Category Archives: Boone County Fair

Animals, Boone County Fair, Calendar, Flowers, Macro, Sign, Street Photography

A Saturday at the Boone County Fair

January 11, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

Time to share the October image from the 2025 Photography 139 Calendar:

OCTOBER

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony 7M4
LENS: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro
FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm
APERTURE: f/3.2
EXPOSURE: 1/160
DATE: July 23, 2024

This dandelion picture was taken in my yard. I take no pride in that as I don’t want to see dandelions sprouting around my yard, but it isn’t by far the worst weed. I would take a ton of dandelions to have zero thistles or no creeping Charlie. Despite not wanting them in my yard, dandelions can be beautiful. Especially at the macro level.

Only one unique person said that this was their favorite image in the 2025 Photography 139 Calendar:

Kelli

I’m excited to reveal the November image tomorrow.

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I spent a good chunk of the Saturday of the Boone County Fair hanging out with Logan and “assisting” him with the barbecue competition. But not all of time was spent there. In the morning I worked the “hospitality tent” for the Boone First United Methodist Church. Then most of the rest of the day was spent hanging with Logan (except for when I made a quick trip to Stanhope), but I snapped a few pictures that weren’t related to the barbecue contest.

Have a look:

That is all the pictures I have from the Boone County Fair on the Saturday of the Fair, but I took a bunch more in Stanhope that I will share soon!

(NOTE: Experimenting with some backend changes to the website. If something looks wonky, that is why.)

Adam, Baby Got Rack, Boone County Fair, Candid Portrait, Contests, Logan, Macro, Still Life, Teresa

Tall & Meaty – Boone County Fair – 2024

August 11, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

If you are at the State Fair on Tuesday morning swing down to the Grand Concourse. Logan will be competing in the Barbecue Contest. He completely dominated the Boone County Fair competition to earn a berth at the Iowa State Fair. He won Turkey, Pork, and Beef. His Turkey took home the Grand Champion. However, he will be entering Beef on Tuesday at the State Fair.

Here are some pictures from the day:

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2024

It was a pretty great day and big congrats to Logan! Last year’s Boone County Fair was his first barbecue competition. It didn’t go the way he wanted. He went back to the lab. Put in the work. Now he is going to the State Fair.

I’m not sure what is on his calendar for the rest of the year. I believe both Tall and Meaty will be back together for a contest in Guthrie Center later this year. I’m not sure if there is a Barbecue Contest for Pufferbilly Days this year, but if there is one, I’m sure Tall and Meaty will be there too.

If you are wondering about Baby Got Rack. Scott couldn’t do the County Fair this year because he had a catering gig. It has been a couple of years since Baby Got Rack has dipped their toes in the competitive barbecue world. I don’t know if we are retired forever, or if there is a comeback is in the cards. Only time will tell.

Adam, Boone County Fair, Boone FUMC, Street Photography, Teresa

Boone County Fair Parade – 2024

August 3, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

For the first time in a long time I went to the Boone County Fair Parade. Or more specifically, for the first time ever, I was in the Boone County Fair Parade. I’ve been in the Pufferbilly Parade many times, but the Boone County Fair Parade? Not until this year.

I walked and handed out candy with the Boone First United Methodist Church float. Of course I took a ton of pictures. Here are a few:

There are still plenty more Boone County Fair pictures left to share. I spent more time at the Boone County Fair this year than, well a really long time.

Adam, Alexis, Amy, Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Bill, Boone County Fair, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elainie, Elizabeth, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Johnathan, Jonah Kahler, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 462 – WINDOW VIEW

July 22, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

WINDOW VIEW! A great theme! But did enough people get a view to make it a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 15, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Willy McAlpine – 1 week (IA)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA)
3-Monica Jennings – 2 weeks (IA)
4-Deanna McClain – 5 weeks (IA, MN)
5-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
6-Suzie Brannen – 10 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Mike Vest – 9 weeks (IA, MO) <2>
8-Alexis Stensland – 12 weeks (IA)
9-Sabas Hernandez – 14 weeks (IA, OH)
10-Adam Gordon – 21 weeks (IA, MS, MO) <2>
11-Lowell Davis – 28 weeks (IA, MO)
12-Michelle Haupt – 28 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA)
13-Brandon Kahler – 29 weeks (IA, MN)
14-Scott Degeneffe – 47 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL)
15-Sheri Fakhouri – 57 weeks (IA, NE)
16-Logan Kahler – 57 weeks (IA, MN)
17-Nathanial Brown – 59 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL)
18-Tamara Peterson – 70 weeks (IA, MN)
19-Mindi Terrell – 74 weeks (IA) <2>
20-Linda Bennett – 103 weeks (KS, IA)
21-Sarah Toot – 104 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ)
22-Angie DeWaard – 108 weeks (IA, IL) <2>
23-Dawn Krause – 112 weeks (IA, IL)
24-Kim Barker – 118 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
25-Joe Duff – 119 weeks (TX, NY)
26-Teresa Kahler – 130 weeks (IA, NE)
27-Carla Stensland – 130 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) <2>
28-Micky Augustin – 132 weeks (IA, IL, FL)
29-Andy Sharp – 133 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI) <2>
30-Bill Wentworth – 134 weeks (NE, MO)
31-Cathie Morton – 136 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 139 weeks (IA, OH)
33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 141 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
34-Kio Dettman – 143 weeks (IA)

strong>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:

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - TAMARA PETERSON

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 71 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 75 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 6 weeks

Micky Augustin (North Grand Mall – Ames, Iowa) – 133 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 131 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 109 weeks

Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 58 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) 15 weeks

Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa)

Michelle Haupt (Ankeny, Iowa) – 29 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Senbon Tattoo – Boone, Iowa) – 13 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Boone, Iowa)

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 144 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 134 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa) – 113 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa)

Adam Gordon (Boone County Fair Parade – Boone, Iowa) – 22 weeks

Adam Gordon (Boone County Fair Parade)

Lowell Davis (Boone, Iowa) – 29 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 131 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 58 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa)

Mike Vest (Boone County, Iowa) – 10 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 48 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa) – 11 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Early, Iowa) – 60 weeks

Amy Peterson (Childserve – Johnston, Iowa) – 1 week

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 119 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 137 weeks

Johnathan Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 1 week

Brandon Kahler (Story City, Iowa) – 30 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Sara Lockner (West Des Moines, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 104 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 1355 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 105 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 120 weeks

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Texas) – 1 week

39 participants this week! This is a big number! Best we’ve done for several weeks!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (41)
+ 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 (16.5)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ California (3)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Colorado (7)
+ Florida (13)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (11)
+ Indiana (4)
+ Iowa (1041)
+ Ireland (3)
+ Kansas (40)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (10)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (18.5)
+ Nebraska (35)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Ohio (2)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (21)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (41)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (2)
+ Wyoming (1)

32 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 5 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL) – 8
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL) – 7
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL) – 7
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 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
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA) – 4
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK) – 4
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 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
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA) – 2
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2

Andy now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” Jen, Jesse, Scott, and Nathanial remain in striking distance though.

The big milestones this week were Vest joining the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! Linda joined the 2 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! There were also no steaks snapped this week! WooHoo!

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

ABSTRACT

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

If you are confused by what an ABSTRACT image, think about ABSTRACT art:

Abstract photography is a style of art that uses photographic equipment to create images that are not immediately associated with the physical world. Abstract photographers use techniques like perspective, movement, and light to transform the world into unexpected and often unrecognizable images.

Basically, you are taking a picture where it doesn’t look like what you are taking a picture of. You can do this with the focus or the length of the exposure. That is just a couple of examples.

Here is a good quote from John Suler that might help:

“An abstract photograph draws away from that which is realistic or literal. It draws away from natural appearances and recognizable subjects in the actual world. Some people even say it departs from true meaning, existence, and reality itself. It stands apart from the concrete whole with its purpose instead depending on conceptual meaning and intrinsic form….Here’s the acid test: If you look at a photo and there’s a voice inside you that says ‘What is it?’….Well, there you go. It’s an abstract photograph.”

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 ABSTRACT in this place that loves the obtuse next Monday.

Animals, Boone County Fair, Naima, Railroad, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Street Photography

But She’s So Sweet, She’s So Pretty

March 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Today feels like a good time to clean up the backlog from July of last year. These pictures just didn’t fit into previous entries in “An Artist’s Notebook”.

It always feels great when a little bit more of the backlog has been cleared out. One day I’ll even be caught up!

9 Emotions Project, Art, Basketball, Birthdays, Black & White, Blogging, Boone County Fair, Boone FUMC, Carla, Drone, Elainie, Evie, Formal Portrait, Fran, Iowa State, Jay, Jesse, Kim, Layla, Logan, Micky, Mom, Naima, Road Trip, Saydie, Shannon, Shawn Lockner, Still Life, Street Photography, Tenderloining, Teresa, Vest

Post 5,005

November 4, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

I need to start this milestone post by wishing Elainie a happy birthday!

Happy birthday Elainie!

I hope your birthday is amazing!!

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Today is also Layla’s birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAYLA!

I hope you have an awesome birthday!

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Can you believe that this is the 5,005th entry in the blog known as “An Artist’s Notebook”? Every 250 posts or so I like to take a moment to reflect on where this post has been and post a lot of meaningless stats. I meant to post this post on Sunday night when it would have been Post #5,000, but you know how my week went. Not great.

As always on these posts, I like to start by quoting the very first “An Artist’s Notebook” entry that published on August 9, 2006. That first post that published 6,296 days.

That post that started with these words:

So here is the first journal entry. I felt like having as pretentious sounding name as possible for my journal. I have a few goals about this journal. My main goal is just to actually write in it. My second goal is to be as truthful as possible towards my true thoughts and feelings. I have another journal on another website, but it is really just a collection of sarcastic statements and cheap jabs at open faced sandwiches. This journal is meant to be about what my achievements and failures are in the world of art. What projects I am working on and what I have accomplished and what I have failed to accomplish. What I am photographing and what I am thinking about entering in photo contests. What I am thinking about. It might not always make sense. It might just be things I need to write down because they strike me as poignant or inspirational. This is in a small way an online “idea box”.

Since those words, I have posted 5,005 journal entries. (Normally I would do this little exercise on post #4,750, but I was in Vegas at that time.) This website is still something of an “idea box”. Sometimes I’m just working stuff out here. I don’t know why, sometimes I need to work stuff out in public. But this website is definitely more than just an “idea box”. It is a place where I post a few thoughts and a ton of pictures. I’ve gone through a few photo projects on these pages. From THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT to the 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT to THE SELFIE PROJECT to the POSTCARD RECREATION PROJECT to name just a few. This website has also created a community with THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Which is one of my proudest achievements. Even if it sputtered and spit and barely survived in its first few years.

5,005 posts. I can’t even measure the elevation changes my life have taken since then. Major ups. Major downs. Peaks and valleys. 5,005 posts and I vow to keep on chugging along.

On these reflective posts, I like to publish a bunch of statistics that me and Joe Duff find interesting. So I might as well get to it.

Every post in “An Artist’s Notebook” is tagged with at least one Category. It is one of the easiest ways to navigate around the website. They are listed at the top of each post. Here are some statistics about Categories:

THE TOP 10 MOST USED CATEGORIES (RANK IN POST #4757 & INCREASE SINCE THEN)
10. Carla – 582 (#8 – +52)
9. Teresa – 590 (#9 – +65)
8. Road Trip – 611 (#6 – +42)
7. Macro – 627 (#10 – +132)
6. Formal Portrait – 638 (NR)
5. Jesse – 684 (#4 – +54)
4. Art – 744 (#5 – +122)
3. Animals – 790 (#3 – +65)
2. Flowers – 958 (#2 – +77)
1. Black & White – 1,212 (#1 – +220)

Dropping from the from the Top 10 was Shannon, a category that was #7 in Post #4757.

The 5 categories that have the best shot at making the Top 10 in Post #5,250 are Shannon, Nature, WPC-Submissions, and Candid Portrait.

It should be noted that some of these increases are caused by my working on the categories on some older posts.

THE TOP 10 NON-HUMAN CATEGORIES
10. Photoshop – 432 (#10 – +43)
9. Candid Portrait – 475 (NR)
8. Nature – 538 (+101 – #8)
7. Road Trip – 611 (#5 – +42)
6. Macro – 627 (#6 – +132)
5. Formal Portrait – 638 (#8 – +191)
4. Art – 744 (#5 – +122)
3. Animals – 790 (#3 – +65)
2. Flowers – 958 (#2 – +77)
1. Black & White – 1,212 (#1 – +220)

WPC-Submission fell out of the Top 10. It was ranked #7 in Post #4757.

The categories that are just right outside of the Top 10 are Still Life, Naima, History, and Self-Portrait and Christianity.

THE TOP 10 HUMAN CATEGORIES
10. Vest – 350 (NR)
9. Jay – 353 (#6 – +5)
8. Micky – 359 (NR)
7. Logan – 380 (#9 – +61)
6. Kim – 395 (#7 – +53)
5. Mom – 464 (#5 – +6)
4. Shannon – 576 (#2 – +37)
3. Carla – 582 (#3 – +52)
2. Teresa – 590 (#4 – +65)
1. Jesse – 684 (#1 – +54)

Dropping from the rankings was Willy and Derrick.

The categories that have the best shot at cracking the next Top 10 are Willy, Derrick, Jen, Andy, and Sara.

If you are wondering what is your best way to improve your Photography 139 Score and crack the Top 10, it is simply to be active in THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE or go on trips with me or participate in various other photo projects or be related to me. Now these aren’t necessarily the 10 people that have influenced my photography the most, but these are the 10 people that have made the largest imprint on this website.

I can tell you the people that have influenced my photography the most, but that is a tale for another time. But I’m pretty sure you can guess who.

If you have spent any time on the Photography 139 website, you know that on the left sidebar, the “Top 100 Categories” are listed. I thought I would give a little bit of coverage to the Bottom 10 of the Top 100. There are currently 203 categories used on the website. I could cover the Bottom 10, but they are mostly people that either very recently came into the life of this website by birth (Jonah Kahler) or another way (Nathanial, Mindi, Fran). Or people that I thought would be a bigger part of my life and then weren’t. No need to cover those people. The Category that is #203 probably needs to be purged.

THE BOTTOM 10 OF THE TOP 100
#10. Andree – 77
#10. Flat Earth Joe – 77
#10. Self-Portrait Project – 77
#9. Photo Journal – 79
#8. Commercial – 83
#7. Sabas – 84
#6. Becca – 89
#3. Pufferbilly Days – 91
#3. Pastor Sarah – 91
#3. House – 91
#1. Faust – 92
#1. Writing – 92

The following categories have either fallen out of the Bottom 10 of the Top 100 or climbed out of it:
Kelly, Lowell, and Suzie.

The following categories have the best shot at dropping back into the Bottom 10 of the Top 10:
Sarah Toot, Lowell, Suzie, Russell, and Nate

The following categories have the best shot at climbing up into the Bottom 10 of the Top 10:
Layla, Kelly, Vacation, Saydie, and Kalista

“An Artist’s Notebook” is part of Photography 139. The 139 comes from Psalm 139:1-12. The Photography part comes from the fact this website is supposed to be filled with photography. So, what are the most popular photo galleries on the Photography 139 website? Glad you asked:

TOP 10 PHOTOGRAPHY 139 PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERIES (LAST 365 DAYS)

To View the Gallery, Click on its Representative Image

10. Naima – 64,796 views

9. Tenderloining – 75,558 views

8. 9 Emotions Project – 81,405 views

7. Selfie-Project – 2022 – 88,632 views

6. Drone – 99,708 views

5. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 9 – 108,852 views

4. Town Sign Project – 118,563 views

3. Las Vegas 2023 – 169,257 views

2. Town Sign Project Auxiliary Images – 219,546 views

1. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 10 – 323,781 views

Galleries that fell out of the Top 10 are:
Christopher D. Bennett, Miami Beach, Jayton Poole, and Alexis Pregnancy Photo Shoot – 2020

Galleries that fell just outside of the Top 10 are:
Sleeping Angels – 2023, Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 6, Photo Journal Rejects, Iowa State Cyclones Football – 2008, and Christopher D. Bennett.

But what are the most popular single images of the last 365 days? Don’t worry, I’m gonna feed you baby birds.

Top 10 Photography 139 Images

10. Sleeping Angels Fun Run – 2,772 views

9. Maven’s Birthday Party – 2022 – 2,820 views

8. Boone FUMC Thanksgiving – 2022 – 3,073 views

7. Color the Wind – 2023 – 3,149 views

6. Renaissance Fair – 2022 – 3,302 views

5. Fran and Pepper – 3,687 views

4. World Food Festival – 2022 – 3,754 views

3. Howards – 2022 – 3,976 views

2. 2023 Barbecue Contests – 4,168 views

1. Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship – 18,045 views

If you are interested in checking out some of the milestone posts of the past, I got you. Click on any of the links below to check them out:

Post 1
Post 750
Post 850
Post 1,000
Post 1,101
Post 1,200
Post 1,447
Post 1,718
Post 2,500
Post 3,000
Post 3,252
Post 3,751
Post 4,000
Post 4,250
Post 4,500
Post 4,757

I think that is enough. We will check back in, in another 245 posts.

Boone County Fair, Jay, Self-Portrait, Tenderloining, Willy

Food Truckin’: Boone County Fair Field Work

October 15, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

On the Friday of the Boone County Fair, I went out there with Jay and Willy for supper. I’m a big fan of the grinder and I found a food truck called Off the Griddle serving a variety of the sandwich, so I thought I would give them a try.

Here are some pictures:

Food Truckin': Boone County Fair Field Work

I can say that service was very friendly, but it was INCREDIBLY slow. It is not an exaggeration to say that I waited well over 15 minutes before I got my food. I ordered my food at the same time as Willy. He got his food and had eaten it, cleaned up his mess, and began to think about what he wanted to dessert before I even remotely saw my food. It is also not an exaggeration to say that double digit people that ordered after me got their food before me. I was fairly certain that they had completely forgot about my order.

When I finally got my food and went back to the table to eat it, by myself, since it took so freaking long, the food was okay. It was what those of us in the grinder biz say. NJGG. Not Jennie’s Grinders Grinder. But in fairness, the only thing that has ever approached it is Mema’s Grinders.

The verdict on Off the Griddle is that it was okay. I would never pursue it. If it was at a place and it was the only food truck there I would eat there, but I wouldn’t get the grinder again. Maybe go for the Philly Cheesesteak.

To washdown the grinder I went to Hawaii Grill for a Lotus Refresher:

They made me an off-menu drink that was incredible. The kid that designed it was very proud of it and he should have been. I would have knocked down about 4 or 5 of them, if they weren’t crazy expensive for such a small drink. However, the drink definitely redeemed the meal.

Next Sunday’s meal will cover all the food I ate at the Iowa State Fair!

Automobiles, Baby Got Rack, Boone County Fair, Contests, Logan, Melissa, Scottie D., Still Life, Teresa

Baby Got Rack Jr. – Boone County Fair

July 29, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

I announced a few weeks back that Baby Got Rack was not competing this year at this year’s Boone County Fair barbecue contest. However, that didn’t mean that there wasn’t plenty of people in the Photography 139 orbit competing to root for.

For starters, Logan entered and competed in his first ever barbecue contest. Logan has always been a pretty good cook and if you follow his Snapchat stories, you know that he has become very passionate about smoking in the last few years. He and Nathanial talked a big game about entering this year, but Nathanial got stuck in Florida and so Logan flew solo.

Secondly Scottie D.’s oldest progeny Austin decided he wanted to compete in the Youth division. Austin has a test run the previous Saturday and devised his recipe himself by picking the barbecue products in Scottie D.’s arsenal that had the coolest logos. A sound strategy if I have ever heard it.

Here are a few pictures from the barbecue battle:

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Austin one Grand Champion, even though he technically wasn’t eligible for it. But that is just how good he is!

Austin will be going down to compete at the Iowa State Fair on the Tuesday of the Iowa State Fair. I’ll be going down to photo document it and because I never turn down a free trip to “the Best State Fair… our State Fair is a great state fair. Don’t miss it. Don’t even be late. It’s dollars to doughnuts at our state fair. It’s the best state fair… in our state”!

As of the publishing of this blog, it is unclear whether or not Logan is going to go down to compete at the State Fair. Although I’m pretty sure Logan is competing at the Pufferbilly Days Barbecue Contest. Scottie D. is not competing at it because he is running it. Last I heard, Nathanial was considering it. I won’t be able to check much of it out because I’ll be dealing with the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest at the same time.

One other thing. Scottie D. threw his car in a Car Show that was going on during the barbecue competition. He won some kind of chairman’s prize or something. The guy needs to add on to his palatial estate just to house all his trophies.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Becky, Bill, Birthdays, Boone County Fair, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Contests, Dahlia, Dawn, Elizabeth, Evie, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Logan, Mary, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Pufferbilly Days, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Street Photography, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 410 – GUILTY PLEASURE

July 24, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Today is Dahlia’s birthday so I need to wish her a happy birthday. Happy birthday Dahlia!

Enjoy life without spreadsheets and emails and meetings and call centers and bills and jobs as long as you possibly can!

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This is your reminder that if you are interested in entering the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest, the deadline is Friday:

I’ve already heard from a few of you that you are entering and I am excited. Hopefully this is a popular year for the photo contest!

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It is the last collection of submissions of the month, so it is a good time revisit the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE FAQ:

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 7 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
NO.

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

Yes. That limit is 3. If you send me more than 3, I will post the first 3 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that 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 participation rates climb, that limit of 3 is subject to lower.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their largest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point.

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that.

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.

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You are probably wondering if you are every going to get to see this week’s submissions. It is one of my GUILTY PLEASURE(s) to make you wait. But were there a ton of people that were willing to share the shame of their GUILTY PLEASURE with all of us? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 17, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
2-Scott Degeneffe – 2 weeks
3-Mary Green – 2 weeks (3)
4-Mike Vest – 2 weeks
5-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks
6-Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks
7-Sheri Fakhouri – 5 weeks
8-Monica Jennings – 6 weeks (2)
9-Logan Kahler – 6 weeks (2)
10-Nathanial Brown – 7 weeks
11-Jesse Howard – 7 weeks
12-Tamara Peterson – 10 weeks
13-Alexis Stensland – 15 weeks (3)
14-Mindi Terrell – 22 weeks (3)
15-Brandon Kahler – 47 weeks
16-Linda Bennett – 51 weeks
17-Sarah Toot – 52 weeks (2)
18-Angie DeWaard – 56 weeks
19-Dawn Krause – 60 weeks
20-Kim Barker – 66 weeks
21-Joe Duff – 67 weeks (2)
22-Teresa Kahler – 78 weeks (2)
23-Carla Stensland – 78 weeks (2)
24-Micky Augustin – 80 weeks
25-Andy Sharp – 81 weeks
26-Bill Wentworth – 82 weeks
27-Cathie Morton – 86 weeks
28-Elizabeth Nordeen – 87 weeks
29-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 89 weeks
30-Kio Dettman – 91 weeks (3)

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

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN

Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 81 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Sommerset, Iowa) – 90 weeks

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 52 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Nathanial Brown (J.C. Newman Cigar Company – Tampa, Florida) – 8 weeks

Nathanial Brown (John’s Pass – Treasure Island – Florida)

Scott Degeneffe (Near Boone, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 92 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 57 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 68 weeks

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

Mary Green (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Clive, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 8 weeks

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 7 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 48 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 79 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Infamous Ink – Boone, Iowa) – 61 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Cathie Morton (Road to Newton, Iowa) – 87 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 88 weeks

Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 11 weeks

Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 82 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 16 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 23 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Maryland) – 53 weeks

Sarah Toot (Maryland)

Mike Vest (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 83 weeks

35 participants!! WooHoo! Another great week! Nearly tying a record currently held by FLOWER. Lots of guilty people out there! Also exciting is that thanks to Sarah Toot’s travelling ways, we’ve added Maryland to the map!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Maryland
+ Nebraska
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

32 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 60% of the way there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I took my picture about 1 mile from my front door, so I continue not to contribute.

The big milestones this week were Evie had her first submission of the year! WooHoo! Linda joined the 1 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! Another exciting development was that there were no streaks broken this week. WooHoo!

LIQUID – SUGGESTED BY SARAH TOOT

LIQUID! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a LIQUID image? Simply put it is an image where the subject or a major compositional element is a LIQUID. And there are so many LIQUID(s) out there. From water to Jones Soda to AE Chocolate Milk to Jagermeister to some kinds of soap to lotion. There are just so many possibilities!

While thinking about possible subjects for LIQUID meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with a fascinating image:

Time is liquid. One moment is no more important than any other and all moments quickly run away.
-Kurt Vonnegut

I look forward to your interpretation!

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of GUILTY PLEASURE in this place that will hold only a little bit of judgment on your pleasures next Monday.

Amanda, Animals, Black & White, Boone County Fair, Candid Portrait, Dahlia, Event, Greyson, Logan, Nature, Russ, Still Life, Street Photography, Teresa

The Next Second You Were Gone

April 22, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Seems like a good time to clean up the July backlog. This collection of images was taken in July of last year, but never really found a spot in a previous “An Artist’s Notebook” entry. Some pictures are of a storm. Some are from the Boone County Fair. Some are of a baby bird, or an immature bird. Some are from Dahlia’s birthday party.

Always feels good to get a little bit of that backlog cleared out.