Category Archives: Alisa

Alexis, Alisa, Anders, Animals, Baier, Becca, Bethany, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Derrick, Elainie, Evie, Flat Earth Joe, Holidays, House, Iowa State, Jason, Jay, Jen, Jesse, Johnathan, Jorge, Logan, Mom, Movies, Nader, Naima, Nate, Pastor Sarah, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Shorty, Tenderloining, Teresa, Tim, Willy, Youth Group

Won’t Take that Credit; I know Where We Get It; Them Blessings Be Comin’ from God Above

November 23, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Rather than my standard picture of an inflatable turkey, thought (with apologies to Lecrae, I’d give thanks for some of the many blessings in my life.

Count it up, count it up, count it up.
Line ’em up, line ’em up, line ’em up.

Blessed with a tremendous biological family. Blessed to share DNA and a life with these people.

Blessed to be a part of Olivia’s family. Blessed to learn a new definition of the word “family” from Shorty and Doris.

Blessed to be a part of an incredible church family. From Youth Group to Methodist Men to the people I see in the pews on Sundays.

Blessed to have a job and double blessed to have a great work family. 7 AM comes pretty early, but so many of the people I work with make the struggle worth the effort.

Blessed to share a life with this band of brothers. Not one of us has any fashion sense, but I’d still take a bullet for any of them.

Blessed to fit in with this band of sisters as well.

Blessed to be able to share my love of weird cinema with like minded individuals once a month.

Blessed to be a Cyclone and double blessed to have somebody to share so many trips to Jack Trice (a spiritual place for me) with.

Blessed to have a roof over my head that belongs to me. Blessed that I can extend that roof over friends and family when their life needs it. Blessed that when I say, “Want to help paint by house?” 20+ people show up.

Blessed that friends from past jobs are still important pillars of my current life.

Blessed that people that aren’t related to me consider me an uncle to them.

Blessed to have a car that I can drive out of town and not worry about the tire falling off.

Blessed to have so many people in my life that when I say, “I’m coming to your city”, they say, “You’re staying with us right?”

Blessed to have so many people in my life that fill gaps.

Blessed that even though I’m aged, I still healthy enough to still ball. Although pretty poorly these days.

Blessed that even though I’m aged, I still have people in my life that keep me young.

Blessed to have people in my life that want to change the world for the better, when I get cynical.

Blessed to have art in my life.

Blessed to have a beautiful beard. Even if the old guys at my church hate it.

Blessed to have people who will help with projects like this, no questions asked.

Blessed to share a life and a domicile with this crazy beast. Teaches me about selfless love every single day.

Blessed to have a chance to spread my blessings to others, sometimes, with some of my favorite people.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of my blessings. But I don’t want it to start to sound like I’m bragging.

Alisa, Andy, Jaxon, Mission Trip, Pastor Sarah, Travel, Youth Group

The Only Thing I Fear is the IRS and God

September 27, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

Looking for a chance to give to a good cause and eat completely edible food? Then do I have an opportunity for you!

Next Wednesday (October 4, 2017) the Boone First United Methodist Church Youth Group will be having a fundraiser to help pay for their mission trip to a yet to be determined location!

Just come out to the Boone Pizza Ranch between 5-8 and bring one of the slips below:

For every one of these we get turned in, we will get $2 towards our Mission Trip. Plus, there will be tip jars all around the Pizza Ranch where you can give a donation to help the cause.

What would you be helping to support? Take a look at the pictures below from past mission trips:

So please come out to Pizza Ranch next Wednesday and help support great kids doing great work!

Alisa, Candid Portrait, Formal Portrait, Mission Trip, Pastor Sarah, Travel, Youth Group

@BOONEFUMCYG

June 25, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

By the time that this publishes, I should be on the road to Saint Paul with 3 other “adults” and 14 youth from my church for a mission trip.

If you are in the Minnesota, there is a chance you might be able to join us for a community dinner on Thursday night. You’d have to text me for details if that interested you.

However, if you aren’t in Minnesota, the best way to follow this adventure is to get on your phone. Get on Instagram. Follow @boonefumcyg. If you don’t have a phone, but do have a computer, you can follow us at the following URL:

@BOONEFUMCYG

Now there isn’t a ton of time to be dinking around with the social medias when you are doing

All the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.

However, there will be a handful of pictures posted each day, I’d guess. You might even see sweet pictures like the following:

Also, on Sunday, July 2, in between services, the members of the mission trip will be giving their testimony about the mission trip. In Fellowship Hall. So if you’re interested, you should show up for that.

Alisa, Art, Youth Group

The Last Youth Group

May 23, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

Last Wednesday was the last youth group of the year. It was an interesting year and filled with challenges, but hopefully it turned out alright.

On the last night, we just had a movie night. The kids watched MOANA and painted. Here are a few pictures from that night:

It will be interesting to see what happens with the youth group next year. Hopefully, they finally hire somebody to fill Alisa’s giant shoes.

If you’re wondering what I’m going to do with my future Wednesday nights, I will be starting a new photo project (hopefully) and will be revealing the details (hopefully) next Wednesday.

Alisa, Mission Trip, Pastor Sarah, Youth Group

Get Your Ash On!

February 22, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

A quick break for an advertisement!

Hey if you are free on Wednesday nights and generally hungry on Wednesday nights, do I have a deal for you!

Come down to the Boone First United Methodist Church at 6 PM for a Spaghetti Dinner. The cost is an at-will offering! Can’t beat that price. And all the money goes to pay for the Youth Group’s Mission Trip this June in Saint Paul.

To repeat:

WHAT: Spaghetti Dinner
WHERE: Boone First United Methodist Church
WHEN: Wednesday, March 1 – 6 PM
WHAT: Fundraiser for Youth Group Mission Trip to Saint Paul
COST: At-Will Donation

You can come. Knock down some tasty vittles and then go upstairs and join us for Ash Wednesday Service.
You can come. Knock down some tasty vittles and then go to your church for Ash Wednesday Service.
You can come. Knock down some tasty vittles and then go to you neighborhood bar and tie one on.

Just come eat with us.

Support these kids:

Do things like this:

Or this:

Hope to see many of you there next Wednesday!

Alisa, Evie, Michelle, Self-Portrait Project, Youth Group

Selfie Project Check In

February 1, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett 6 Comments

Since it is the beginning of a new month, thought now would be a good time to check back in on the Selfie Project and post a few of my new favorites.

Day 10

Day 13

Day 14

Day 18

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 25

Day 27

Day 29

Day 30

Grow beard grow!

Alisa, Art, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Pastor Sarah, Street Photography, WPC - Alternate, Youth Group

Get Crazy with the Cheez Whiz

January 17, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

Here are the ART images that didn’t make the cut for this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

Thanks for taking the time to help me mock this pathetic collection of losers.

Alexis, Alisa, Derrick, Elainie, Ernie, Mom, Nader, Self-Portrait, Self-Portrait Project, Teresa

Selfie Project of 2017

January 10, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett 7 Comments

So I tried and failed at a Selfie Project in 2016. I’m trying again in 2017. Last year I took the pictures with Blue Boy. Who you may remember is my Canon point & shoot.

This year I’m going to take the pictures with the front facing camera on my Google Pixel. I feel this will enhance the chance of this project working because I always have my phone on my person. That way I don’t have to constantly remember another camera. Therefore I’m taking these pictures with the worst camera I own. Unless you count my pinhole camera and if you were thinking, “Yeah, but what about your pinhole camera?” I say to you, “I’m impressed that you remember that I own a pinhole camera! Well done!”

That being said, the Google Pixel camera is easily the best phone camera I’ve ever owned. Partially because it is made my Sony (shout out to Sony!) and partially because of a myriad of features that are included with the camera. I will one day soon publish a review of the camera, and you’ll know what I mean.

Another thing I should point out is that the rear facing camera on a phone is always way better than the front facing camera. But I’m using the front facing camera for ease of use. Even though it tops out about 4 megapixels. But I don’t have time to teach you about the megapixel lie. That is a subject for another time.

And this time, is the time to share the first ten pictures from the Selfie Project (circa 2017):

Day 0

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Part of the purpose of this project is to document my magnificent beard growth. I recently joined the Dollar Beard Club, like beard connoisseur Andrew Bardole. I’ve been enjoying their wonderful beard shampoo, beard oil, and beard cream. It makes me smell like a lumberjack that just got out of a hot spring bath in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. So… pretty amazing.

Although I’ll probably check in on this project from time to time on the blog known as An Artist’s Notebook (that is this blog silly), I don’t know that it will be a regular occurrence. However, these photos will be published on Instagram on the daily. Not only can you check out the progress of the scruff, you can check out Selfie Project Superfan Elizabeth’s daily critique of my smile. So everybody wins!

If you’ve forgotten, my Instagram handle is @christopherdbennett

Be warned, if you hang with me now and again, you might get thrown into the Selfie Project Mix. I’m hoping to even get my picture taken with noted Selfie queens like Alisa and Alexis and Elainie. Fingers crossed and you’ve been warned!

Alisa, Anders, Angie, Baier, Becky, Bethany, Bill, Blogging, Brooke, Carla, Cathie, Cousin Amy, Dae Hee, Dawn, Derrick, Dustin, Eric, Faust, Flat Earth Joe, Funk, Geri, Holidays, Houlihan, Jay, Jeff Daniel, Jen, Jesse, Jill, Jodie, Joe Duff, Jorge, Kim, Laura, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Nader, Pastor Sarah, Russell, Sara, Scottie D., Shannon, Shawn Lockner, Steph, Suzie, Teresa, Vest, Willy

To a Great 2017!

January 1, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

Pretend like I published this on January 1, just like I meant to do.

It is that day at Photography 139 Headquarters where we take down our old Photography 139 Calendar and put it in the trunk with many of the other remnants of our past.

We like to think that 2016 was a successful year for Photography 139 and I’d like to thank everybody that was responsible for making it appear so.

So to my list of email blog subscribers…

Jay Janson
Jason Baier
Shannon Bardole
Scott Degeneffe
Corey Faust
Susanna Funk
Jill Gorshe
Jesse Howard
Sara Lockner
Teresa Kahler
Nader Parsaei
Becky Perkovich
Bernice Verhoorn
Suzie Brannen
Eric Hiatt
Kim Barker
Cousin Amy
Russell Kennerly
Tim Tuck
Tim Tucker’s Lady Friend
Michelle Haupt
Geri Derner
Micky Augustin
Angie DeWaard
Mike Vest
DaeHee Yoon
Monica Henning
Sarah Karber
Carla Stensland
Laura Miller
Joseph Lynch
Jorge Rios
Anders Runestad
Laura Miller
Michael Houlihan
Dawn Krause
Joe Duff
Derrick Gorshe
Dustin Jackson
Bethany Miller
Logan Kahler
Elizabeth Nordeen
Nicole Nickens
Corinna
Jeff Daniel
Stephanie Kim
Bob Person
Melissa Degeneffe
Willy MacAlpine
Janice Peterson
Jessica Potts
Steve Junck
Shawn Lockner
Brooke Milligan
Cathie Raley
Paul Golden
Linda Toot
Jodie Bennett
Dan Pottratz
Alisa Baker
Cassandra Chadwick

Thanks for a great 2016! Of course, I’ll try to do better in 2017. Hopefully our little family will continue to grow in the new year!

Alisa, Angie, Art, Bill, Kim, Steph, Still Life, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 61 – STILL LIFE

November 14, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

There weren’t a whole lot of takers for STILL LIFE. Must have been a depression of some kind out there.

But you don’t want to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates, you want to see the submissions. Here they are:

Kim Barker

Bill Wentworth

Angie DeWaard

Stephanie Kim

Cathie Raley 1

Cathie Raley 2

Christopher D. Bennett

Mike Vest

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:

NIGHT!

NIGHT is a pretty self-explanatory theme. A NIGHT picture is any picture taken at night. Yes, I’d encourage you to get outside and take a picture with a long exposure or lit by the super full moon that will be out tonight. However, any picture taken at night or suggesting the night will do!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

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

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

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Great news! Alisa Baker is the latest person to show taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for a Photogrpahy 139 email subscription. Alisa is one of my favoritest people in the world. She was formerly the Youth Pastor at my church until she left us for a similar full-time position in some river town in THAT part of the state. Which reminds me that I need to go visit her soon since she still owes me dinner and I think you all know how I feel about free food. In addition to serving God as a “profession”, Alisa also is known to spend her free time serving God while doing mission work in Haiti. Alisa also introduced me to one of my current favorite musicians Lecrae. Go check out “Church Clothes” or “Take Me As I Am” or “Gangland” or “Nuthin'”. I’ll wait…… Alisa’s cat also has its own Twitter account. No. Naima isn’t getting her own Twitter account. Instagram account? Maybe. Twitter account… no. So if you see Alisa out walking the mean streets of River City feel free to give her a knowing glance and to teach her the Super-Secret Photography 139 handshake.

Want your own Photography 139 email subscription? Call, email, or text me and I’ll get you the hook up.

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