Time for a batch of Bokeh photos! This collection is from when Bokeh met Elainie and Sabas before our trip to Marshalltown to visit the record store that sadly no longer exists, hit up The Flying Elbow, and La Michoacana.
Here are the pictures:
Still plenty more pictures of Bokeh from her early days left to share.
Back in July Dahlia threw a tremendous birthday bash! All the celebrities were there! And by all the celebrities, I mean Moana was there! I took a few pictures of the spectacle. Ain’t no time to share them like right now:
Can’t wait to see who shows up at Dahlia’s next birthday party bash!
YOU DON’T NEED TO SUGGEST SOME STALWARTS, BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING ARE ALREADY BAKED IN TO THE CAKE:
+ BLACK & WHITE
+ STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
+ ROAD TRIP
+ ART
+ MUSIC
+ #INSTAGOOD
+ SLICE OF LIFE
SO FAR THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE:
ANDY SHARP
+ WHAT YOU’D SNEAK INTO A MOVIE THEATER
+ BLACK AND WHITE OLD SCHOOL
+ TWO TONE
+ DREAM
+ PIZZA
+ WEIRDEST CONDIMENT IN YOUR FRIDGE
JOE DUFF
+ THREE
+ SPOOKY
+ DRIPPING
+ DAMAGED
LOWELL DAVIS
+ SPIRIT
+ ANXIOUS
+ SOMETHING STUPID
+ PEACE
+ RAGE
IT IS A GOOD START, BUT KEEP THE SUGGESTIONS COMING IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS POST.
Today is Elainie’s birthday. So I have to wish her a happy birthday.
On your birthday I just hope you get plenty of sleep and rest!
Today is also Layla’s birthday So I must wish her a happy birthday!
I hope you have an amazing birthday! Getting the day off from school was a good start!
PLACES! What a great theme! But did enough people go someplace to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 28, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):
*1-Adam Gordon – 1 week (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
*2-Kyle Sharp – 1 week (IA)
3-Johnathan Stensland – 1 week (IA)
*4-Mary Green – 4 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
*5-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
6-Alexis Stensland – 4 weeks (IA)
*7-Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks (IA, MD)
8-Sabas Hernandez – 7 weeks (IA, OH)
*9-Deb Powers – 9 weeks (MT, IA)
10-Sara Lockner – 13 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
11-Willy McAlpine – 16 weeks (IA)
12-Deanna McClain – 20 weeks (IA, MN)
13-Mike Vest – 23 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
14-Lowell Davis – 43 weeks (IA, MO)
15-Brandon Kahler – 44 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 62 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 72 weeks (IA, NE, GA)
18-Logan Kahler – 73 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 74 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI, NY)
20-Tamara Peterson – 85 weeks (IA, MN)
*21-Mindi Terrell – 89 weeks (IA)
*22-Linda Bennett – 118 weeks (KS, IA, MI, NY)
*23-Sarah Toot – 119 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
*24-Angie DeWaard – 122 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN)
25-Dawn Krause – 127 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 133 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*27-Joe Duff – 134 weeks (TX, NY)
*28-Teresa Kahler – 145 weeks (IA, NE)
*29-Carla Stensland – 145 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 147 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
31-Andy Sharp – 148 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 149 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 152 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 154 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 156 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
*36-Kio Dettman – 158 weeks (IA)
Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:
1. The picture must 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 and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.
There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 1 week
Monica Jennings (Iowa)
Amy Peterson (Deal’s Orchard – Greene County, Iowa) – 1 week
Amy Peterson (Deal’s Orchard – Greene County, Iowa)
Kyle Sharp (Warsaw, Missouri) – 2 weeks
Johnathan Stensland (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 6 weeks
Suzie Brannen (Iowa)
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 5 weeks
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 8 weeks
Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 10 weeks
Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 14 weeks
Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 17 weeks
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 21 weeks
Deanna McClain (Iowa)
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 24 weeks
Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 44 weeks
Lowell Davis (Iowa)
Brandon Kahler (West Street Deli – Ames, Iowa) – 45 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Paddy’s Pub – Boone County, Iowa) – 63 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 73 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)
Logan Kahler (Des Moines, Iowa) – 74 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Bagley, Iowa) – 75 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Veterans Cemetery – Perry, Iowa) – 86 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 90 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Linda Bennett (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 119 weeks
Linda Bennett (New Jersey)
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 120 weeks
Angie DeWaard (Universal Studios, Florida) – 123 weeks
Angie DeWaard (Universal Studios, Florida)
Dawn Krause (Iowa State Memorial Union – Ames, Iowa) – 128 weeks
Kim Barker (Ankeny, Iowa) – 134 weeks
Joe Duff (Great Wolf Lodge – Texas) – 135 weeks
Joe Duff (Great Wolf Lodge – Texas)
Teresa Kahler (First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 146 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa)
Carla Stensland (Boone, Iowa) – 146 weeks
Micky Augustin (Iowa)- 148 weeks
Carla Stensland (Boone, Iowa)
Andy Sharp (Missouri) – 149 weeks
Andy Sharp (Kansas)
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 150 weeks
Cathie Morton (Castaway Cay, Bahamas) – 153 weeks
Cathie Morton (Castaway Cay, Bahamas)
Elizabeth Nordeen (Nevada, Iowa) – 155 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (St. James Celebrations – Warren County, Iowa) – 157 weeks
Kio Dettman (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 159 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone County, Iowa)
Christopher D. Bennett (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 579 weeks
There were 37 participants this week. That is a pretty good week!
There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Florida (2)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Iowa (40)
+ Missouri (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (2)
Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):
+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (14)
+ Georgia (3)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1575)
+ Kansas (60)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (20.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (52)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (5)
+ New York (21)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (38)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (66)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (4)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)
36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI, NY) – 14
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS) – 11
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI, NY) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2
+ Kyle Sharp (IA, MO) – 2
Nathanial now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”
The big milestone reached this week was Deb joining the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo!
But it wasn’t all fun and games. Adam couldn’t build on his submission from last week and his streak is over before it begins. Mary and Alexis’ streak end at 4 weeks.
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:
MACRO! What a great them for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
I try not to explain the themes very much any longer, but MACRO is a more technical term, so I’ll give a bit of an explanation. Here is a solid enough definition:
Macro photography is all about showcasing a subject larger than it is in real life — an extreme close-up of something small.
I look forward to your MACRO interpretation.
That’s all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will take a close look at your idea of MACRO in this place next Monday!
Today is Halloween, so I need to start this post off by wishing all of you a Happy Halloween.
May your Halloween be filled with candy, costumes, friends, pumpkins, horror movies, and even more candy! And may the real horror of the holiday be the AI Photoshop job I did on this grain-bin-o-lantern in Ogden.
BUT as you may recall on Halloween, I like to reveal my annual Candy Power Rankings. So… without further adieu…
10. Caramello
9. Clark
8. Baby Ruth
7. Pretzel M&M’s
6. Snickers
5. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
4. Twix Caramel
3. Peanut M&M’s
2. Take 5
1. Whatchamacallit
My word if final and is beyond contestation. I will take no questions at this time.
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There’s gotta be a little rain sometimeWhen you take, you gotta give
So live and let live or let go, whoa-whoa-whoa
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose gardenI could promise you things like big diamond rings
But you don’t find roses growin’ on stalks of clover
So you better think it overWell, if sweet-talkin’ you could make it come true
I would give you the world right now on a silver platter
But what would it matterSo smile for a while and let’s be jolly
Love shouldn’t be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we canI beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There’s gotta be a little rain sometimeI beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose gardenI could sing you a tune and promise you the moon
But if that’s what it takes to hold you
I’d just as soon let you go
But there’s one thing I want you to knowYou better look before you leap, still waters run deep
And there won’t always be someone there to pull you out
And you know what I’m talking aboutSo smile for a while and let’s be jolly
Love shouldn’t be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we canI beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There’s gotta be a little rain sometimeI beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
– Written by Stephanie Nicks
– Performed by Lynn Anderson
Unlike Lynn Anderson I will promise any of you a rose garden. Meaning I promise that I would take any of you on a trip to the State Center Rose Garden with me next year. The line forms to the left.
Time to share the balance of pictures I took on my trip to The State Center Rose Garden with Brandon, Elainie, and Sabas.
Next Thursday’s flowertography session will involve flowers from my yard.
We both lie silently still
In the dead of the night
Although we both lie close together
We feel miles apart insideWas it something I said or something I did
Did my words not come out right
Though I tried not to hurt you
Though I tried
But I guess that’s why they sayEvery rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn
Yeah it doesI listen to her favorite song
Playing on the radio
Hear the DJ say loves a game of easy come and
Easy go
But I wonder does he know
Has he ever felt like this
And I know that you’d be here right now
If I could have let you know somehow I guessEvery rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thornThough it’s been a while now
I could still feel so much pain
Like the knife that cuts you the wound heals
But the scar, that scar remainsI know I could have saved a love that night
If I’d known what to say
Instead of makin’ love
We both made our separate waysAnd now I hear you found somebody new
And that I never meant that much to you
To hear that tears me up inside
And to see you cuts me like a knife I guessEvery rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn
-Written by: Bobby Dall / Bret Michaels / Bruce Anthony Johannesson / Rikki Rockett
Performed by Poison
This song is maybe a little on the noise for this collection of flower images. They were taken on a trip to the State Center Rose Garden with Brandon, Elainie, and Sabas.
Still one more collection of images from State Center left to share!
PATH! What a great theme! But were enough people on the right one to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 30, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):
1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week (IA, MD)
2-Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks (IA, OH)
*3-Deb Powers – 5 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Monica Jennings – 8 weeks (IA)
5-Sara Lockner – 9 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
6-Willy McAlpine – 12 weeks (IA)
7-Deanna McClain – 16 weeks (IA, MN)
8-Mike Vest – 19 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
*9-Lowell Davis – 39 weeks (IA, MO)
10-Michelle Haupt – 39 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
11-Brandon Kahler – 40 weeks (IA, MN)
12-Scott Degeneffe – 58 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
13-Sheri Fakhouri – 68 weeks (IA, NE)
14-Logan Kahler – 69 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
15-Nathanial Brown – 70 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN)
16-Tamara Peterson – 81 weeks (IA, MN)
*17-Mindi Terrell – 85 weeks (IA)
18-Linda Bennett – 114 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
19-Sarah Toot – 115 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
*20-Angie DeWaard – 119 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
*21-Dawn Krause – 123 weeks (IA, IL)
22-Kim Barker – 129 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
23-Joe Duff – 130 weeks (TX, NY)
24-Teresa Kahler – 141 weeks (IA, NE)
*25-Carla Stensland – 141 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
26-Micky Augustin – 143 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*27-Andy Sharp – 144 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
28-Bill Wentworth – 145 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
29-Cathie Morton – 148 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
*30-Elizabeth Nordeen – 150 weeks (IA, OH)
31-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 152 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
*32-Kio Dettman – 154 weeks (IA)
Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:
1. The picture must 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 and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.
There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:
Elainie Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week
Jesse Howard (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 1 week
Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week
Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa)
Alexis Stensland (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 1 week
Suzie Brannen (Perry, Iowa) – 2 weeks
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 4 weeks
Deb Powers (Saylorville, Iowa) – 6 weeks
Deb Powers (Saylorville, Iowa)
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 9 weeks
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 10 weeks
Willy McAlpine (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 13 weeks
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 17 weeks
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 20 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 41 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 59 weeks
Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 70 weeks
Lowell Davis (Iowa)
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 69 weeks
Logan Kahler (Logansport, Iowa) – 70 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Juneau, Wisconsin) – 71 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Butler, Pennsylvania)
Tamara Peterson (Boone, Iowa) – 82 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 86 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 115 weeks
Sarah Toot (New York City, New York) – 116 weeks
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania)
Angie Dewaard (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – 120 weeks
Angie DeWaard (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Dawn Krause (Les’s Auto Repair – Boone, Iowa) – 124 weeks
Kim Barker (White Oak, Iowa) – 130 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas) – 131 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas)
Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks
Micky Augustin (Story County, Iowa) – 144 weeks
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 145 weeks
Andy Sharp (Salon 908 – Boone, Iowa)
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 146 weeks
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 149 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 151 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 153 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)
Christopher D. Bennett (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 576 weeks
37 participants this week! That is more like it!
There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Iowa (38)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Minnesota (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (1)
+ Wisconsin (1)
Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):
+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1415)
+ Kansas (56)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (48)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (18)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (33)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (6)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)
36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI) – 13
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2
Nathanial now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”
The big milestone this week was Kim joining the 2.5 Year Streak Club. WooHoo! WooHoo! Woo!
But it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Michelle’s streak comes crumbling down at 39 weeks! The humanity!
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:
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! In fact, STREET PHOTOGRAPHY is my 2nd favorite theme, right behind BLACK & WHITE.
I don’t like to define the themes, but to prevent me from looking at a bunch of pictures of streets next Monday and me crying myself to sleep that night, I will provide a definition from Brittanica:
“Street photography, a genre of photography that records everyday life in a public place.
If you are looking for excellent examples of STREET PHOTOGRAPHY, the following submissions from this week are textbook examples of STREET PHOTOGRAPHY:
+ Elainie Hernandez
+ Monica Jennings
+ Logan Kahler
+ Nathanial Brown (both submissions)
+ Jesse Howard
+ Sara Lockner
+ Sarah Toots (New York City) – Could be on a cover of a book about STREET PHOTOGRAPHY.
+ Teresa Kahler
+ Carla Stensland
+ Elizabeth Nordeen
+ Christopher D. Bennett
There were a few others as well.
The most important part of this definition is in a public place.
I look forward to seeing your interpretation!
That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of STREET PHOTOGRAPHY in this place that puts quite a bit of it out in this world next Monday.
Back in early June I loaded up the RAV4 with Brandon, Elainie, and Sabas and we went to Marshalltown to visit my favorite record store, eat at Flying Elbow and try a Mexican Ice Cream joint. It was a short little trip. I highly recommend road trips with Brandon, Elainie, and Sabas.
Here are some pictures from the trip:
No review, I’ve reviewed them in the past. They are fantastic!
Wax Xtatic. My favorite record store. Instrumental for New to Me Vinyl Fridays on Snapchat.
La Michacana Xtra
The review?
You know I have the Ted Lasso philosophy on ice cream:
Ice cream is the best. It’s kinda like seeing Billy Joel perform live. Never disappoints
But my Churro Split was fantastic! I will definitely be going back next time I go to Marshalltown for some new to me vinyl.
Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve Michelle’s family!
I need to start today’s post by remembering the victims of the terrorist acts on our country that happened on September 11, 2001. Hard to believe it was 23 years ago. I can still vividly remember almost everything about that morning. I’m sure almost everyone that was alive on that day can do the same thing. I won’t recount my experience. It was much different than most people on that day. Instead I will share this photo of a mural on the wall of the VFW in Valley Junction:
The victims of the day should never be forgotten. The heroes of that day should also never be forgotten.
On Saturday, a redshirt-freshman-walk-on-kicker that has only been playing football for a few years, stepped up on the field in Kinnick Stadium and boomed a 54 yard field goal right through the middle of the uprights. A kick that would have been good from 64 yards. That kicks gave the Cyclones a 20-19 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Cyclones second straight win in Kinnick. Their 4th win in the last 6 trips to Kinnick. And in some ways, it provided a little bit of healing for my family. Not a ton, but some.
As many of you know, it was a terrible week last week for my family. That is an understatement. My brother-in-law Russ, the father of Brandon and Logan passed away on Saturday, August 31. Russ’ health was failing, but it still came as a shock and much quicker than I expected. Teresa called me early Saturday morning and gave me the news. God I wish that was the only one of those phone calls I got those few days.
On Monday, September 2, Jesse and I went to Perry to take part in the RVTV festivities that accompany Cy-Hawk Week. I have never went to a town that was hosting RVTV besides when Boone hosted them a few years back. I don’t think I’m saying anything that isn’t common knowledge, but Boone did a pretty poor job as a host.
On the other hand, Perry knocked it out of the park. There were several blocks of activities and vendors.
Jesse and I had stopped and were talking to a painter. She was telling her story about how she had found God and become sober 5 years ago. Then God called her to be a painter. As she was telling us that story my phone rang. It was Jason. I might have normally not answered my phone because of the conversation I was engaged in, but Jason doesn’t call often, so I figured it was important. So I excused myself from the conversation and took the call.
On the other end was Carla not Jason. Which worried me a little bit, but not completely uncommon. Carla sometimes loses her phone. But this wasn’t one of those times. Carla proceeded to tell me that Jason’s only brother Justin had been killed in a car accident.
Damn it! When it rains it damn well pours!
I gave Carla my condolences, I think. Poorly tried to explain how terrible all of this was. Thinking about Jason. And Johnathan. And Elainie. And Alexis. And Jason’s parents. And Justin’s wife. They had just been married a few months back. Then I hung up and inserted myself back into the discussion with the Christian artist and the colors she used reflected how much light was in her life compared to when she was abusing.
I went though the rest of the night taking pictures of the events. Eating at The Tin Pig.
The rest of the week kinda flew by. Jason and Carla went to Colorado for Justin’s ceremony. Russ’ visitation was on Friday night. His funeral was on Saturday, before the Cy-Hawk game.
For the funeral, the boys picked 3 different Rush songs to be played. “Tom Sawyer”, “Fly By Night”, and “Spirit of the Radio”. Since Adam is out the church brought in a Pastor from Bagley to do the ceremony. He did a good job and I was most impressed with how he incorporated the lyrics to “Fly By Night” into the service.
Start a new chapter
I find what I’m after
Is changing every day
The change of a season
Is enough of a reason
To want to get awayQuiet and pensive
My thoughts apprehensive
The hours drift away
Leaving my homeland
Playing a lonehand
My life begins today
After the funeral I hosted Brandon, K.J., Logan, Dahlia, Jonah, Johnathan, Elainie, Sabas, Jesse (briefly), and Teresa.
Once Scott, after losing one of his parents, asked me “when is it normal again?”
I told him what I think is as honest as I can be, “It never is normal again. You just have to adjust to what is now the new normal”.
I hope just watching the game and rooting on the Cyclones… All of us screaming at the television as the field goal was in the air… Freaking both Dahlia and Bokeh out… brought a small sense of normal to their worlds. And maybe just a touch of healing.
Here are pictures I took at RVTV in Perry on Labor Day:
After the game was over the family slowly dispersed. Before Brandon left, he stood up and looked at Bokeh and said, “You’ve got big shoes to fill. But you’ll get there.”
Then he said he was going to the cemetery on his way home to tell his Dad that the Cyclones had won.
You may recall last week that I gave Micky an extension because he was in a place where he could only communicate via satellite phone. Here is his SQUARE photo:
On the other news from last week’s streaks, Adam’s trending in the right direction. I don’t know if he is back taking photos, but if you keep scrolling, you will find out.
SELF-PORTRAIT! A great theme! But were enough people in touch with themselves to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 9, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):
*1-Deb Powers – 1 week (MT, IA)
2-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
3-Jesse Howard – 2 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
4-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks (IA, MD)
*5-Amy Peterson – 2 weeks (IA)
6-Monica Jennings – 4 weeks (IA)
7-Sara Lockner – 5 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
8-Willy McAlpine – 8 weeks (IA)
9-Deanna McClain – 12 weeks (IA, MN)
10-Mike Vest – 16 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
11-Sabas Hernandez – 21 weeks (IA, OH)
12-Lowell Davis – 35 weeks (IA, MO)
13-Michelle Haupt – 35 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
14-Brandon Kahler – 36 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Scott Degeneffe – 54 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
16-Sheri Fakhouri – 64 weeks (IA, NE)
*17-Logan Kahler – 65 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
18-Nathanial Brown – 66 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
19-Tamara Peterson – 77 weeks (IA, MN)
20-Mindi Terrell – 81 weeks (IA)
21-Linda Bennett – 110 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
22-Sarah Toot – 111 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
23-Angie DeWaard – 115 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
24-Dawn Krause – 119 weeks (IA, IL)
25-Kim Barker – 125 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*26-Joe Duff – 126 weeks (TX, NY)
*27-Teresa Kahler – 137 weeks (IA, NE)
28-Carla Stensland – 137 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
29-Micky Augustin – 139 weeks (IA, IL, FL)
30-Andy Sharp – 140 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
31-Bill Wentworth – 141 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
32-Cathie Morton – 145 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
33-Elizabeth Nordeen – 146 weeks (IA, OH)
34-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 148 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
*35-Kio Dettman – 150 weeks (IA)
strong>Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:
1. The picture must 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 and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.
There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:
Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa) – 3 weeks
Amy Peterson (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa)
Andy Sharp (Iowa City, Iowa) – 141 weeks
Andy Sharp (Iowa City, Iowa)
Angie DeWaard (Neurology Dept, McFarland Clinic – Ames, Iowa) – 116 weeks
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 142 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 37 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Iowa)
Carla Stensland (Salida, Colorado) – 138 weeks
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 146 weeks
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 120 weeks
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 13 weeks
Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 2 weeks
Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)
Elainie Hernandez (Boone, Iowa)- 1 week
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 147 weeks
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 3 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas) – 127 weeks
Kim Barker (Cambridge, Iowa) – 126 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) -151 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 111 weeks
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 66 weeks
Lowell Davis (Muscatine, Iowa) – 36 weeks
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 1 week
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 36 weeks
Micky Augustin (Above the Arctic Circle, Alaska) – 140 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 82 weeks
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 17 weeks
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 5 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 67 weeks
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 6 weeks
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 112 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)- 55 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Deal’s Orchard – Jefferson, Iowa) – 149 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 65 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 3 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 78 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 138 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)
Willy McAlpine (Goeppinger Field – Boone, Iowa) – 9 weeks
37 participants! That is a pretty good week!
There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Alaska (1)
+ Colorado (1)
+ Iowa (37)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)
Thanks to Micky’s travels, we have added Alaska to this year’s submission map!
Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):
+ Arkansas (19.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1343)
+ Kansas (51)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (9)
+ Minnesota (12)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (43)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (28)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (53)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)
36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2
Jen has claimed the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy, Scott, and Nathanial are in striking distance. Jesse has fallen out of contention.
There were some big milestones this week. Adam’s streak returned from medical leave and he is now in the Half Year Streak Club! WooHoo! Tamara joined the Year and Half Streak Club! WooHoo! Woo!
But it wasn’t all good news. Alexis couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak was over before it began. Worst of all, Sabas’ streak comes to a crashing halt at 21 weeks. The humanity!
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:
MUSIC! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
I look forward to your interpretation.
That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of MUSIC in this place that that thinks of itself as a visual symphony next Monday.
It has been a rough week for my family. On Saturday morning my brother-in-law Russ passed away. I want to share his obituary so it is always in a place where I know I can find it.
Russell Kahler Obituary
Russell Duane Kahler, 63, of Boone, Iowa, passed away at Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone on Saturday, August 31, 2024. Russel was born on August 14, 1961, in Norfolk, Nebraska, the son of Alan Arnold Kahler and Helen Mae (Wulf) Kahler.He graduated from Ames High School and then attended DMACC in Ankeny. On March 11, 1989, Russell married Teresa Bennet at the First United Methodist Church in Boone, to this marriage, two children were born, Brandon and Logan Kahler. Teresa and Russell later divorced.
Russell was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Boone. He worked for K-Mart in Ames. He started there the day that it opened and worked there until the day that it closed. Russell also worked for Iowa State University as a security guard for 15 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alan and Helen Kahler; paternal grandparents, Arnold Kahler and Florence (Rice) Kahler, and maternal grandparents, Herman and Elsie (Tangck) Wulf.
Russell is survived by his sons, Brandon Kahler (KJ Johnson) and Logan Kahler (Amanda Nichols) of Boone; grandchildren: Greyson, Dahlia, and Jonah, all of Boone; brothers: Roger (Karla) Kahler of Ogden, Ron Kahler of Boone, Ryan (Kathy) Kahler of Ottumwa, and Robert Kahler of Cincinnati, OH.
Funeral services will be on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Boone. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home in Boone.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family to use at their discretion.
Russ was a great guy! Who helped raise two great sons! He was a big Nebraska football fan. Was also a big fan of Cyclone sports. There was a time when he and Jason split my Cyclone football season tickets with me. He was also a baseball fan. He collected postcards of every major league stadium at one time. He was a big fan of classic rock. In particular his love for Rush is well documented. I don’t know how many times he saw Rush in concert, but I alone saw Rush with him twice. He often worked rock concerts back when there were concerts at Hilton. He was into photography and when he worked at K-Mart, the place I always remember him working at was the Photo Department. He developed I don’t know how many rolls of film for me over the years. When he was young Russ was an avid runner. He competed in several marathons. I am going to miss him!
I don’t have a ton of pictures of Russ, but here are a few:
He was and always will remain a member of my family.
