speedway an internationally known auto racing track.
+ Home of Central College.
+ Major highways are: IA-5, IA-14, IA-92, IA-163, and IA-316.
+ Adjacent counties are: Jasper, Mahaska, Monroe, Lucas, and Warren.
+ Population is currently at its peak.

Marion County has a beautiful courthouse:

Marion County Courthouse in Knoxville, Iowa

The Marion County Courthouse is located near the form Veterans Hospital in Knoxville:

The story about the ashes…

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

PURPLE=COMPLETED

21 counties completed. 21.2% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the Marion County town signs:

Pella, Iowa
Welcome to Pella – A Touch of Holland
Population: 10,352

Knoxville, Iowa
Welcome to Knoxville
Population: 7,313

Pleasantville, Iowa
Welcome to Pleasantville – Established 1849
Population: 1,694

Melcher-Dallas, Iowa
Welcome to Melcher Dallas – A Coal Mining Community
Population: 1,288

Bussey, Iowa
Welcome to Bussey
Population: 422

Harvey, Iowa
Harvey – Home of the Peace Tree – Population 277
Population: 235

Hamilton, Iowa
Hamilton City Hall and Community Center
Population – 130

Swan, Iowa
We Honor Our Veterans – Swan, Iowa
Population: 72

Marysville, Iowa
<- Marysville 1
Population: 66

I have to say that I was pretty disappointed with Marion County. Pella and Knoxville are pretty big deals. How does Pella not have a tulip or something Dutch on the sign? Maybe the good folks of Indianola are right? FTD. And the race track in Knoxville is a big deal. I’m not a fan of auto racing. I get the appeal of watching things go fast, I just wish racing didn’t lasted so long. Go around the track a couple times. Take off your helmet. Wave to the crowd. We’re all home in time for the start of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. That being said, I’m going to give Knoxville the worst town sign of Marion County. Even though Hamilton doesn’t even really have one and Marysville only has a DOT sign. But at least it has an interesting crack. The most interesting thing about the Knoxville sign is the Laser Car Wash sign behind it.

But who has the best town sign in Marion County? Even though it is a DOT sign, I like the Harvey sign. I would like it even more if I could have found the “Peace Tree”. Melcher-Dallas has a nice sign, but I’m giving this best sign to Pleasantville.

Pleasantville – Best in Show – Marion County

There were a couple of towns with alternate town signs, both better than their main town signs:

Pella – Alternate Town Sign

Melcher-Dallas -Alternate Town Sign

Pleasantville – Alternate Town Sign

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Wright County

Next time we check in with the Town Sign Project, it will involve Tama County.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is UP IN THE AIR:

UP IN THE AIR

UP IN THE AIR! Another great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

But what is a UP IN THE AIR photo? It is simply a photo of something that is UP IN THE AIR. A bird. A plane. Superman? Well, if Superman isn’t standing on the ground. A good idea is to just throw something into the air and photograph it. Or a good candid portrait is to throw something in the air and have them try to catch it. This is a great candid portrait technique.

Happy photo harvesting!

Art, Black & White, Christianity, Mom, Road Trip, Ruins

Audubon and Guthrie County Auxiliary Images: Vol. 1

May 26, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Harvesting the town signs of Audubon and Guthrie County was one the last road trips I took with my Mom. I took lots of pictures that day, so I’m going to break it up into at least two posts. All of today’s pictures were taken in Guthrie County:

Panora

Guthrie Center

Menlo

Casey

Adair

Most of the remaining pictures were shot in Audubon County, but not all of them.

Art, Mom, Road Trip, Town Sign Project, WPC - Reminder

Town Sign Project: Clarke County

May 21, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Clarke County includes Murray, Iowa. The Murray town sign was the last town sign I harvested on the last road trip I took with my Mom.

I recently returned to Clarke County to get the one town sign I was missing.

Here are some facts about Clarke County:

+ The population is 9,286
+ Osceola is both the largest town and county seat.
+ Was formed in 1846 and is named for James Clarke, a Governor of the Iowa Territory.
+ Major highways are: I-35, US-34, US-69, and I-152.
+ Adjacent counties include Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Union, and Warren
+ The population peaked in 1900 at 12,440.

The Clarke County Courthouse is pretty lame:

Clarke County Courthouse in Osceola, Iowa

The Clarke County Freedom Rock is located near a cemetery in Murray, Iowa:

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

PURPLE=COMPLETED

20 counties completed. 20.2% of the Cyclone State conquered!

There are only 3 towns in Clarke County. Here are their town signs:

Osceola, Iowa
Osceola – Proud of Our History – Ready for the Future
Population: 4,929

Murray, Iowa
Murray – Since 1868
Population: 756

Woodburn, Iowa
Woodburn – Founded 1868
Population: 125

If you were to go to the Wikipedia page and look up Clarke County, it would also list the town of Weldon as being partially in Clarke County, but mostly in Decatur County. However, since I have switched to the Iowa Department of Transportation is the arbiter of what towns are in a county, Weldon is not in this collection. The Iowa DOT does not consider Weldon to be in Clarke County.

Only 3 signs to choose from in Clarke County. It is pretty obvious which is the worst. Woodburn’s sign isn’t really even a town sign. It is a sign that hangs on what looks like a stage in what looks like a town park.

Osceola and Murray have about equal signs, but I’m going to give Best in Show to Murray for sentimental reasons.

Murray – Best in Show – Clarke County

Osceola and Woodburn have alternate signs, well Woodburn has a DOT sign.

Osceola Alternate Sign – Looks Kinda Familiar

Woodburn Alternate Sign – For being a DOT sign, it does have some character

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Wright County

Next time we visit THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT it will involve Marion County. Home of Iowa’s second best tulip festival and a really big race track.

+++++++

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

GOVERNMENT

What is a GOVERNMENT photo? A GOVERNMENT photo is any photo that involves something that involves the GOVERNMENT. Went to a public park? That is GOVERNMENT. Driving on a road? That is GOVERNMENT. Of course there are GOVERNMENT buildings like courthouse, police departments, fire departments, post offices… Everything military related is GOVERNMENT. Everything dealing with public schools is GOVERNMENT.

Think about the following quote when you are contemplating your GOVERNMENT image:

The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.
-Henry Ward Beecher

Happy photo harvesting!

Art, Suzie, WPC - Alternate

Such a Pretty Show

May 20, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Today I want to share alternates for Week 295 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. The theme was FACE. I took all these pictures I took on a trip to the Des Moines Art Center with Suzie and her friend Michelle. It was the first “public” thing I’ve done since my vaccine was fully marinated.

I do highly recommend the Des Moines Art Center. It is FREE! Right now, you have to call ahead and get tickets, as they are only letting so many people in at a time.

Art, Mom, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Adair County

May 19, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Adair County includes Orient, Iowa. The Orient town sign was one of the town signs I harvested on the last road trip I took with my Mom.

I had already taken pictures of most of the town signs in Adair County before going there recently to take pictures of the few that I had yet to harvest.

Here are some facts about Adair County:
+ The population of Adair County is 7,862.
+ Greenfield is both the county seat and largest town in Adair County.
+ Was formed in 1851 from sections of Pottawattamie County and was named after John Adair, a general in the War of 1812.
+ The site of the world’s first robbery of a moving train by Jesse James on July 21, 1873.
+ Major highways are: I-80, US-6, Iowa-25, Iowa-92, and Iowa-925.
+ Adjacent Counties are Guthrie, Madison, Union, Adams, and Cass.
+ Population peaked in 1900 at 16,192 and has been below quintuple digits since the 1970 census.

I would describe the Adair County Courthouse as fair:

The Adair County Freedom Rock is located on a highway near Greenfield, but closer to Menlo. Their is a sign for it on Interstate 80. It is the original Freedom Rock and is repainted every year for Memorial Day.

I’m going to stop sharing the county photo maps. I’m not sure anybody finds much interest in them.

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

PURPLE=COMPLETED

19 counties completed. 19.2% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Adair County:

Greenfield, Iowa
Welcome to Greenfield
Population: 1,982

Adair, Iowa (Partially in Guthrie County)
Welcome to Adair – It’ll make you smile!
Population: 781

Stuart, Iowa (Partially in Guthrie County)
The City of Stuart Welcomes You
Population- 1,648

Fontanelle, Iowa
Fontanelle – A Place To Call Home
Population: 672

Orient, Iowa
Welcome to Orient
Population: 408

Bridgewater, Iowa
Brigdewater – Since 1885
Population: 182

Casey, Iowa (Mostly in Guthrie County)
Welcome to Casey Iowa – Since 1869
Population: 10 (426 total)

I’m going to not include Casey for the County Awards. It is mostly in Guthrie County. I would say that there is no doubt what town has the worst town sign in Adair County. That is Stuart. What makes it even worse is before they put up that giant tombstone monstrosity, rumor has it that they had a cool sign with a pithy slogan about “bad eggs”.

I also think that Best in Show for Adair County is pretty much a no brainer. It is Fontanelle.

Fontanelle – Best in Show – Adair County

A couple towns had alternate signs:

Adair Alternate Sign

Greenfield Alternate Sign

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we visit THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT it will involve Clarke County. A county with only 3 towns.

Alexis, Animals, Art, Black & White, Christianity, Derrick, Flowers, Formal Portrait, Jen, Macro, Nader, Photoshop, State Fair

2010-08-23

May 15, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

The folder 2010-08-23 is absolutely stuffed to the gills. There are so many images in there I almost considered breaking it up into a couple posts, but decided against it. There are pictures in there from a trip to the Iowa State Fair and pictures of Jen and Derrick when Jen was preggers with Evie. Alexis competed in a cheerleading/tumbling competition this year.

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 #32

PERSONAL PHOTO PROJECT OF THE WEEK #43

STATE FAIR TRIP 2 – COLLECTION 1

STATE FAIR TRIP 2 – COLLECTION 2

RWPE #33 – SILENCE

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve a full moon and possibly a baby shower.

Art, Equipment, Railroad, Ruins, Still Life, WPC - Reminder

Wide Angling

May 14, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

This is a collection of some more of the first pictures I took with the Tamron wide angle lens. some are at the courthouse. Some around the high bridges. Some around the Kate Shelley Museum:

I do love that wide angle zoom lens!

+++++++

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

LIGHT

A LIGHT image is pretty simple. It is merely a picture where LIGHT plays a major compositional element. A wise person might argue that any picture they take is a LIGHT picture because all photography really is, is the capturing of LIGHT. But warning, when you take a picture of LIGHT, don’t face your camera straight towards a bright LIGHT.. You will surely damage it. The camera. The LIGHT will be just fine.

Think about the following song lyric when you are contemplating your LIGHT image:

I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
-Hank Williams

Happy photo harvesting!

Art, Politics, Railroad, Road Trip, Ruins

Hardin County Auxiliary Images

May 12, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Back in February I cruised around Hardin County harvesting town sign photos. This was a solo trip. These are some of the non-town sign pictures I took on the trip.

New Providence – This round gym was recently featured in a movie.

Gifford

Union

Whitten

Eldora

Steamboat Rock

Ackley

I really liked Hardin County. There is more than one thing there I would like to go back and photograph again in the future.

Art, Equipment, Lensbaby

Even More of that Velvet 85

May 11, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

This is the third and final batch of the first images I took with the Lensbaby Velvet 85. These (most of them) pictures were taken at the sculpture garden in downtown Des Moines.

I still might get into the technical details of the Lensbaby Velvet 85 some day, but today isn’t that day.

Art, Becky, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Micky, Shannon, Tamara, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 295 – FACE

May 10, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

There was a decent amount of submissions for FACE this week. Apparently lots of you know a FACE or two that you like.

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

Kim Barker

Kio Dettman

Linda Bennett

Tamara Peterson

Micky Augustin

Tamara Peterson

Becky Parmelee

Joe Duff

Christopher D. Bennett

Kio Dettman

Micky Augustin

Cathie Raley

Submitted by Andy Sharp by Caree Severson

Shannon Bardole-Foley

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:

LIGHT

LIGHT! Another great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Think about the following song lyric when you are contemplating your LIGHT image:

I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
-Hank Williams

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 LIGHT in this place that is a little bit more than scraps of LIGHT next Monday.