Category Archives: Logan

Selfie Project – October

On Sunday I completed another successful month of THE SELFIE PROJECT. One thing that always happens when I look back at a month’s worth of pictures I’m always surprised at some of the things that all happened in the same month. That? That happened this month? I thought that was like 2 months ago.

Here are my favorites from October:


Day 274 - October 1, 2021
October 1

Day 275 - October 2, 2021
October 2

Day 276 - October 3, 2021
October 3

Day 277 - October 4, 2021
October 4

Day 278 - October 5, 2021
October 5

Day 280 - October 7, 2021
October 7

Day 281 - October 8, 2021
October 8

Day 282 - October 9, 2021
October 9

Day 285 - October 12, 2021
October 12

Day 287 - October 14, 2021
October 14

Day 289 - October 16, 2021
October 16

Day 290 - October 17, 2021
October 17

Day 291 - October 18, 2021
October 18

Day 293 - October 20, 2021
October 20

Day 295 - October 22, 2021
October 22

Day 296 - October 23, 2021
October 23

Day 297 - October 24, 2021
October 24

Day 298 - October 25, 2021
October 25

Day 301 - October 28, 2021
October 28

Day 303 - October 30, 2021
October 30

Day 304 - October 31, 2021
October 31

There can be only one Selfie per day, but here are some of favorite alternate selfies from October:


Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Hopefully November is a good month too.

WPC – WEEK 320 – HERO

Reminder this is the last day to submit ideas for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme. Leave you suggestions in the comments section of today’s journal entry.

It looks like a few people have people they consider to be a HERO.

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


WEEK 320 - HERO - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 320 - HERO - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 320 - HERO - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 320 - HERO - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 320 - HERO - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 320 - HERO - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 320 - HERO - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 320 - HERO - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 320 - HERO - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 320 - HERO - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

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 321 - BUSINESS
BUSINESS

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

But what is a BUSINESS image? A BUSINESS image is any image that shows any aspect of a BUSINESS. From a storefront. To the employees working at the BUSINESS. To a BUSINESS card. Literally any aspect of a BUSINESS. And it can be any type of BUSINESS. From a mulit-million dollar corporation to somebody selling Pampered Chef out of the trunk of their car.

While thinking on your BUSINESS picture, think on the following quote:

Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.
-Andy Warhol

Good luck capturing a great BUSINESS 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 BUSINESS in this place that that vaguely resembles a business next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 319 – GREEN

REMINDER!!! This week and next week are you chance to help mold the next 52 weeks for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. To do that leave suggestions for themes in the COMMENTS section of this here journal entry. There were some good suggestions last week and one truly terrible one. Terrible because it was overly specific about a certain species of animal and not because of my alleged feelings towards that specific species of animal.

GREEN is a pretty gosh dang easy theme, so hopefully there are lots of submissions.

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


WEEK 319 - GREEN - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 319 - GREEN - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 319 - GREEN - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 319 - GREEN - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 319 - GREEN - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 319 - GREEN - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 319 - GREEN - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 319 - GREEN - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 319 - GREEN - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 319 - GREEN - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 319 - GREEN - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 319 - GREEN - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 319 - GREEN - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 319 - GREEN - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 319 - GREEN - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 319 - GREEN - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 319 - GREEN - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 319 - GREEN - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 319 - GREEN - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 319 - VEST - ,MIKE VEST
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:


WEEL 320 - HERO
HERO

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

But what is a HERO photo? A HERO photo is a picture of somebody that is considered a HERO. Might be a personal HERO of yours. Don’t everybody ask to take my picture at once. Once at a time… Or it can be a picture of a fictional character. It can be somebody you know in everyday life or like in the theme reveal image it can be somebody you have never met. This week is Halloween. I bet you will see all sorts of people out and about dressed like HEROes. That is a happy coincidence, though. The order of the themes were selected randomly last November.

While considering your HERO image, consider the following quote:

You cannot be a hero without being a coward.
– George Bernard Shaw

Good luck capturing your HERO!

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 HERO in this place that that records many of my personal idols next Monday.

Journal Entry #4,250

Can you believe that this is the 4,250th post in this crazy little thing called “An Artist’s Notebook’. 4,250 posts! It has been 5,549 days since I took keyboard in hand on August 9, 2006 and typed these words:

So here is the first journal entry.

The name of that first journal entry was “First Journal Entry”. I really started out with a bang!

What was that first journal entry?

A set of goals:

+ To write in this journal. Mission accomplished.
+ To be truthful. I’m sure there are some that would disagree, but I’m calling that mission accomplished.
+ To record my achievements and failures in the world of art. Mission accomplished.
+ To produce something that makes me “worthy” of having a pretentious sounding journal title like: “An Artist’s Notebook. Jury might still be out on that one.

In that first entry I also wrote about attending the Photography Salon Reception with Sara. I go on to complain about the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest and tell a tale about how Jay convinced me to enter the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest that year.

That was it. A simple beginning for a simple man. 5,549 days ago.

When I hit these milestones, I like to check in on a few statistics, to see how things are trending. I like statistics cause they seem to bring order to chaos. It is like the saying goes: “There are three types of lies: lies, damn lies and statistics.”

Here are some damn lying statistics.

I use “Categories” to help organize this blog. There are 194 of them and the 100 most used Categories can be found on the sidebar of every page on this website. The 100th most used Category is a 3 way tie amongst “Jaycees”, “Vacation”, and “DaeHee”. I’ve use those 3 Categories 65 times each. The 2 Categories that have the greatest shot at breaking into the Top 100 are “Kelly” at 61 current uses and “Town Sign Project” at 59 current uses.

These are the 10 Most Used Categories (Post 4000 Rank and entries):

10. Art – 408 (NR)
9. WPC – Submissions – 417 (8 – 381)
8. Mom – 422 (10 – 363)
7. Carla – 435 (7 – 391)
6. Portrait – 450 (5 -472)
5. Shannon – 458 (6 – 421)
4. Jesse – 529 (4 – 495)
3. Animals – 665 (3 – 620)
2. Flowers – 754 (2 – 693)
1. Black and White – 819 (1 – 698)

These are the 10 Most Used Not a Person Categories:

10. Photoshop – 368 (8 – 327)
9. Nature – 379 (6 – 349)
8. Macro – 390 (7 – 332)
7. Road Trip – 394 (9 – 326)
6. Art – 408 (10 – 314)
5. WPC – Submissions – 417 (5 – 381)
4. Portrait – 450 – (4 – 472)
3. Animals – 665 – (3 – 620_
2. Flowers – 754 – (2 – 693)
1. Black and White – 819 (1 – 698)

There are the 10 Most Used Person Categories (Post 4000 Rank and entries):

10. Vest – 274 (9 – 258)
9. Jen – 277 (10 – 254)
8. Willy – 278 (8 – 268)
7. Derrick – 311 (7 – 295)
6. Jay – 329 (6 – 320)
5. Teresa – 405 (4 – 364)
4. Mom – 422 (5 – 363)
3. Carla – 435 (3 – 391)
2. Shannon – 458 (2 – 421)
1. Jesse – 529 (1 – 495)

The Non Person Categories most likely to break into the Top Ten are “Naima” at 323, “Formal Portrait” at 320, and “Candid Portrait” at 303.

The Person Categories that are most likely to break into the Top Ten are “Kim” at 263, “Logan” at 248, “Sara” and “Micky” both at 239.

After 750 posts, “Photography”, “Friends”, and “Life” were my three most used Categories. I’ve since tried to de-centralize those Categories and they have fallen. I’m trying to do the same with “Portrait”, so It should eventually fall out of the Top Ten as well.

After 1,000 posts, “Jay”, Jesse”, and “Shannon” were the most used Person Categories.

After 1,500 posts, “Jesse”, “Jay”, and “Shannon” were the most used Person Categories”.

After 2,500 posts, “Jesse, “Teresa”, and “Shannon” were the most used Person Categories. It was the same after 3000 posts.

After 4,000 posts, Top 3 had changed to “Jesse”, “Shannon”, and “Carla”. I’ll be curious to see where these number are in another 250 posts.

If you are wondering how to increase your Category usage, it is simple. Submit to THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Be a photo assistant. Show up in THE SELFIE PROJECT. Go on road trips with me. It doesn’t hurt to be related to me either.

But this is a photography online journal, so let’s look at what are the most popular images and galleries on my website?

Most Popular Photography 139 Galleries of the last 365 days:


#10 Weekly Photo Challenge – HOF – 25,192 Views

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2013
#9 Daisies 26,286 Views

Punch Myself in the Face
#8 Christopher D. Bennett 31,665 Views

9 Emotions - Bill
#7 9 Emotions Project 49,215 Views


#6 Iowa 59,724 Views

Soccer with Evie and Layla
#5 Gorshe Family 60,179 Views

Xenia, Iowa
#4 Town Sign Project 72,850 Views

WEEK 293 - HANDS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
#3 Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 8 82,681 Views

Day 162 - June 11, 2021
#2 Selfie Project – 2021 128,029 Views

Alexis Pregnant with Anela
#1 Alexis Pregnancy Photo Shoot – 2020 236,976 Views

At post 4,000 The most popular album was “WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – YEAR 7”. #2. Was “Christopher D. Bennett”. #3. was “9 Emotions Project”. I’m impressed with the sustained popularity of THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT. I haven’t taken a new picture for it in years. Although I do want to fire it up again.

Most Popular Photography 139 Images of the last 365 days:

Maven's 2021 Birthday Party
#10. Maven’s Gift Table – 2,013 Views

Moingona, Iowa
#9. Moingona Town Sign – 2,029 Views

Iowa State Fair - 2010
#8. Alexis Cheering at the 2010 Iowa State Fair – 2,177 Views

Mom's Retirement Party
#7. Mom’s Retirement Party – 2,669 Views

Day 73 - March 13, 2021
#6. Mom and I at John Wayne Birthplace Museum – 3,716 Views

Youth Group Family Portrait Fundraiser - 2010
#5. Andrea, Josh, and Kids at Youth Group Fundraiser – 2010 – 4,221 Views

Alexis Pregnant with Anela
#4. Alexis Pregnant with Anela – 5,485 Views

Day 51 - February 20, 2021
#3. Selfie in Ackley – 6,369 Views

Day 0 - December 31, 2020
#2. Selfie in Front Yard – 6,587 Views

Alexis Pregnant with Anela
#1. Alexis Pregnant with Anela – 10.355 Views

That picture of Alexis was also #1 at the 4,000 Post Mark, but the other 9 Pictures are completely different. Last time #2 was a picture of Taylan and #3 was a picture of me and Scottie D. at the Pufferbilly Days Parade.

That leads us to my most popular individual posts.

Most Popular An Artist’s Notebook Entries (by Comments)

#10. TOWN SIGN PROJECT: HAMILTON COUNTY – 21 Comments

#10. POSTCARD RECREATION PROJECT – MAMIE DOUD EISENHOWER BIRTHPLACE – 21 Comments

#10. TOWN SIGN PROJECT: DALLAS COUNTY – 21 Comments

#7. WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 43 – SUNRISE/SUNSET 22 Comments

#7. WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 9 – FOOD – 22 Comments

#7. POSTCARD RECREATION PROJECT – SOME CHURCHES – 22 Comments

#3. THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE – ROUND TWO – 24 Comments

#3. TENDERLOIN APPRECIATION SOCIETY – WORKING AT HOME – 24 Comments

#3. CARROLL COUNTY AND CRAWFORD COUNTY AUXILIARY IMAGES – 24 Comments

#3.WPC – WEEK 283 – WIND – 24 Comments

#2. LIPTON CUP OF ZINNIA – 32 Comments

#1. TOWN SIGN PROJECT: JASPER COUNTY – 37 Comments

I have to confess that I haven’t been very good about responding to comments left on my blog lately. I swear that I will get better at this again.

The final statistic I want to share are who my most loyal email subscribers. Loyalty isn’t probably the most accurate term, but it is all I have.

Top Five Most Loyal Photography 139 Subscribers

5. Jeanette Duff – 96.4%
4. Angie DeWaard – 98.5%
2. Michelle Haupt – 99.7%
2. Joe Duff – 99.7%
1. Kio Dettman – 100%

Jeanette, Angie, and Kio are new to the Top 5. They replaced Corey, Sara, and Shannon.

Linda and Tamara are the two most likely to break into the Top 5 in the next 250 posts.

We’ll have to check in on these statistics again in another 250 posts!

WPC – WEEK 316 – FLOWER

Despite it being late in the year and FLOWERs not necessarily being in abundance this time of year, FLOWER ended up fueling the creative fires of quite a few people.

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


WEEK 316 - FLOWER - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 316 - FLOWER - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

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 317 - TIME
TIME

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

But what is exactly a TIME photo? In a way, all images are a TIME photo because all pictures record a little slice of TIME that will never ever happen again. Your challenge is to figure out how to capture that slice of TIME. Will you use a quick shutter speed to freeze TIME? Will you use a slow shutter speed to make TIME seem more fluid? Will you be more literal and like the theme reveal image take a picture of a TIME recording device?

While thinking on making your TIME image, meditate on the following quote:

Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.
-Nathaniel Hawthorne

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 TIME in this place that is little more than a shadow of my time next Monday.

Selfie Project – September 2021

Yesterday I completed another successful month of THE SELFIE PROJECT. I don’t know I did a lot in September, but I guess the pictures will tell the story.

Here are my favorites from September:


Day 246 - September 3, 2021
September 3

Day 247 - September 4, 2021
September 4

Day 248 - September 5, 2021
September 5

Day 249 - September 6, 2021
September 6

Day 250 - September 7, 2021
September 7

Day 253 - September 10, 2021
September 10

Day 254 - September 11, 2021
September 11

Day 255 - September 12, 2021
September 12

Day 256 - September 13, 2021
September 13

Day 258 - September 15, 2021
September 15

Day 260 - September 17, 2021
September 17

Day 261 - September 18, 2021
September 18

Day 262 - September 19, 2021
September 19

Day 265 - September 22, 2021
September 22

Day 268 - September 25, 2021
September 25

Day 269 - September 26, 2021
September 26

Day 270 - September 27, 2021
September 27

Day 271 - September 28, 2021
September 28

Day 272 - September 29, 2021
September 29

There can only be one Selfie per day, but here are some of my favorite alternate selfies from September:


SELFIE PROJECT ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT ALTERNATE

If you want to peruse all of the 2021 selfies for THE SELFIE PROJECT, click on the link below:

THE SELFIE PROJECT – 2021

Hopefully October is a fruitful month as well.

+++++++

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


WEEK 316 - FLOWER
FLOWER

A FLOWER image is simply a picture of a FLOWER. Doesn’t have to be a real FLOWER. But it could also be a real FLOWER.

Happy photo harvesting.

Town Sign Project: Cass County

A few weeks back I cruised around Cass County with Brandon and Logan harvesting the town signs of Cass County. We did a little more sightseeing in other counties than I normally do, so it was one of the rare trips where all the town signs are harvested were only in one county. It was a good trip.

Here are some facts about Cass County:

+ The population is 13,127 making Cass County the 58th most populous county in Iowa. Behind Allamakee County and above Wright County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Atlantic.
+ Established in 1851.
+ Named for Lewis Cass a Michigan senator and Democratic candidate for president in 1848.
+ Birthplace of Edwin Perkins, the inventor of Kool-Aid.
+ Major highways are: I-80, US-6, US-71, IA-48, IA-83, IA-92, IA-148, and IA-173.
+ Adjacent counties are: Audubon, Adair, Montgomery, Adams, Pottawattamie, and Shelby.
+ Population peaked in 1930 at 19,422.

The Cass County Courthouse looks similar to Boone’s City Hall:


Cass County Courthouse
Cass County Courthouse in Atlantic, Iowa.

The Cass County Freedom Rock is located in Lewis, Iowa:


Cass County Freedom Rock

Cass County Freedom Rock

Cass County Freedom Rock

Cass County Freedom Rock

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


Town Sign Project - 37 Counties
PURPLE=COMPLETED

37 counties completed. 37.4% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Cass County (Population is 2020 Census. In parentheses is change since 2010 Census):


Atlantic, Iowa
Atlantic, Iowa
Atlantic
Coca-Cola CAPITAL OF IOWA
Population: 6,792 (-320)

Griswold, Iowa
Griswold, Iowa
GRISWOLD
ESTABLISHED 1879
Population: 994 (-42)

Anita, Iowa
Anita, Iowa
ANITA
A Whale Of A Town
Population: 963 (-9)

Massena, Iowa
Massena, Iowa
Welcome to MASSENA
Population: 359 (+4)

Lewis, Iowa
Lewis, Iowa
WELCOME TO OUR HOME LEWIS, IOWA
Population: 357 (-76)

Cumberland, Iowa
Cumberland, Iowa
Welcome to Cumberland
Since 1884
Population: 215 (-11)

Marne, Iowa
Marne, Iowa
WELCOME TO MARNE
FROM A PROUD PAST TO A PROMISING FUTURE
EST.1875
Population: 110 (-10)

Wiota, Iowa
Wiota, Iowa
WELCOME TO WIOTA FROM DENNIS ANDERSEN
Population: 91 (-25)

The worst town sign in Cass County is pretty obvious. It is Atlantic. Coca-Cola? We all know that RC Cola is the poo, so take a big whiff Atlantic*. However, if you get past how gross Coca-Cola is, Wiota’s sign or lack of sign was pretty awful. That Welcome to Wiota banner I found was hanging off some guy’s flagpole in his front yard. And what is with the handcuffs? Is Wiota the host to a big bondage convention? I guess only Dennis Andersen truly knows. But I like to think the gimp from PULP FICTION was originally from this little southwest corner of Iowa.

The best town sign is so completely obvious, I don’t even have to say it:


Anita, Iowa
Anita – Best in Show – Cass County

This was the rare Best in Show that I knew before I even got there. Carla went camping there earlier this year and sent me a picture of it. Anita’s town sign is so great, it could be the sign that goes on the cover of my future book.

Here are the alternate town signs of Cass County:


Marne, Iowa
Marne – Alternate

Lewis, Iowa
Lewis – Alternate

Lewis, Iowa
Lewis – Alternate

Cumberland, Iowa
Cumberland – Alternate

Atlantic, Iowa
Atlantic – Alternate

Anita, Iowa
Anita – Alternate

Anita, Iowa
Anita – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:


Fontanelle, Iowa
Best in Show – Adair County

Audubon, Iowa
Best in Show – Audubon County

Norway, Iowa
Best in Show – Benton County

Moingona, Iowa
Best in Show – Boone 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

Dougherty, Iowa
Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Murray, Iowa
Best in Show – Clarke County

Ricketts, Iowa
Best in Show – Crawford County

Dexter, Iowa
Best in Show – Dallas County

Popejoy, Iowa
Best in Show – Franklin 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

Bradgate, iowa
Best in Show – Humboldt County

Ida Grove, Iowa
Best in Show – Ida County

Lynnville, Iowa
Best in Show – Jasper County

Lucas, Iowa
Best in Show – Lucas County

East Peru, Iowa
Best in Show – Madison County

Pleasantville, Iowa
Best in Show – Marion County

Haverhill, Iowa
Best in Show – Marshall County

Plover, Iowa
Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Bondurant, Iowa
Best in Show – Polk County

Malcom, Iowa
Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Nemaha, Iowa
Best in Show – Sac County

Collins, Iowa
Best in Show – Story County

Tama, Iowa
Best in Show – Tama County

Creston, Iowa
Best in Show – Union County

New Virginia, Iowa
Best in Show – Warren County

Badger, Iowa
Best in Show – Webster 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 make a stop in Adams County.

*Come for the high quality photography. Stay for the references to the 2000 Kirsten Dunst classic BRING IT ON.

WPC – WEEK 314 – WORK

WORK turned out to be a pretty popular theme. I knew many of you out there were hard WORKers!

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


WEEK 314 - WORK - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 314 - WORK - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 314 - WORK - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 314 - WORK - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 314 - WORK - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 314 - WORK - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 314 - WORK - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 314 - WORK - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 314 - WORK - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 314 - WORK - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 314 - WORK - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 314 - WORK - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 314 - WORK - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 314 - WORK - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 314 - WORK - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 314 - WORK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 314 - WORK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 314 - WORK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 314 - WORK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 314 - WORK - MIKE VEST
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:


WEEK 315 - DREAM JOB
DREAM JOB

DREAM JOB! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Seems like an apropos challenge as I have been thinking much on my own future lately.

But what is a DREAM JOB image? This was a theme suggested by Andy. The idea of this picture is to take an image of something that represents you (or somebody else’s) DREAM JOB. If you could get paid to do anything, what would it be. The picture can be of somebody doing that DREAM JOB or maybe just some of the equipment used in that DREAM JOB. It might be more of an abstract than most of the themes, but should still be plenty easy. Unless you don’t believe in dreams.

While thinking about your DREAM JOB image, think on this quote:

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C.S. Lewis

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 DREAM JOB in this place that is little more than a dream within a dream next Monday.

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

On Tuesday when I opened up the Twitters looking for any new Iowa State or Big 12 expansion news, I saw this post from Nick Bassett that made me smile so big:



For those of you that don’t follow sports, College GameDay is a pregame show on ESPN on Saturday mornings for college football. It is a huge deal when they come to your town and they are in Ames for Iowa State’s game this Saturday. It is awesome that they are interviewing Nick.

If you don’t know Nick, you are missing out. He did Speech stuff with Logan in high school and Elainie used to go out to his place for their bonfires. He is a great guy that sits a section from me at the Iowa State games. The Des Moines Register recently ran a story on him. You can read it by clicking on the link below:

Inspired by Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, Cyclones fan to return to Jack Trice Stadium after having legs amputated

I will share just a small chunk of the story:

Bassett was given about an hour to mull over the biggest decision of his life: Whether to amputate his legs or keep them and risk further infections. Both of Bassett’s legs had sores caused by poor circulation. If Bassett opted against amputation, he’d have to go through skin grafts and operations. After discussing the options, his doctor left the room and told him he’d be back in an hour.

Bassett didn’t need that long.

Bassett called his parents and told them to come to the hospital. He was going to have his legs amputated. His doctor scheduled an operation to remove them just above the knee for later in the week.

After making the decision, Bassett logged on his Twitter account and announced it, along with a plan for the future to followers.

He wrote that there was “no clear line on recovery but my goal is to be healthy enough to watch” Campbell and the Iowa State football team at Jack Trice Stadium this fall.

He ended it with this: “Two words keep racing through my mind…”I Will.”

Once again, here is the picture I took of Nick at the game on Saturday:


Iowa State vs Northern Iowa - 2021

College GameDay is on ESPN from 8 AM to 11 AM, in case you want to watch.

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This Saturday from 8-12 we are going to have the final sale at my Mom’s house. There is still lots of glassware and collectibles for sale. A few tools. Many decorations. Maybe some furniture. Some other stuff will be added this week as well I’m sure. The address is 111 South Benton Street. The sale is in the garage and in the garage only. The garage is on the alley. The alley is a dead end, so don’t come down the alley and try to park. I’ll let you know if any of the details change.

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Here is another collection of pictures of flowers from my Mom’s yard. These pictures were taken on May 16, 2021.


The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

The Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town

Many more flower pictures to share. Many more!

Selfie Project – August 2021

Yesterday I completed yet another successful month of THE SELFIE PROJECT. I was surprised how packed a month it was. When I looked back at some of the images, I thought, “that happened in August? It feels like such a long time ago!”

Here are my favorites from August:


Day 213 - August 1, 2021
August 1, 2021

Day 215 - August 3, 2021
August 3, 2021

Day 216 - August 4, 2021
August 4, 2021

Day 217 - August 5, 2021
August 5, 2021

Day 219 - August 7, 2021
August 7, 2021

Day 220 - August 8, 2021
August 8, 2021

Day 223 - August 11, 2021
August 11, 2021

Day 224 - August 12, 2021
August 12, 2021

Day 225 - August 13, 2021
August 13, 2021

Day 227 - August 15, 2021
August 15, 2021

Day 229 - August 17, 2021
August 17, 2021

Day 231 - August 19, 2021
August 19, 2021

Day 234  - August 22, 2021
August 22, 2021

Day 236 - August 24, 2021
August 24, 2021

Day 239 - August 27,  2021
August 27, 2021

Day 240 - August 28, 2021
August 28, 2021

Day 241 - August 29, 2021
August 29, 2021

Day 243 - August 31, 2021
August 31, 2021

There can only be one Selfie per day, but I’ve decided to start sharing some alternate selfies from the month, that just didn’t make the cut:


SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

SELFIE PROJECT  ALTERNATE

If you want to peruse all the THE SELFIE PROJECT images, click on the link below:

Selfie Project – 2021

Hopefully September is another successful month!