Category Archives: Naima

200 Dollars Inside of My Bank Account, Woo, I Was Living on That!

The world wasn’t ready for these BLACK & WHITE pictures on Monday. It wasn’t ready on Tuesday. It wasn’t ready on Wednesday. It wasn’t ready on Thursday. I don’t think the world is ready for them now, but I can’t hold them back any longer:


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Some of the pictures were taken downtown Des Moines. Others were taken at Ledges. Some at the First United Methodist Church in Boone. The pictures with Naima were taken at Dickcissel Park.

Just one small batch of BLACK & WHITE alternates left. You’re welcome world!

I’m a Mean Photog, Better Feed Me Fauxtogs or Feed Me Picts, Ah, Feed Me Both of ‘Em

As you may have guessed, I have a ton of alternative BLACK & WHITE images for the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. The world wasn’t ready for them on Monday. I’m not sure the world can handle them now, but I can’t hold them back any longer:


BLACK & WHITE - ALTERNATE

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Some of these pictures were taken on the north side of Boone. Some in my coop in the cube farm at the Computer Mine. Some on the way to Dickcissel Park. Some at the sculpture garden down in Des Moines. The picture of me blocking Jesse’s shot was originally taken by Bill. Shortly afterwards, a defeated and downtrodden Jesse retired from basketball.

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that I have added an additional photo from Linda Bennett to the original post on the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE on Monday. It somehow ended up in my spam folder. You can see the additional photo by clicking on the link below:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 133 – BLACK & WHITE

There are plenty more BLACK & WHITE alternates coming your way in the coming days.

But, don’t forget to come out to the Boone Pizza Ranch tomorrow night between 5-9 to support the Boone First United Methodist Youth Group. Just bring one of these flyers:


For everyone of these we get with a paid meal, Pizza Ranch gives us $2. American. There will also be tip jars available for you to throw some additional scratch in.

I hope you’re as excited to see me there and I am excited to see you there!

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 133 – BLACK & WHITE

BLACK & WHITE turned out to be a very popular theme. I am pleased. The geographical range that the submissions covered was pretty impressive this week. As far north as Minneapolis. As far west as Easton, Kansas. As far south as Arkansas. As far east as Washington D.C. and Virginia Beach. The empire is immense this week.

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


WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 133 - BLACK & WHITE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

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 134 - ROAD TRIP
ROAD TRIP!

ROAD TRIP! What a great theme! But what is a ROAD TRIP photo?

A ROAD TRIP photo is any photo that has anything to do with going on a ROAD TRIP. From gas, to a car, to maps, to Funyuns, to the open road. A ROAD TRIP photo can be of the thing or person (for those of you social types) that you made the ROAD TRIP to see.

Personally, I already have a ROAD TRIP for Saturday to Marhsalltown (and most likely other places) planned for Saturday. If anybody wants the navigator seat, just let me know. ROAD TRIP!

As always, I look forward to seeing your interpretations of the theme.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

The latest person to show taste, class, and sophistication and sign on for a Photography 139 Email Subscription is Linda Clark. I honestly don’t know much about her, other than she is a relative of Andy Sharp and he says she has an interest in photography. Welcome aboard Linda! If you see her, feel free to give her a knowing glance and teach her the super-secret Photography 139 Handshake.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 COMMENTARY DIVISION

Speaking of Mr. Sharp, Andy has become the latest person to get a Photography 139 Avatar by leaving an actual comment on a blog on the website.

He joined select company:

Angie DeWaard
Jason Baier
Jesse Howard
Russell Kennerly
Shannon Bardole-Foley
Mike Vest

As people with an official Photography 139 Avatar for leaving comments on the Photography 139 blog AKA AN ARTIST’S NOTEBOOK.

You want your own Photography 139 Avatar? It is simple to get one. Just leave a comment on a blog.

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That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very travelled Monday!

And Nobody Want a Problem. When They Get in My Zone, Better Leave Me Be

This collection of alternate for the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE include the alternate photos I took for the BLACK & WHITE reveal photo for this week’s theme:


Agriculture - Alternate

Agriculture - Alternate

Black & White Reveal Alternate

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I had big plans of going out an taking donkey pictures at a friend’s farm, but the weather over the weekend made the roads not passable. So I ended up going a lazy route on AGRICULTURE. I think you know I’ll do better this week.

I will add that I would urge you to go back to yesterday’s blog post and have another look. I’ve added a picture submitted by Carla to that post:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 132 – AGRICULTURE

You’re welcome world!

Father Forgive Me, For I Am A Sinner; But You Gave Me Photography As Medicine

The world wasn’t ready for these JOY pictures on Monday. I’m not sure the world is ready for them now, but I can’t hold them back any longer:


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The pictures of Naima or not processed in Photoshop. That is an in-camera special effect. The dog I’m eating is a world famous Bob’s Dog.

You’re welcome world.

Them Photogs, They Coming Up on Me; I Cut Off the Ladder, And I Told ‘Em,”Bye-Bye”

More alternatives for COLORFUL that the world couldn’t handle on Monday. I’m hoping it can handle them now:


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Most of these photos were taken at Boone First United Methodist Church. A few were taken in the campustown area of Ames. The pictures of Naima were taken in the Photography 139 backyard.

Most of these are an incamera special effect that is far from perfect, but often creates interesting results.

You’re welcome world.

That Last Album Was Heavy, That Last Album Was Gritty, How You Gon’ Match That?

The world wasn’t ready for these LOW PERSPECTIVE pictures on Monday. I’m not sure the world is ready for them now. But I can’t hold them back any longer:


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Most of these pictures were taken in Memphis. Others were taken in my backyard. One was taken in my kitchen.

You’re welcome world.

2017 – Year in Review

Time for a look back at 2017. While it was a disaster for our country and for the world, it wasn’t so bad for me personally.

Here are the 5 Most popular Photo Galleries on my website:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – YEAR 4 (96932 VIEWS)

SELFIE PROJECT – 2017 (58566 VIEWS)

2007 – JULY-DECEMBER (30046 VIEWS)

2007 – JANUARY-JUNE (21923 VIEWS)

9 EMOTIONS PROJECT (21752 VIEWS)

The 5 Most Popular Blog Entries (BASED ON COMMENTS):

YOU CAN CALL IT A COMEBACK (15 COMMENTS).

YOU, YA JUST GET IN THAT HEAD SPACE, YA KNOW (15 COMMENTS)

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 76 – GOVERNMENT (14 COMMENTS)

I LOST MY NERVE (11 COMMENTS)

“THE WRONG GUY GOT ELECTED” (11 COMMENTS)

The 5 Most Popular Photos on my Website (BASED ON VIEWS):


Selfie Project - January 27
Alisa & I at Winter Jam – 9565 VIEWS

07-01-07
Ground Squirrel – 4349 VIEWS


Me and Naima – 2619 VIEWS

WEEK 61 - STILL LIFE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Sidewalk Chalk – 1862 VIEWS

2017 Big 12 Tournament Championship
Jesse and I at the Pep Rally Before the Big Men’s Basketball Championship Game – 1800 VIEWS

There were 400 blog posts in 2017. Pretty sure that is a record.

In 2017, I got to see Beale Street, Mount Rushmore, The Civil Rights Museum, and the Badlands. All places I’ve wanted to see for years.

In 2017, I got see Iowa State win a Big 12 Championship in Men’s Basketball and win a bowl game and watch Iowa State beat the #5 team in the country.

In 2017, I got to be President of the Methodist Men, serve on the Administrative Council for my Church and go on a Mission Trip with the Youth Group to Saint Paul.

In 2017, I attended birthday parties, birthday dinners, 4 weddings (I think), and too many funerals. Even though, there weren’t many.

In 2017, I went on vacations to Minnesota, Kansas, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

In 2017, I established a new tradition of The Union Street Movie Theater Movie Night.

In 2017, I didn’t spend enough time with friends and family.

In 2017, I watched too much television and read too few books.

This brings me to my goals for 2017:

1. I’m gonna step my game up and get what’s coming to me. (My standard goal.)
2. I’m going to read at least 20 books in 2018.

I don’t have any new photo projects for 2018. I’m not continuing the Selfie Project. My Instagram account is going to go 100% black and white in 2018. I will finish the Photo Journal Project.

These are the things that I will do in 2018.