Seems like a good time to clean up the July backlog. This collection of images was taken in July of last year, but never really found a spot in a previous “An Artist’s Notebook” entry. Some pictures are of a storm. Some are from the Boone County Fair. Some are of a baby bird, or an immature bird. Some are from Dahlia’s birthday party.
Always feels good to get a little bit of that backlog cleared out.
SCENES FROM YOUR COUCH. Possibly the easiest theme ever. But did it get the creative juices flowing for many people? You will have to keep scrolling too find out!
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, April 10, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Scott Degeneffe – 1 week
2-Susanna Funk – 1 week
3-Mary Green – 1 week
4-Jesse Howard – 1 week
5-Alexis Stensland – 1 week
6-Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks
7-Willy McAlpine – 3 weeks
8-Mindi Terrell – 7 weeks (2)
9-Suzie Brannen – 12 weeks (3)
10-Monica Jennings – 12 weeks (3)
11-Nathanial Brown – 13 weeks (3)
12-Mike Vest – 13 weeks
13-Tamara Peterson – 23 weeks
14-Brandon Kahler – 33 weeks
15-Linda Bennett – 37 weeks (2)
16-Sarah Toot – 38 weeks (2)
17-Angie DeWaard – 42 weeks
18-Dawn Krause – 46 weeks (2)
19-Kim Barker – 51 weeks
20-Joe Duff – 53 weeks
21-Logan Kahler – 53 weeks
22-Teresa Kahler – 64 weeks
23-Carla Stensland – 64 weeks
24-Micky Augustin – 65 weeks (2)
25-Andy Sharp – 67 week
26-Bill Wentworth – 68 weeks
27-Cathie Morton – 72 weeks
28-Elizabeth Nordeen – 73 weeks
29-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 74 weeks
30-Kio Dettman – 77 weeks (2)
I finally broke down and made a map of states where people have submitted pictures from:
You might notice that Michigan is filled in, even though as of last week we had no submissions from Michigan. That isn’t actually the case. After last Monday’s post published, Mary contacted me and let me know that her pictures were taken in Michigan! WooHoo! Another state. So don’t forget to let me know if you took your picture in a different state than the one you live in. Or if you want, you can always let me know where you took your picture at.
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:
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Joe Duff (Texas) – 54 weeks
Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Mary Green (Iowa)
Mary Green (Iowa)
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 24 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Iowa)
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 65 weeks
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Alexis Stensland (Iowa)
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 66 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 74 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 65 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 68 weeks
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 52 weeks
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 43 weeks
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 39 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Wyoming) – 75 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Nevada)
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 69 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 38 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas)
Christopher D. Bennett (Iowa)
Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Iowa)
Porter Degeneffe (Iowa)
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 47 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 34 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 8 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 54 weeks
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 3 weeks
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Jesse Howard (Iowa)
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 13 weeks
Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 73 weeks
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 13 weeks
Suzie Brannen (Iowa)
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 13 weeks
29 participants! That is a pretty great week!
There were submissions this week taken in the following states:
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ Nevada
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
+ Wyoming
Thanks to Shannon’s annual bee road trip, Wyoming has been added to the map!
Here is the current calendar year list for states:
+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Missouri
+ North Dakota
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Dakota
+ Texas
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming
22 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive!
The Outside of the United States map is currently:
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I took my picture about 3 miles from my house. I continue not to contribute.
Speaking of people who do contribute in a big way. Congratulations to Kim! She joins the super exclusive 1 Year Club! WooHoo!
But it wasn’t all good news. Funk couldn’t build on her submission last week. Willy’s 3 week streak is history. Most tragically, Nathanial’s 13 week streak is just a distant memory. Very sad!
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:
NOTE: I WILL BE IN CHICAGO NEXT MONDAY FOR WORK. WHILE I MIGHT BE SURROUNDED BY COMPUTERS THAT DAY, I WILL NOT BE IN ANY KIND OF POSITION TO POST THE ENTRIES FOR FRIENDS UNTIL I RETURN. THAT WILL EITHER BE LATE TUESDAY NIGHT OR AT SOME POINT ON WEDNESDAY. ALSO, DON’T COUNT ON GETTING ANY REMINDERS. IT MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT I DOUBT IT. PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
FRIENDS! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
But what exactly is a FRIENDS image? Simply put it is an image that captures a FRIENDS(hip). That can be through a picture of FRIENDS or a picture of an item that represents a FRIENDS(hip).
But what is are FRIENDS? ChatGPT defines FRIENDS like his:
“Friends are individuals who share a mutual bond of trust, affection, and support with each other. They are people with whom we have a close and positive relationship, and with whom we share common interests, values, and experiences. Friends can provide emotional support, companionship, and a sense of belonging. They can also offer advice, feedback, and constructive criticism, and can help us grow and develop as individuals. Friendship is an important aspect of human social interaction, and having strong friendships can have a positive impact on our physical and mental well-being.”
In case you didn’t know what FRIENDS are.
Now a reminder, I’m leaving for Chicago in a couple of days, so if you were hoping to include me in your FRIENDS picture, you either need to act quickly OR come to Illinois.
But if you can’t use me while considering possible subjects for your FRIENDS image, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will make a great submission:
“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”
— Walter Winchell
I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
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 FRIENDS in this place that was designed for friendship next Monday.
BLUE! A great theme! Everybody loves the color BLUE. But did a bunch of people love it enough to submit a photo? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, March 27, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
2-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week
3-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
4-Mary Green – 2 weeks
5-Mindi Terrell – 6 weeks (3)
6-Suzie Brannen – 10 weeks
7-Jesse Howard – 10 weeks
8-Monica Jennings – 10 weeks
9-Nathanial Brown – 11 weeks (3)
10-Mike Vest – 11 weeks
11-Tamara Peterson – 21 weeks
12-Brandon Kahler – 31 weeks
13-Linda Bennett – 35 weeks
14-Sarah Toot – 36 weeks (3)
15-Angie DeWaard – 40 weeks
16-Dawn Krause – 44 weeks (2)
17-Kim Barker – 49 weeks
18-Joe Duff – 51 weeks
19-Logan Kahler – 52 weeks
20-Teresa Kahler – 62 weeks (2)
21-Carla Stensland – 62 weeks (2)
22-Micky Augustin – 64 weeks (2)
23-Andy Sharp – 65 weeks (3)
24-Bill Wentworth – 66 weeks
25-Cathie Morton – 70 weeks
26-Elizabeth Nordeen – 71 weeks
27-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 72 weeks
28-Kio Dettman – 75 weeks (2)
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:
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas)
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 7 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 11 weeks
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 11 weeks
Monica Jennings (Iowa)
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 12 weeks
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 12 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 22 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 32 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 36 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas)
Sarah Toot (Washington D.C.) – 36 weeks
Sarah Toot (New York)
Sarah Toot (New Jersey)
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 41 weeks
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 45 weeks
Dawn Krause (Iowa)
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 50 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas) – 52 weeks
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 53 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 63 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 63 weeks
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 64 weeks
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 66 weeks
Andy Sharp (Iowa)
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 67 weeks
Cathie Morton (Missouri) – 71 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 72 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 73 weeks
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 76 weeks
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Christopher D. Bennett (Iowa) – 498 weeks
First, I have to say I find it interesting that Kio took a picture of grape juice for PURPLE and also one for BLUE. Makes me wonder what… what color does Kio think grape juice is?? Or maybe Kio is color blind. Or slightly color blind. I know a few people who are color blind in the blue range. But on the same side, I’ve never understood how you make red wine out of purple grapes. It is a mystery.
For example, yesterday Fran sent me a chat with a picture of a drink with the question, orange or yellow. It so happened that I was having a little post-church and pre-theater lunch with my sisters and so I showed them the picture. We all came back that the liquid in the glass was clearly yellow.
I sent that message back to Fran and she let me know that she thought it was orange.
Maybe I don’t sit and thing about color that much, but Monica sent me a message a couple weeks back about how she is “fascinated by how people interpret color… is it pink or is it purple!?!”. I hope Monica gets just as a big of a kick at seeing the interpretations of BLUE.
All this to say that if I use grape juice in my picture this week, it is because imitation is the highest form of flattery.
29 participants! Another great week!
There were submissions this week taken in the following states:
+ Arkansas
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ Missouri
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Texas
+ Washington D.C.
Technically, Washington D.C. isn’t a state, but let’s face it, it should be. Sarah’s picture crosses off another place on the map. I need to make that map someday. Today isn’t that day though.
Here is the current calendar year list for states:
+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Minnesota
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ Missouri
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
17 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive!
The Outside of the United States map is currently:
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Nassau Bahamas
I took my picture about a mile from my front door.
Porter had his first ever submission. I’m pretty pumped for that. He is the youngest to submit this year and I hope that he continues to submit in the future. Welcome aboard Porter!
The big accomplishment this week was Joe Duff joining the 1 Year Club. WooHoo! Congrats to Joe! Who isn’t too big time to work the night shift. Take notes Suzie.
But unfortunately it was not all good news. Mary’s 2 week streak bit the dust. Jesse’s 10 week streak is only a distant memory now.
Hopefully they get back on that horse again this 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:
ODD CAMERA ANGLE! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
But what is an ODD CAMERA ANGLE photo? Simply put, it a picture taken from an angle that is different than normal. The grand majority of pictures are taken from the eye level of the photographer. This theme challenges you to look down at your subject. Or look up at your subject. Or look at it from an angle where something small looks big and something big looks small. Or try out a Dutch angle. Put yourself on the ground or in a hole or in the air. Just don’t take your picture eye level. That’s all we’re asking here. The world is your oyster. You just have to look at it askew.
While considering possible subject for your submission, meditate on the following quote and you will no doubt come up with a great image:
I always find beauty in things that are odd and imperfect – they are much more interesting.
-Marc Jacobs
I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
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 ODD CAMERA ANGLE in this place that is more than a little different next Monday.
Tonight, at approximately 8:30 Central, the Iowa women’s basketball team will play South Carolina in the Final Four for the chance to play Sunday night for the National Championship. I honestly don’t expect Iowa to win. South Carolina is an 11.5 point favorite. They are the defending National Champion. They have won 42 straight games. They have the defending National Player of the Year and the presumptive 1st pick in the WNBA draft in Aliyah Boston. Plus Brea Beal is expected to be a Top 10 pick. Plus Zia Cooke is expected to get drafted. Plus Latecia Amihere is supposed to get drafted. Plus Vicatria Saxtan will probably get drafted. Plus LeLe Grissett has a shot to get drafted.
I will just add that the Iowa women’s basketball team have been getting a ton of national media attention and are setting ratings records. Their Elite Eight game last Sunday had higher television ratings than every NBA game on ESPN this year. South Carolina does not like that. Their coach doesn’t like it. Their players don’t like it.
This isn’t to say that I don’t think Iowa has a chance. They definitely have a puncher’s chance. It isn’t exactly David against Goliath because Caitlin Clark isn’t a David and either is Monika Czinano. But the odds are against them. However, if they do win, they will do something that no team from the state of Iowa has done since 1956.
In 1956, the Iowa men’s basketball team played in the National Championship Game. They lost to San Francisco 81-73. That San Francisco Dons team finished the season 29-0 and finished the year with a 55 game win streak. That team was lead by Bill Russell and K.C. Jones.
The Iowa men also played in the 1955 Final Four, losing to La Salle 76-73 and the 1980 Final Four losing to Louisville 80-72. Although it is widely believe that if Ronnie Lester didn’t get hurt in that game, Iowa would have went on to win the National Championship that year.
Drake has played in one Final Four in 1969. Falling to UCLA 85-82. Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) played on that UCLA team. UCLA would go on to blow out Purdue 92-72. Drake would blow out North Carolina in the 3rd Place Game 104-84. It was the closest a Lew Alcindor UCLA team ever came to losing in the NCAA Tournament.
The Iowa State Men’s team has played in one Final Four in 1944. Losing to eventual champion Utah 40-31. Wat Misaka played on that Utah team. He was of Japanese descent and he would go on to be the first non-white player in the NBA. That Utah team also played in the NIT and lost in the quarterfinals to Kentucky. Utah was only invited to the NCAA Tournament because they needed a replacement for Arkansas. Arkansas had to withdraw because a car accident injured two of their starters and killed a third person that was in the car.
The Iowa women’s basketball tournament has made one previous Final Four, in 1993. They lost to Ohio State 73-72 in overtime. Ohio State would lose in the Championship Game to Texas Tech 84-82.
Both Iowa State and Drake’s women’s basketball teams have never made the Final Four. Both have made it as far as the Elite Eight.
The Northern Iowa women have never won an NCAA Tournament game and their men have made it as far as the Sweet Sixteen.
Win or lose tonight, the Iowa women have already made some history. If you want some gambling advice, I would take the 11.5 points.
If you are a fan of basketball at all, I’d encourage you to watch. It is on ESPN and should be entertaining at the least.
While I’m spitting out this cold knowledge about basketball history, I might as well make good on my pledge to go over the history of girl’s basketball in Boone County and the Girl’s State Tournament.
Boone Toreadors
1958 (6 on 6)
+ Twin Rivers 56 Boone 44
West Central, Maynard won the Championship.
1989 (6 on 6)
+ Boone 59 Saint Ansgar 58
+ Atlantic 78 Boone 63
Ankeny won the Championship.
2017 (4A)
+ Marion 46 Boone 38
North Scott won the Championship.
2018 (4A)
+ Center Point-Urbana 69 Boone 47
Marion won the Championship.
Madrid Tigers
1921 (6 on 6)
+ Madrid 13 Hiteman 7
+ Madrid 18 Mount Ayr 4
+ Madrid 9 Laurens 6
+ Ottumwa 16 Madrid 6
Audubon won the Championship.
Ogden Bulldogs
1972 (6 on 6)
+ Lu Verne 70 Ogden 51
Roland-Story won the Championship.
Grand Bobcats
1960 (6 on 6)
+ Corwith-Wesley 69 Grand 55
Gladbrook won the Championship.
Napier Comets
1947 (6 on 6)
+ Coon Rapids 41 Napier 26
Seymour won the Championship.
1955 (6 on 6)
+ Goldfield 63 Napier 51
Goldfield won the Championship.
It would seem that in the history of girls basketball in Boone County, the schools have combined to win 4 games. 3 of those were in 1921 by Madrid.
Day 3 in Vegas was the first day of the actual CMC. It was a long work day. I got to the convention before 8 and worked continuously (with the exception of about a 45 minute break) until close to 10 that night.
Before I went to the convention I did take a little bit of a walk near Planet Hollywood and took a few pictures here and there. This collection of pictures are from that walk.
There is more to share from Day 3 of my work trip to Las Vegas to share, including my the Per Diem Update. Which I know you are the edge of your seat to hear about.
This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is BLUE:
BLUE! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
But what is a BLUE image? It is simply an image where the subject or a major compositional element of the image is the color BLUE. That is it! Almost too simple!
But this isn’t the first time that BLUE has been a theme for the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Here is a look at some submissions from the past to provide you a little bit of inspiration:
Stephanie Kim – Week 193
Angie DeWaard – Week 193
Logan Kahler – Week 325
Bill Wentworth – Week 325
Hopefully you find some inspiration in look back at the past!
EDITOR’S NOTE: MY WORK SCHEDULE HAS TEMPORARILY CHANGED DUE TO EXTREME SHORT STAFFING AT THE COMPUTER MINE. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE PUBLISHING OF THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE POST MIGHT GET MOVED BACK AT LEAST 30 MINUTES UNTIL THE STAFFING SHORTAGE HAS PASSED. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
It is the last Monday of the month, so it is a good time revisit the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE FAQ:
What skill level photographer can participate?
THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is open to photographers of all skill levels. From award winning photographers to professionals to the highly ranked amateurs to those that are just beginning to those who don’t even know how to focus a camera. All skill levels are encouraged and welcome. You can’t be too bad and you can’t be too good! Everyone has room to learn and be challenged!
Award winning photographers? Really?
Yes. I can think of at least 5 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.
Is this a competition?
No.
Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?
Yes. That limit is 3. If you send me more than 3, I will post the first 3 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that start to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload.
If participation rates climb, that limit of 3 is subject to lower.
Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?
No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.
Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?
Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough to me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.
Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?
I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.
Are there resolution requirements for submissions?
I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their largest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point.
What format should my submission be?
.JPG but .PNG also works.
If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?
No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme.
When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?
Suggestions are closed for next year’s list. It will be a minute before they open up for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.
COMPETITION! A great theme! But did it fire up the competitive juices of a ton of people? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, March 20, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Scott Degeneffe – 1 week
2-Mary Green – 1 week (3)
3-Sara Lockner – 1 week
4-Becky Parmelee – 1 week
5-Mindi Terrell – 5 weeks (2)
6-Suzie Brannen – 9 weeks
7-Jesse Howard – 9 weeks
8-Monica Jennings – 9 weeks
9-Nathanial Brown – 10 weeks (3)
10-Mike Vest – 10 weeks
11-Tamara Peterson – 20 weeks
12-Brandon Kahler – 30 weeks
13-Linda Bennett – 34 weeks (2)
14-Sarah Toot – 35 weeks (3)
15-Angie DeWaard – 39 weeks
16-Dawn Krause – 43 weeks (2)
17-Kim Barker – 48 weeks
18-Joe Duff – 50 weeks
19-Logan Kahler – 51 weeks
20-Teresa Kahler – 61 weeks (2)
21-Carla Stensland – 61 weeks (2)
22-Micky Augustin – 63 weeks (2)
23-Andy Sharp – 64 weeks (2)
24-Bill Wentworth – 65 weeks
25-Cathie Morton – 69 weeks
26-Elizabeth Nordeen – 70 weeks
27-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 71 weeks
28-Kio Dettman – 74 weeks (3)
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:
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 66 weeks
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 62 weeks
Carla Stensland (Iowa)
Joe Duff (Texas) – 51 weeks
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 75 weeks
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 35 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas)
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 72 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 21 weeks
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 65 weeks
Andy Sharp (Iowa)
Andy Sharp (Iowa)
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 6 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 1 week
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 64 weeks
Micky Augustin (Iowa)
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 71 weeks
Christopher D. Bennett (Iowa)
Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 44 weeks
Dawn Krause (Iowa)
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 10 weeks
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 10 weeks
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 62 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 49 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 11 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 31 weeks
Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 70 weeks
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 36 weeks
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 10 weeks
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 11 weeks
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 52 weeks
29 participants! That is a great week.
There were submissions this week taken in the following states:
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
There were no new states added to the map.
Here is the current calendar year list for states:
+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Minnesota
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ Missouri
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
+ Wisconsin
17 states! That is pretty impressive!
The Outside of the United States map is currently:
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Nassau Bahamas
I took my picture about 15 miles from my front door. So I didn’t add to the map, yet again.
There were a couple of big milestones this week! Suzie, Monica, and Jesse both reached double digit streaks. Logan reached the One Year Club!
But it wasn’t all sunshine and happiness! Scott, Sara, and Becky couldn’t build on their submissions last week to get to two week streaks!
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:
BLUE! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
But what is a BLUE image? It is simply an image where the subject or a major compositional element of the image is the color BLUE. That is it! Almost too simple!
While thinking about a possible subject for your submission, meditate on the following quite and I have no doubt that you will come up with a great image:
She had blue skin, And so did he. He kept it hid; And so did she. They searched for blue; Their whole life through, Then passed right by – And never knew.
–Shel Silverstein
I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
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 BLUE in this place that hopefully never gives you the blues next Monday.
Day 2 in Las Vegas for the CMC was a long one. I only had a chance to take pictures before I went to the Planet Hollywood conference rooms for what would end up being an almost 13 hour work day. I’m a little bit embarrassed to say that I was about halfway through Day 2 before I realized that there was a 2 hour time difference between Las Vegas and Iowa and not a one hour time difference.
I started the day by walking down to a nearby CVS to look for some Las Vegas stickers and postcards. Maybe some breakfast. I didn’t find any stickers but I bought some post cards and a package of Zingers for breakfast. That was about $3.00.
After walking around a little bit I went to Planet Hollywood. Once there I stared at the walls of the same conference room for pretty much forever. It didn’t help that the temperature in the room was approximately 120 degrees.
After we finally got done with the setup, Lowell and I ended up back at the Linq Promenade and had supper at In-n-Out. Supper cost about $15 and was much better than Bobby Flay’s burger from the night before. It was so packed inside we had to eat outside in the cold. It was cold pretty much every day in Las Vegas.
I think we might have went back and hung out with some other miners in the Heart Bar, which is the bar in the middle of the Planet Hollywood Casino floor. It was this bar that became my marker for figuring out how to get out of the casino and how to find the elevators to my room.
I started the day with an estimated $258 in the Per Diem Fund.
Breakfast: $3
Lunch: I’m not allowed to talk about it.
Supper: $15
Estimated Per Diem Fund Balance: $240
Here are some of the pictures I took that day:
Paris
Seriously so hot and such terrible carpet.
According to the highly inaccurate fitness app on my phone, I walked 14,843 steps for a total of 6.93 miles on Day 2.
More pictures from this trip still to come.
This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is COMPETITION:
COMPETITION! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
But what is a COMPETITION image? It is simply an image of beings engaged in some kind of contest. Or it can be a picture of something that is used in a COMPETITION. Like a bowling ball. Or it can be a picture of the result of a COMPETITION. Like a trophy. There are so many possibilities!
This isn’t the first time COMPETITION has been a theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Here are some examples of previous submissions:
Cathie Raley (Morton)
Logan Kahler
Andy Sharp
Christopher D. Bennett
Hope this provides some inspiration for some people.
Happy photo harvesting!
PUPRLE! An important color in my life, but did it inspire a ton of submissions? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, March 13, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Mindi Terrell – 4 weeks (3)
2-Suzie Brannen – 8 weeks (2)
3-Jesse Howard – 8 weeks
4-Monica Jennings – 8 weeks
5-Nathanial Brown – 9 weeks
6-Mike Vest – 9 weeks
7-Tamara Peterson – 19 weeks
8-Brandon Kahler – 29 weeks
9-Linda Bennett – 33 weeks (3)
10-Sarah Toot – 34 weeks (3)
11-Angie DeWaard – 38 weeks
12-Dawn Krause – 42 weeks
13-Kim Barker – 47 weeks
14-Joe Duff – 49 weeks
15-Logan Kahler – 50 weeks
16-Teresa Kahler – 60 weeks
17-Carla Stensland – 60 weeks
18-Micky Augustin – 62 weeks
19-Andy Sharp – 63 weeks
20-Bill Wentworth – 64 weeks
21-Cathie Morton – 68 weeks
22-Elizabeth Nordeen – 69 weeks
23-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 70 weeks
24-Kio Dettman – 73 weeks (3)
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:
Scott Degeneffe (Florida)
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 39 weeks
Andy Sharp (Oklahoma) – 64 weeks
Andy Sharp (Iowa)
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 48 weeks
Micky Augustin (Arizona) – 63 weeks
Micky Augustin (Arizona)
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 61 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 74 weeks
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 34 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas)
Nathanial Brown (Minnesota) – 10 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Minnesota)
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)
Mary Green (Iowa) – 1 week
Mary Green (Iowa)
Mary Green (Iowa)
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 20 weeks
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 65 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas) – 50 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 71 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Nebraska) – 70 weeks
Christopher D. Bennett (Iowa)
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 5 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 43 weeks
Dawn Krause (Iowa)
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 30 weeks
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 9 weeks
Jesse Howard (Minnesota) – 9 weeks
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 61 weeks
Carla Stensland (Iowa)
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 9 weeks
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 51 weeks
Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 69 weeks
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 35 weeks
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 10 weeks
29 participants! That is a great week!
There were submissions this week taken in the following states:
+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Minnesota
+ Nebraska
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
While there a lot of states covered, there were no new states added to the map.
Here is the current calendar year list for states:
+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Minnesota
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ Missouri
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
+ Wisconsin
17 states! That is pretty impressive!
The Outside of the United States map is currently:
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Nassau Bahamas
I took my picture in my basement. So, I didn’t add to the map, yet again.
The big milestone with week was Nathanial and Vest reaching the double digit steak club! WooHoo!
But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:
COMPETITION! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
But what is a COMPETITION image? It is simply an image of beings engaged in some kind of contest. Or it can be a picture of something that is used in a COMPETITION. Like a bowling ball. Or it can be a picture of the result of a COMPETITION. Like a trophy. There are so many possibilities!
While thinking about a possible subject for you submission, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with a great image:
Life is nothing but a competition to be the criminal rather than the victim.
-Bertrand Russell
I look forward to seeing your interpretation!
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 COMPETITION in this place that tries not be competitive it next Monday.
SUNRISE, SUNSET! Everybody loves watching a good SUNRISE or SUNSET. But was it a popular theme? Was it the SUNRISE of many new streaks? Was it the SUNSET on many existing streaks? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, March 6, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Becky Parmelee – 1 week
2-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
3-Mindi Terrell – 3 weeks (3)
4-Suzie Brannen – 7 weeks
5-Jesse Howard – 7 weeks
6-Monica Jennings – 7 weeks (3)
7-Nathanial Brown – 8 weeks (3)
8-Mike Vest – 8 weeks
9-Tamara Peterson – 18 weeks
10-Brandon Kahler – 28 weeks
11-Linda Bennett – 32 weeks
12-Sarah Toot – 33 weeks (3)
13-Angie DeWaard – 37 weeks
14-Dawn Krause – 41 weeks (2)
15-Kim Barker – 46 weeks
16-Joe Duff – 48 weeks
17-Logan Kahler – 49 weeks
18-Teresa Kahler – 59 weeks
19-Carla Stensland – 59 weeks
20-Micky Augustin – 61 weeks
21-Andy Sharp – 62 weeks
22-Bill Wentworth – 63 weeks
23-Cathie Morton – 67 weeks
24-Elizabeth Nordeen – 68 weeks (2)
25-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 70 weeks
26-Kio Dettman – 72 weeks (2)
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:
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 33 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas)
Linda Bennett (Kansas)
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 34 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 19 weeks
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 64 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 3 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Andy Sharp (Oklahoma) – 63 weeks
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 8 weeks
Suzie Brannen (Iowa)
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 69 weeks
Christopher D. Bennett (Iowa)
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 42 weeks
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 38 weeks
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 8 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas) 49 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 60 weeks
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 60 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 29 weeks
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 47 weeks
Cathie Morton (Somewhere over the Southeastern United States at 30,000 feet) – 68 weeks
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 9 weeks
Jesse Howard (Wisconsin) – 8 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 9 weeks
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 50 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 71 weeks
Micky Augustin (Arizona) – 62 weeks
25 participants this week. 2 straight weeks participation rates have declined. I hate to say, but participation rates might be in a freefall!
The good news is that 25 participants is still a healthy number. AND we added a new state to the map this week via Micky!
There were submissions this week taken in the following locations:
+ Arizona
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
Here is the current calendar year list for states:
+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Minnesota
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ Missouri
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
+ Wisconsin
17 states! That is pretty impressive!
The Outside of the United States map is now:
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Nassau Bahamas
I took my picture about 20 miles from my front door.
This week is spring break for a ton of people. There is potential the map could grow, but I don’t know that it will for certain. We’ll see.
There were no big time milestones this week. The bad news is that Becky couldn’t turn last week’s submission into a streak and Sara’s streak ends at 2.
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:
PURPLE! What a great them for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
But what is a PURPLE image? Simply put, it is an image where the subject OR a major compositional element of the image is PURPLE. That is it! Couldn’t be simpler than falling off a log.
While considering your possible subjects for your PURPLE image meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with a great image:
Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
-Regina Brett
I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
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 PURPLE in this place that is drenched in it next Monday.
STORE! Everybody goes to them. Maybe not as much as they did before the pandemic, but you still have to go to them, unless you get everything delivered. Which I don’t think any of you do. I don’t have any friends that are that rich. Or do I?
But many people make it to a STORE to take a picture? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, February 27, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
2-Mary Green – 1 week
3-Sara Lockner – 1 week
4-Sarah Karber – 2 weeks
5-Mindi Terrell – 2 weeks (2)
6-Willy McAlpine – 3 weeks
7-Suzie Brannen – 6 weeks
8-Jesse Howard – 6 weeks
9-Monica Jennings – 6 weeks (2)
10-Nathanial Brown – 7 weeks (2)
11-Mike Vest – 7 weeks
12-Tamara Peterson – 17 weeks
13-Brandon Kahler – 27 weeks
14-Linda Bennett – 31 weeks
15-Sarah Toot – 32 weeks (3)
16-Angie DeWaard – 36 weeks
17-Dawn Krause – 40 weeks
18-Kim Barker – 45 weeks (2)
19-Joe Duff – 47 weeks
20-Logan Kahler – 4 8weeks
21-Teresa Kahler – 58 weeks
22-Carla Stensland – 58 weeks (3)
23-Micky Augustin – 60 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 61 weeks
25-Bill Wentworth – 62 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 66 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 67 weeks (2)
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 69 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 71 weeks (2)
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:
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 3 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 7 weeks
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 7 weeks
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 7 weeks
Monica Jennings (Iowa)
Monica Jennings (Iowa)
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 8 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 8 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 18 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 28 weeks
Linda Bennett (Iowa) – 32 weeks
Sarah Toot (New York) – 33 weeks
Sarah Toot (New Jersey)
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 37 weeks
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 41 weeks
Dawn Krause (Iowa)
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 46 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas) – 48 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas)
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 49 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 59 weeks
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 59 weeks
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 61 weeks
Andy Sharp (Illinois) – 62 weeks
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 63 weeks
Cathie Morton (Nassau Bahamas) – 67 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 68 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 70 weeks
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 72 weeks
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Christopher D. Bennett (Iowa) – 494 weeks
27 participants this week. That is a great week. A slight dip from the last couple of weeks. Maybe there aren’t as many slaves to consumerism out there as I had thought. Which is a good thing… we’ll count it as a good thing.
The good news is that there were 3 new states added to the map this week! New York (Sarah Toot), New Jersey (Sarah Toot again), and Illinois (Andy). That means that all the states that surround Iowa have had a submission taken in them except for South Dakota. But I’m sure we’ll get there. I see you South Dakota.
Also, Cathie added our 2nd submission taken from outside the United States with Nassau Bahamas.
There were submission this week taken in the following locations:
+ Arkansas
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
+ Nassau Bahamas
Here is the current calendar year list for states:
+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Minnesota
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ Missouri
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
+ Wisconsin
16 states! That is pretty impressive!
The Outside of the United States map is now:
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Nassau Bahamas
I took my picture about 2.5 miles from my front door. I know. Big time traveler this guy!
I think this map might grow again next week. A little birdie tells me that a certain regular contributor is going to Arizona this week and maybe Mexico, if they have the guts.
There were no big time milestones this week. Unfortunately there was a bit of a blood bath on the streaks front though. Jen and Mary couldn’t extend their submission last week into a streak. Sarah Karber’s streak went down in flames after 2 weeks. Willy’s 3 week is now as existent as his desire to show up for work.
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:
SUNRISE, SUNSET! What a great theme for year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.
It has been a few years since I’ve used SUNRISE, SUNSET for a theme. I was told it wasn’t a fair theme because people with children could not do it. I don’t know I bought it, but I don’t know. Maybe it is true. Either way, I put the theme on the sidelines.
I brought it back this year because it is the Special Theme Class for the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. Rather than writing up my own description, I thought I should just lift it straight from the Iowa State Fair.
“The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy.”
– Henry Ward BeecherNext year’s theme is a bright one that our world literally revolves around. The Sun is something that we as photographers like to photograph quite often, because it offers a multitude of creativity. In fact, we call the sunset the golden hours because of opportunities it presents to capture the perfect photograph.
Your assignment, however, is to not just shoot the sun, but to shoot it in a way that we have never seen before. While the sun must be the main subject, it shouldn’t be the only subject of your photograph. Ask yourself, what is making the Sun so interesting in the moment? What can you do to photograph the Sun to tell a story of what is happening in that moment?
This assignment will also give you the opportunity to play with shadows and light and all the many colors that the sunrises or sunsets can provide. Look for the dramatic contrasts that can occur when the Sun is providing the light for your photographs.
I’ll just add a couple more things.
#1. Putting objects between you and the sunset can make or break a SUNRISE, SUNSET picture. Choose wisely.
#2. A SUNRISE, SUNSET picture doesn’t have to be of the sun. Maybe for the Iowa State Fair, but not for our purposes. You can also turn around take a picture that is lit by a SUNRISE or SUNSET. A reflection of a SUNRISE or SUNSET can make a fantastic picture.
I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
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 SUNRISE, SUNSET in this place that is still in its sunrise phase next Monday.
It is the last Monday of the month, so it is a good time revisit the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE FAQ:
What skill level photographer can participate?
THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is open to photographers of all skill levels. From award winning photographers to professionals to the highly ranked amateurs to those that are just beginning to those who don’t even know how to focus a camera. All skill levels are encouraged and welcome. You can’t be too bad and you can’t be too good! Everyone has room to learn and be challenged!
Award winning photographers? Really?
Yes. I can think of at least 5 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.
Is this a competition?
No.
Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?
Yes. That limit is 3. If you send me more than 3, I will post the first 3 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that start to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload.
If participation rates climb, that limit of 3 is subject to lower.
Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?
No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.
Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?
Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough to me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.
Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?
I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.
Are there resolution requirements for submissions?
I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their largest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point.
What format should my submission be?
.JPG but .PNG also works.
If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?
No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme.
When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?
Suggestions are closed for next year’s list. It will be a minute before they open up for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.
MUSIC! Did you know that there are people in the world that don’t like MUSIC? They are called bad people. But were there a lot of good people out there that submitted picture of MUSIC? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, February 20, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Scott Degeneffe – 1 week
2-Sarah Karber – 1 week
3-Mindi Terrell – 1 week (3)
4-Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks
5-Becky Parmelee – 4 weeks
6-Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks
7-Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks
8-Jesse Howard – 5 weeks
9-Monica Jennings – 5 weeks
10-Nathanial Brown – 6 weeks (3)
11-Mike Vest – 6 weeks
12-Tamara Peterson – 16 weeks (2)
13-Brandon Kahler – 26 weeks
14-Linda Bennett – 30 weeks
15-Sarah Toot – 31 weeks
16-Angie DeWaard – 35 weeks
17-Dawn Krause – 39 weeks
18-Kim Barker – 44 weeks
19-Joe Duff – 46 weeks
20-Logan Kahler – 47 weeks (3)
21-Teresa Kahler – 57 weeks (2)
22-Carla Stensland – 57 weeks (3)
23-Micky Augustin – 59 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 60 weeks
25-Bill Wentworth – 61 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 64 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 66 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 67 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 69 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:
Kim Barker (Nevada) – 45 weeks
Kim Barker (Nevada)
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 6 weeks
Monica Jennings (Iowa)
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 60 weeks
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 61 weeks
Andy Sharp (Iowa)
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 58 weeks
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 40 weeks
Dawn Krause (Iowa)
Dawn Krause (Iowa)
Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 3 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 27 weeks
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 62 weeks
Cathie Morton (Nevada) – 65 weeks
Cathie Morton (Nevada)
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 58 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas) – 47 weeks
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 70 weeks
Kio Dettman (Iowa)
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 31 weeks
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 48 weeks
Mary Green (Iowa) – 1 week
Sarah Karber (Minnesota) – 2 weeks
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 32 weeks
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 17 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Nevada) – 67 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Nevada)
Christopher D. Bennett (Nevada)
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 7 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 7 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 68 weeks
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa)
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 6 weeks
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 6 weeks
30 participants for the 2nd week in a row! I’m pretty excited about that!
I got an email after the books submission that (this is me paraphrasing) that said that they loved the BOOKS theme because after they saw that books that other people owned they felt an instant kinship with some other people. I thought something like that might happen again with MUSIC. I’m not sure it will, but maybe it will.
This week we had our first submission of the year from Mary Green. At least I think. I wouldn’t swear to it in a court of law.
This week we had submissions taken in the following states:
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Minnesota
+ Nevada
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
It is weird that my picture and Cathie’s and Elizabeth’s and Kim’s pictures were all taken in Nevada. It is almost like we were all in Las Vegas together for some reason.
This is my first submission taken outside of Iowa this year. My picture was taken 1,441 miles from my front door. By car.
No new states added this week. Here is the current calendar year list:
+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Minnesota
+ Nebraska
+ Nevada
+ Missouri
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
+ Wisconsin
The Outside of the United State map stays at:
+ British Virgin Islands
But I think one of these maps might extend next week. A little birdie tells me somebody is going on a cruise at the end of this week.
There were no big milestones this week. Except all 3 Sara(h)s did contribute. Which I always like to see.
It wasn’t all sunshine and face melting guitar riffs this week. Three streaks did go poof! Scott’s streak ended before it even became a streak. Becky’s 4 week streak is gone. Sabas’ 5 week streak is also gone.
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:
STORE! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE?
But what is a STORE image? It is simply an image of a STORE or taken inside of a STORE. There are all kinds of STORE(s) out there. From department to convenience to junk to antique to book to music to grocery to dollar to a little kids lemonade stand. Of course, there is more than one definition of the word STORE.
While considering possible subject for your STORE submission, meditate on the following quote and you will no doubt come up with a great idea:
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it’s just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith
I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
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 STORE in this place that is technically a commerce site next Monday.
