Category Archives: Evie

RAGBRAI – Ames

On the first day that I followed RAGBRAI, the final stop was Ames. Ames was an overnight town. I went to downtown Ames to check out their festivities and met up with the Gorshes.

Here are some pictures:


RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

RAGBRAI - Ames - 2023

Honestly, the Ames RAGBRAI experience was a little bit of a disappointment. But on the next day I would follow RAGBRAI to Slater and Madrid, and both of them more than made up for Ames!

Iowa State Fair – Day 1 – Beta

Today seems like a good day to share the rest of the pictures from my day at the Iowa State Fair with Jen, Evie, and Layla. We saw some big chunks of the Fair and ate some great food and made some great art!

Here are some of my favorites:


Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023
You may recognize this artist’s style. Some of her work hangs up at Jimmy’s Barbecue.

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023
I love this idea.

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023
I’m a sucker for a picture of people looking at art.

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

I have a standing, handshake deal, with Evie (and hopefully Layla is in too) to go to Snakes Alive this year and get our picture taken with a snake. This going to Day 1 of the Fair with the Gorshes has become one of favorite little traditions!

WPC – WEEK 438 – CIRCLE

EDITOR’S NOTE: It is possible that this will publish late this week. I am getting my taxes done at 11 this morning and when this publishes is dependent on how long that takes. BIG BUCKS! NO WHAMMIES!*

CIRCLE! 360 degrees of fury! But is there enough fury in a CIRCLE to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, January 22, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Myriah Sharp – 1 (2)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks
3-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
4-Monica Jennings – 3 weeks
5-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks
6-Lowell Davis – 4 weeks (2)
7-Michelle Haupt – 4 weeks
8-Alexis Stensland – 4 weeks (2)
9-Brandon Kahler – 5 weeks
10-Mary Green – 6 weeks (2)
11-Scott Degeneffe – 23 weeks (2)
12-Sabas Hernandez – 24 weeks
13-Mike Vest – 29 weeks
14-Sheri Fakhouri – 33 weeks (2)
15-Logan Kahler – 34 weeks (2)
16-Nathanial Brown – 35 weeks
17-Jesse Howard – 35 weeks (2)
18-Tamara Peterson – 38 weeks
19-Mindi Terrell – 50 weeks (2)
20-Linda Bennett – 79 weeks (2)
21-Sarah Toot – 80 weeks
22-Angie DeWaard – 84 weeks
23-Dawn Krause – 88 weeks
24-Kim Barker – 94 weeks
25-Joe Duff – 95 weeks (2)
26-Teresa Kahler – 106 weeks
27-Carla Stensland – 106 weeks (2)
28-Micky Augustin – 108 weeks
29-Andy Sharp – 109 weeks
30-Bill Wentworth – 110 weeks
31-Cathie Morton – 114 weeks
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 115 weeks
33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 117 weeks
34-Kio Dettman – 119 weeks (2)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

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


WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - JASON STENSLAND
Jason Stensland (Lake Waubay, South Dakota) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - JASON STENSLAND
Jason Stensland (Lake Waubay, South Dakota)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -
Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -  SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Johnston, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa)- 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Ames, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 7 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 24 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 25 weeks

WPC - WEEK 438 - CIRCLE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 30 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 34 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 35 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Jefferson, Iowa) – 36 weeks

WPC - WEEK 438 - CIRCLE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 36 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 39 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 51 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 80 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (New York City, New York) – 81 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Des Moines, Iowa) – 85 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 89 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 95 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -  JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 96 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -  JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Ankeny, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 109 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Mason City, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska)- 111 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 115 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 116 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 118 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) 120 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 542 weeks

38 participants! That is a new high for this year!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ New York
+ South Dakota
+ Texas

Thanks to Jason’s trip to South Dakota and Sarah’s trip to New York, we can add those to this year’s list!

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each state):

+ Hawaii (2)
+ Iowa (195)
+ Kansas (8)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Nebraska (6)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (5)
+ South Dakota (2)
+ Texas (9)

The big milestone this week was the first ever submission from Jason! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Myriah couldn’t build on last week’s submission and her streak was over before it even 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:


WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES
TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES – POTENTIAL PUFFERBILLY DAYS CLASS

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES in this place in this place that was heavily influenced by a book on trains next Monday.

*There were no BIG BUCKS! But there were also NO WHAMMIES! But at least I didn’t owe any money.

Iowa State Fair – Day 1 – Alpha

Time to start sharing pictures from my numerous trips to the Iowa State Fair last year. Once again, I made a traditional visit on Day 1 of the Fair with Jen to watch Evie and Layla dance with their Irish dancing group. They performed early in the morning at the Mid American Stage. The bad thing about this is that the Mid American Stage faces east. I repeat, they performed in the morning. If you don’t know, the sun rises in the east. In the morning. That is just science.

I bring this up because it had to suck for them dancing while staring into the sun. I’m going to share pictures from their performance, and as you will see right away, they are dancing with their eyes closed… cause they were staring into the sun.

Here are some pictures from their performance:


Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

After the performance we hung out at the fair for a few hours. I have plenty of pictures to share from that as well!

The Weekly Photo Challenge Year in Review

As yesterday closed the book on Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, now seems like a good time to review all that happened.

There were 59 different people that submitted photos. Ranging from submitting 1 picture to 124 pictures.

There were 2,311 photos submitted.

The average week was 31.1 participants.

The average week had 44.4 submissions.

The most popular week was Week 422. The theme was #INSTAGOOD. There were 41 participants.

The most popular week by submissions was Week 405. The theme was FLOWER. There were 62 submissions.

3 themes tied for least popular theme by participants. TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES; REFLECTION; and SUNRISE, SUNSET each has only 25 participants.

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES was the least popular theme by submissions. It received only 30 submissions.

Here is my favorite submission from all 59 different people that submitted and some statistics about each participant.


WEEK 397 - FRIENDS - HEATHER COURTNEY
Heather Courtney
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - PEPPER DUNCAN
Pepper Duncan
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - COREY FAUST
Corey Faust
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE -  ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon
1 week – 2%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - HARRISON GORSHE
Harrison Gorshe
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 382 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARRIE MOELLERS
Carrie Moellers
1 week – 2%
1 submission
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MIKE PARMELEE
Mike Parmelee
1 week – 2%
1 submission
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 418 - SKY - ERNIE REDD
Ernie Redd
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 426 - FOOD - DIANE SHARP
Diane Sharp
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - JULIE SHARP
Julie Sharp
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MELISSA DEGENEFFE
Melissa Degeneffe
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 388 - FRAME - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 405 - FLOWER - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - NADER PARSAEI
Nader Parsaei
3 weeks – 6%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 421 - RELIGION - MYRIAH SHARP
Myriah Sharp
3 weeks – 6%
5 submissions
No current streaks

WEEK 394 - BLUE - PORTER DEGENEFFE
Porter Degeneffe
4 weeks – 8%
4 submissions
No current streaks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe
6 weeks – 12%
6 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 406 - 'SCAPE -AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson
10 weeks – 19%
14 submissions
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN -ELAINIE STENSLAND
Elainie Stensland
12 weeks – 23%
15 submissions
No current streak

WPC 430 - LINES - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk
14 weeks – 27%
19 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe
19 weeks – 37%
22 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 387 - PLAY - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee
23 weeks – 44.2%
26 submissions
No current streak

WPC 430 - LINES - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri
29 weeks – 56%
53 submissions
Current streak: 29 weeks

WPC 430 - LINES - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe
32 weeks – 62%
46 submissions
Current streak: 19 weeks

WEEK 409 - A SHAPE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green
32 weeks – 62%
68 submissions
Current streak: 2 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner
33 weeks – 63%
39 submissions
Current streak: 1 week

WEEK 416 - NATURE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine
34 weeks – 65%
37 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen
35 weeks – 67%
50 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland
35 weeks – 67%
72 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 408 - TIME - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez
43 weeks – 83%
43 submissions
Current streak: 20 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings
43 weeks – 83%
60 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 399 - SCHOOL - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell
46 weeks – 88%
124 submissions
Current streak: 46 weeks

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown
47 weeks – 90%
77 submissions
Current streak: 31 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard
49 weeks – 94%
62 submissions
Current streaks: 31 weeks

WEEK 396 - SCENES FROM YOUR COUCH - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest
50 weeks – 96%
50 submissions
Current streaks: 25 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler
51 weeks – 98%
55 submissions
Current streak: 1 week

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler
51 weeks – 98%
81 submissions
Current streak: 30 weeks

WEEK 416 - NATURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson
51 weeks – 98%
56 submissions
Current streak: 34 weeks

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin
52 weeks – 100%
55 submissions
Current streak: 104 weeks

WEEK 418 - SKY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley
52 weeks – 100%
55 submissions
Current streak: 113 weeks

WEEK 420 - ARCHITECTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker
52 weeks – 100%
60 submissions
Current streak: 90 weeks

WEEK 396 - SCENES FROM YOUR COUCH - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett
52 weeks – 100%
52 submissions
Current streak: 537 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett
52 weeks – 100%
91 submissions
Current streak: 75 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman
52 weeks – 100%
107 submissions
Current streak: 115 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard
52 weeks – 100%
59 submissions
Current streak: 80 weeks

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
52 weeks – 100%
71 submissions
Current streak: 91 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler
52 weeks – 100%
111 submissions
Current streak: 102 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause
52 weeks – 100%
89 submissions
Current streak: 84 weeks

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton
52 weeks – 100%
58 submissions
Current streak: 110 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen
52 weeks – 100%
72 submissions
Current streak: 111 weeks

WEEK 416 - NATURE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp
52 weeks – 100%
72 submissions
Current streak: 105 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland
52 weeks – 100%
90 submissions
Current streak: 102 weeks

WEEK 406 - 'SCAPE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot
52 weeks – 100%
96 submissions
Current streak: 76 weeks

WEEK 385 - SILENCE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth
52 weeks – 100%
54 submissions
Current streak: 106 weeks

Here are a few quick stats from last year:

+ 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

To put in perspective compared to last year:

+ 15 more different participants.
+ 500 more submissions.
+ The most popular theme had 10 more participants.
+ The most popular theme by submissions has 11 more submissions.
+ The average participation was up almost 7 participants per week.
+ The average submissions was up nearly 10 per week.

Hopefully Year 11 has a similar amount of growth!

WPC – WEEK 432 – GREEN

Friendly Reminder: Next Monday is New Year’s Day. While the bank and government employees get the day off, there are no holidays for Photography 139. If you are busy around the New Year’s holidays (and a lot of people are) plan on getting your submission in early this week.

+++++++

Merry Christmas! Christ is born!


Merry Christmas - 2023
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope you have a great Christmas!

+++++++

As most of the Photography 139 Calendars have been distributed it seems like a good time to start sharing the images for the 2024 calendar.

Here is the cover:


2024 Calendar - Front Cover
FRONT COVER

I don’t usually include pictures of people in the calendar, but I included this one of Jesse and Willy because it was the picture that was displayed at the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon this year.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: May 29, 2022 – 6:13 PM
LENS: 105mm f/2.8 Sigma Art Macro
FOCAL LENGTH: 105 mm
APERTURE: f/2.8
EXPOSURE: 1/8000
ISO: 800

Tomorrow I will share the image from January.

+++++++

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

IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT THAT SOME OF THESE MIGHT CHANGE STARTING NEXT YEAR. FOR EXAMPLY THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS WILL CHANGE TO 2 STARTING NEXT YEAR.

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.

This limit will change to 2 starting with next year’s first theme.

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.

GREEN! A great theme! But was it great enough to make it a popular theme. You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, December 18, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week (2)
2-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks
3-Sara Lockner – 4 weeks
4-Scott Degeneffe – 17 weeks
5-Sabas Hernandez – 18 weeks
6-Mike Vest – 23 weeks
7-Sheri Fakhouri – 27 weeks (2)
8-Logan Kahler – 28 weeks
9-Nathanial Brown – 29 weeks
10-Jesse Howard – 29 weeks
11-Tamara Peterson – 32 weeks
12-Mindi Terrell – 44 weeks
13-Brandon Kahler – 67 weeks
14-Linda Bennett – 73 weeks
15-Sarah Toot – 74 weeks
16-Angie DeWaard – 78 weeks
17-Dawn Krause – 82 weeks (2)
18-Kim Barker – 88 weeks
19-Joe Duff – 89 weeks
20-Teresa Kahler – 100 weeks (3)
21-Carla Stensland – 100 weeks (2)
22-Micky Augustin – 102 weeks
23-Andy Sharp – 103 weeks
24-Bill Wentworth – 104 weeks
25-Cathie Morton – 108 weeks
26-Elizabeth Nordeen – 109 weeks
27-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 111 weeks
28-Kio Dettman – 113 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:


WPC 432 - GREEN - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 114 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole Foley (Honey Hollow – Rural Warren County) – 112 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Waukee, Iowa) – 109 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Saint Louis, Missouri) – 105 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Saint Louis, Missouri)

WPC 432 - GREEN - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska)

WPC 432 - GREEN - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 104 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Orlando, Florida)- 103 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 101 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Reiman Gardens – Ames, Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Boone – Ogden, Iowa) – 101 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Houston, Texas) – 90 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Houston, Texas)

WPC 432 - GREEN - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Ames, Iowa) – 89 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 83 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Reiman Gardens – Ames, Iowa) – 79 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Chicago, Illinois) – 75 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Chicago, Illinois)

WPC 432 - GREEN - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 74 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WPC 432 - GREEN - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 45 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 33 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Branson, Missouri) – 30 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Branson, Missouri)

WPC 432 - GREEN - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 30 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Le Mars, Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 29 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Reiman Gardens – Ames, Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 28 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 24 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 19 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 18 weeks

WPC 432 - GREEN - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 432 - GREEN - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 432 - GREEN - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 432 - GREEN - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 432 - GREEN - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Parkersburg, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 432 - GREEN - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Parkersburg, Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Parkersburg, Iowa)

WPC 432 - GREEN - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Reiman Gardens – Ames, Iowa)

30 participants! That is a pretty great week, considering the holiday!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Florida
+ Kansas
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Missouri
+ Nebraska
+ New York
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

41 states and 1 district and 1 territory! That is pretty impressive! Over 80% of the way there!

The missing states are:
+ Alabama
+ Alaska
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Rhode Island
+ Virginia
+ West Virginia

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Canada
+ Peru
+ France
+ Austria
+ Germany
+ Italy
+ Slovenia
+ Belize

The major milestone stone this week was Andy joining the 2 Year Streak Club.

But it wasn’t all fun and reindeer games. Suzie couldn’t build on last week’s submission. Jen’s streak ends at 2. Sara’s streak ends at 4. Sadly, Brandon’s streak ends at 67.

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 433 - HUMANS
HUMANS

ONCE AGAIN. DON’T FORGET THAT NEXT MONDAY IS NEW YEARS DAY! PLAN ON GETTING YOUR SUBMISSION IN AROUND THE HOLIDAY! OTHERWISE, THERE COULD BE A TON OF STREAKS BITING THE DUST.

HUMANS! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! Even if HUMANS are mostly a failed species.

But what exactly is a HUMANS image? Simply put it is a picture that captures either a collection of HUMANS (or just one HUMAN) or the effects of HUMANity. A place where you can look at for inspiration is Humans of New York. After all, it did inspire this theme.

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

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.
-Albert Einstein

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 HUMANS in this place that is ran by one next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 427 – PORTRAIT

A reminder that if you are looking for a Thanksgiving meal or a place to volunteer on Thanksgiving my church is hosting it’s annual Thanksgiving meal again this year. Information below:



I will be there for at least part of the day!

+++++++

I haven’t selected the 52 themes for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. But here is a list of the suggested themes:

-Science
-Remorse
-Necessity, something critical to your way of life
-Monochrome
-Tourism
-Sentimental
-Dog
-Screenshot
-Anything in the world but a cat
-Roman Numeral
-Outside your home county
– Memories/Memorial/etc.
– Clothing
– Out-of-date (I was thinking specifically of technology or items like pay phones and outhouses here, but it could be more expansive)
– Hands
– Struggle (or challenge)
– A stranger
– Fashion
– Starburst
– Symmetry
– Rule of 1/3’s
– Wheels
– Self portrait
– Emotion
– 6:00pm
– Warmth
– Candlelight
– Window view
– Ugly
– Sunday morning
-ANIMAL or PET
-PASSION

Definitely several of these will make next year’s list! Obviously ANYTHING IN THE WORLD BUT A CAT is a no-brainer!

+++++++

PORTRAIT! Everyone has taken one or been in one. But did enough people take a PORTRAIT to make it a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 13, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Susanna Funk – 1 week
2-Diane Sharp – 1 week
3-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks
4-Monica Jennings – 2 weeks
5-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks
6-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
7-Alexis Stensland – 5 weeks
8-Scott Degeneffe – 12 weeks (3)
9-Sabas Hernandez – 13 weeks
10-Willy McAlpine – 13 weeks
11-Mike Vest – 19 weeks
12-Sheri Fakhouri – 22 weeks
13-Logan Kahler – 23 weeks
14-Nathanial Brown – 24 weeks
15-Jesse Howard – 24 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 27 weeks
17-Mindi Terrell – 39 weeks
18-Brandon Kahler – 63 weeks
19-Linda Bennett – 68 weeks
20-Sarah Toot – 69 weeks (2)
21-Angie DeWaard – 73 weeks
22-Dawn Krause – 77 weeks
23-Kim Barker – 83 weeks
24-Joe Duff – 84 weeks
25-Teresa Kahler – 95 weeks
26-Carla Stensland – 95 weeks (2)
27-Micky Augustin – 97 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 98 weeks (2)
29-Bill Wentworth – 99 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 103 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 104 weeks
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 106 weeks
33-Kio Dettman – 108 weeks (2)

The third week of each month I like to share a map of all the states that have had pictures taken in them that were submitted for this calendar year. Well, I checked my calendar and this is the third Monday of the month. Here is the map, heading into this week:



That is a lot of states filled in. In fact, going into this week, there are only 10 states that haven’t been visited and photographed by somebody that submits here. I don’t think there is any chance we will fill in the entire map this year, but we sure have gotten a lot closer than I ever would have guessed! There are 6 weeks left in this calendar year. I don’t anticipate any more states being filled in at this point. Maybe Indiana. But that is a pretty full map if it doesn’t change.

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 427 - PORTRAIT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Sonnette, Montana) – 98 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SHNNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 107 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 84 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Jewell, Iowa) – 69 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Dobson Pipe Organ Builders – Lake City, Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT -  SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)- 13 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 109 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 74 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 85 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 23 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 14 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 64 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 24 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 96 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 78 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 104 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 105 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Idaho Falls, Idaho) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 28 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (UNI Dome – Cedar Falls, Iowa) – 99 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (UNI Dome – Cedar Falls, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (east Des Moines, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 96 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (New Jersey) – 70 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 40 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 20 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 100 weeks

34 participants! A pretty good week by current standards!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Idaho
+ Iowa
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Hawaii
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Mississippi
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New Mexico
+ 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

40 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 80% of the way there! Every continental state west of the Mississippi is now accounted for.

This is the list of states currently missing:
+ Alabama
+ Alaska
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Indiana
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Rhode Island
+ Virginia
+ West Virginia

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Canada
+ Peru
+ France
+ Austria
+ Germany
+ Italy
+ Slovenia

The big milestone this week is Bill joining the Triple Digit Club! Also Cathie joins the 2 Year Streak Club. I forgot to mention it last week when Elizabeth joined it or a few weeks ago when Shannon joined and a few weeks before that when Kio joined it! Also, Dawn joined the Year and Half Club!

But it was all good news. Diane couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Monica’s 2 week streak went poof! As did Sara’s. And worst of all… Willy’s streak ends at unlucky 13.

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 428 - ANIMAL
ANIMAL

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

But what is a ANIMIMAL picture? It is simply a picture of an ANIMAL. That could be a live ANIMAL. It could be a stuffed ANIMAL. It could be a box of meat. It could be a pet. It could be a wild animal. It could be something related to an ANIMAL. The possibilities are endless!

While thinking about possible subjects for your ANIMAL picture, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt that you will come up with a fabulous image:

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
-Anatole France

I look forward to your interpretation!

RULES

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

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of ANIMAL in this place that loves dogs and so many other animals next Monday.

But Don’t Tell Me You’re Sorry, Boy

Today is Veterans Day. A day that celebrates all those who served in the U.S. Military.


Buchanan County

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans I know! And to the ones I don’t know too.

+++++++>/h2>

Time to hit up the backlog again. These pictures are from March and they just didn’t fit into any previous post. Some are sunset pictures. Some are from Gretchen’s birthday party. Some are pictures of gas stations.

Have a look:


But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures of Gretchen or Maven. I kinda suck.

There are still plenty more images in the March backlog to share.

Happy Halloween – Late

Because last week was so messed up, I didn’t get my planned Halloween post put together, so here it goes.

I hope everybody had a good Halloween. I had 51 trick-or-treaters, which was less than last year, but about average.

Now time for my annual Halloween Candy Bar Power Rankings

CANDY BAR POWER RANKINGS


10. PayDay
9. Snickers Almond
8. Skor
7. Pretzel M & M’s
6. Twix Caramel
5. Snickers
4. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
3. Peanut M & M’s
2. Take 5
1. Whatchamacallit

Please respect my decision. There will be no interviews at this time.

About a week or so before Halloween I made a trip to the Reiman Gardens annual Jack O’Lantern thing with the Gorshes.

Here are some pictures of my favorite pumpkins.


Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

It was a great event! I definitely go back.

Post 5,005

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


Day 57 - February 26, 2022
Happy birthday Elainie!

I hope your birthday is amazing!!

+++++++

Today is also Layla’s birthday!


Day 278 - October 5, 2021
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAYLA!

I hope you have an awesome birthday!

+++++++

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

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

That post that started with these words:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dropping from the rankings was Willy and Derrick.

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

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

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

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


THE BOTTOM 10 OF THE TOP 100

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

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

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

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

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

TOP 10 PHOTOGRAPHY 139 PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERIES (LAST 365 DAYS)

To View the Gallery, Click on its Representative Image

Now I don't want your sympathy
10. Naima – 64,796 views

Tenderloin Trail 2.0 - Stumble Inn
9. Tenderloining – 75,558 views

9 Emotions Project - Elainie
8. 9 Emotions Project – 81,405 views

Day 267 - September 24, 2022
7. Selfie-Project – 2022 – 88,632 views

Rodan139: Water Works Park
6. Drone – 99,708 views

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
5. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 9 – 108,852 views

Anita, Iowa
4. Town Sign Project – 118,563 views

Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Las Vegas 2023 – 169,257 views

Plymouth County - Le Mars
2. Town Sign Project Auxiliary Images – 219,546 views

WEEK 414 - ART - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
1. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 10 – 323,781 views

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

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

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

Top 10 Photography 139 Images

Sleeping Angels Fun Run - 2023
10. Sleeping Angels Fun Run – 2,772 views

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

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

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

Celtic Dancing - Renaissance Fair - 2022
6. Renaissance Fair – 2022 – 3,302 views

Fran & Pepper - 2022
5. Fran and Pepper – 3,687 views

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

Howards - 2022
3. Howards – 2022 – 3,976 views

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023
2. 2023 Barbecue Contests – 4,168 views

2023 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship Game
1. Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship – 18,045 views

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

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

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