Category Archives: Evie

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

WPC – WEEK 415 – SHADOW

August 28, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

What skill level photographer can participate?

THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is open to photographers of all skill levels. From award winning photographers to professionals to the highly ranked amateurs to those that are just beginning to those who don’t even know how to focus a camera. All skill levels are encouraged and welcome. You can’t be too bad and you can’t be too good! Everyone has room to learn and be challenged!

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
NO.

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

Yes. That limit is 3. If you send me more than 3, I will post the first 3 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload.

If you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If participation rates climb, that limit of 3 is subject to lower.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

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

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

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

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

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

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

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SHADOW! A great theme, but did inspire people to lurk in the dark or come out into the light of participation? You’ll have to keep streaming to find out!

I do want to say that hope at least somebody appreciates my submission this week. I was pretty close to kicked out of a museum for taking it.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, August 21, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
3-Becky Parmelee – 1 week
4-Nader Parsaei – 1 week
5-Mary Green – 3 weeks (2)
6-Sara Lockner – 3 weeks (3
7-Mike Vest – 7 weeks
8-Sheri Fakhouri – 10 weeks
9-Monica Jennings – 11 weeks
10-Logan Kahler – 11 weeks (2)
11-Nathanial Brown – 12 weeks
12-Jesse Howard – 12 weeks
13-Tamara Peterson – 15 weeks
14-Alexis Stensland – 20 weeks
15-Mindi Terrell – 27 weeks (3)
16-Brandon Kahler – 51 weeks
17-Linda Bennett – 56 weeks (2)
18-Sarah Toot – 57 weeks (2)
19-Angie DeWaard – 61 weeks
20-Dawn Krause – 65 weeks (2)
21-Kim Barker – 71 weeks
22-Joe Duff – 72 weeks (2)
23-Teresa Kahler – 83 weeks (3)
24-Carla Stensland – 83 weeks (3)
25-Micky Augustin – 85 weeks
26-Andy Sharp – 86 weeks
27-Bill Wentworth – 87 weeks
28-Cathie Morton – 91 weeks
29-Elizabeth Nordeen – 92 weeks
30-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 94 weeks
31-Kio Dettman – 96 weeks (2)

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 (Boone, Iowa) – 97 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 95 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 93 weeks

Cathie Morton (Water Works Park – Des Moines, Iowa) – 92 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 88 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 87 weeks

Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 86 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 84 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 84 weeks

Carla Stensland (Iowa)

Joe Duff (Dallas, Texas) – 73 weeks

Joe Duff (Dallas, Texas)

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 72 weeks

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 66 weeks

Dawn Krause (Iowa)

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 62 weeks

Sarah Toot (East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 58 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 57 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 52 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 28 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 21 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa)

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 16 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 13 weeks

Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 13 weeks

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 12 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 12 weeks

Logan Kahler (Guthrie Center, Iowa)

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 11 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 8 weeks

Sara Lockner (Johnston, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Mary Green (Camp Wyoming – Wyoming, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Becky Parmelee (King Author Flour & Bakery – Norwich, Vermont) – 2 weeks

Becky Parmelee (West Lebanon, New Hampshire)

Becky Parmelee (Atlanta, Georgia)

Sabas Hernandez (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Cleveland, Ohio) – 2 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

Scott Degeneffe (Dickcissel Park – Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 1 week

Christopher D. Bennett (Union Station – Omaha, Nebraska)

34 participants! That is a pretty great week! And pictures were taken from all over the country this week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Georgia
+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ Ohio
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas
+ Vermont

Thanks to Becky’s recent travels, 2 more states have been filled in on the map. New Hampshire and Vermont. WooHoo!

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

35 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 70% of the way there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

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

I took my picture 156 miles from my front door. In a state where a regular contributor resides. I continue not to contribute.

The big milestone this week is Brandon joining THE YEAR LONG STREAK CLUB! WooHoo! Congratulations Brandon!

But it wasn’t all good news! Nader could not build on their submissions last week and their streaks are over before the began.

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:

NATURE

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

But what exactly is a NATURE photo? “Nature photography is a wide range of photography taken outdoors and devoted to displaying natural elements such as landscapes, wildlife, plants, and close-ups of natural scenes and textures.”

That encompasses a lot of the world. So what isn’t NATURE? Humans and anything created by humans. Although those elements can be included in a NATURE photo. But they aren’t the main subject matter.

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

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
-Khalil Gibran

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. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of NATURE in this place that shows mine next Monday.

Angie, Contests, Drone, Elainie, Evie, Flowers, Formal Portrait, Jesse, Logan, Nathanial, Sabas, State Fair, Willy

Iowa State Fair Power Rankings

August 20, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

When this publishes I will be in possession of my Iowa State Fair Photo Contest entries. So at this time, I can lift the blackout on what pictures I entered and what picture was accepted for display. I assume that everybody honored my social media blackout of my picture. And I thank you for that.

Here are the pictures I submitted. The one that got some love and the ones that were told “Get out of here kid! You have no future!”.

2023 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon -

Not Selected for Display

Honorable Mention – Color People

Not Selected for Display

I wasn’t the only person in this little circle of trust that had pictures displayed at the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. Logan had two pictures displayed and one of his pictures got a little love on the Iowa State Fair Show on IPTV. Nathanial and Angie both got 3 pictures in and got Honorable Mentions in the Sports class.

I hope more people I know enter again next year. Layla expressed interest in entering. I hope Vest gets back in the game too. I also wonder if Carla won’t consider entering. She is going to enter the Clay County Fair Photo Contest this year.

As for me, I probably start getting organized for next year’s contest. Start a folder of possible entries right now. Maybe I could even break a long standing tradition and have people help pick my submissions. I did give some feedback to Angie, Logan, and Nathanial on their possible entries. Maybe I could do the same. Stranger things have happened.

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On Tuesday as we were leaving the Iowa State Fair after the barbecue contest, Scottie D. asked me why I loved the Iowa State Fair. So I thought I would give a list of things I love about the Iowa State Fair:

#10. Food

I’m sure most people would rank food higher on their list. I do love the food at the Iowa State Fair, but it isn’t actually one of the main attractions for me. I used to have a go-to where I would always get a grinder from Jennie’s Grinder, but Jennie passed away several years ago and I have never found a replacement. There is a “grinder” place near where Jennie’s used to be that sells “Gizmos”. But they aren’t anywhere near the same. Starting with the fact that they don’t use sausage, they use beef. Blah! There is a different grinder place at the State Fair, but I will get into that at a later date.

I also used to get a turkey leg from the Iowa Turkey Federation, but I’ve fallen out of love with the turkey leg. It is just not that much food for the price and it is just too darn messy. But it is very photogenic. Hard to beat a picture with a giant turkey leg.

#9 – People Watching

It is hard to beat the Iowa State Fair for people watching. It truly is a crossroads of all of humanity. You can just post up on a bench anywhere and for hours fascinating things and people walking by.

#8 – Shows

I love the fact that there is so much free entertainment everywhere in the Fair. From concerts on the free stages to chainsaw sculpture artists to the bands playing in Pioneer Hall to the entertainers that are roaming the fairgrounds. There are hypnotists to musicians to jugglers to things that kind of defy description.

#7 – Animals

From the lunkers in the DNR Building to the Biggest Bull to the Biggest Boar to the Avenue of the Breeds I love checking out the animals. And such a wide variety. From turtles to ducks to rabbits to cows to sheep to pigs to chickens to ostriches to elk to horses there is an incredible variety to check out.

#6 – Art

There so much amazing art to check out at the Fair. From sweet murals to sculptures to interactive art displays to sand sculptures to hay sculptures to butter sculptures to so much more.

#5 – Flowers

It is well documented that the Discovery Garden is one of my favorite places at the Iowa State Fair. However, it isn’t the only place to check-out flowers and do some flowertography at the fair. There are 27 flowerbeds and 13,000 flowers. Roses, vinca, zinnias, marigolds… oh my!

#4 – Contests

Obviously I’m partial to the Photography Salon, but there is literally a contest for everybody at the Iowa State Fair. From the barbecue contest to the Ugly Cake Contest to the Big Pumpkin Contest to pie eating to husband calling to the chicken calling to the cow chip throwing to rubber chicken throwing to outhouse racing to horseshoes to crocheting to the 4-H to FFA to the Bill Reilly Talent Show! There are 178 canning categories to enter alone!

#3 – Photo Opportunities

I love street photography! Any place where there is great people watching, art, flowers, animals, and food… to name just a few… you know there is going to be photo opportunities every where you look!

#2 – Tradition

I love the tradition of the State Fair. I have many personal traditions I have every year at the Fair. Some are to remind me of others (such as the Scottish Highland at the Avenue of the Breeds) and some are relatively new (such as going to watch Evie and Layla dance). I have a list of things that I have to do every year. And those are my traditions.

#1 – Family

Going to the State Fair is something that reminds me of family. Both biological and the family I don’t share DNA with. This year I saw Logan and Amanda there. Elainie and Sabas. At one time I was going to go with Teresa and/or Carla before plans fell through. Logan entered the Photo Contest this year. Which is a family tradition. My Dad used to enter the photo contest. Winning the Slide Category one year. My parents both used to volunteer in Pioneer Hall and had a booth there as well.

This year I also met up with the extended family of the Gorshes and the Degeneffes and the Jennings. Nader and Jesse as well. Well maybe, Nader. It is supposed to be in the ballpark of triple digits today, so as of the writing of this entry it is unclear if he ended up punking out.

I might make these power rankings a new Iowa State Fair tradition! Until next year’s Fair!

Contests, Dawn, Evie, Layla, Logan, Monica, Nathanial, Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest – 2023

August 5, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

This weekend is Pufferbilly Days. So all the work the me and so many others have put into the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest is now on display and will also be on display tomorrow at Art in the Park.

I will get into all the people that helped and the fact that entries more than doubled for the 2nd straight year at a later date.

But here is a look at the winners:

YOUTH – TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

1ST TPA: Emarose Davis-In the Air

2ND TPA: Kayelee Burns – Welcome to Boone

3RD TPA: Brantlee Staebler – Wing Cart

YOUTH – PLANTS

1ST PLANTS: Daphne Harris-Up to the Sky

2ND PLANTS: Trevor Upah – Tulips

3RD PLANTS: Trevor Upah – Vines

YOUTH – PLACES

1ST PLACES: Layla Gorshe-City Sky

2ND PLACES: Layla Gorshe – Hudson Yards

3RD PLACES: Evie Gorshe – The Inbetween

YOUTH – PEOPLE

1ST PEOPLE: Emarose Davis – Kitten Love

2ND PEOPLE: Trevor Upah – Mom and Scarlett

3RD PEOPLE: Brantlee Staebler – I’m Happy

YOUTH – BLACK & WHITE

1ST BLACK & WHITE: Kayelee Burns – Hungry Bee

2ND BLACK & WHITE: Emarose Davis – Sheep on the Cliff

3RD BLACK & WHITE: Daphne Harris – Dragonfly

YOUTH – ANIMALS

1ST ANIMALS: Hazel Davis – Kitty Cat

2ND ANIMALS: Daphne Harris – Duck Duck

3RD OVERALL: Emarose Davis-In the Air

YOUTH OVERALL

1ST OVERALL: Layla Gorshe-City Sky

2ND OVERALL: Daphne Harris-Up to the Sky

3RD OVERALL: Emarose Davis-In the Air

TEEN – PLANTS

1ST PLANTS: Noah Davis – Flowers

2ND PLANTS: Tommy Williams – Moss on Tree

TEEN – PLACES

1ST PLACES: Tommy Williams – Light Shining through Corridor at ISU

2nd PLACES: Simon Enabnit – My Backyard

TEEN – BLACK & WHITE

1ST BLACK & WHITE: Tommy Williams – Barbed Wire with Clouds

2ND BLACK & WHITE: Emma Wiebold – Crossroads Motel

3RD BLACK & WHITE: Emma Wiebold – Evil Mabel

TEEN – ANIMALS

1ST OVERALL: Emma Wiebold – Hen in Clover

2ND ANIMALS: Simon Enabnit – Playful Kitty

3RD ANIMALS: Simon Enabnit -Why, Hello There

TEEN OVERALL

1ST OVERALL: Emma Wiebold – Hen in Clover

2ND OVERALL: Tommy Williams – Barbed Wire with Clouds

3RD OVERALL: Tommy Williams – Light Shining through Corridor at ISU

ADULT – TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

1ST TPA: Nathanial Brown – Sun Up to Sun Down

2ND TPA: Alex Grimes – 102 Seconds of Building

3RD TPA: John Roberts – Fast Colors

ADULT – PLANTS

1ST PLANTS: Savannah Martin-Dawn of the Dahlia

2ND PLANTS: Monica Jennings – Corn Rows

3RD PLANTS: Jolene Bowman – Haze

ADULT – PLACES

1ST PLACES: Nathanial Brown – Narrow Pass

2ND PLACES: Logan Kahler – Quiet Curve

3RD PLACES: Dawn Krause – Iron Mountain Road

ADULT – PEOPLE

1ST PEOPLE: Nathanial Brown – Burning the Midnight Oil

2ND PEOPLE: Alex Grimes – Tattoos as Rings

3RD PEOPLE: Nathanial Brown – Ride Fast

ADULT – BLACK & WHITE

1ST BLACK & WHITE: Logan Kahler – Veiled Beauty

2ND BLACK & WHITE: Savannah Martin – Shattered Dreams

3RD BLACK & WHITE: Nathanial Brown – Sold Out

ADULT – ANIMALS

1ST ANIMALS: JoAnne Korpi – Mr. Will on the Hill

2ND ANIMALS: Allison Kayser – Froggy Feeder

3RD ANIMALS: John Roberts – Reflection? Nope

ADULT – OVERALL

1ST OVERALL: Nathanial Brown – Burning the Midnight Oil

2ND OVERALL: JoAnne Korpi – Mr. Will on the Hill

3RD OVERALL: Logan Kahler – Veiled Beauty

BEST IN SHOW

Nathanial Brown – Burning the Midnight Oil

The only thing left to determine in the People’s Choice Award. If you are interested in voting, first go here to see ALL the entries:

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Entries – 2023

Then go here to vote:

People’s Choice Award Poll

Choose wisely.

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

WPC – WEEK 410 – GUILTY PLEASURE

July 24, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

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

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

+++++++

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

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

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

What skill level photographer can participate?

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 7 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
NO.

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

If participation rates climb, that limit of 3 is subject to lower.

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

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

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

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

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

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

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN

Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 81 weeks

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

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 67 weeks

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

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 52 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks

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

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

Scott Degeneffe (Near Boone, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 92 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 57 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 68 weeks

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

Mary Green (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Clive, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 8 weeks

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 7 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 48 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 79 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

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

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

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

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 88 weeks

Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 11 weeks

Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 82 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 16 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 23 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Maryland) – 53 weeks

Sarah Toot (Maryland)

Mike Vest (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 83 weeks

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

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

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

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

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

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

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

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

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

LIQUID – SUGGESTED BY SARAH TOOT

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

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

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

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

I look forward to your interpretation!

RULES

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

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

Andy, Art, Cathie, Evie, Flowers, Kim, Logan, Lowell, Nature, Still Life, Street Photography, Travel, Work, WPC - Reminder

Viva Las Vegas: Day 2

March 24, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Day 2 in Las Vegas for the CMC was a long one. I only had a chance to take pictures before I went to the Planet Hollywood conference rooms for what would end up being an almost 13 hour work day. I’m a little bit embarrassed to say that I was about halfway through Day 2 before I realized that there was a 2 hour time difference between Las Vegas and Iowa and not a one hour time difference.

I started the day by walking down to a nearby CVS to look for some Las Vegas stickers and postcards. Maybe some breakfast. I didn’t find any stickers but I bought some post cards and a package of Zingers for breakfast. That was about $3.00.

After walking around a little bit I went to Planet Hollywood. Once there I stared at the walls of the same conference room for pretty much forever. It didn’t help that the temperature in the room was approximately 120 degrees.

After we finally got done with the setup, Lowell and I ended up back at the Linq Promenade and had supper at In-n-Out. Supper cost about $15 and was much better than Bobby Flay’s burger from the night before. It was so packed inside we had to eat outside in the cold. It was cold pretty much every day in Las Vegas.

I think we might have went back and hung out with some other miners in the Heart Bar, which is the bar in the middle of the Planet Hollywood Casino floor. It was this bar that became my marker for figuring out how to get out of the casino and how to find the elevators to my room.

I started the day with an estimated $258 in the Per Diem Fund.

Breakfast: $3
Lunch: I’m not allowed to talk about it.
Supper: $15

Estimated Per Diem Fund Balance: $240

Here are some of the pictures I took that day:

Sunrise from my room.

Paris

Seriously so hot and such terrible carpet.

According to the highly inaccurate fitness app on my phone, I walked 14,843 steps for a total of 6.93 miles on Day 2.

More pictures from this trip still to come.

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

COMPETITION

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

But what is a COMPETITION image? It is simply an image of beings engaged in some kind of contest. Or it can be a picture of something that is used in a COMPETITION. Like a bowling ball. Or it can be a picture of the result of a COMPETITION. Like a trophy. There are so many possibilities!

This isn’t the first time COMPETITION has been a theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Here are some examples of previous submissions:

Kim Barker

Cathie Raley (Morton)

Logan Kahler

Andy Sharp

Christopher D. Bennett

Hope this provides some inspiration for some people.

Happy photo harvesting!

Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Black & White, Blogging, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dad, Derrick, Elizabeth, Evie, Jen, Jesse, Jodie Cue, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Layla, Linda, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Pastor Sarah, Postcard, Railroad, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Slice of Life, Steph, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

Weekly Photo Challenge Year 9 Review

January 3, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

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:

Robyn Augustin
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

Tim Cuculic
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

Jodie Cue
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

Brooklyn Erb
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

Derrick Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

Steve Martin
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 2
Current Streak: 0

Myriah Sharp
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

Stephanie Kim
Weeks Participated: 2 – 4%
Submissions: 2
Current Streak: 0

Lori Backous
Weeks Participated: 3 – 6%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

Gorshe Twins
Weeks Participated: 3 – 6%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

Layla Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 8 – 15%
Submissions: 8
Current Streak: 0

Sarah Karber
Weeks Participated: 10 weeks 19%
Submissions: 10
Current Streak: 1 week

Jen Ensley-Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 16 weeks – 31%
Submissions: 17
Current Streak: 0

Evie Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 18 weeks – 35%
Submissions: 18
Current Streak: 0

Mike Vest
Weeks Participated: 19 weeks – 37%
Submissions: 19
Current Streak: 0

Willy McAlpine
Weeks Participated: 21 weeks – 40%
Submissions: 23
Current Streak: 7

Sabas Hernandez
Weeks Participated: 23 – 44%
Submissions: 23
Current Streak: 3

Brandon Kahler
Weeks Participated: 24 weeks – 46%
Submissions: 24
Current Streak: 20

Sarah Toot
Weeks Participated: 24 – 46%
Submissions: 37
Current Streak: 24 weeks

Mary Green
Weeks Participated: 26 – 50%
Submissions: 66
Current Streak: 1

Sara Lockner
Weeks Participated: 32 – 62%
Submissions: 43
Current Streak: 1

Becky Parmelee
Weeks Participated: 32 – 62%
Submissions: 36
Current Streak: 3

Suzie Brannen
Weeks Participated: 35 weeks – 67%
Submissions: 38
Current Streak: 0

Angie DeWaard
Weeks Participated: 36 – 69%
Submissions: 44
Current Streak: 28

Jesse Howard
Weeks Participated: 40 – 77%
Submissions: 46
Current Streak: 1

Linda Bennett
Weeks Participated: 42 – 81%
Submissions: 94
Current Streak: 23

Monica Jennings
Weeks Participated: 44 – 85%
Submissions: 60
Current Streak: 1

Kim Barker
Weeks Participated: 48 – 92%
Submissions: 59
Current Streak: 38

Dawn Krause
Weeks Participated: 48 – 92%
Submissions: 70
Current Streak: 32

Joe Duff
Weeks Participated: 49 – 94%
Submissions: 63
Current Streak: 39

Logan Kahler
Weeks Participated: 49 – 94%
Submissions: 102
Current Streak: 41

Tamara Peterson
Weeks Participated: 50 – 96%
Submissions: 55
Current Streak: 9

Michelle Haupt
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 51
Current Streak: 51

Teresa Kahler
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 106
Current Streak: 50

Carla Stensland
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 93
Current Streak: 50

Micky Augustin
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 57
Current Streak: 52

Shannon Bardole-Foley
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 53
Current Streak: 61

Christopher D. Bennett
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 52
Current Streak: 485

Kio Dettman
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 156
Current Streak: 63

Cathie Morton
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 56
Current Streak: 58

Elizabeth Nordeen
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 64
Current Streak: 59

Andy Sharp
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 71
Current Streak: 53 weeks

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!

Animals, Art, Evie, Iowa State, Jen, Layla, State Fair, WPC - Reminder

Iowa State Fair – Day 1 Wanderings

November 25, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

After we watched Evie’s Irish dance group perform, we wandered the State Fair for several hours taking in the sights. Here are some pictures from our day:

I went to the Iowa State Fair two more days, so lots more Iowa State Fair adventure pictures left to share.

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

IN THE AIR

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

But what is an IN THE AIR image? Simply put, an IN THE AIR image is a picture where the subject of your picture is untethered from the earth. So a flag, that is technically IN THE AIR, but it is still tethered to a flagpole, which is tethered to the earth. (Yeah technically everything is tethered to the earth via gravity, but take it easy Isaac.) This picture can be as simple as throwing something up in the air (or have somebody else do it) and taking a picture of it. An exercise that produces interesting pictures is throw something to somebody and take a picture of them trying to catch it. The portraits you can get this way are often intriguing and are a different way to see somebody.

Happy photo harvesting!

Boone FUMC, Evie, Jen, Layla, State Fair, Street Photography, WPC - Reminder

Iowa State Fair – Irish Dancing

November 18, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Probably well past time I start sharing pictures from my trips to the Iowa State Fair. I went to the Iowa State Fair 3 times this year. The first time I went was on the first day of the Fair with Jen, Evie, and Layla for Evie’s dance performance with her Irish Dancing Group.

The first collection of pictures I’m going to share are from their performance:

As you surely noticed, Evie did lose a shoe during one her performances, but she mustered on like a champ. Layla got stung by a bee or wasp while watching the performance, so she earned a merit badge too.

Plenty more pictures from that trip to the Iowa State Fair left to share!

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE them is COMMUNICATION:

COMMUNICATION

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

But what is a COMMUNICATION photo? A COMMUNICATION photo is simply a photo where the subject or a major compositional element shows a form of COMMUNICATION. The theme reveal picture is of a sign that is COMMUNICATIONing that there are rules to using this parking lot. It is for church parking and no overnight parking is allowed. While signs are great at COMMUNICATIONing, there are all sorts of COMMUNICATION. The phone. A letter. A postcard. Talking. Just talking to somebody.

Happy photo harvesting!

Animals, Art, Event, Evie, Iowa State, Jen, Layla, Still Life, Street Photography

Renaissance Faire – Joust

November 11, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

A post on 11/11 that published at 11:11 AM (Central Time)? What does it mean? Absolutely nothing. Numerology is as much nonsense astrology and almost as much nonsense as trickle down economics. But nothing is as much nonsense as trickle down economics.

But happy Veterans Day. I don’t have a power rankings to coincide with Veterans Day. Maybe next year. I might be more about celebrating holidays in 2023. We will have to see what is in the stars.

This is the final collection of images from the Renaissance Faire I attended with Jen, Evie, Layla, and the twins. These are pictures of the joust, which was definitely the highlight of the day. The joust was definitely heavily scripted. Maybe not the joust part, but everything that surrounded it.

It was very professional wrestling. There was a bad knight. He wore Iowa Hawkeye colors, duh! There was a good knight. He wore Iowa State colors. Obviously.

After the jousting was done, the bad guys attacked the good guys and a fight broke out. Eventually the good knight prevailed and cut the throat of the bad knight. Fake blood sprayed everywhere. It is my deep regret that this took me completely by surprise and I did not get a picture of it.

However, if Evie dances at the Renaissance Faire again in 2023, I will definitely be ready for this fake blood explosion and will get a picture of it!

Here are the pictures of the joust (not on ostriches surprisingly):

People watching at a Renaissance Faire. It is fantastic!

Now that I have been to one, I know where better to sit and I know to get to the joust ring, plenty early. The next festival type pictures I will share will come from my trips to the Iowa State Fair. Probably. Maybe the Boone County Fair, but I don’t think I took many pictures at the Boone County Fair. It is a mystery. Like numerology.

+++++++

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

STRONG

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

But what is a STRONG picture? It is simply a picture of something that is STRONG. This one might be a bit more of an abstract theme than many. But remember there are all types of strength. Something or somebody can be physically STRONG. Things can smell STRONG. Food can have a STRONG taste. Many people are STRONG in their faith. There are plenty of ways to be STRONG. And there are many STRONG things out there.

Happy photo harvesting!

Andy, Angie, Art, Becky, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Evie, Football, History, Iowa State, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 373 – DECORATION

November 7, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

REMINDER: This is the last week you can suggest themes for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. The one and only way to do that is to leave your suggestions in the COMMENTS section of this post. Do not email them to me or text them to me. The suggestions have to be left in the COMMENTS section of this post! So far only Andy has made any suggestions, but he also tried to question the definitive Candy Bar Power Rankings, so we’ll see what happen to his suggestions.

So was DECORATION a popular theme? Did Kio Dettman adhere to the Kio Dettman Rule? Did everybody adhere to the Kio Dettman Rule? Did Tamara Peterson make a comeback after having her 40 week streak snapped? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 31, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 2 weeks (3)
2-Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
3-Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks
4-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks
5-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks
6-Suzie Brannen – 10 weeks
7-Brandon Kahler – 11 weeks
8-Linda Bennett – 14 weeks (2)
9-Sarah Toot – 15 weeks (3)
10-Monica Jennings – 16 weeks (2)
11-Angie DeWaard – 19 weeks
12-Dawn Krause – 23 weeks (2)
13-Kim Barker – 29 weeks
14-Joe Duff – 31 weeks
15-Logan Kahler – 32 weeks (2)
16-Teresa Kahler – 41 weeks (2)
17-Carla Stensland – 41 weeks (3)
18-Michelle Haupt – 42 weeks
19-Micky Augustin – 43 weeks
20-Andy Sharp – 44 weeks
21-Bill Wentworth – 45 weeks
22-Cathie Morton – 49 weeks (2)
23-Elizabeth Nordeen – 50 weeks
24-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 52 weeks
25-Kio Dettman – 54 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:

Evie Gorshe

Will McAlpine – 1 week

Tamara Peterson – 1 week

Mike Vest – 1 week

Mary Green – 3 weeks

Mary Green

Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks

Jesse Howard – 5 weeks

Sara Lockner – 7 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 11 weeks

Brandon Kahler – 12 weeks

Linda Bennett – 15 weeks

Linda Bennett

Sarah Toot – 16 weeks

Sarah Toot

Monica Jennings – 17 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 20 weeks

Angie DeWaard

Dawn Krause – 24 weeks

Dawn Krause

Kim Barker – 30 weeks

Joe Duff – 32 weeks

Logan Kahler – 33 weeks

Logan Kahler

Teresa Kahler – 42 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Carla Stensland – 42 weeks

Carla Stensland

Michelle Haupt – 43 weeks

Micky Augustin – 44 weeks

Andy Sharp – 45 weeks

Andy Sharp

Bill Wentworth – 46 weeks

Cathie Morton – 50 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 51 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 53 weeks

Kio Dettman – 55 weeks

Kio Dettman

Christopher D. Bennett – 477 weeks

30 participants! That is a great week! So close to getting that 30 participant average!

Had submissions from (assumptions here): Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa.

I took my picture about 15 miles from my front door.

There weren’t any milestones reached this week, but there also weren’t any streaks snapped. So it is all good.

STRONG

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

For example, the theme reveal image is a picture of the Zodiac in the north entry way of the Memorial Union at Iowa State University. This picture is of something STRONG in a few ways. It is a picture of a bull. Bulls are STRONG. The bull is the zodiac symbol for Taurus. If you know a Taurus, they are very STRONG headed*. This zodiac symbol at Iowa State is of STRONG construction. It also represents a STRONG superstition held by the Iowa State community.

You don’t know about this superstition? Read a little bit about the history of Iowa State’s zodiac:

Architect/designer William T. Proudfoot chose to incorporate the ancient symbols of the zodiac into the north entry floor — classic Greek/Roman mythology for a classic-Greek/Roman-style building. In the 20’s, the zodiac was not as well known as it is now. Proudfoot planned for intentional wearing away of the bronze forms by placing them above the surface of the floor – to be sculpted further by building users until, eventually, they would be the same level as the floor. We know that by 1929, students had decided that if you stepped on the zodiac, it was unlucky – that you’d flunk your next test. Rumor has it that the students created this “curse” because they liked the raised effect of the zodiac and they wanted to preserve the zodiac signs even though it went against what the architect originally intended. Now most students, hedging their bets, walk around. If you accidentally invoke the curse, you can throw a coin in the fountain to take it away!

Information is from Iowa State’s Memorial Union website.

If you are wondering, I’m not a superstitious person. But I am a littlestitious. I’ve been graduated from Iowa State University for 20 years. I don’t take tests these days, but I still walk around the zodiac when I’m at the Union.

While thinking about possible subjects for your STRONG photo, meditate on the following quote:

I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.
-Maya Angelou

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

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 STRONG in this place that is filled with my every day strength next Monday.

*This is not to be seen as any kind of endorsement of astrology, which is complete and utter nonsense.