Time to share another collection of images from my trip to the Des Moines Farmer’s Market with Teresa last year to do a little bit of street photography.
I’m getting hungry just looking at some of these picures.
Still one more collection of images from this trip left to share.
For no real apparent reason, I thought I would start adding a little photography lesson into these things every month or so. And I mean a very little photography lesson.
This month’s lesson is going to be on bokeh.
What is bokeh?
Bokeh (the Japanese word for blur) is the blur produced in out-of-focus parts of an image, caused by circles of confusion. Bokeh has also been defined as “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light”. Differences in lens aberrations and the shape of aperture blades and the amount of aperture blades cause very different bokeh effects. There are strong opinions on what is good bokeh and bad bokeh. My use of Lensbaby lenses is frequently because of they produce bokeh effects that I personally enjoy. A photography technique is to use a shallow focus technique to create images with prominent out-of-focus regions, accentuating their lens’s bokeh. It can add a sense of depth and dimensionality to an image and can make the subject stand out more effectively.
Bokeh is often most visible around small background highlights, such as specular reflections and light sources, which is why it is often associated with such areas. Bokeh is not limited to highlights; blur occurs in all regions of an image which are outside the depth of field.
How is bokeh pronounced? You will hear people pronounce it in all sorts of different ways. The proper way is like “bow” in a bow and arrow and then the “ke” sound in the word kettle. Although a majority of people may pronounce it like boh – kay.
I hope we all learned something today.
TIME! A great theme! But did enough people make TIME in their schedule to submit a photo to make TIME a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, April 15, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):
1-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week (IA)
2-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks (IA)
3-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 3 weeks (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL)
4-Mary Green – 3 weeks (2) (MI, IA, IN)
5-Willy McAlpine – 4 weeks (IA)
6-Deanna McClain – 5 weeks (IA)
7-Johnathan Stensland – 5 weeks (IA)
8-Adam Gordon – 7 weeks (IA, MS, MO)
9-Becky Parmelee – 8 weeks (AR, IA, OK)
10-Sara Lockner – 13 weeks (IA)
11-Lowell Davis – 15 weeks (IA)
12-Michelle Haupt – 15 weeks (IA, MO, KS)
13-Alexis Stensland – 15 weeks (IA)
14-Brandon Kahler – 16 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Scott Degeneffe – 34 weeks (2) (IA, FL, UT, CO)
16-Mike Vest – 39 weeks (IA, MO)
17-Sheri Fakhouri – 44 weeks (2) (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 45 weeks (IA, MN)
19-Nathanial Brown – 46 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN)
20-Jesse Howard – 46 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW)
21-Tamara Peterson – 58 weeks (IA, MN)
22-Mindi Terrell – 61 weeks (IA)
23-Linda Bennett – 90 weeks (2) (KS)
24-Sarah Toot – 91 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV)
25-Angie DeWaard – 95 weeks (IA)
26-Dawn Krause – 99 weeks (IA)
27-Kim Barker – 105 weeks (2) (IA, CO)
28-Joe Duff – 106 weeks (2) (TX)
29-Teresa Kahler – 117 weeks (IA, NE)
30-Carla Stensland – 117 weeks (2) (IA, MO)
31-Micky Augustin – 119 weeks (IA, IL)
32-Andy Sharp – 120 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA)
33-Bill Wentworth – 121 weeks (NE)
34-Cathie Morton – 124 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO)
35-Elizabeth Nordeen – 126 weeks (IA)
36-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 128 weeks (2) (IA, CA, NV)
37-Kio Dettman – 130 weeks (2) (IA)
Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:
1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM (CENTRAL) next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.
There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 45 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Ankeny, Iowa) – 35 weeks
Michelle Haupt (Ankeny, Iowa) – 16 weeks
Kim Barker (Ames, Iowa) – 106 weeks
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 96 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) 127 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Goodwill Store – Ames, Iowa) – 118 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 17 weeks
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 47 weeks
Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa) – 8 weeks
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 131 weeks
Johnathan Stensland (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks
Lowell Davis (Boone, Iowa) – 16 weeks
Lowell Davis (Boone, Iowa)
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 46 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 100 weeks
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 121 weeks
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week
Willy McAlpine (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 5 weeks
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa) – 4 weeks
Sara Lockner (The skies over Des Moines, Iowa) – 14 weeks
Carla Stensland (Palisades Dows Observatory – Ely, Iowa) – 118 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa) – 62 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa)
Micky Augustin (Jasper County, Iowa) – 120 weeks
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 40 weeks
Carla Stensland (Palisades-Kepler State Park – Overlook Trail – Cedar River Dam – Mount Vernon, Iowa)
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 125 weeks
Dawn Krause (Ogden, Iowa)
Sabas Hernandez (Pella, Iowa) – 2 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 59 weeks
Deanna McClain (Perry, Iowa) – 6 weeks
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Perry, Iowa) – 4 weeks
Nathanial Brown (State Center, Iowa) – 47 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset, Iowa) – 129 weeks
Linda Bennett (Easton, Kansas) – 91 weeks
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 122 weeks
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 92 weeks
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 107 weeks
Joe Duff (League City, Texas)
37 participants! That is a drop-off from the previous week! Is this the beginning of the end for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE?
There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Arkansas (1)
+ Iowa (37)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (2)
Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):
+ Arkansas (9.5)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (1)
+ California (3)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Colorado (5)
+ Florida (85)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (3)
+ Indiana (3)
+ Iowa (587)
+ Kansas (24)
+ Louisiana (2)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (6)
+ Mississippi (1.5)
+ Missouri (10.5)
+ Nebraska (25)
+ Nevada (2)
+ New York (11)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (13)
+ South Dakota (3)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (26)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
26 states so far! 3 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL) – 8
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA) – 7
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW) – 6
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN) – 5
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO) – 4
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA) – 4
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV) – 4
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO) – 4
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN) – 3
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL) – 2
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Sara Lockner (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO) -2
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
Jen is now in the lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” Jesse and Andy are in striking distance though!
The big, huge milestone this week was Dawn joining the TRIPLE DIGIT STREAK CLUB!! WOOHOO!!! But it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Mary’s streak is no more at 3 weeks. Alexis’ streak is gone after 15 weeks! The humanity!
But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:
EMOTION! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
I look forward to seeing your interpretation!
That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of EMOTION in this place that gets me in the feels next Monday.
People often talk about how the Iowa State Fair is a great place for people watching. That is correct. All fairs and town festivals are great for such activities. But an underrated place for people watching is a good old fashioned farmer’s market. Like the Iowa State Fair it is also a great place to get great food. Walk in with a big old wad of cash and walk out with an empty wallet. I love a good Farmer’s Market from Rinehart’s Drive-Thru Farmer’s Market by Fraser to the Des Moines Farmer’s Market. The downtown Des Moines Farmer’s Market is maybe… maybe my favorite place in the world (or at least central Iowa) to do a little bit of street photography.
One day last summer I went down there with Teresa and did just that.
This year I plan on making multiple trips to the Des Moines Farmer’s Market AND I’ve talked for years about going to the Farmer’s Market in Valley Junction. This is the year I make that happen!
Still more pictures to share from this trip!
NECESSITY! A great theme! But did enough people find it necessary to submit a photo to make NECESSITY a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, April 8, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):
1-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks (IA)
2-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL)
3-Mary Green – 2 weeks (2) (MI, IA, IN)
4-Monica Jennings – 2 weeks (IA)
5-Willy McAlpine – 3 weeks (IA)
6-Deanna McClain – 4 weeks (IA)
7-Johnathan Stensland – 4 weeks (IA)
8-Adam Gordon – 6 weeks (2) (IA, MS, MO)
9-Becky Parmelee – 7 weeks (AR, IA, OK)
10-Sara Lockner – 12 weeks (IA)
11-Lowell Davis – 14 weeks (2) (IA)
12-Michelle Haupt – 14 weeks (IA, MO, KS)
13-Alexis Stensland – 14 weeks (2) (IA)
14-Brandon Kahler – 15 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Scott Degeneffe – 33 weeks (IA, FL)
16-Mike Vest – 38 weeks (IA, MO)
17-Sheri Fakhouri – 43 weeks (2) (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 44 weeks (IA, MN)
19-Nathanial Brown – 45 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN)
20-Jesse Howard – 45 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL)
21-Tamara Peterson – 57 weeks (IA, MN)
22-Mindi Terrell – 60 weeks (IA)
23-Linda Bennett – 89 weeks (2) (KS)
24-Sarah Toot – 90 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV)
25-Dawn Krause – 98 weeks (IA)
26-Angie DeWaard – 94 weeks (IA)
27-Kim Barker – 104 weeks (2) (IA, CO)
28-Joe Duff – 105 weeks (2) (TX)
29-Teresa Kahler – 116 weeks (2) (IA, NE)
30-Carla Stensland – 116 weeks (IA, MO)
31-Micky Augustin – 118 weeks (2) (IA, IL)
32-Andy Sharp – 119 weeks (2) (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA)
33-Bill Wentworth – 120 weeks (NE)
34-Cathie Morton – 123 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO)
35-Elizabeth Nordeen – 125 weeks (IA)
36-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 127 weeks (2) (IA, CA)
37-Kio Dettman – 129 weeks (2) (IA)
Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:
1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.
There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
It is the third week of the month and on the third week of the month I like to share a map of all the states where people have submitted from heading into today. Here is that map:
But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Chico, California) – 128 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Winnemucca, Nevada)
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 105 weeks
Kim Barker (Ames, Iowa)
Christopher D. Bennett (Near Martinsville, Indiana)
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 90 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas)
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa) – 3 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 46 weeks
Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 15 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Salt Lake City, Utah) – 34 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Denver, Colorado)
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 95 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 130 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)
Joe Duff (Texas) – 106 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas)
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Miami, Florida) – 3 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 44 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)
Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 7 weeks
Adam Gordon (Iowa)
Mary Green (Iowa) – 3 weeks
Mary Green (Iowa)
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 15 weeks
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week
Jesse Howard (Aruba) – 46 weeks
Jesse Howard (Curacao)
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 16 weeks
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 45 weeks
Logan Kahler (Ames, Iowa)
Teresa Kahler (Boone First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 117 weeks
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 99 weeks
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa)
Sara Lockner (Johnston, Iowa) – 13 weeks
Willy McAlpine (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 4 weeks
Deanna McClain (Perry, Iowa) – 5 weeks
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 124 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 126 weeks
Becky Parmelee (Bella Vista, Arkansas) – 8 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 58 weeks
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 120 weeks
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 15 weeks
Johnathan Stensland (Iowa) – 5 weeks
Carla Stensland (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 117 weeks
Carla Stensland (Reiman Gardens – Ames, Iowa)
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa) – 61 weeks
Sarah Toot (New York City, New York) – 91 weeks
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 39 weeks
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 121 weeks
EDITOR’S NOTE: I never comment on submissions. It is one of the base creeds that I operate under for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. No matter how much I want to comment, I don’t. But there is a picture on here that I really need to comment on. You probably can’t even guess which one it is. I’m not going to comment on Elizabeth’s taste in music (although I do approve) or Baby Face Adam (although it does crack me up) or that there were a few pictures of dogs, but no pictures of cats as a NECESSITY. Interesting. Yes, provocative. What I have to comment on is how extremely jealous I am that Scott got to eat at a Taco Time! I’m like burning with jealousy. I’m not even comfortable with how jealous I am. The real ones know that Taco Time is the truth when it comes to “Mexican” fast food. Every once in awhile you will get somebody from dirty Dodge try to force Taco Tico down your throat. Which is uncomfortable because that isn’t how you eat tacos, you have to chew first and Taco Tico is gross. Taco Time is the ONLY fast food “Mexican” I will eat. I won’t even look Taco Bell in the face. I won’t even spit in the general direction of a Taco John’s. It has been years now since I’ve eaten at Taco Time. Now the axe-throwing place at North Grand Mall does a serviceable knockoff of the Crisp Meat Burrito, but at the end of the day… it is still a knockoff. I know it. They know it. The Crisp Meat Burrito knows it. We are living a lie. I miss Taco Time. Screw you Scott for opening this wound back up!
But while I am deeply, to a disturbing level, passionate about Taco Time, you may have noted Lowell’s picture was taken in a hospital. Leah is in the hospital for a few days, so if you are the praying type, keep them in your prayers and if you aren’t, keep them in your thoughts.
38 participants! The exact same participation rate as last week. Better than falling off… I guess…
There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Arkansas (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ California (1)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Colorado (1)
+ Florida (1)
+ Indiana (1)
+ Iowa (36)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New York (1)
+ Nevada (1)
+ Texas (2)
+ Utah (1)
Thanks to Scott’s “business” trip we added Utah to the map! WooHoo! Thanks to Jesse’s vacation we also added 2 foreign countries in Aruba and Curacao! WooHoo!
Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):
+ Arkansas (8.5)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (1)
+ California (3)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Colorado (5)
+ Florida (5)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (3)
+ Indiana (3)
+ Iowa (515)
+ Kansas (23)
+ Louisiana (2)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (6)
+ Mississippi (1.5)
+ Missouri (10.5)
+ Nebraska (24)
+ Nevada (2)
+ New York (11)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (12)
+ South Dakota (3)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (24)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
26 states so far! 3 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL) – 8
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA) – 7
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW) – 6
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN) – 5
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO) – 4
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA) – 4
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV) – 4
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO) – 4
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN) – 3
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL) – 2
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Sara Lockner (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO) -2
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
Jen is now in the lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” Jesse and Andy are in striking distance though!
The big milestone this week was Kio joining the 2.5 Year Streak Club! WooHoo!
But it wasn’t all fun in the sun and delicious tacos this week. Monica’s streak was blinded by the light and is now just a distant memory!
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:
TIME! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
I’m trying not to explain the themes this year, but sometimes I can’t help myself. ‘m like me at a table filled with Crisp Meat Burritos. Self-control is an issue. But I digress…
If you look closely at the TIME theme reveal image (not that closely) you will see that it is actually 2 separate images put together. On the left is a picture with a “fast” shutter speed that freezes the water. The right side of the image was taken with a “slow” shutter speed that makes the water more of a blur. The idea of the theme TIME is to either freeze TIME in place with a fast shutter speed or show the fluidity of time with a slow shutter speed.
However, I know most people don’t have control over the shutter speed on the camera they use, so as always interpret the theme as you see fit.
I look forward to seeing your interpretation!
That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of TIME in this place that hopefully passes it for a few of you next Monday.
With UCONN mercilessly smashing Purdue (and every other team they played in the Tournament) on Monday night, another smashing round of the Roundball Oracles came to a close.
This year’s champion was… drumroll please… Micky! He adds himself to the list of Immortals!
ROUNDBALL ORACLE CHAMPTIONS – LIST OF IMMORTALS
2024 – Micky Augustin
2023 – Will Baier
2022 – Ben Baier
2021 – Micky Augustin
2019 – Becky Parmelee
2018 – Paul Golden
2017 – Paul Golden
2016 – Michelle Haupt
2015 – Derek Dohrman
2014 – Brandon Kahler
2013 – William McAlpine
2012 – Lowell Davis
2011 – Carrie Baier
2010 – Mark Wolfram
2009 – Mark Wolfram
2008 – Mark Wolfram
2007 – Tim Peterson
2006 – William McAlpine
2005 – William McAlpine
But I hand out 2 trophies for the Roundball Oracles. Micky will take home the Championship trophy for the 2nd time ever. But who gets “The Sara” for last place?
Do you have another drumroll in you? It goes to Oracles newcomer Aaron Sader!
“The Sara” Winners:
2024 – Aaron Sader
2023 – Ben Baier
2022 – Joey Randazzo
2021 – Rachel Gildersleeve
2019 – Russell Kennerly
2018 – Robert Henning
2017 – Shannon Bardole
2016 – Laura Priest
2015 – Derrick Gorshe
2014 – Sara Lockner
Here are the Final Standings:
1. Micky Augustin – 287
2. Toby Sebring – 262
3. Sara Lockner – 258
4. Michelle Haupt – 257
5. Jesse Howard – 244
6. Jason Baier – 232 points
7. Jordan Toot – 225
8. Sean Gildersleeve – 220
9. Russell Kennerly – 220
10. Linda Bennett – 220
11. Adam Gordon – 208
12. Derek Dohrman – 204
13. Andy Sharp – 202
14. Angie DeWaard – 201
15. Elainie Stensland – 198
16. Sarah Karber – 192
17. Rachel Gildersleeve – 188
18. Tim Peterson – 184
19. Robert Henning – 184
20. Derrick Gorshe – 183
21. JJ Baier – 182
22. Corey Faust – 174
23. Elizabeth Nordeen – 170
24. Lowell Davis – 169
25. Humble Narrator – 163
26. Shawn Lockner – 160
27. Ben Baier – 159
28. Carrie Baier – 146
29. Olivia Baier – 145
30. Joseph Duff – 145
31. Andree Jauhari – 140
32. Will Baier – 140
33. Jackson Faust – 139
34. Teresa Kahler – 136
35. Aaron Sader – 129
I’ll have to get the trophies ordered and delivered soon.
Basketball season is barely over and I already miss it!
PASSION! A great theme! But did enough people have enough PASSION about their PASSION to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, April 1, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week (IA)
2-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA)
3-Layla Gorshe – 1 week (IA)
4-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN)
5-Monica Jennings – 1 week (IA)
6-Amy Peterson – 1 week (IA)
7-Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks (IA)
8-Tim Panages – 2 weeks (IA)
9-Deanna McClain – 3 weeks (IA)
10-Johnathan Stensland – 3 weeks (IA)
11-Adam Gordon – 5 weeks (IA, MS, MO)
12-Becky Parmelee – 7 weeks (AR, IA, OK)
13-Sara Lockner – 11 weeks (IA)
14-Lowell Davis – 13 weeks (IA)
15-Michelle Haupt – 12 weeks (IA, MO, KS)
16-Alexis Stensland – 13 weeks (IA)
17-Brandon Kahler – 14 weeks (IA, MN)
18-Scott Degeneffe – 32 weeks (IA, FL)
19-Sabas Hernandez – 33 weeks (IA)
20-Mike Vest – 37 weeks (IA, MO)
21-Sheri Fakhouri – 42 weeks (IA)
22-Logan Kahler – 43 weeks (IA, MN)
23-Nathanial Brown – 44 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN)
24-Jesse Howard – 44 weeks (IA, MO, NE)
25-Tamara Peterson – 56 weeks (IA, MN)
26-Mindi Terrell – 59 weeks (IA)
27-Linda Bennett – 88 weeks (KS)
28-Sarah Toot – 89 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV)
29-Angie DeWaard – 93 weeks (IA)
30-Dawn Krause – 97 weeks (IA)
31-Kim Barker – 103 weeks (IA, CO)
32-Joe Duff – 104 weeks (TX)
33-Teresa Kahler – 115 weeks (IA)
34-Carla Stensland – 115 weeks (IA, MO)
35-Micky Augustin – 117 weeks (IA, IL)
36-Andy Sharp – 118 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA)
37-Bill Wentworth – 119 weeks (NE)
38-Cathie Morton – 122 weeks (IA, FL, BHS)
39-Elizabeth Nordeen – 124 weeks (IA)
40-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 126 weeks (IA)
41-Kio Dettman – 128 weeks (IA)
Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:
1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.
There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.
But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:
Adam Gordon (Iowa)
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 14 weeks
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)
Andy Sharp (Mason City, Iowa) – 119 weeks
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa)
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 94 weeks
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 8 weeks
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 120 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 15 weeks
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 116 weeks
Cathie Morton (Saint Louis, Missouri) – 123 weeks
Cathie Morton (Saint Louis, Missouri)
Christopher D. Bennett (Spoon River Rest Area – Illinois)
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 98 weeks
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 4 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 125 weeks
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Spoon River Rest Stop – Illinois) – 2 weeks
Jesse Howard (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) – 45 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas) – 105 weeks
Joe Duff (Texas)
Johnathan Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 4 weeks
Kim Barker (Des Moines, Iowa) – 104 weeks
Kim Barker (Des Moines, Iowa)
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 129 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 89 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas)
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 44 weeks
Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 14 weeks
Lowell Davis (Iowa)
Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks
Mary Green (Iowa)
Michelle Haupt (Ankeny, Iowa) – 13 weeks
Micky Augustin (Japser County, Iowa) – 118 weeks
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 38 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Ankeny, Iowa) – 60 weeks
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa)
Nathanial Brown (Des Moines, Iowa) – 45 weeks
Sara Lockner (Des Moines, Iowa) – 12 weeks
Sarah Toot (New York City, New York) – 90 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Gilbert, Iowa) – 33 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Sacramento, California) – 127 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset, Iowa)
Sheri Fakhouri (Gretna, Nebraska) – 43 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Gretna, Nebraska)
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa) – 2 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 97 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Papillon, Nebraska) – 116 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Papillon, Nebraska)
Willy McAlpine (Goeppinger Field – Boone, Iowa) – 3 weeks
38 participants! A pretty great week! But a 4 participant drop from the previous week.
There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Arkansas (1)
+ California (1)
+ Florida (1)
+ Illinois (2)
+ Iowa (35)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Missouri (2)
+ Nebraska (5)
+ New York (1)
+ Texas (2)
Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):
+ Arkansas (7.5)
+ Bahamas (1)
+ California (2)
+ Colorado (4)
+ Florida (4)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (3)
+ Indiana (2)
+ Iowa (479)
+ Kansas (21)
+ Louisiana (2)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (6)
+ Mississippi (1.5)
+ Missouri (10.5)
+ Nebraska (23)
+ Nevada (1)
+ New York (10)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (12)
+ South Dakota (3)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (22)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
25 states so far! 1 foreign country! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA) – 7
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL) – 7
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA) – 4
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV) – 4
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL) – 4
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL) – 4
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BS, MO) – 4
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN) – 3
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL) – 2
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL) – 2
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Sara Lockner (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO) -2
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO) – 2
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 3
Jen and Andy are now tied to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”
Shannon, Teresa, and Sheri joined the list of people that have submitted from multiple places this week!
The major milestone this wee was Kim hitting the 2 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! However, there was a bloodbath of streaks coming to an end. Layla and Amy couldn’t build on last week’s submission and their streaks are over before they began. Tim’s streak is over at 2. Worst of all, Sabas’ streak comes crashing to an end at 33! The Humanity!
But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:
NECESSITY! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! Thank you Joe for suggesting it!
You might be scoffing at the fact that I think VitaCoco Coconut Water is a NECESSITY. Maybe you don’t understand. Their coconuts are carefully handpicked on thousands of small farms throughout the topics. These aren’t blood coconuts picked by child slave labor. It is a necessity cause it replenishes electrolytes, provides vital nutrients, hydrates with coconut goodness, AND makes taste buds happy! It is perfect for post-workouts, hangovers, afternoon boosts (we can all use those), smoothies, and the general human tendency to get thirsty. I like to crush a box of VitaCoco after crushing a workout at Planet Fitness because it provides me with 50% of my daily intake of Vitamin C and 15% of my potassium! And the carton is even recyclable! If that isn’t a NECESSITY, I don’t know what the word means!
But I will be interested to find out what you consider to be a NECESSITY.
That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of NECESSITY in this place that I hope some of you find to be one next Monday.
Today’s food adventure took me to Ames. To the cathedral known as James H. Hilton Coliseum. A storied basketball (and other sports like volleyball and gymnastics) venue where the Iowa State men went undefeated and the women went 13-2. I had this adventure at the final home game of the season. March 2. It was the first time I had ice cream since November. I went to the game with Alexis (who went in Carla’s place) and Teresa.
The opponent was the Cincinnati Bearcats. On the menu was the Clone Cone.
Here are some pictures:
You can barely make out the Clone Cone stand from the end of the line.
It appears to be 2 different flavors, but it is all vanilla.
The Clone Cone also enjoys watch Audi Crooks cook!
Big fan of Emily, Addy, Kelsey, Hannah… well really all of them!
Last bites
You know my policy on ice cream. It is the same as Ted Lasso’s:
“Ice cream is the best. It’s kinda like seeing Billy Joel perform live. Never disappoints.”
I have to confess… maybe it was the environment. Maybe it was because I hadn’t had ice cream in over 3 months, but this was about the best tasting ice cream of my life! It tasted like victory. Like a 16 point win over the Bearcats.
But it was also a little bittersweet as it was the last game in Hilton ever for Hannah and Nyamer. And as it turned out, for Shantavia and Jalynn.
You can your own Clone Cone at virtually any Iowa State sporting event at Hilton. You will only have to wait until November. But it will be worth the wait. Both the Iowa State men and women’s basketball teams should be pre-season Top 10 teams. Top 15 at the worst.
How is my efforting to live a healthy lifestyle going?
This week my weight went down 1.8 pounds. I am now down 26.5 pounds since starting Noom. I am 3.1 pounds away from reaching my May 1 goal weight. 28.1 pounds away from my ultimate goal weight*.
Weight obviously fluctuates quite a bit based on a ton of factors. From what you ate the day before to when you ate your last meal to when you went to bed the night before to when you last went to the bathroom to when you weigh yourself. I try not to get too high if the scale ticks down or too low if the scale ticks up. The important thing is that the general trend is going in the right direction.
But weight isn’t the only measure (or even the most important measure) of positive results. This week I did achieve a new badge on FitBit:
I achieved walking 250 miles since starting using Fitbit in February on April 4.
That is all to report for now.
Next Sunday’s food adventure will be back on the Catholic Fish Fry Circuit!
*Ultimate goal weight subject to change.
A few week’s back Carla, Jason, Teresa, and I loaded up into Teresa’s new car and drove down to Kansas City to watch Iowa State play in the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game. It was the second year in a row for Iowa State to make the Championship Game. This year was quite a surprise after everything Iowa State lost last year to graduation, the NCAA hating Iowa State, and the transfer portal. Iowa State lost the best player in school history. They lost the #4 pick in the WNBA draft. They lost their starting center. They lost the two players that would have been considered the best two returning players to the transfer portal. Then to make matters worse, they lost their leader, the best returning player, and the best point guard in Iowa State history for over half the season to injury. Their rotation to start the season consisted of 5 true freshman, a Division 2 transfer, and a transfer from the Big Sky Conference.
Despite all of the strikes against this team, they were one of the most fun teams to watch and they battled and they persevered and they somehow made it to the Big 12 Tournament Championship Game. It was definitely worth the trip down to Kansas City to watch.
Here are some pictures from the trip:
Hilton South
I wasn’t that guy.
I’m so excited for the future of this team. The transfer portal is already open for college basketball. They’ve already lost 4 players to the transfer portal, but I think only one of them is a potentially major loss. It will be interesting to see what Iowa State pulls in through the transfer portal, but I’ll get into all that in the future.
#INSTAGOOD! A great theme! A theme so easy that you could participate if you took one picture this week. But did many people take at least one picture to be able to send us the best picture that they took this week to make #INSTAGOOD a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!
As of 12:01 PM on Monday, March 25, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):
1-Evie Gorshe – 1 week (IA)
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week (IA)
3-Tim Panages – 1 week (IA)
4-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA)
5-Deanna McClain – 2 weeks (IA)
6-Johnathan Stensland – 2 weeks (IA)
7-Adam Gordon – 4 weeks (2) (IA, MS, MO)
8-Stehanie Kim – 6 weeks (NY)
9-Becky Parmelee – 6 weeks (AR, IA)
10-Sara Lockner – 10 weeks (IA)
11-Lowell Davis – 12 weeks (IA)
12-Michelle Haupt – 12 weeks (IA, MO)
13-Alexis Stensland – 12 weeks (IA)
14-Brandon Kahler – 13 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Scott Degeneffe – 31 weeks (IA, FL)
16-Sabas Hernandez – 32 weeks (2) (IA)
17-Mike Vest – 36 weeks (IA, MO)
18-Sheri Fakhouri – 41 weeks (2) (IA)
19-Logan Kahler – 42 weeks (IA, MN)
20-Nathanial Brown – 43 weeks(IA, SD, GA, TN)
21-Jesse Howard – 43 weeks (IA, MO, NE)
22-Tamara Peterson – 55 weeks (IA, MN)
23-Mindi Terrell – 58 weeks (2) (IA)
24-Linda Bennett – 87 weeks (KS)
25-Sarah Toot – 88 weeks (2) (PA, NY, VT, NV)
26-Angie DeWaard – 92 weeks (IA)
27-Dawn Krause – 96 weeks (2) (IA)
28-Kim Barker – 102 weeks (2) (IA, CO)
29-Joe Duff – 103 weeks (TX)
30-Teresa Kahler – 114 weeks (2) (IA)
31-Carla Stensland – 114 weeks (IA, MO)
32-Micky Augustin – 116 weeks (IA, IL)
33-Andy Sharp – 117 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA)
34-Bill Wentworth – 118 weeks (NE)
35-Cathie Morton – 121 weeks (IA, FL, BHS)
36-Elizabeth Nordeen – 123 weeks (IA)
37-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 125 weeks (IA)
38-Kio Dettman – 127 weeks (2) (IA)
An observant observer might be wondering why Carla’s streak is intact. She did get a submission in at the horn, but not soon enough for it to be included in the email blast. But is up on the website. You can go look at last Monday’s post and verify.
Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:
1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.
There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.
But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Hampton, Virginia) – 1 week
Layla Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week
Mary Green (Michigan) – 1 week
Monica Jennings (Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week
Amy Peterson (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 1 week
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks
Tim Panages (Ankeny, Iowa) – 2 weeks
Deanna McClain (Perry, Iowa) – 3 weeks
Johnathan Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 3 weeks
Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 5 weeks
Becky Parmelee (Tulsa, Oklahoma) – 7 weeks
Sara Lockner (Ogden, Iowa) – 11 weeks
Lowell Davis (Boone, Iowa) – 13 weeks
Michelle Haupt (Overland Park, Kansas) – 13 weeks
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 13 weeks
Brandon Kahler (Story City, Iowa) – 14 weeks
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 32 weeks
Sabas Hernandez (Ogden, Iowa) – 33 weeks
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 37 weeks
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 42 weeks
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 43 weeks
Nathanial Brown (Des Moines, Iowa) – 44 weeks
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 44 weeks
Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 56 weeks
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa) – 59 weeks
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 88 weeks
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 89 weeks
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 93 weeks
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 97 weeks
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 103 weeks
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 104 weeks
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 115 weeks
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 115 weeks
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 117 weeks
Andy Sharp (Red Oak, Iowa) – 118 weeks
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 119 weeks
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 122 weeks
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 124 weeks
Shannon Bardole-Foley (West Des Moines, Iowa) – 126 weeks
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 128 weeks
Christopher D. Bennett (Mines of Spain State Recreation Area – Dubuque County, Iowa) – 550 weeks
42 participants! That is a great week! Breaking the previous high for this year held by DECORATION at 40. I believe 42 ties the all-time high. Held by the #INSTAGOOD theme from last year. But I’d have to check my records to confirm that.
Thanks to Becky’s trip we added Oklahoma to the Photography 139 Submissions Map!
Thanks to Jen’s trip we added Virginia to the Photography 139 Submissions Map! Virginia was one of the states we didn’t get a submission from in 2023! So that makes it extra exciting!
There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Michigan (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)
+ Virginia (1)
Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):
+ Arkansas (6.5)
+ Bahamas (1)
+ California (1)
+ Colorado (4)
+ Florida (3)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (1)
+ Indiana (2)
+ Iowa (444)
+ Kansas (19)
+ Louisiana (2)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (6)
+ Mississippi (1.5)
+ Missouri (8.5)
+ Nebraska (18)
+ Nevada (1)
+ New York (9)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (12)
+ South Dakota (3)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (20)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
25 states so far! 1 foreign country! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA) – 7
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA) – 6
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA) – 4
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV) – 4
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN) – 3
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE) – 3
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BS) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL) – 2
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL) – 2
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Sara Lockner (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO) -2
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO) – 2
Andy holds a 1 state lead over Jen to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”
There were no big milestones reached this week. However, Layla submitted for the first time this year! WooHoo! There was some sadness. Evie couldn’t build on her submission from last week and her streak is over before it began. Elainie’s streak is over after 2 weeks. But worst of all, Steph’s streak goes down after 6 weeks!
But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:
PASSION! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
I’m not describing the themes this year unless I think they need a little explanation. One thing to remember that PASSION is not just something you like bunches and bunches. PASSION is something you are willing to suffer for. When you take your pictures, would you be willing to take a punch to the face for this thing? Would you be willing to take something worse for this thing? If the answer is “yes”, then you have a PASSION subject.
I look forward to your interpretation!
That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of PASSION in this place that is a bit of passion project next Monday.
Since Easter is tomorrow, thought I would share some pictures from Christmas. I spent the day with Teresa’s family and unfortunately didn’t get to see Carla’s family as they were down with the COVID. Maybe next year.
Here are a few photos:
I hope everybody has as good of a Christmas as I did and I hope all of you also have a great Easter as well!
