Category Archives: Derrick

Weekly Photo Challenge Year 9 Review

Thought I would take a quick look back at Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Here are a few quick stats:

+ 44 different participants
+ 1811 photos submitted
+ Least popular theme for participation was ROCK with 16 participants
+ Most popular theme for participation was SELF-PORTRAIT with 31 participants
+ Least popular theme for submissions was ROCK with 20 submissions
+ Most popular theme for submission was LINES with 51 submissions
+ The average week had 24.6 participants
+ The average week had 34.8 submissions

If you want to look back at all 1811 images that were submitted this year, click on the link below:

Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 9

Michelle once told me that her kids think that THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is a contest and they always ask her if she “won” this week. It isn’t a contest and I’m not really sure art should compete against other art (yes I run and enter photo contests), but I thought I would share my favorite picture from all 44 participants this year:


WEEK 332 - TRIANGLE - ROBYN AUGUSTIN
Robyn Augustin
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 362 - WEEKENDS - TIM CUCULIC
Tim Cuculic
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 339 - GOVERNMENT - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 361 - FAMILY - BROOKLYN ERB
Brooklyn Erb
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - STEVE MARTIN
Steve Martin
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 2
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MYRIAH SHARP
Myriah Sharp
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim
Weeks Participated: 2 – 4%
Submissions: 2
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous
Weeks Participated: 3 – 6%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 340 - ABSTRACT - HARRISON GORSHE
Gorshe Twins
Weeks Participated: 3 – 6%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 341 - SHADOW - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 8 – 15%
Submissions: 8
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber
Weeks Participated: 10 weeks 19%
Submissions: 10
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 377 - ANIMAL - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 16 weeks – 31%
Submissions: 17
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 351 - FLOWER - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 18 weeks – 35%
Submissions: 18
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 342 - FRAMED - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest
Weeks Participated: 19 weeks – 37%
Submissions: 19
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 380 - EXPLORE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine
Weeks Participated: 21 weeks – 40%
Submissions: 23
Current Streak: 7

WEEK 371 - LINES - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez
Weeks Participated: 23 – 44%
Submissions: 23
Current Streak: 3

WEEK 365 - GREEN - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler
Weeks Participated: 24 weeks – 46%
Submissions: 24
Current Streak: 20

WEEK 363 - CIRCLE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot
Weeks Participated: 24 – 46%
Submissions: 37
Current Streak: 24 weeks

WEEK 360 - PEOPLE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green
Weeks Participated: 26 – 50%
Submissions: 66
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 365 - GREEN - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner
Weeks Participated: 32 – 62%
Submissions: 43
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 353 - SERVICE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee
Weeks Participated: 32 – 62%
Submissions: 36
Current Streak: 3

WEEK 379 - WATER - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen
Weeks Participated: 35 weeks – 67%
Submissions: 38
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard
Weeks Participated: 36 – 69%
Submissions: 44
Current Streak: 28

WEEK 362 - WEEKENDS - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard
Weeks Participated: 40 – 77%
Submissions: 46
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 357 - WORK - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett
Weeks Participated: 42 – 81%
Submissions: 94
Current Streak: 23

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Jennings
Weeks Participated: 44 – 85%
Submissions: 60
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker
Weeks Participated: 48 – 92%
Submissions: 59
Current Streak: 38

WEEK 363 - CIRCLE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause
Weeks Participated: 48 – 92%
Submissions: 70
Current Streak: 32

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
Weeks Participated: 49 – 94%
Submissions: 63
Current Streak: 39

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler
Weeks Participated: 49 – 94%
Submissions: 102
Current Streak: 41

WEEK 377 - ANIMAL - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson
Weeks Participated: 50 – 96%
Submissions: 55
Current Streak: 9

WEEK 338 - HOBBIES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 51
Current Streak: 51

WEEK 377 - ANIMAL -  TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 106
Current Streak: 50

WEEK 368 - RUINS - CAR;A STENSLAND
Carla Stensland
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 93
Current Streak: 50

WEEK 349 - HAT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 57
Current Streak: 52

WEEK 355 - ENTERTAINMENT - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 53
Current Streak: 61

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - CHRISTOHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 52
Current Streak: 485

WEEK 367 - SIGNS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 156
Current Streak: 63

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Morton
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 56
Current Streak: 58

WEEK 347 - #INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 64
Current Streak: 59

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 71
Current Streak: 53 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 54
Current Streak: 54

Don’t think I put a ton of effort into picking my favorite images from each person. But I did put some effort in it.

2022 was a great year for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Hopefully 2023 is even better!

Goodbye 2022.

Happy New Year to those of you sheeple that follow the Gregorian Calendar. I for one, moved to Unix time years ago. So if I have a birthday party this year (Sara wants me to have one, but I doubt it happens) the invites will list the time of the event in Unix Time, like an adult. But I don’t want to tell you what calendar to use.

I think you should look at the options. By the Gregorian Calendar, when this post publishes, it is the year 2022. But there are other calendars.

Here is a list of other calendars and what year it is if you use those calendars:

Hebrew – 5783
Islamic – 1444
Chinese – 4659
Coptic – 1739
Japanese – Reiwa 4
British Regnal – 1 Cha. 3
Buddhist – 2566
Nanakshahi – 554
Hindu – 5123
Juche – 111
Byzantine – 7531
Roman – 2775
Holocene – 12022
Unix Time (like an adult): 1672531199 (roughly)

As you can tell, Unix Time is clearly superior.

Even though I don’t celebrate New Years, I do like to give holiday Power Rankings.

Here are my champagne power rankings:

CHAMPAGNE POWER RANKINGS
10. All champagne is trash.
9. All champagne is trash.
8. All champagne is trash.
7. All champagne is trash.
6. All champagne is trash.
5. All champagne is trash.
4. All champagne is trash.
3. All champagne is trash.
2. All champagne is trash.
1. Champere

So Happy New Years to those who celebrate it. I will have been asleep a couple hours when the bell tolls for 2022. I’m old, lame, and don’t get invited to adult parties.

+++++++

Time to reveal the December image for the 2023 Photography 139 Gregorian Calendar:


2023 Calendar - December
December

The December image is a picture of the old mill in Independence, Iowa. I took it while harvesting the town signs of Buchanan County for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT. In retrospect, it isn’t a great image for the brutal colds and snows of December. But it was the last selected image and December was the last month that didn’t have an image. These things tend to sort themselves out.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: May 28, 2022 – 9:41 AM
LENS: Tamron 17-28 f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
APERTURE: f/9
EXPOSURE: 1/320
ISO: 100
EXPOSURE BIAS: +.3

I have no calendar images to share tomorrow. Or again until December. If the Photography 139 Calendar exists again in 2024.

+++++++

This year when I handed a calendar to somebody I asked them to pick a favorite image. Then I photographed them with their favorite image. I also asked people that I didn’t hand deliver a calendar to to pick a favorite image and then send me a picture of them with that image. Like 3 people did that. So good for them? Not that such treachery might factor in who gets a calendar next year…

I forgot to do this for the attendees of the Westhaven Christmas, so this won’t be held against them. Maybe Nate. I did ask him and he said “No problem” and then never sent me a picture.

Any way here is a collection of, but not comprehensive collection of pictures of people with their favorite pictures from the calendar:



Shannon


Bethany and Nora


Colleen


Also Colleen


Also, also Colleen


Andy


Baier (Jason)


More Baiers (Olivia)


More Baiers (Ben)


More Baiers (Carrie and J.J.)


More Baiers (Will)


Russell


Michelle


Elizabeth


Willy


Micky


Kio


Kim


Brandon


Teresa


Logan


Elainie


Sabas


Johnathan


Jason


Carla


Dawn


Lockners


Gorshes


Scott


Anders


Becky


Alexis


Jesse


Jay


Nader

It is possible more pictures might trickle in, if people I mailed calendars to haven’t received them yet. I think every picture got picked except for January. Poor January. Might try this again next year. We’ll see if the people like it.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is BODY PART:


WEEK 381 - BODY PART
BODY PART

IT IS POSSIBLE I MIGHT ROAD TRIP ON MONDAY. IF I DO, THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONAL REMINDERS. YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!!!

BODY PART! What a great final theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a BODY PART image? Simply put, it is a picture where a major compositional element of the image is a BODY PART. Doesn’t have to be your BODY PART. Could be somebody else’s. It could belong to an animal. There are so many BODY PART(s) to choose from! Heads. Shoulders. Knees. Toes. Just to name a few.

Happy photo harvesting!

Selfie Project – November 2022

I don’t know that November was a particularly active month for me. It is getting to the hardest part of the year to do this project. The sun isn’t up when I go to work. It is barely up when I get off work. That being said, I think I took a few decent picture in November for THE SELFIE PROJECT:


Day 305 - November 1, 2022
November 1

Day 307 - November 3, 2022
November 3

Day 308 - November 4, 2022
November 4

Day 309 - November 5, 2022
November 5

Day 310 - November 6, 2022
November 6

Day 312 - November 8, 2022
November 8

Day 313 - November 9, 2022
November 9

Day 314 - November 10, 2022
November 10

Day 315 - November 11, 2022
November 11

Day 316 - November 12, 2022
November 12

Day 317 - November 13, 2022
November 13

Day 319 - November 15, 2022
November 15

Day 321 - November 17, 2022
November 17

Day 323 - November 19, 2022
November 19

Day 324 - November 20, 2022
November 20

Day 325 - November 21, 2022
November 21

Day 326 - November 22, 2022
November 22

Day 327 - November 23, 2022
November 23

Day 328 - November 24, 2022
November 24

Day 329 - November 25, 2022
November 25

Day 331 - November 27, 2022
November 27

Day 332 - November 28, 2022
November 28

Day 333 - November 29, 2022
November 29

I don’t know that I’ll be that active in December either. But I’ll try.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is ANIMAL:


WEEK 377 - ANIMAL
ANIMAL

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

But what is an ANIMAL picture? Simply put it is a picture of an ANIMAL. It can be a wild ANIMAL or it can be a pet or it can be a stuffed ANIMAL or it can be a statue of an ANIMAL. It can be a dog or a bird or a squirrel or a fish or a lizard or a dog or a deer or a possum or a dog or a hamster or a rat or a dog or a bear or an alligator or a dog.

Happy photo harvesting!

Selfie Project – October 2022

Looking at my SELFIE PROJECT pictures from the month of October, I’m not sure I had a very active October. Seems like I barely left my house. I’ll try to be more active in November.

Here are some of my favorite selfies from THE SELFIE PROJECT in October:


Day 274 - October 1, 2022
October 1

Day 275 - October 2, 2022
October 2

Day 277 - October 4, 2022
October 4

Day 278 - October 5, 2022
October 5

Day 279 - October 6, 2022
October 6

Day 280 - October 7, 2022
October 7

Day 281 - October 8, 2022
October 8

Day 283 - October 10, 2022
October 10

Day 284 - October 11, 2022
October 11

Day 285 - October 12, 2022
October 12

Day 287 - October 14, 2022
October 14

Day 288 - October 15, 2022
October 15

Day 289 - October 16, 2022
October 16

Day 290 - October 17, 2022
October 17

Day 292 - October 19, 2022
October 19

Day 293 - October 20, 2022
October 20

Day 294 - October 21, 2022
October 21

Day 295 - October 22, 2022
October 22

Day 296 - October 23, 2022
October 23

Day 298 - October 25, 2022
October 25

Day 300 - October 27, 2022
October 27

Day 302 - October 29, 2022
October 29

Day 303 - October 30, 2022
October 30

I didn’t take any extra selfies this much. I might do better in November. There are no promises.

Selfie Project – September 2022

I knew September was not going to be as busy as August, but looking at these pictures it is hard not to wonder if I ever left my house. Being sick for about 4 or 5 days didn’t help, but really… I’ll try to do better in October.

Here are some of my favorite selfies from THE SELFIE PROJECT in October:


Day 244 - September 1, 2022
September 1

Day 245 - September 2, 2022
September 2

Day 246 - September 3, 2022
September 3

Day 247 - September 4, 2022
September 4

Day 248 - September 5, 2022
September 5

Day 250 - September 7, 2022
September 7

Day 251 - September 8, 2022
September 8

Day 252 - September 9, 2022
September 9

Day 253 - September 10, 2022
September 10

Day 254 - September 11, 2022
September 11

Day 256 - September 13, 2022
September 13

Day 257 - September 14, 2022
September 14

Day 258 - September 15, 2022
September 15

Day 260 - September 17, 2022
September 17

Day 261 - September 18, 2022
September 18

Day 262 - September 19, 2022
September 19

Day 266 - September 23, 2022
September 23

Day 267 - September 24, 2022
September 24

Day 268 - September 25, 2022
September 25

Day 271 - September 28, 2022
September 28

Day 272 - September 29, 2022
September 29

While there can only be one picture to represent every day, thought I would share some of my favorite alternates from September.


SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

I will try to be more active again in October, but I make no promises. Maybe the slacker lifestyle agrees with me?

Taco Tailgate – 2022

Last Saturday before the Iowa State-Baylor football game we rekindled the old tradition known as Taco Tailgate. It was in the new lot (D1), but it was still as great as ever. Here are some Taco Tailgate pictures:


Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022


We don’t have the most elaborate setup, but we get to tailgate so rarely. However, we might tailgate again later this year and there will be more things added to the setup. More and more.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO PROJECT theme is RUINS:


WEEK 368 - RUINS
RUINS

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

But what is a RUINS photo? It is simply a picture of something that has been abandoned, forgotten. Something that is rusting. Dilapidated. No longer being properly maintained. Or improperly maintained. This is one of my Top 5 favorite themes! It can be an old building. An old car. Just for examples. But there are a lot of things out there that have been abandoned. Forgotten. That are wasting away. Waiting for you to immortalize them through the art of photography.

Happy photo harvesting!

WPC – WEEK 364 – COLORFUL

Happy Labor Day! A day to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of American works and the millionaires and billionaires that exploit them.

COLORFUL could prove to be a very popular theme. Despite it being a holiday today, I have a good feeling about the participation rates for COLORFUL. You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, August 29, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Suzie Brannen – 1 week
+ Becky Parmelee – 1 week
+ Jesse Howard – 2 weeks
+ Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
+ Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks
+ Brandon Kahler – 3 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 5 weeks (2)
+ Sarah Toot – 6 weeks (2)
+ Sabas Hernandez – 8 weeks
+ Monica Jennings – 8 weeks (3)
+ Mary Green – 10 weeks (3)
+ Angie DeWaard – 11 weeks (2)
+ Dawn Krause – 15 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 21 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 22 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 24 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 32 weeks (3)
+ Tamara Peterson – 32 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 32 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 33 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 34 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 35 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 36 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 40 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 41 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 43 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 46 weeks (5)

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 364 - COLORFUL - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 1 week

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - STEVE MARTIN
Steve Martin – 1 week

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - STEVE MARTIN
Steve Martin

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 3 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 3 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 4 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 6 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 7 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 9 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 9 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 11 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 12 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 16 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 22 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 23 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 25 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 33 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 33 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 33 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt 34 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 35 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 36 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 37 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 41 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 42 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 44 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 47 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett – 468 weeks

30 participants this week! That is a great week! Hopefully we can start averaging 30 participants for a bit!

This is just guess work, but I believe we got submissions from Pennsylvania, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and California this week. It is possible that people travelled away from their homes and I just don’t know it. My picture was taken about 15 miles from my front door.

Got the first every submission from Steve Martin! That is exciting! Plus Sarah Karber and Derrick and Evie both submitted for the first time in a bit!

It wasn’t all good news though. Becky couldn’t extend her streak to two weeks and Sara Lockner’s 2 week streak is history as well.

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:


WEEK 365 - GREEN
GREEN

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

But what is a GREEN image? Are you seriously asking that question? It is an image of something that is GREEN or GREEN plays a major part of the composition. There are at least a few pictures here that would also have been great submissions for GREEN. Sarah Karber’s and Monica’s come to mind.

Of course there is more than one definition of the word GREEN. Just find a Dave Matthews fan. They will help you out. (For the record marijuana should be legalized and taxed. And so should churches. Be taxed that is.)

While considering possible subjects for your GREEN image, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt something great will come to you.

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight… the truly wise person is colorblind.
-Albert Schweitzer

I look forward to seeing 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.

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 GREEN in this place that is many types of green to me, just not the environmentalist type of green next Monday.

Fat Mum Slim – June 2022

On Thursday I completed another month of the Fat Mum Slim Photo A Day Challenge. For June, there was only one prompt. Grateful. Everyday, post a picture of something that makes you grateful. What I decided to do was every day take a picture with somebody that I am grateful to have in my life. 30 days in June. 30 different people. Only one person a day. It wasn’t going to be easy, but it wasn’t necessarily difficult. Most days, I just let people come into my life. I never made a trip way out of my way to take a picture. I think the farthest I went out of my way was to Madrid for the last day. Most people agreed to come to me. The farthest away a picture was taken was in Lansing, Iowa. But I didn’t go to Lansing, Iowa to take the picture. I went to Lansing to take a picture of their town sign. The second farthest away a picture taken was Spirit Lake, Iowa. But I didn’t go to Spirit Lake to take the picture. I went to Spirit Lake to go camping. The funny thing about those subjects is they were my sisters, who both live pretty darn close to me. The farthest away anybody lives from me that was included was Easton, Kansas. But that person definitely didn’t drive to Boone to have their picture taken with me.

The breakdown of people that I got pictured, if I were to categorize these people by how I first met them, it would break down like this:

+ Friend from Work: 11 – 7 current and 4 from the past.
+ Blood Relative – 7 people.
+ Church Friend – 5 people.
+ School Friend – 4 people.
+ In-Law – 1 person.
+ Teresa’s Friend – 1 person.
+ Olivia’s Friend – 1 person.

Here are my gratitude pictues:


June 1
June 1 – Grateful – I’m grateful for my “Workspace Buddy” Joe. Not only because he is a great co-worker, but a great guy. He 100% believes the earth is flat, that there is no such thing as space, the moon landing was faked, and all celebrities are clones. While I don’t buy any of his views, I do have more respect for them than somebody that believes that supply side economics work. I’m grateful to know such an outside of the box thinker.

June 2
June 2 – Gratitude – This is Derrick. I’ve known him since we were slinging burgers together at the Evil Clown Empire back in college. I’m grateful to have him in my life, not just because we have season tickets together for Iowa State Cyclones football, but also because I wish I had 5% of his musical talent. He is a true guitar god in that he can both play a face melting solo and he can tell you everything about and repair any guitar. Just listening to him talk about guitars is a privilege.

June 3
June 3 – Gratitude – This is Willy. I’ve known him since I started getting invited to Saturday Morning Basketball in 9th Grade. Willy used to dominate the game before the “Big Dog” started to prowl the court. Willy is a world traveler as his Costa Rico hat and Portugal shirt attest and I do live vicariously through him. But the reason I’m most grateful to have him in my life is shortly after his teenage sister passed away suddenly, we started getting supper together on Friday nights. Other members of Friday Night Supper Club came and went, but Willy and I got supper together almost every Friday for a decade, right up until the pandemic. It was and maybe in the future, the perfect end to a work week.

June 4
June 4 – Gratitude – This is Brandon. I’m grateful for all my nieces and nephews, biological and otherwise. Brandon is my oldest nephew and grows the best beard of any of them. He also has great taste in pop culture as he shares my love for all things Godzilla.

June 5
June – Gratitude – I know there are well more than 30 people from my life that I am grateful for, but I also just don’t know if that I will see 30 different people on 30 different days. Especially when I mostly work from home. Some days I don’t really know that I will see anybody that I haven’t already photographed, but then something happens totally unexpected. My sister Teresa had tickets to see Hamilton with her best friend Sheri, but then she got sick and couldn’t go, so I ended up going to see Hamilton with Sheri. While I feel bad for Teresa, I am grateful to have Sheri in my life as she is one of those friends that is more like family to everybody in my family. And yes Hamilton was great! It is Hamilton.

June 6
June 6 – Grateful – This is my Aunt Linda. She is practically the last one left from my Dad’s generation. I’m grateful to have her in my life as she is a connection to my Grandma and Grandpa Bennett that I never got to know, my Uncle David that I never got to know and my Dad who I lost when I was nine. I don’t see her much because she lives in Easton, Kansas but she was in town today to take care of her Boone house.

June 7
June 7 – Grateful – This is Nader. I met him when in another life, I transferred to the Campustown outpost of the Evil Clown Empire. I’m grateful to have Nader in my life because despite having spent 5 years in an Iranian prison without a trial for saying Allah wouldn’t want you to kill people, in front of the wrong people, he still managed to find happiness in Henry Fonda winning an Oscar for On Golden Pond. I share his love of movies, but not how infatuation with the Oscars.

June 8
June 8 – Gratitude – This is Kim. At work I’m somewhere between the low man on the totem pole to not being on the totem pole at all. However, a big wig like Kim takes care of the little people by scheduling Popcorn Day around my schedule!

June 9
June 9 – Gratitude – This is Ron. I’ve worked with him for over 16 years now. Ron has a Purple Heart because he was injured in the terrorist attack on Khobar Towers. However, the truth about his heart is that is gigantic in his love for dogs. He has several dogs and he and his late wife were very active with the animal rescue league in his hometown and he is active in trying to get puppies away from puppy mills, often going to Missouri in this pursuit. I’m grateful for Ron, not just because he is a fountain of knowledge but because he loves dogs even more than me!

June 10
June 10 – Gratitude – This is Carla. She is my elder sister. The middle child of 3. I could just say I’m grateful cause she is my sister, but I realize not everybody has a sister where they are also friends. I am fortunate to have that with both my sisters. If you doubt that, I’m writing this while smashed into the bottom bunk of her camper reminding myself, that I’m not claustrophobic. I’m not claustrophobic. I’m not claustrophobic.

June 11
June 11 – Grateful – This is Sara. Today was her daughter Maven’s birthday party. Before this picture we tried to remember when we first met. Sadly, we can’t figure it out, but it was definitely no later than 1997, but probably before that. Sara has a hard fast rule that when taking a picture of her there has to be at least 3 takes. She is one of the best educated people I know. She has a Bachelor’s from Iowa State. A nursing degree from Mercy, and a Nurse Practitioner degree from Iowa with an emphasis in mental health. While I respect all that learning, but really I’m grateful for her because she is just incredibly fun to be around.

June 12
June 12 – Grateful – This is Pastor Dave. Today was his last day at our church. He is moving on to become a chaplain. I know that Dave must be a devastatingly handsome man because when I’m in my short beard mode I often get mistaken for him. I wish he was sticking around but I’m grateful to him for the job he did taking over in our church shortly before the pandemic began. It could not have been easy!

June 13
June 13 – Grateful – This is Jay. I’ve known Jay since 7th Grade. He is one of the most talented and creative artists that I know. I’m grateful to have some of the art he has created, including this hand staff he made when like 5 years ago I decided I wanted to make MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE themed birthday party invitations.

June 14
June 14 – Grateful – This is my brother-in-law Jason. He’s married to my sister Carla. He’s a great guy and very selfless. But probably why I’m most grateful to have him in my life is because he is handy. I am decidedly not “handy” and anytime I need help with a home project or a car repair, he volunteers his time and expertise.

June 15
June 15 – Grateful – This is Scottie D. I’ve known him since we worked together at the Boone Outpost of the Evil Clown Empire. We (with a few other rotating members) the competitive barbecue team Baby Got Rack. Not gonna lie, Scott is pretty much all the culinary talent and I mostly help pack and unpack and photodocument and follow orders. We’ve won more than a few competitions, but haven’t competed since before the pandemic. The hiatus might be coming to an end next month, but even if it doesn’t, I’m grateful to have Scott in my life because of all the delicious food he makes.

June 16
June 16 – Gratitude – This is my nephew Logan. Of all my nieces and nephews, he is the one that is continuing the family legacy of photography. He is even pursuing it professionally doing portrait and wedding photography. I’m grateful to have family that share my passion.

June 17
June 17 – Grateful – This is Kio. He is the person I know that is most dedicated to philanthropy and volunteering. But the reason I’m most grateful to have Kio in my life is that he was instrumental in hooking me up with running the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. A gig I coveted for years.

June  18
June 18 – Gratitude – This is my niece Alexis. It is rather embarrassing how long it has been since today that we’ve seen each other. She is the baby of the family. Well of her generation. She lived with me for a bit and that is the one and only time she heard me “swear”. It was apparently significant enough to her that she immediately took to social media to post about it.

June 19
June 19 – Grateful – This is Andrea. She was the Associate Pastor at my church about 10 years ago until she got moved to Fort Dodge to have her own church. Last year they moved her to West Des Moines. I went down to her worship service today and her sermon was so affirming and so everything I needed to hear. She is probably the Pastor that has had the most influence on my faith journey… in many ways… but including the simple act of asking me to help chaperone a Youth Group Mission Trip to Kansas City a long time ago.

June 20
June 20 – Grateful – This is Jesse. We’ve been best friends since meeting in Mrs. Ford’s 2nd Grade Class. Probably could write a ton on him, but enough to say he has been with me on most adventures and tragedies in my life since then. Which is a lot of years when you’re old and washed up like us.

June 21
June 21 – Grateful – This is Johnathan. He is the last of my biological nieces or nephews that will be featured this month. I have one more. My niece Elainie, but she is off in California currently with her Navy husband. So… Johnathan. He is the often quiet, keep to yourself nephew and I can relate to that. He is a phenomenal cook and is way better at cleaning than I am. He also lived with me briefly and his portion of the house was always in order. Like all my nieces and nephews, I need to effort to see him more, especially because his work schedule is so tough.

June 22
June 22 – Grateful – This is Micky. I’ve worked with him for over 16 years now. And while I’m grateful to him for all the help he gives me at work, I’m really grateful for our friendship outside of work. He is a great outdoorsman, but in ways that are opposite to how I enjoy it. Meaning, he likes to hunt and fish. Frankly, I do enjoy fishing a bit, I don’t think I could ever murderize other animals, I just don’t have it in me. Yet I have went turkey hunting with him. But my favorite part of our friendship is the great outdoorsman is terrified of snakes and I love sending him videos of snakes.

June 23
June 23 – Grateful – This is Michelle – I’ve worked with Michelle for a bit now. But like all my work friends it is our friendship outside of work that I’m truly grateful for.She is from Fort Dodge, so she does have the affliction of not knowing that Taco Tico is disgusting. But despite that she has went with me on more than one occasion to try a new tenderloin. She plays banker for the football betting pool I run and she currently has the 8th longest consecutive submission streak for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE I run. She is proof not all Walmart Hawkeyes are bad people (she went to Drake).

June 24
June 24 – Grateful – This is Jen. I’ve known Jen since we worked together at the Boone Outpost of the Evil Clown Empire. Now she works for NASA. I don’t really care where my friends work, as long as they are happy, but I use it as an example of what a long, strange, often tragic and often joyful, trip we’ve been on. I’m wearing a banana hat because she hates bananas, but one thing we definitely agree on is that today was an incredibly sad day in this country’s history. But she will persist. I will be an ally.

June 25
June 25 – Grateful – This is my eldest sister Teresa. Like I mentioned with my other sister Carla, I am lucky to also be friends with my two siblings. She is super crafty and she’s probably made like half the shirts I wear, including the one in this picture with her Cricut. She also crochets and paints and many other things I’m probably forgetting.

June 26
June 26 – Grateful – This is Phil. He is another former Pastor from my church. He has also had a huge influence on my faith journey. He was a key part of my becoming way more active in my church and he did this by visiting my at a point in my life when I was deep in grief and not giving me any of the platitudes that you are given at that time. He was just present and it made such a huge difference. Over lunch he also shared a story when he knew I saw him as a person and not just a Pastor and I won’t share it, but I will remember it and it will help shape my interactions in the future.

June 27
June – 27 – Grateful – This is Anders. I’ve known him since meeting him in Jr. High band. He is a major driving force in the monthly movie night I host in my theater room. I’m grateful to have somebody in my life who has similarly eclectic taste in cinema as I do. In fact, the book I’m holding is a 700 page book he wrote on the making of our favorite bad movie, ROBOT MONSTER.

June  28
June 28 – This is Andy. I’d guess I’ve really known Andy about 10 years now. I don’t know he made a great first impression, but that is one of the cool parts of this friendship. We have chaperoned youth group mission trips to Martin, South Dakota, Saint Paul, Houston, Milwaukee, Rapid City, and I think Kansas City. Would be more, except for the pandemic. The shirt he is wearing is for a local charity he supports (there are too many to list) that gives support to families that have lost a baby. (Neonatal, perinatal, and infant loss) I’d explain why this is necessary, but it makes me sad. Andy’s big heart is why I’m grateful he is in my life.

June 29
June 29 – Grateful – This is Elizabeth. This might be a hard one to write because I was only partially convinced that she would agree to do this and I wasn’t expecting her to come to me this morning with her hair all straightened and say, “I don’t like having my picture taken, but I do like you. So let’s take this picture.” Which was an absolute highlight of my day. And she will read that and give me grief about it. Then she said, “You’ll probably write something snarky about how I don’t like having my picture taken”. Which I probably would have and pointed out about how as a photographer it really gnaws at you, the pictures you don’t get to take. I might have even written something about the misogynist in me vs. the feminist in me, but none of that will cover why she is important to me. So I will get to that. She is probably the person that most calls me on my BS, which somebody like me needs. She at least attempts to tell me when she thinks I’m wrong as she is the unnamed other opinion on my TOWN SIGN PROJECT posts on my regular Instagram account. While we have differing opinions on the important things (pizza and she doesn’t LOVE peanut butter and chocolate together, right?)… I’ve somehow come to value her opinion. That probably even surprises her.

June 30
June 30 – Grateful – This is Mike. Made it. 30 days. 30 different people. That is a lot of grateful and a lot of grateful still left on the table. But Mike… I’ve known him since I started working at the Computer Mine 16 plus years ago. He is the number one influence on my photography website being as advanced technologically as it is. And because we both have interests in photography (both interests inherited from fathers we both lost way too early) it was originally mostly his idea to create THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE on my website. A challenge that has very slowly grown from a couple people a week to consistently over 30 submissions a week. And his technological savvy is just a small part of why I conclude the grateful month with Mike.

I definitely didn’t write nearly enough about some people. Sometimes it was a time crunch. Sometimes, it just seemed obvious and obvious is sometimes hard to put into words.

Obviously there are more than 30 people in my life that I am grateful to have in my life. I won’t even give you examples of people that I am thankful for, because I’m sure I would leave people out. Then they would have been left out of the 30 days and then out of the list of but I’m also grateful for you list and then would be like a double slap. Just know that if you think I’m grateful to have you in my life, I probably am and you weren’t included in this set of 30 because you live too far away or I don’t see you on a regular basis. Or at least didn’t see you in June.

Here are the FatMumSlim Prompts for July:

July 1 – Reflections
July 2 – Letters
July 3 – Human
July 4 – I’m Working on This…
July 5 – Wall
July 6 – Bright Colours
July 7 – A Fave Place
July 8 – Out of Focus
July 9 – A Boomerang
July 10 – Behind Someone
July 11 – Interior
July 12 – Exterior
July 13 – Life
July 14 – Create A PostCard
July 15 – Where I Stood
July 16 – Pattern
July 17 – Water
July 18 – Street Photography
July 19 – A Cylinder
July 20 – Hug
July 21 – A Church
July 22 – Current Interest
July 23 – Still Life
July 24 – A Metaphor
July 25 – Beauty
July 26 – Portrait Mode
July 27 – Countryside
July 28 – An Old Car
July 29 – Black and White
July 30 – Happy Days
July 31 – Sunday Morning

Some good prompts in there. It will fill weird getting back to a different prompt everyday, but I’m sure I can handle it.

WPC – 354 – SELF-PORTRAIT

I though SELF-PORTAIT would be a popular theme. Do you think I was right? Well, you’ll have to scroll down to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, June 20, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Becky Parmelee – 1 week
+ Mike Vest – 1 week
+ Angie DeWaard – 2 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 5 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 7 weeks (4
+ Jesse Howard – 9 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 11 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 12 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 14 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 22 weeks (2)
+ Tamara Peterson – 22 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 22 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 23 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 24 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 25 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 26 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 30 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 31 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 33 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 36 weeks (4)

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 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 8 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 1 week

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 24 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - TAMARA PTERSON
Tamara Peterson – 23 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - TAMARA PTERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - TAMARA PTERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 27 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 23 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 37 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 12 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 3 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 32 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 23 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim – 1 week

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous – 1 week

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 13 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 15 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 6 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 1 week

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - WILLIAM MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 1 week

WEEK 355 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 25 weeks

WEEK 355 - SELF-PORTRAIT - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 31 weeks

WEEK 355 - SELF-PORTRAIT - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 10 weeks

WEEK 355 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 1 week

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 33 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 26 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest – 2 weeks

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks


31 participants! A new record. Smashing the old record of 26 participants for FLOWER. That is a great week!

There were a few milestones achieved. Jesse reached double figures. Andy joined the Half Year Club.

Derrick submitted for the first time this year. True Jen was heavily involved in that, but I would consider that a good thing.

There was a time when I was sure Andy and Shannon’s epic streaks were going to be history, but they came in with submissions with a few minutes to spare!

Here are the current top streaks:

9. Teresa Kahler – 23 weeks
9. Tamara Peterson – 23 weeks
9. Carla Stensland – 23 weeks
8. Michelle Haupt – 24 weeks
7. Micky Augustin – 25 weeks
6. Andy Sharp – 26 weeks
5. Bill Wentworth – 27 weeks
4. Cathie Morton – 31 weeks
3. Elizabeth Nordeen – 32 weeks
2. Shannon Bardole-Foley – 34 weeks
1. Kio Dettman – 37 weeks

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


WEEK 355 - ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT

WARNING: NEXT MONDAY IS THE 4TH OF JULY. SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS INDEPENDENCE DAY (EVEN THOUGH NOTHING HAPPENED ON THE 4TH OF JULY). I DON’T KNOW WHAT MY PLANS INCLUDE YET, BUT IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT I WON’T BE IN A POSITION TO SEND OUT ANY REMINDERS. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT YOU WILL GET SUPER BUSY NEXT MONDAY AND FORGET TO SUBMIT. PLAN ACCORDINGLY. CAUSE WHILE THE BANKS AND THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE TAKING NEXT MONDAY OFF. THERE ARE NO DAYS OFF AT PHOTOGRAPHY 139. NO REST FOR THE WICKED(LY AWESOME!).

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

But what is an ENTERTAINMENT image? It is simply a picture of something that is used for ENTERAINMENT or something that ENTERTAINMENTs you. Examples would include things like theaters (like in the theme reveal) or concerts or plays or anything you would do to pass the time in an enjoyable way.

While considering possible subjects for your ENTERTAINMENT image, meditate on the following quote:

Art is moral passion married to entertainment. Moral passion without entertainment is propaganda, and entertainment without moral passion is television.
-Rita Mae Brown

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

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 ENTERTAINMENT in this place that at least entertains me next Monday.

Four Thousand Five Hundred

It has been 5,795 days since August 9, 2006. 5,795 days since I first took keyboard in hand and started the blog portion of the Photography 139 website. The portion I pompously named “An Artist’s Notebook”. The part I started with the 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”.

Over the years this website has transitioned less from an “idea box” and more into a “show and tell”. I keep my idea box more private these days. I didn’t even publish a picture on “An Artist’s Notebook” for months.

In fact, it wouldn’t be until October 20, 2006 that a blog post included an image. This image to be exact:


Groundhog Steve

It is a picture of “Steve” the Groundhog that lived behind the Computer Mine for years.

While the format and what has posted on An Artist’s Notebook has changed several times over the years, its main goals of “actually writing in it”, “being truthful as possible”, and of course the goal of having produced something worthy as being as “pretentious sounding as An Artist’s Notebook” have remained intact.

On these periodic check-ins I like to overwhelm those that stick around this long with a ton of meaningless statistics. Today’s post should be no different. 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 #4250 & Increase since then):
9. WPC-Submissions – 455 (#9 – +38)
9. Teresa – 455 (NR)
8. Carla – 476 (#7 – +41)
7. Road Trip – 477 (NR)
6. Shannon – 500 (#5 – +42)
5. Art – 506 (#10 – +92)
4. Jesse – 579 (#4 – +50)
3. Animals – 698 (#3 – +33)
2. Flowers – 819 (#2 – +65)
1. Black and White – 918 (#1 – +99)

Top 10 Non Human Categories:
10. Formal Portrait – 381 (NR)
9. Nature – 396 (#9 – +17)
8. Portrait – 435 (#4 – -15)
7. Macro – 441 (#8 – +51)
6. WPC – Submissions – 455 (#5 – +38)
5. Road Trip – 477 (#7 – +83)
4. Art – 506 (#6 – +92)
3. Animals – 698 (#3 – +33)
2. Flowers – 819 (#2 – +65)
1. Black and White – 918 (#1 – +99)

Top 10 Human Categories:
10. Jen – 286 (#9 – +9)
9. Vest – 294 (#10 – +20
8. Kim – 297 (NR)
7. Derrick – 320 (#7 – +9)
6. Jay – 337 (#6 – +8)
5. Mom – 453 (#4 – +31)
4. Teresa – 455 (#5 – +50)
3. Carla – 476 (#3 – +41)
2. Shannon – 500 (#2 – +42)
1. Jesse – 579 (#1 – +50)

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 194 categories used on the website. I could cover the Bottom 10, but they are mostly people that either very recently came into my life by birth (Dahlia, Anela) or another way. 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 #194 probably needs to be purged.

The Bottom 10 of the Top 100:

#100. Jaycees – 65
#99. Vacation – 67
#98. Mark – 69
#97. Commercial – 72
#95. Pastor Sarah – 74
#95. Life – 74
#94. Andree – 75
#93. Lowell – 77
#92. Photo Journal – 79
#91. Birthdays – 80

Some of these are bound to slip out of the Top 100. For example, there will never be another Jaycees post. Ever. I also apparently don’t take many vacations. Mark, not really part of my life any more. Life, is a broad category that I’ve tried to eliminate over the years. Photo Journal, a project I have completed, so there will never be another post on that. Birthdays, I currently don’t wish people “happy birthday”, but maybe I will again someday.

So what has a shot at cracking the Top 100? These are the 5 that are the closest.

+ Self-Portrait Project
+ Dae Hee
+ Kelly
+ Layla
+ FNSC

So, you might be wondering, how do you improve your Photography 139 score?

The easiest way is simple. Participate in THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. You don’t even have to be around me and most people will tell you that being around me isn’t all that great. I mean look at Shannon. She is still #2 on the Big Board and I haven’t seen her in person since October 22, 2021. It can be done!

Other ways to increase your score:
+ Act as a Photo Assistant
+ Show up in THE SELFIE PROJECT
+ Go on TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trips with me… that one to Scott County is going to be epic!
+ An underated way is to assist with the FatMumSlim Photo a Day Project.
+ Doesn’t hurt to be related to me, but most of those slots are taken.
+ Doesn’t hurt to work with me, go to the same church as me, or otherwise engage me socially.

That is probably enough Category nonsense. I bet at least Joe is still here with me though.

“An Artist’s Notebook” is part of Photography 139. The 139 comes from Psalm 139:1-12. The Photography part comes from 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
Loess Hills Road Trip
10. Iowa – 35,595 Views

9 Emotions Project - Nader Parsaei
9. 9 Emotions Project – 69,259 Views

WEEK 311 - PEOPLE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
8. WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – YEAR 8 – 74,730 Views

WEEK 343 - GRATITUDE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
7. WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – YEAR 9 – 77,929 Views

Day 134 - May 14, 2022
6. SELFIE PROJECT – 2022 – 84,763 Views

Alexis Pregnant with Anela
5. Alexis Pregnancy Photo Shoot – 2020 – 95,358 Views

Abandoned Photomosaic
4. Christopher D. Bennett – 104,433 Views

Shelby County - Elk Horn
3. Town Sign Project – Auxiliary Images – 108,873 Views

Day 282 - October 9, 2021
2. Selfie Project – 2021 – 120,185 Views

Bradgate, Iowa
1. Town Sign Project – 176,664 Views

At post 4,250 these were the 5 most popular galleries:
5. Gorshe Family
4. Town Sign Project
3. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 8
2. Selfie Project – 2021
1. Alexis Pregnancy Photo Shoot – 2020

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

Coon Rapids, Iowa
10. Coon Rapids, Iowa – 2,319 Views

Pufferbilly Days
9. Carla and Teresa – 2,379 Views

Dexter, Iowa
8. Dexter, Iowa – 2,426 Views

Scranton, Iowa
7. Scranton, Iowa – 2,484 Views

Moingona, Iowa
6. Moingona, Iowa – 2,770 Views

Howards - 2021
5. The Howards – 2,842 Views

Miami Beach Work Trip - May 2022
4. Miami – 2,920 Views

Alexis Pregnant with Anela
3. Alexis Pregnant – 3,458 Views

Day 73 - March 13, 2021
2. Me and Mom – 4,134 Views

Day 30 - January 30, 2022
1. Bellevue – 14,629 Views

The final statistic I want to share with everybody before riding off into the sunset and not boring you with these statistics for another 250 posts is the 5 people with the highest Photography Subscriber Loyalty Scores.

Top 5 Photography 139 Loyalty Scores
5. Frank Meiners – 97.0%
4. Michelle Haupt – 98.6%
3. Angie DeWaard – 99.5%
2. Joe Duff – 99.7%
1. Mary Green – 100.0%

People right outside the Top 5:
+ Linda Bennett
+ Tamara Peterson
+ Jeannette Duff

To be honest, I don’t know how this number is figured. I believe it is the percentage of emails from the subscriber list that you open within the first 24 hours of getting an email from me, but but I really don’t know if we are being honest. But thanks for doing what it is you are doing!

I think that is enough. Here is to the next 4,500 posts!