Category Archives: Teresa

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WPC – WEEK 473 – PATH

October 7, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

PATH! What a great theme! But were enough people on the right one to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 30, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week (IA, MD)
2-Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks (IA, OH)
*3-Deb Powers – 5 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Monica Jennings – 8 weeks (IA)
5-Sara Lockner – 9 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
6-Willy McAlpine – 12 weeks (IA)
7-Deanna McClain – 16 weeks (IA, MN)
8-Mike Vest – 19 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
*9-Lowell Davis – 39 weeks (IA, MO)
10-Michelle Haupt – 39 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
11-Brandon Kahler – 40 weeks (IA, MN)
12-Scott Degeneffe – 58 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
13-Sheri Fakhouri – 68 weeks (IA, NE)
14-Logan Kahler – 69 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
15-Nathanial Brown – 70 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN)
16-Tamara Peterson – 81 weeks (IA, MN)
*17-Mindi Terrell – 85 weeks (IA)
18-Linda Bennett – 114 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
19-Sarah Toot – 115 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
*20-Angie DeWaard – 119 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
*21-Dawn Krause – 123 weeks (IA, IL)
22-Kim Barker – 129 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
23-Joe Duff – 130 weeks (TX, NY)
24-Teresa Kahler – 141 weeks (IA, NE)
*25-Carla Stensland – 141 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
26-Micky Augustin – 143 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*27-Andy Sharp – 144 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
28-Bill Wentworth – 145 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
29-Cathie Morton – 148 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
*30-Elizabeth Nordeen – 150 weeks (IA, OH)
31-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 152 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
*32-Kio Dettman – 154 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Mary Green (Iowa) – 1 week

Elainie Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

Jesse Howard (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa)

Alexis Stensland (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 1 week

Suzie Brannen (Perry, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Deb Powers (Saylorville, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Deb Powers (Saylorville, Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 9 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Willy McAlpine (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 13 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 17 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 20 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 41 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 59 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 70 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa)

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 69 weeks

Logan Kahler (Logansport, Iowa) – 70 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Juneau, Wisconsin) – 71 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Butler, Pennsylvania)

Tamara Peterson (Boone, Iowa) – 82 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 86 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 115 weeks

Sarah Toot (New York City, New York) – 116 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania)

Angie Dewaard (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – 120 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Dawn Krause (Les’s Auto Repair – Boone, Iowa) – 124 weeks

Kim Barker (White Oak, Iowa) – 130 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 131 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Micky Augustin (Story County, Iowa) – 144 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 145 weeks

Andy Sharp (Salon 908 – Boone, Iowa)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 146 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 149 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 151 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 153 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Christopher D. Bennett (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 576 weeks

37 participants this week! That is more like it!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (38)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Minnesota (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (1)
+ Wisconsin (1)

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1415)
+ Kansas (56)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (48)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (18)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (33)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (6)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI) – 13
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Nathanial now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

The big milestone this week was Kim joining the 2.5 Year Streak Club. WooHoo! WooHoo! Woo!

But it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Michelle’s streak comes crumbling down at 39 weeks! The humanity!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! In fact, STREET PHOTOGRAPHY is my 2nd favorite theme, right behind BLACK & WHITE.

I don’t like to define the themes, but to prevent me from looking at a bunch of pictures of streets next Monday and me crying myself to sleep that night, I will provide a definition from Brittanica:

“Street photography, a genre of photography that records everyday life in a public place.

If you are looking for excellent examples of STREET PHOTOGRAPHY, the following submissions from this week are textbook examples of STREET PHOTOGRAPHY:

+ Elainie Hernandez
+ Monica Jennings
+ Logan Kahler
+ Nathanial Brown (both submissions)
+ Jesse Howard
+ Sara Lockner
+ Sarah Toots (New York City) – Could be on a cover of a book about STREET PHOTOGRAPHY.
+ Teresa Kahler
+ Carla Stensland
+ Elizabeth Nordeen
+ Christopher D. Bennett

There were a few others as well.

The most important part of this definition is in a public place.

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of STREET PHOTOGRAPHY in this place that puts quite a bit of it out in this world next Monday.

Andy, Angie, Bill, Black & White, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Nature, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 472 – OUT OF DATE

September 30, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

It is the last Monday of the month and on the last Monday of the month I like to revisit our Frequently Asked Questions. Who asks these questions? I mostly ask them of myself. But that isn’t a Frequently Asked Question. These are:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

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 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind. These are the people I can think of off the top of my head that I know have won a photography award at some point in their lives: Yours Truly, Jen, Logan, Teresa, Carla, Dawn, Monica, Shannon, Nathanial, Angie, Vest, and I’m sure I’m forgetting about somebody.

Is this a competition?
NO. It is a challenge. There are no winners and losers. Well the people that don’t participate are losers.

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

Yes. That limit is 2. If you send me more than 2, I will post the first 2 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts 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 you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If I start to average like 45 participants a week, I will lower the limit to 1.

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 for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme every week. 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. I would say on the average week over 80% of participants seem to have understood the assignment.

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.

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact (AND CAN’T EMPATHIZE THIS ENOUGH) I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

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 widest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point. But don’t tempt me!

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. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that. In fact, I appreciate you letting me know where a picture was taken. If you don’t let me know, I will assume the picture was taken in the state you live in.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I will take suggestions only and ONLY in the comments sections of the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE posts the last week of October and the 1st week of November.

+++++++

OUT OF DATE! What a great theme! But were enough people up with current times to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 23, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Bunny – 1 week (IA)
2-Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA, OH)
*3-Deb Powers – 4 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Jesse Howard – 5 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
5-Monica Jennings – 7 weeks (IA)
6-Sara Lockner – 8 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
7-Willy McAlpine – 11 weeks (IA)
8-Deanna McClain – 15 weeks (IA, MN)
9-Mike Vest – 18 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
10-Adam Gordon – 28 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
11-Lowell Davis – 38 weeks (IA, MO)
12-Michelle Haupt – 38 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*13-Brandon Kahler – 39 weeks (IA, MN)
14-Scott Degeneffe – 57 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
15-Sheri Fakhouri – 67 weeks (IA, NE)
16-Logan Kahler – 68 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
17-Nathanial Brown – 69 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN)
*18-Tamara Peterson – 80 weeks (IA, MN)
*19-Mindi Terrell – 84 weeks (IA)
*20-Linda Bennett – 113 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
*21-Sarah Toot – 113 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
22-Angie DeWaard – 118 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
23-Dawn Krause – 122 weeks (IA, IL)
24-Kim Barker – 128 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*25-Joe Duff – 129 weeks (TX, NY)
26-Teresa Kahler – 140 weeks (IA, NE)
27-Carla Stensland – 140 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
28-Micky Augustin – 142 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
29-Andy Sharp – 143 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
30-Bill Wentworth – 144 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
31-Cathie Morton – 147 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 149 weeks (IA, OH)
*33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 151 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
*34-Kio Dettman – 153 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO 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.

WPC - WEEK 472 - OUT OF DATE - KIO DETTMAN

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 154 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Boone, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 150 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 148 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 145 weeks

Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 144 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone County Courthouse – Boone, Iowa)

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 143 weeks

Carla Stensland (Arnolds Park, Iowa) – 141 weeks

Carla Stensland (Arnolds Park, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 141 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 130 weeks

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 129 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 123 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa)

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 119 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa)

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 115 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas ) – 114 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 85 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 81 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Custer State Park – South Dakota) – 70 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 69 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 68 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 58 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 40 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 39 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 39 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 19 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 16 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 12 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 9 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 8 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Perry, Iowa) – 1 week

Christopher D. Bennett (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa)

Only 33 participants this week! A dismal number for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. One has to wonder, had THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE jumped the shark? Is it circling the drain? Will have to keep a close eye on it in the future.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (37)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ South Dakota (1)
+ Texas (1)

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1414)
+ Kansas (55)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (47)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (31)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (5)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN) – 11
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

The big milestone this week was Joe reaching the 2.5 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! Woo!

But in what tracks with the extreme disdain most people had for this theme and the slipping popularity of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, there were a bunch of streaks that went kaput! Bunny couldn’t build on last week’s submission and her streak is over before it began. Jesse’s streak is gone after a 5 spot. Worst of all, Adam’s streak is gone after 28 weeks. The humanity!

PATH

PATH! 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 PATH in this place that cuts one through this world next Monday.

Andy, Angie, Boone FUMC, Carla, Contests, Dawn, Monica, Nathanial, Pufferbilly Days, Teresa

Behind the Scenes of Judgement Night

September 28, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

I didn’t take a ton of behind the scenes pictures of the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Not as much as I’m used to taking. But I took a few.

Here are a few of them from the judging night.

I have to be thankful to the judges:

Melissa Bell
Nathanial Brown
Angie DeWaard

And very thankful for the people assisted with administrative functions:

Teresa Kahler
Andy Sharp
Carla Stensland

And thankful for Monica for providing the meal.

There were 162 entries this year. Judging lasted almost 5 hours. If I’m being honest, the night of the judging is by far my favorite night of the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. I love the first time I get to see the pictures. And there is definitely a sense of relief when we tear down at Art in the Park and we’re done for the year, but judging night is my favorite. Just hanging out with other photographers and talking photography.

I like to tell people that I don’t judge the photos. My job is to judge the judges. And I’m always fascinated with the pictures they pick as the winners and what pictures I think they are missing out on. This is why I sometimes play with the idea of giving out The Chairman’s Award. An award for the picture I think the judges missed out on. But that would mean I would have to do some judging, which I don’t want to do. Yet I do. But I don’t. It probably won’t happen.

We grew by 41 entries this year. I don’t think we will grow by another 40 entries next year. But I hope we do. And if we do I think I will need to make some adjustments to the way we do the judging. I have some ideas on how to increase the efficiency, while giving the judges the time to give each photo the proper amount of time they deserve. I’ll keep tossing these ideas around in my head. Then I will toss them at the heads of other people.

I didn’t really make many changes to the photo contest this year. About the only thing I changed was adding “Honorable Mentions” to the mix. That was definitely a great idea, and maybe one year too late. I’ll definitely bring that back. But I might change how the Overall and the Best in Show prizes are awarded.

Still one more post about the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest still to come!

Adam, Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Contests, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Jonah Kahler, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Pufferbilly Days, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 471 – PARK

September 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

PARK! What a great theme! But did enough people get in gear to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 16, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week (IA, OH)
2-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
*3-Mary Green – 2 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
*4-Deb Powers – 3 weeks (MT, IA)
5-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
6-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Monica Jennings – 6 weeks (IA)
8-Sara Lockner – 7 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 10 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 14 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 17 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Adam Gordon – 27 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 37 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 37 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*15-Brandon Kahler – 38 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 56 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 66 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 67 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 68 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN)
20-Tamara Peterson – 79 weeks (IA, MN)
*21-Mindi Terrell – 83 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 112 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 113 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 117 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 121 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 127 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 128 weeks (TX, NY)
28-Teresa Kahler – 139 weeks (IA, NE)
*29-Carla Stensland – 1389 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 141 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
31-Andy Sharp – 142 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 143 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 146 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 148 weeks (IA, OH)
*35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 150 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
36-Kio Dettman – 152 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO 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.

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 68 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 118 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 2 weeks

“Bunny” (Jester Park – Iowa) – 1 week

Sara Lockner (Jester Park – Iowa) – 8 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 57 weeks

Cathie Morton (Altoona, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa) – 28 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 149 weeks

Jesse Howard (Hunziker Park – Ames, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Michelle Haupt (Ankeny, Iowa) – 38 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 67 weeks

Andy Sharp (Bayliss Park – Council Bluffs, Iowa)

Deanna McClain (Eagle Point Park – Dubuque, Iowa) – 15 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Interurban Park – Camp Dodge – Johnston, Iowa) – 80 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Interurban Park – Camp Dodge – Johnston, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Linwood Cemetery – Boone, Iowa) – 11 weeks

Carla Stensland (Pufferbilly Days Parade – Boone, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Dawn Krause (Art in the Park – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 122 weeks

Kio Dettman (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Kio Dettman (Opal Dubois Anderson Park)

Logan Kahler (McHose Park) – 68 weeks

Monica Jennings (Art in the Park – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa)

Mike Vest (Edgewood Park – Madrid, Iowa) – 18 weeks

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 128 weeks

Deb Powers (Saylorville Lake – Iowa)

Mindi Terrell (Saylorville Lake – Iowa) – 84 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Saylorville Lake – Iowa)

Brandon Kahler (South Park – Story City, Iowa) – 39 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Colby Park – Windsor Heights, Iowa) – 151 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 144 weeks

Sarah Toot (Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey) – 114 weeks

Sarah Toot (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

Joe Duff (Texas) – 129 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

35 participants this week. Not a great week. But not bad. Not a lot of people like nature all that much.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (35)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (2)

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1377)
+ Kansas (54)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (46)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (30)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (56)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

There were no major milestones reached this week. But a few streaks went kaput. Alexis couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Mary’s streak is gone after 2 weeks. Suzie’s streak is gone after 4!

OUT-OF-DATE (Suggested by Angie DeWaard)

OUT-OF-DATE! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

What is an OUT-OF-DATE picture? A picture of something that is no longer necessary in these times.

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 OUT-OF-DATE in this place that that is timeless next Monday.

Adam, Alexis, Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Music, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Taylan, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 470 – MUSIC

September 16, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

MUSIC! A great theme! But did enough people hear it to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out! Am I silently judging anybody’s taste in MUSIC? You don’t have to scroll down. I am. I definitely in.

On a sad note, I learned today that my favorite record store and the place where I get many of the records for my NEW-TO-ME-VINYL FRIDAY stories on Snapchat closed down recently. Wax Xtatic in Marshalltown was awesome! And now it is gone. So I’ll be looking for a new independent record store to frequent. I’m open to suggestions.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 9, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week (IA)
*3-Deb Powers – 2 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
5-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks (IA, MD)
*6-Amy Peterson – 3 weeks (IA)
7-Monica Jennings – 5 weeks (IA)
8-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 9 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 13 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 16 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Adam Gordon – 26 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 36 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 36 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*15-Brandon Kahler – 37 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 55 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 65 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 65 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 67 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
20-Tamara Peterson – 78 weeks (IA, MN)
21-Mindi Terrell – 82 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 111 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 112 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 116 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 120 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 126 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 127 weeks (TX, NY)
*28-Teresa Kahler – 138 weeks (IA, NE)
29-Carla Stensland – 138 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 140 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*31-Andy Sharp – 141 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 142 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 146 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 147 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 149 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
36-Kio Dettman – 151 weeks (IA)

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:

36 states!

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO 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.

Micky Augustin (Iowa)- 141 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Farmer’s Market – Bentonville, Arkansas) – 150 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Outside of Jane, Missouri)

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 127 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone Theater – Boone, Iowa)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks suzi

Nathanial Brown (Albert Lea, Minnesota) – 68 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Pierce, Nebraska)

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 117 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 56 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 128 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 66 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 27 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

Jesse Howard (Homecoming – Boone, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Dawn Krause (Fraser, Iowa) – 121 weeks

Sara Lockner (Pork Tornados – Adventureland – Altoona, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 14 weeks

Cathie Morton (Des Moines, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 148 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Debb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Andy Sharp (Boone First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 113 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 83 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 17 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 143 weeks

37 participants! That is a pretty solid week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas (1)
+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (2)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1377)
+ Kansas (52)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (45)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (29)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (54)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

The big milestone this week was Willy reaching the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Elainie couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Amy’s streak also came to a halting crash after 3 weeks! The humanity!

PARK

PARK! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to your interpretation.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of PARK in this place that that is a bit of a respite from the world next Monday.

Adam, Alexis, Art, Birthdays, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Christianity, Commercial, Formal Portrait, Iowa State, Linda, Mom, Nature, Night, Road Trip, Still Life, Teresa, Work, WPC - Alternate

In a Beautiful World

September 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Today is Adam’s birthday so I have to with him a happy birthday:

Cause All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Enough for You

Happy birthday Adam!

I hope your birthday is another big advance in your recovery and we will see you back in the pulpit soon!

+++++++

This is a comprehensive sweep of all the pictures from 2023 (except formal portraits) that I took in 2023 that were leftover and didn’t quite fit into other posts. It kind of is all over the place from short trips to church pictures to alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Let’s get at it:

Came across this cross on a tenderloining road trip in northeast Iowa.

These images were alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM.

There is a lot of my family in this picture. Starting with Alexis, obviously.

But Teresa made the hat and the scarf.

The bear belonged to my Mom.

The coat belonged to my Grandpa Paris and my Mom frequently wore it.

Feels good that almost all the 2023 pictures are out there. Just need to share the rest of the Memphis pictures and get to those pesky formal portraits!

Alexis, Art, Automobiles, Brandon, Carla, Christianity, Dahlia, Elainie, History, Holidays, Jason, Jesse, Johnathan, Jonah Kahler, K.J., Logan, Music, Olympic Sports, Russ, Sabas, Street Photography, Teresa

Forever A Cyclone State!

September 11, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I need to start today’s post by remembering the victims of the terrorist acts on our country that happened on September 11, 2001. Hard to believe it was 23 years ago. I can still vividly remember almost everything about that morning. I’m sure almost everyone that was alive on that day can do the same thing. I won’t recount my experience. It was much different than most people on that day. Instead I will share this photo of a mural on the wall of the VFW in Valley Junction:

The victims of the day should never be forgotten. The heroes of that day should also never be forgotten.

+++++++

On Saturday, a redshirt-freshman-walk-on-kicker that has only been playing football for a few years, stepped up on the field in Kinnick Stadium and boomed a 54 yard field goal right through the middle of the uprights. A kick that would have been good from 64 yards. That kicks gave the Cyclones a 20-19 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Cyclones second straight win in Kinnick. Their 4th win in the last 6 trips to Kinnick. And in some ways, it provided a little bit of healing for my family. Not a ton, but some.

As many of you know, it was a terrible week last week for my family. That is an understatement. My brother-in-law Russ, the father of Brandon and Logan passed away on Saturday, August 31. Russ’ health was failing, but it still came as a shock and much quicker than I expected. Teresa called me early Saturday morning and gave me the news. God I wish that was the only one of those phone calls I got those few days.

On Monday, September 2, Jesse and I went to Perry to take part in the RVTV festivities that accompany Cy-Hawk Week. I have never went to a town that was hosting RVTV besides when Boone hosted them a few years back. I don’t think I’m saying anything that isn’t common knowledge, but Boone did a pretty poor job as a host.

On the other hand, Perry knocked it out of the park. There were several blocks of activities and vendors.

Jesse and I had stopped and were talking to a painter. She was telling her story about how she had found God and become sober 5 years ago. Then God called her to be a painter. As she was telling us that story my phone rang. It was Jason. I might have normally not answered my phone because of the conversation I was engaged in, but Jason doesn’t call often, so I figured it was important. So I excused myself from the conversation and took the call.

On the other end was Carla not Jason. Which worried me a little bit, but not completely uncommon. Carla sometimes loses her phone. But this wasn’t one of those times. Carla proceeded to tell me that Jason’s only brother Justin had been killed in a car accident.

Damn it! When it rains it damn well pours!

I gave Carla my condolences, I think. Poorly tried to explain how terrible all of this was. Thinking about Jason. And Johnathan. And Elainie. And Alexis. And Jason’s parents. And Justin’s wife. They had just been married a few months back. Then I hung up and inserted myself back into the discussion with the Christian artist and the colors she used reflected how much light was in her life compared to when she was abusing.

I went though the rest of the night taking pictures of the events. Eating at The Tin Pig.

The rest of the week kinda flew by. Jason and Carla went to Colorado for Justin’s ceremony. Russ’ visitation was on Friday night. His funeral was on Saturday, before the Cy-Hawk game.

For the funeral, the boys picked 3 different Rush songs to be played. “Tom Sawyer”, “Fly By Night”, and “Spirit of the Radio”. Since Adam is out the church brought in a Pastor from Bagley to do the ceremony. He did a good job and I was most impressed with how he incorporated the lyrics to “Fly By Night” into the service.

Start a new chapter
I find what I’m after
Is changing every day
The change of a season
Is enough of a reason
To want to get away

Quiet and pensive
My thoughts apprehensive
The hours drift away
Leaving my homeland
Playing a lonehand
My life begins today

After the funeral I hosted Brandon, K.J., Logan, Dahlia, Jonah, Johnathan, Elainie, Sabas, Jesse (briefly), and Teresa.

Once Scott, after losing one of his parents, asked me “when is it normal again?”

I told him what I think is as honest as I can be, “It never is normal again. You just have to adjust to what is now the new normal”.

I hope just watching the game and rooting on the Cyclones… All of us screaming at the television as the field goal was in the air… Freaking both Dahlia and Bokeh out… brought a small sense of normal to their worlds. And maybe just a touch of healing.

Here are pictures I took at RVTV in Perry on Labor Day:

After the game was over the family slowly dispersed. Before Brandon left, he stood up and looked at Bokeh and said, “You’ve got big shoes to fill. But you’ll get there.”

Then he said he was going to the cemetery on his way home to tell his Dad that the Cyclones had won.

Adam, Amy, Andy, Angie, Bill, Black & White, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elainie, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Music, Nathanial, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Self-Portrait, Shannon, Sheri, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 469 – SELF-PORTRAIT

September 9, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

You may recall last week that I gave Micky an extension because he was in a place where he could only communicate via satellite phone. Here is his SQUARE photo:

WPC - WEEK 468 - SQUARE - MICKY AUGUSTIN

Micky Augustin (Chicago, Illinois) – 139 weeks

On the other news from last week’s streaks, Adam’s trending in the right direction. I don’t know if he is back taking photos, but if you keep scrolling, you will find out.

+++++++

SELF-PORTRAIT! A great theme! But were enough people in touch with themselves to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 9, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

*1-Deb Powers – 1 week (MT, IA)
2-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
3-Jesse Howard – 2 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
4-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks (IA, MD)
*5-Amy Peterson – 2 weeks (IA)
6-Monica Jennings – 4 weeks (IA)
7-Sara Lockner – 5 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
8-Willy McAlpine – 8 weeks (IA)
9-Deanna McClain – 12 weeks (IA, MN)
10-Mike Vest – 16 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
11-Sabas Hernandez – 21 weeks (IA, OH)
12-Lowell Davis – 35 weeks (IA, MO)
13-Michelle Haupt – 35 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
14-Brandon Kahler – 36 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Scott Degeneffe – 54 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
16-Sheri Fakhouri – 64 weeks (IA, NE)
*17-Logan Kahler – 65 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
18-Nathanial Brown – 66 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
19-Tamara Peterson – 77 weeks (IA, MN)
20-Mindi Terrell – 81 weeks (IA)
21-Linda Bennett – 110 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
22-Sarah Toot – 111 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
23-Angie DeWaard – 115 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
24-Dawn Krause – 119 weeks (IA, IL)
25-Kim Barker – 125 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*26-Joe Duff – 126 weeks (TX, NY)
*27-Teresa Kahler – 137 weeks (IA, NE)
28-Carla Stensland – 137 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
29-Micky Augustin – 139 weeks (IA, IL, FL)
30-Andy Sharp – 140 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
31-Bill Wentworth – 141 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
32-Cathie Morton – 145 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
33-Elizabeth Nordeen – 146 weeks (IA, OH)
34-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 148 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
*35-Kio Dettman – 150 weeks (IA)

strong>Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

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.

WPC - WEEK 469 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ADAM GORDON

Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 26 weeks

Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Amy Peterson (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa)

Andy Sharp (Iowa City, Iowa) – 141 weeks

Andy Sharp (Iowa City, Iowa)

Angie DeWaard (Neurology Dept, McFarland Clinic – Ames, Iowa) – 116 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 142 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Salida, Colorado) – 138 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 146 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 120 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 13 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Elainie Hernandez (Boone, Iowa)- 1 week

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 147 weeks

Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 127 weeks

Kim Barker (Cambridge, Iowa) – 126 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) -151 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 111 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 66 weeks

Lowell Davis (Muscatine, Iowa) – 36 weeks

Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 1 week

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 36 weeks

Micky Augustin (Above the Arctic Circle, Alaska) – 140 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 82 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 17 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 6 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 112 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)- 55 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Deal’s Orchard – Jefferson, Iowa) – 149 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 65 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 78 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 138 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Willy McAlpine (Goeppinger Field – Boone, Iowa) – 9 weeks

37 participants! That is a pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Alaska (1)
+ Colorado (1)
+ Iowa (37)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)

Thanks to Micky’s travels, we have added Alaska to this year’s submission map!

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Arkansas (19.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1343)
+ Kansas (51)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (9)
+ Minnesota (12)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (43)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (28)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (53)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Jen has claimed the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy, Scott, and Nathanial are in striking distance. Jesse has fallen out of contention.

There were some big milestones this week. Adam’s streak returned from medical leave and he is now in the Half Year Streak Club! WooHoo! Tamara joined the Year and Half Streak Club! WooHoo! Woo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Alexis couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak was over before it began. Worst of all, Sabas’ streak comes to a crashing halt at 21 weeks. The humanity!

MUSIC

MUSIC! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to your interpretation.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of MUSIC in this place that that thinks of itself as a visual symphony next Monday.

Alexis, Amanda, Brandon, Carla, Dahlia, Elainie, Jason, K.J., Logan, Mom, Russ, Teresa

Russ Kahler

September 4, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

It has been a rough week for my family. On Saturday morning my brother-in-law Russ passed away. I want to share his obituary so it is always in a place where I know I can find it.

Russell Kahler Obituary
Russell Duane Kahler, 63, of Boone, Iowa, passed away at Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone on Saturday, August 31, 2024. Russel was born on August 14, 1961, in Norfolk, Nebraska, the son of Alan Arnold Kahler and Helen Mae (Wulf) Kahler.

He graduated from Ames High School and then attended DMACC in Ankeny. On March 11, 1989, Russell married Teresa Bennet at the First United Methodist Church in Boone, to this marriage, two children were born, Brandon and Logan Kahler. Teresa and Russell later divorced.

Russell was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Boone. He worked for K-Mart in Ames. He started there the day that it opened and worked there until the day that it closed. Russell also worked for Iowa State University as a security guard for 15 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alan and Helen Kahler; paternal grandparents, Arnold Kahler and Florence (Rice) Kahler, and maternal grandparents, Herman and Elsie (Tangck) Wulf.

Russell is survived by his sons, Brandon Kahler (KJ Johnson) and Logan Kahler (Amanda Nichols) of Boone; grandchildren: Greyson, Dahlia, and Jonah, all of Boone; brothers: Roger (Karla) Kahler of Ogden, Ron Kahler of Boone, Ryan (Kathy) Kahler of Ottumwa, and Robert Kahler of Cincinnati, OH.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Boone. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home in Boone.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family to use at their discretion.

Russ was a great guy! Who helped raise two great sons! He was a big Nebraska football fan. Was also a big fan of Cyclone sports. There was a time when he and Jason split my Cyclone football season tickets with me. He was also a baseball fan. He collected postcards of every major league stadium at one time. He was a big fan of classic rock. In particular his love for Rush is well documented. I don’t know how many times he saw Rush in concert, but I alone saw Rush with him twice. He often worked rock concerts back when there were concerts at Hilton. He was into photography and when he worked at K-Mart, the place I always remember him working at was the Photo Department. He developed I don’t know how many rolls of film for me over the years. When he was young Russ was an avid runner. He competed in several marathons. I am going to miss him!

I don’t have a ton of pictures of Russ, but here are a few:

He was and always will remain a member of my family.

Alexis, Amy, Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Holidays, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Michelle, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 468 – SQUARE

September 2, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Today is Labor Day! The day we don’t work don’t honor the labor movement.

I don’t belong to a Union, but I’m am VERY pro-union. Possibly it is genetic. Here are 36 reasons to be thankful for unions:

1. Weekends
2. All breaks at work, including your lunch breaks
3. Paid Vacation
4. Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
5. Sick Leave
6. Social Security
7. Minimum Wage
8. Civil Rights Act/Title VII (Prohibits Employer Discrimination)
9. 8-Hour Work Day
10. Overtime Pay
11. Child Labor Laws
12. Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)
13. 40-Hour Work Week
14. Worker’s Compensation (Worker’s Comp)
15. Unemployment Insurance
16. Pensions
17. Workplace Safety Standards and Regulations
18. Employer Health Care Insurance
19. Collective Bargaining Rights for Employees
20. Wrongful Termination Laws
21. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
22. Whistleblower Protection Laws
23. Employee Polygraph Protect Act (Prohibits Employer from using a lie detector test on an employee)
24. Veteran’s Employment and Training Services (VETS)
25. Compensation Increases and Evaluations (Raises)
26. Sexual Harassment Laws
27. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
28. Holiday Pay
29. Employer Dental, Life, and Vision Insurance
30. Privacy Rights
31. Pregnancy and Parental Leave
32. Military Leave
33. The Right to Strike
34. Public Education for Children
35. Equal Pay Acts of 1963 & 2011 (Requires employers pay men and women equally for the same amount of work)
36. Laws Ending Sweatshops in the United States

Happy Labor Day!

+++++++

SQUARE! A great theme! But were enough people hip enough to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, August 26, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week (IA, MD)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week (IA)
3-Jesse Howard – 1 week (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
4-Amy Peterson – 1 week (IA)
5-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA)
6-Monica Jennings – 3 weeks (IA)
7-Sara Lockner – 4 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
8-Willy McAlpine – 7 weeks (IA)
9-Deanna McClain – 11 weeks (IA, MN)
10-Mike Vest – 15 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
*11-Sabas Hernandez – 20 weeks (IA, OH)
*12-Adam Gordon – 25 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 34 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 34 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
15-Brandon Kahler – 35 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 53 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
17-Sheri Fakhouri – 63 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 64 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 65 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
20-Tamara Peterson – 76 weeks (IA, MN)
*21-Mindi Terrell – 80 weeks (IA)
*22-Linda Bennett – 109 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 110 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 114 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 118 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 124 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 125 weeks (TX, NY)
*28-Teresa Kahler – 136 weeks (IA, NE)
*29-Carla Stensland – 136 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 138 weeks (IA, IL, FL)
31-Andy Sharp – 139 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 140 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 144 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 145 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 147 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
*36-Kio Dettman – 149 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO 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.

WPC - WEEK 468 - SQUARE - ALEXIS STENSLAND

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Suzie Brannen (Perry, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Jesse Howard (Iowa)- 2 weeks

Amy Peterson (The Grotto of the Redemption – West Bend, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Amy Peterson (The Grotto of the Redemption – West Bend, Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Sara Lockner (Ogden, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Madrid Labor Day Festival – Madrid, Iowa) – 8 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 12 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 16 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 21 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 35 weeks

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 35 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 36 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 54 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 64 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 65 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa)

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 66 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 77 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 81 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 110 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Iowa) – 111 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 115 weeks

Dawn Krause (West Des Moines, Iowa) – 119 weeks

Kim Barker (Manchester, Iowa) – 125 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 126 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 137 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 137 weeks

Andy Sharp (Council Bluffs, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 141 weeks

Cathie Morton (Decorah, Iowa) – 145 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 146 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Honey Hollow – Summerset, Iowa) – 148 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 150 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Christopher D. Bennett (Reiman Music – Ames, Iowa) – 571 weeks

35 participants this week. Not a good week, but not bad considering the holiday.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (36)
+ 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 (19.5)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (9)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (14)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1306)
+ Kansas (50)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (9)
+ Minnesota (12)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (42)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (27)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (52)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

35 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

There were no major milestones reached this week.

There were a ton of steaks snapped though. Elainie couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Jen’s streak is over at 2.

An overly keen observer might have noticed that two frequently contributors did not submit this week.

First, Adam has had a medical situation. I’m temporarily suspending his streak while I wait for him. But without going into details (if you know, you already know) keep Adam and his wife Amanda in your prayers. Keep our church in your prayers as well as we will be without Adam for a while.

Second, Micky is in the middle of Alaska. His only connection to the outside world is a satellite phone. So I’ve given him an extension to get his submission in. You will get to see it later this week.

SELF-PORTRAIT

SELF-PORTRAIT! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

The easiest theme of the 53 this year! You have a self, just have to take a picture of yourself. I guess the challenge is to make it as creative or meaningful as you can.

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 SELF-PORTRAIT in this place that is essentially one next Monday.