Category Archives: Dawn

Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Drone, Elizabeth, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sara, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 347 – SQUARE

May 9, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

WARNING: THE THEME FOR NEXT WEEK IS THE OTHER WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE THAT DOES HAVE A SECOND RULE. READ THE DIRECTIONS CLOSELY.

Square has proven to be a pretty popular theme.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, May 2, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
+ Sarah Karber – 1 week
+ Angie DeWaard – 2 weeks
+ Jesse Howard – 2 weeks
+ Evie Gorshe – 3 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 4 weeks
+ Sara Lockner – 4 weeks
+ Becky Parmelee – 4 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 5 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 5 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 6 weeks
+ Monica Henning – 7 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 7 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 15 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 15 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 15 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 16 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 17 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 18 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 19 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 23 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 24 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 26 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 29 weeks

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:

Kio Dettman – 30 weeks

Kio Dettman

Linda Bennett – 1 week

Linda Bennett

Tamara Peterson – 16 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 20 weeks

Carla Stensland – 16 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Teresa Kahler – 16 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 17 weeks

Andy Sharp – 19 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 27 weeks

Joe Duff – 6 weeks

Kim Barker – 5 weeks

Logan Kahler – 8 weeks

Logan Kahler

Elizabeth Nordeen – 25 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 7 weeks

Micky Augustin – 18 weeks

Monica Henning – 8 weeks

Cathie Raley – 24 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 5 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 3 weeks

Dawn Krause – 6 weeks

Dawn Krause

Sara Lockner – 5 weeks

Sara Lockner

Jesse Howard – 3 weeks

Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks

I’m not going to get into who had streaks broke and how many participants there were, because Mediacom sucks. Just absolutely sucks. You are lucky you are even seeing this post, that is how bad Mediacom sucks.

There were 31 submissions. That is all you get.

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:

SLICE OF LIFE

SLICE OF LIFE! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a SLICE OF LIFE photo? It might not be what you think. Hence this week’s special rule. SLICE OF LIFE is a reference to the photo postcard company that my Dad created. That is why (and here is the special rule) this week, the theme is NOT up for interpretation. This week’s theme is to take a picture that you could see used as a postcard. That is the only interpretation available to you.

Some of you might not live in a tourist hotbed like Boone, Iowa (no seriously, Boone has lots of tourist attractions from Pufferbilly Days to the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace to Ledge State Park to the Boone Speedway to name a few) but there is certainly something in your town that you could see put on a postcard. For those of you that are under the age of 40 you may have to ask an elder what a postcard is, but I’m sure they will be happy to tell you all about it. And also other amazing things that happened in the 80s or 70s or before.

To give you another few examples of postcards. Here are a few postcards that my Dad made that I hastily scanned this morning:

When you look at these postcards, remember that these were made in a darkroom. With film! Quite a bit harder than dragging and dumping layers in Photoshop.

So remember, it has to be the kind of image you would see on a postcard. Not a picture of your pet or your kid and then saying, this is a “slice of my life”. That doesn’t qualify this week.

Do I expect this to possibly be a streak killer for many people? Maybe, but maybe SQUARE already was a major streak killer, who knows?

BONUS: If you want to go the extra mile, this isn’t a requirement, you can take your image in black & white as my Dad’s postcards were black & white.

While considering your SLICE OF LIFE subjects, meditate on the following quote:

The world before us is a postcard, and I imagine the story we are writing on it.
-Mary E. Pearson

I look forward to seeing the digital postcards you send me.

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.

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

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 SLICE OF LIFE in this place that is nothing more than my postcard to the world next Monday.

Art, Dawn, Pastor Sarah, Road Trip, Town Sign Project, WPC - Submissions

Town Sign Project: Sioux County

May 3, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

I need to start by pointing out that in the chaos that was my morning yesterday I jacked up Dawn’s #INSTAGOOD submission by accidentally posting Sarah’s post twice. So to make amends…

This was Sarah’s submission:

Sarah Karber

This is Dawn’s submission:

Dawn Krause

This is already fixed on the website.

I’ll be better in the future. I probably won’t, but I can claim that I will be.

+++++++

Several weeks back I took to the open road and harvested the town signs of Sioux County. Here are some facts about Sioux County:

+ Population is 34,900 making it the 20th most populous county in Iowa. Below Wapello County and above Lee County.
+ The largest town is Sioux Center. The county seat is Orange City.
+ Sioux County was formed on January 15, 1851.
+ Named after the Sioux tribe.
+ Home of the Orange City Tulip Festival.
+ Home of Dort University and Northwestern College.
+ Major highways are: US-18, US-75, IA-10, IA-12, and IA-60.
+ Adjacent counties are Lyon, O’Brien, and Plymouth.
+ Is currently at peak population.

Sioux County has a beautiful courthouse:

The Sioux County Courthouse located in Orange City, Iowa.

The Sioux County Freedom Rock is located in Hawarden, Iowa:

With Sioux County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

69 counties completed. 69.7% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Sioux County:

Sioux Center, Iowa
Sioux Center
growing bright
Population: 8,229 (+1,181)

Orange City, Iowa
Welcome to ORANGE CITY
Population: 6,627 (+267)

Rock Valley, Iowa
Rock Valley
Place of opportunities
Population: 4,059 (+705)

Hawarden, Iowa
WELCOME TO HAWARDEN
ESTABLISHED 1887
Population: 2,700 (+154)

Hull, Iowa
WELCOME TO HULL
Population: 2,384 (+1,168)

Alton, Iowa
Welcome to ALTON
Stop & Visit our Historical Attractions!
Population: 1,248 (+541)

Hospers, Iowa
Hospers Public Library & Museum
Population: 718 (+20)

Boyden, Iowa
1889
ESTABLISHED
BOYDEN
Population: 701 (+3)

Ireton, Iowa
Welcome to Ireton
est. 1882
Small Town Values with Big City Goals
Population: 590 (-19)

Granville, Iowa
Welcome to GRANVILLE
Home of Black Soil
Population: 310 (-2)

Maurice, Iowa
Welcome to Maurice
Small in size, but on the rise
Population: 265 (-10)

Chatsworth, Iowa
CHATSWORTH
Population: 75 (-4)

Matlock, Iowa
Welcome to Matlock
Population: 74 (-13)

Sioux County has a solid collection of signs, but maybe nothing spectacular. The worst by far is Hospers. The best I could do there was get a picture of their library. Which is strange because Hospers is near a major highway and has a FASCINATING art collection. Hospers is also the closest I’ve come to dying on this trip. A woman almost hit me with her car while I was walking towards this FASCINATING sculpture located in the middle of one of their business district intersections. I have to confess, I was staring at my phone and not paying attention.

To her credit, the woman did stop and talk to me for several minutes. We had a great conversation about the town’s FASCINATING art. She then reminded me not to look at my phone while walking in the middle of the road. Which I confess, is solid advice.

What town gets the purple ribbon for Best in Show in Sioux County? I am fascinated by Granville’s “Home of Black Soil” sign. Turns out, BLACK SOIL is a 1930 novel by Josephine Donovan. A native of Granville. The novel is set in Granville. I do like the Maurice sign. Although I don’t know what hot air balloons have to do with their town. I think that might be a mountain in the background as well. Maybe that is the Loess Hils, but Maurice isn’t really in the Loess Hills. Plus Maurice is home to the Famous Fire Escape Slide. That is something that should be on their sign! I have to give it to Orange City and their wooden shoe sign.

Orange City – Best in Show – Sioux County

There are a few alternate town signs in Sioux County:

Orange City – Alternate

Alton – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Bremer County

Best in Show – Buena Vista County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Cass County

Best in Show – Cedar County

Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Best in Show – Cherokee County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Fremont County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Grundy County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hancock County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Sow – Harrison County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Iowa County

Best in Show – Jackson County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Jones County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Lyon County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Mahaska County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe County

Best in Show – Montgomery County

Best in Show – O’Brien County

Best in Show – Osceola County

Best in Show – Page County

Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Ringgold County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby County

Best in Show – Sioux County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Taylor County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago County

Best in Show – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Plymouth County.

Andy, Angie, Becky, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Flowers, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Lensbaby, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Pastor Sarah, Sara, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 346 – #INSTAGOOD

May 2, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

#INSTAGOOD proved to be a pretty popular theme. Which is good, because there literally isn’t an easier theme on the Year 9 Calendar.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, April 25, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Angie DeWaard – 1 week
+ Jesse Howard – 1 week
+ Evie Gorshe – 2 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 3 weeks
+ Sara Lockner – 3 weeks
+ Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 4 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 4 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 5 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks
+ Monica Henning – 6 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 6 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 14 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 14 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 14 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 15 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 16 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 17 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 18 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 22 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 23 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 25 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 28 weeks

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 347 - #INSTAGOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE

Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week

Sarah Karber – 1 week

Angie DeWaard – 2 weeks

Jesse Howard – 2 weeks

Evie Gorshe – 3 weeks

Kim Barker – 4 weeks

Sara Lockner – 4 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 4 weeks

Joe Duff – 5 weeks

Dawn Krause – 5 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 6 weeks

Monica Henning – 7 weeks

Logan Kahler – 7 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 15 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 15 weeks

Carla Stensland – 15 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 16 weeks

Micky Augustin – 17 weeks

Andy Sharp – 18 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 19 weeks

Cathie Raley – 23 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 24 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 26 weeks

Kio Dettman – 29 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett – 448 weeks

25 submissions from 25 participants! That is a great week. I do believe that the 25 participants is a new record.

Only 1 streak was snapped. Linda’s streak of 5 did not make it to 6.

Shannon extended her streak to 26! That is six straight months of submissions! WooHoo!

Here is the current list of top streaks!

1. Kio – 29 weeks
2. Shannon – 26 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 24 weeks
4. Cathie – 23 weeks
5. Bill – 19 weeks
6. Andy Sharp – 18 weeks
7. Micky Augustin – 17 weeks
8. Michelle Haupt – 16 weeks
9. Teresa Kahler – 15 weeks
9. Tamara Peterson – 15 weeks
9. Carla Stensland – 15 weeks

SQUARE

SQUARE! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a SQUARE image? A SQUARE image is any image where one of the major elements of your composition is a SQUARE. Remember, all SQUAREs are rectangles, but not all rectangles are SQUAREs. If you look around, you will see that there is are SQUAREs all over the place. Once you see them, you won’t be able to stop seeing them. The next step is to photograph one. I wouldn’t even hate on you if you took a picture of your dog and used a 1:1 aspect ratio.

There are also other definitions of SQAURE you can ponder.

While thinking on your possible subjects for SQUARE, meditate on the following song lyric:

I used to be a renegade
I used to fool around
But I couldn’t take the punishment
And had to settle down
Now I’m playing it real straight
And yes, I cut my hair
You might think I’m crazy
But I don’t even care
Because I can tell what’s going on
It’s hip to be square

I look forward to seeing your interpretations.

RULES

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

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 SQUARE in this place that is nothing more than proof that I’m a square next Monday.

Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Black & White, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Evie, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sara, Shannon, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 345 – LETTERS OR NUMBERS

April 25, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

WARNING: READ THE RULES FOR NEXT WEEK’S THEME CARFEULLY. THERE IS ONE CHANGE FOR NEXT WEEK’S THEME!

LETTERS OR NUMBERS has proven to be a fairly popular theme.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, April 18, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Evie Gorshe – 1 week
+ Sarah Karber – 1 week
+ Kim Barker – 2 weeks
+ Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
+ Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 3 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 3 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 4 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks
+ Monica Henning – 4 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 5 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 13 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 13 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 13 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 14 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 15 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 16 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 17 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 21 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 22 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 24 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 27 weeks

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:

Teresa Kahler – 14 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Sara Lockner – 3 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 23 weeks

Andy Sharp – 17 weeks

Evie Gorshe – 2 weeks

Micky Augustin – 16 weeks

Joe Duff – 4 weeks

Kio Dettman – 28 weeks

Kio Dettman

Tamara Peterson – 14 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 1 week

Bill Wentworth – 18 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Carla Stensland – 14 weeks

Carla Stensland

Michelle Haupt – 15 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks

Linda Bennett – 5 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 25 weeks

Logan Kahler – 6 weeks

Kim Barker – 3 weeks

Dawn Krause – 4 weeks

Dawn Krause

Cathie Raley – 22 weeks

Jesse Howard – 1 week

Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks

Monica Henning – 5 weeks

Monica Henning

31 submissions from 24 participants! That is a great week!

Only 1 “streak” was snapped. Sarah wasn’t able to built on her submission from last week. However, to balance that out, Angie participated for the first time in Year 9. Hopefully this is the sign of big things to come!

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 28 weeks
2. Shannon – 25 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 23 weeks
4. Cathie – 22 weeks
5. Bill – 18 weeks
6. Andy Sharp – 17 weeks
7. Micky Augustin – 16 weeks
8. Michelle Haupt – 15 weeks
9. Teresa Kahler – 14 weeks
9. Tamara Peterson – 14 weeks
9. Carla Stensland – 14 weeks

#INSTAGOOD

#INSTAGOOD! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a #INSTAGOOD picture? #INSTAGOOD is the second most popular hashtag used on Instagram. As of this morning, it has been used on Instagram 1,531,803,168 times. You might be thinking, “Well, that is an interesting statistic, that doesn’t tell me what it means!”

Don’t worry baby birds, I’m gonna feed you.

The #INSTAGOOD hashtag is used when an Instagram user thinks that the picture is particularly good. Not just your average picture, but a good picture. For our uses, this week’s theme is to send me you best picture you took during this week. From between 12:01 PM today and 10:59 next Monday.

So that brings me to the new rule for this week’s theme:

SEND ME ONE AND ONLY ONE PICTURE!! THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE BEST PICTURE YOU TOOK THIS WEEK! DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT SENDING ME MULTIPLE IMAGES AND TELLING ME TO PICK THE BEST ONE. I WILL NOT DO IT!! I WILL COUNT THAT AS ZERO SUBMISSIONS! I’D HATE TO SEEN ANY STREAKS ENDED CAUSE OF A TECHNICALITY!

So now that is clear. When considering possible subjects for your best picture this week, meditate on these song lyrics from a song from THE KARATE KID:

Try to be best
‘Cause you’re only a man
And a man’s gotta learn to take it
Try to believe
Though the going gets rough
That you gotta hang tough to make it
History repeats itself
Try and you’ll succeed
Never doubt that you’re the one
And you can have your dreams!
You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down

I look forwarding to seeing the best you got next Monday!

RULES

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

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 #INSTAGOOD in this place that is nothing more than the best I got next Monday.

Andy, Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Evie, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Pastor Sarah, Sara, Shannon, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 344 – ORANGE

April 18, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Orange has proven to be a pretty popular theme. Orange you glad?

As of 11:00 AM on Monday, April 11, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Kim Barker – 1 week
+ Sara Lockner – 1 week
+ Becky Parmelee – 1 week
+ Joe Duff – 2 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 2 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 3 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks
+ Monica Henning – 3 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 4 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 12 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 12 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 12 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 13 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 14 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 15 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 16 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 20 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 21 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 23 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 26 weeks

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:

Linda Bennett – 4 weeks

Linda Bennett

Sarah Karber – 1 week

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 24 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 13 weeks

Kio Dettman – 27 weeks

Kio Dettman

Christopher D. Bennett

Joe Duff – 3 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 22 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 13 weeks

Micky Augustin – 15 weeks

Evie Gorshe – 1 week

Bill Wentworth – 17 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 14 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks

Andy Sharp – 16 weeks

Andy Sharp

Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks

Dawn Krause – 3 weeks

Sara Lockner – 2 weeks

Logan Kahler – 5 weeks

Kim Barker – 2 weeks

Cathie Raley – 21 weeks

Carla Stensland – 13 weeks

Carla Stensland

Monica Henning – 4 weeks

30 submissions from 23 participants! You would think I knew more than one person that had a favorite color of ORANGE!

Amazingly, there wasn’t a single streak snapped AND the first submission from Sarah Karber this cycle. All very exciting stuff!!

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 27 weeks
2. Shannon – 24 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 22 weeks
4. Cathie – 21 weeks
5. Bill – 17 weeks
6. Andy Sharp – 16 weeks
7. Micky Augustin – 15 weeks
8. Michelle Haupt – 14 weeks
9. Teresa Kahler – 13 weeks
9. Tamara Peterson – 13 weeks
9. Carla Stensland – 13 weeks

A really great week!

LETTERS OR NUMBERS

LETTERS OR NUMBERS! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a LETTERS OR NUMBERS picture? A LETTERS OR NUMBERS picture is simply any picture that features LETTERS OR NUMBERS or both! They can be used to create words or they can just be a random jumble like in the theme reveal image.

While thinking on possible subjects for your LETTERS OR NUMBERS picture, meditate on the following qoute:

Why’ is the only question that bothers people enough to have an entire letter of the alphabet named after it.

The alphabet does not go ‘A B C D What? When? How?’ but it does go ‘V W X Why? Z.
-Douglas Adams

I look forward to seeing your interpretations next Monday:

RULES

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

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 LETTERS OR NUMBERS in this place that is nothing more than letters and numbers and symbols next Monday.

Andy, Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Christianity, Dawn, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sara, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 343 – GRATITUDE

April 11, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

I’m proud to report that many people have found something in their live to give thanks for in photographic form.

As of 10:59 AM on Monday, April 11, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Joe Duff – 1 week
+ Dawn Krause – 1 week
+ Mike Vest – 1 week
+ Linda Bennett – 2 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks
+ Evie Gorshe – 2 weeks
+ Monica Henning – 2 weeks
+ Jesse Howard – 2 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 3 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 11 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 11 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 11 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 12 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 13 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 14 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 15 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 19 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 20 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 22 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 25 weeks

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:

Becky Parmelee – 1 week

Dawn Krause – 2 weeks

Dawn Krause

Teresa Kahler – 12 weeks

Andy Sharp – 15 weeks

Monica Henning – 3 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks

Sara Lockner – 1 week

Sara Lockner

Carla Stensland – 12 weeks

Carla Stensland

Kio Dettman – 26 weeks

Kio Dettman

Linda Bennett – 3 weeks

Linda Bennett

Michelle Haupt – 13 weeks

Cathie Raley – 20 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Elizabeth Nordeen – 21 weeks

Joe Duff – 2 weeks

Micky Augustin – 14 weeks

Logan Kahler – 4 weeks

Logan Kahler

Bill Wentworth – 16 weeks

Kim Barker – 1 week

Kim Barker

Tamara Peterson – 12 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 23 weeks

30 submissions from 21 participants! That is a solid week!

There were only 3 streaks snapped this week. Vest couldn’t extend his streak to two weeks. Evie and Jesse had two week streaks snapped.

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 26 weeks
2. Shannon – 23 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 21 weeks
4. Cathie – 20 weeks
5. Bill – 16 weeks

26 weeks in a row for Kio! That is 6 straight months of submissions!

ORANGE

ORANGE! What a great theme for Week 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is an ORANGE image? An ORANGE image is simply and image where the subject of the image OR a major compositional element of the image is the color ORANGE.

While considering possible subjects for your ORANGE theme meditate on the following quote:

Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow.
– Wassily Kandinsky

RULES

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

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 ORANGE in this place that contains a little bit of yellow humanity next Monday.

Andree, Angie, Baier, Basketball, Becky, Brandon, Carla, Dawn, Derrick, Elizabeth, Faust, Flowers, Jason, Jesse, Jill, Jorge, Linda, Lowell, Macro, Michelle, Micky, Pastor Sarah, Robert, Russell, Sara, Shawn Lockner, Tim, Toby

Fall Apart Again

April 7, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Year 17 of the Roundball Oracles has come to an end. On Monday night, Kansas used a flaw in the court that injured North Carolina’s best player to help them overcome the Tar Heels in the last minute of the game. It was an otherwise great game and it is sad that it was partially decided by an injury due to a flaw in the court construction.

Ben Baier was the winner of this year’s pool. He is the youngest to ever win it. He joins this list:

PAST ROUNDBALL ORACLE CHAMPIONS

2022 – Ben Baier
2021 – Micky Augustin
2020 – No Tournament
2019 – Becky Parmelee
2018 – Paul Golden
2017 – Paul Golden
2016 – Michelle Haupt
2015 – Derek Dohrman
2014 – Brandon Kahler
2013 – William McAlpine
2012 – Lowell Davis
2011 – Carrie Baier
2010 – Mark Wolfram
2009 – Mark Wolfram
2008 – Mark Wolfram
2007 – Tim Peterson
2006 – William McAlpine
2005 – William McAlpine

Where there is a champion, there also has to be a last place. This year’s The Sara “winner” was Joey Randazzo.

Past “The Sara” Winners

2022 – Joey Randazzo
2021 – Rachel Gildersleeve
2020 – No Tournament
2019 – Russell Kennerly
2018 – Robert Henning
2017 – Shannon Bardole
2016 – Laura Priest
2015 – Derrick Gorshe
2014 – Sara Lockner

Note, Olivia Baier actually finished below Mr. Randazzo, but as she is a child, she is not eligible for The Sara.

Here are the Final Standings:

1. Ben Baier – 273 points
2. Sara Lockner – 271 points
3. Shawn Lockner – 242 points
4. Rachel Gildersleeve – 242 points
5. Linda Bennett – 232 points
6. Becky Parmelee – 231 points
7. Carla Stensland – 229 points
8. Angie DeWaard – 224 points
9. Humble Narrator – 224 points
10. Tim Peterson – 223 points
11. Jason Baier – 217 points
12. Lowell Davis – 215 points
13. Derek Dohrman – 215 points
14. Carrie Baier – 214 points
15. Sarah Karber – 210 points
16. Micky Augustin – 209 points
17. Elizabeth Nordeen – 206 points
18. Jorge Rios – 203 points
19. Brandon Kahler – 203 points
20. Will Baier – 197 points
21. Jordan Toot – 197 points
22. Corey Faust – 197 points
23. Andree Jauhari – 192 points
24. Jesse Howard – 191 points
25. Dawn Krause – 182 points
26. Derrick Gorshe – 181 points
27. Michelle Haupt – 179 points
28. Jackson Faust – 176 points
29. Jason Stensland – 168 points
30. J.J. Baier – 164 points
31. Russell Kennerly – 161 points
32. Toby Sebring – 157 points
33. Robert Henning – 151 points
34. Jill Gorshe – 147 points
35. Joey Randazzo – 143 points
36. Olivia Baier – 141 points

I’m already looking forward to next season. Iowa State will have to replace a lot from this year’s team and one of their assistant coaches, but could be a good team. You never know. This year’s team definitely wasn’t supposed to make the Sweet Sixteen!

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Seems like a good time to share some flower pictures from last year:

I still have some flower pictures left to share from last year.

Andy, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Evie, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kio, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Naima, Shannon, Still Life, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 342 – FRAMED

April 4, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

FRAMED has proven to be a theme that is fair in popularity.

As of 10:59 AM on Monday, April 4, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Kim Barker – 1 week
+ Linda Bennett – 1 week
+ Suzie Brannen – 1 week
+ Evie Gorshe – 1 week
+ Layla Gorshe – 1 week
+ Jesse Howard – 1 week
+ Sara Lockner – 1 week
+ Monica Henning – 2 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 2 weeks
+ Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 10 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 10 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 10 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 11 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 12 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 13 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 14 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 18 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 19 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 21 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 24 weeks

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:

Evie Gorshe – 2 weeks

Monica Henning – 3 weeks

Dawn Krause – 1 week

Andy Sharp – 14 weeks

Joe Duff – 1 week

Joe Duff

Kio Dettman – 25 weeks

Kio Dettman

Tamara Peterson – 11 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 22 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 15 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 12 weeks

Cathie Raley – 19 weeks

Linda Bennett – 2 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 11 weeks

Jesse Howard – 2 weeks

Logan Kahler – 3 weeks

Logan Kahler

Elizabeth Nordeen – 20 weeks

Micky Augustin – 13 weeks

Carla Stensland – 11 weeks

Mike Vest – 1 week

26 submissions from 21 participants! That is a solid week!

There were only 4 streaks snapped this week. Kim, Layla, and Sara could not build on their submissions from last week. Becky had her two week snapped.

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 25 weeks
2. Shannon – 22 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 20 weeks
4. Cathie – 19 weeks
5. Bill – 15 weeks

GRATITUDE

GRATITUDE! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a GRATITUDE picture? It is simply a picture of something or somebody that you are thankful for. It could also be somebody showing thanks as well.

While considering possible GRATITUDE subjects, meditate on the following quote:

“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: It must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.”
– William Faulkner

I look forward to seeing your interpretations.

RULES

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of GRATITUDE in this place that I am thankful for next Monday.

Andy, Becca, Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kio, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Steph, Tamara, Teresa, Underwater, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 340 – ABSTRACT

March 21, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

I want to start today by giving congratulations to Rebecca Peterson. She has become the latest person to show extreme good taste, class, and sophistication by becoming the latest Photography 139 email subscriber! Thank you Rebecca!

If you want to become such a subscriber you can either fill out the form that can be found a couple of different places on this website, or you can just let me know and I will add you manually.

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A quick PSA. A reminder, if you will. The deadline to submit your pictures is 11 AM Central. I leave for lunch then and often don’t have access to my computer until I return. Sometimes if you submit after 11 AM but before 12:01 PM, you might get lucky and I will have time to get your submissions added to the “An Artist’s Notebook” entry, but usually I won’t.

Thanks!

The theme of ABSTRACT is tough one. It is very conceptual. I’m pleased that so many people gave it a shot.

As of 10:59 AM on Monday, March 21, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Jodie Cue – 1 week
+ Jesse Howard – 3 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 4 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 8 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 8 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 8 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 8 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 9 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 10 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 11 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 12 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 16 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 17 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 19 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 22 weeks

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:

Andy Sharp – 12 weeks

Joe Duff – 9 weeks

Joe Duff

Carla Stensland – 9 weeks

Carla Stensland

Kio Dettman – 23 weeks

Kio Dettman

Michelle Haupt – 10 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 20 weeks

Stephanie Kim – 1 week

Tamara Peterson – 9 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 1 week

Bill Wentworth – 13 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Teresa Kahler – 9 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Dawn Krause – 5 weeks

Dawn Krause

Harrison Gorshe – 1 week

Micky Augustin – 11 weeks

Cathie Raley – 17 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 18 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen

Logan Kahler – 1 week

Logan Kahler

Mike Vest – 1 week

Monica Henning – 1 week

Monica Henning

29 submissions from 20 participants. That is a great week!

Congratulations to Michelle who joined the double digit streak club! WooHoo!

There were only 3 streaks snapped. Jodie couldn’t make it to two weeks. Jesse’s streak of 3 weeks is history. Suzie’s streak of 4 weeks is also now something that only exists in legends.

Stephanie submitted for the first time in a long time. I’m super excited to have her back. It might be a one time thing. I guess time will tell. But I don’t have any other friends that globetrot going to trendy art gallery openings. At least not yet.

Harrison Gorshe is a first time submitter and probably the youngest ever. Kid is like 2 years old. But he knows ABSTRACT when he sees it.

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 22 weeks
2. Shannon – 19 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 17 weeks
4. Cathie – 16 weeks
5. Bill – 12 weeks

I don’t know that Kio will ever give up that top spot, but if he slips up just once, there is a group on heels waiting to take it over.

SHADOW

SHADOW! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a SHADOW picture? A SHADOW picture is simply a picture where one of the major compositional elements of the image is a SHADOW. The SHADOW can be on the ground. It can be on a wall. It can be across somebody’s face. A silhouette picture is a SHADOW picture, for example. And of course, there are other types of less literal SHADOWs out there too.

While considering possible subjects for your SHADOW picture, meditate on the following quote:

Beware that you do not lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.
-Aesop

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

RULES

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of SHADOW in this place that is definitely one of my cyber shadows next Monday.

Andy, Art, Bill, Black & White, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Jesse, Jodie Cue, Joe Duff, Kio, Michelle, Micky, Shannon, Suzie, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 339 – GOVERNMENT

March 14, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

The theme of GOVERNMENT was not nearly as popular as HOBBIES.

As of 10:59 AM on Monday, March 14, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Becky Parmelee – 1 week
+ Kim Barker – 1 week
+ Monica Henning – 1 week
+ Evie Gorshe – 2 weeks
+ Layla Gorshe – 2 weeks
+ Jesse Howard – 2 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 3 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 3 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 3 weeks
+ Mike Vest – 3 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 7 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 7 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 7 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 7 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 8 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 9 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 10 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 11 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 15 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 16 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 18 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 21 weeks

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:

Micky Augustin – 10 weeks

Micky Augustin

Andy Sharp – 11 weeks

Andy Sharp

Teresa Kahler – 8 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 17 weeks

Kio Dettman – 22 weeks

Kio Dettman

Michelle Haupt – 9 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 19 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 8 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 12 weeks

Carla Stensland – 8 weeks

Cathie Raley – 16 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Dawn Krause – 4 weeks

Joe Duff – 8 weeks

Jesse Howard – 3 weeks

Jodie Cue – 1 week

Jodie Cue

23 submissions from 17 participants. A pretty good week, but not like the last couple of weeks. That is okay, a regression to the norm is to be expected.

All sorts of streaks dropped this week. Becky, Kim, and Monica could not extend their streaks to two weeks. Evie and Layla’s streaks ended at two, although that might be my fault. Linda’s streak was snapped at 3, as was Logan’s and Vest’s.

Congrats to Micky for becoming the latest person to have a double digit streak! WooHoo!

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 21 weeks
2. Shannon – 18 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 16 weeks
4. Cathie – 15 weeks
5. Bill – 11 weeks

ABSTRACT!

ABSTRACT! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is an ABSTRACT image?

Here is a definition from the Wiki:

Abstract photography, sometimes called non-objective, experimental or conceptual photography, is a means of depicting a visual image that does not have an immediate association with the object world and that has been created through the use of photographic equipment, processes or materials. An abstract photograph may isolate a fragment of a natural scene in order to remove its inherent context from the viewer, it may be purposely staged to create a seemingly unreal appearance from real objects, or it may involve the use of color, light, shadow, texture, shape and/or form to convey a feeling, sensation or impression.

In a nutshell, an ABSTRACT image would be an image that doesn’t necessarily look like the object that is being photographed. Or at least it concentrates on shapes and forms. It isn’t a picture of a flower that looks like a flower. There are several ways to do this:

+ Move the camera while taking the picture.
+ If you are using a camera with a zoom lens. Zoom the lens while taking the picture.
+ Move a light in a dark room.
+ Take a picture of smoke or steam.
+ Take a picture that is out of focus. Lights work as great subjects here.
+ Reflections in water.

The theme reveal image is a picture of the sun, taken in my alley. With a wide open aperture and completely out of focus.

Another option is to find a piece of ABSTRACT art and take a picture of that.

When thinking about possible ways to make your ABSTRACT image, meditate on the following quote:

Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot see physically with his eyes….Abstract art enables the artist to perceive beyond the tangible, to extract the infinite out of the finite. It is the emancipation of the mind. It is an exploration into unknown areas.
– Arshile Gorky

RULES

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of ABSTRACT in this place that is little more than an abstraction of my thoughts next Monday.