Tinkering with small world.
I’ll probably tinker some more.
PARTICULARS
CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
ISO: 100
FOCAL LENGTH: 110mm
APERTURE: f/8
EXPOSURE: 1/250
DATE: 07/31/16 – 14:13
LATITUDE: 42.02276°
LONGITUDE: -94.02198°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: The Junck Family in a round about way.
EDITING SOUNDTRACK: “Times Like These” (acoustic) by Foo Fighters
Team Baby Got Rack competed in the Pufferbilly Days Barbecue Contest this past Sunday.
I will take away many cherished memories from this Sunday, I’ll share those when I share the majority of the Baby Got Rack images at a later date.
Here is what is important to know.
At this contest we debuted our two signature barbecue sauces:
Sweet + Mild
Anaconda Picosa
We also debuted our new signature drink: Thick Soul Sweet Tea.
We also debuted our new logo: Sir Pigs-a-Lot.
We also debuted a mascot, that at this time we are going to just call Cow or Bull.
We also attempted to debut a new signature style shirt to go with our signature fedoras. We weren’t quite there on that.
But what about the results? Well it wasn’t our best day. But even on a tiger’s worst day, it still gets to be a friggin’ tiger! We came home with the People’s Choice Award for the second straight year. Proving that you can’t spell D-Y-N-A-S-T-Y without Baby Got Rack.
Here is the team picture (with Cow or Bull) from Sunday:
Another unofficial category we dominated was The Fun Department. As you will see in a later post where I tell some of the stories of Saturday. Including my favorite guy from the day, who delivered the best line of the day.
In closing, I would just like to thank all the people that came up and supported us (helping ease the pain of Baby Got Rack Superfan Willy McAlpine’s absence), like my sisters and Mom, WB Joseph Lynch and his posse, the Howard Clan, the Thornburgs, and the Petersons to name a few. And of course, those that were there in spirit. Too many to name.
And to Sara for loaning us her chalkboards. To Jay for offering us the use of his can opener too!
I recently presented The Trophy for winning the 12th year of the Roundball Oracles to this year’s champion… Michelle Haupt
It was an exciting NCAA Tournament and an equally exciting Roundball Oracles NCAA Tournament Pool. If North Carolina would’ve won the NCAA Championship Game, Sara Lockner would’ve come home with the trophy this year. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Congratulations Michelle! May your reign be short.
2005 – William McAlpine
2006 – William McAlpine
2007 – Tim Peterson
2008 – Mark Wolfram
2009 – Mark Wolfram
2010 – Mark Wolfram
2011 – Carrie Baier
2012 – Lowell Davis
2013 – William McAlpine
2014 – Brandon Kahler
2015 – Derek Dohrman
2016 – Michelle Haupt
Here be the final standings.
1. Michelle Haupt – 275
2. Sean Clubine – 270
3. sara lockner – 259
4. Yours Truly 255
5. Micky Augustin 245
6. Angie DeWaard 241
7. Jackson Faust 241
8. Derek Dohrman 237
9. Frank Meiners 233
10. Toby Sebring 230
11, Lowell Davis 230
12, Mark Wolfram 228
13. Jason Baier 227
14, Corey Faust 221
15, Paul Golden 220
16, Wily McAlpine 218
17, Jordan Toot 217
18. Jesse Howard 216
19. Shannon Bardole 215
20. Benjamin Baier 214
21. Liz Nordeen 214
21. Jill Gorshe 214
23 . Jon DeWaard 207
24. JJ Baier 204
25. Dawn Krause 203
26. Nader Parsaei 202
27, Brandon Kahler 201
28. Carrie Baier 197
29. Jorge Rios 197
30. shawn lockner 194
31. Jen Gorshe 193
32. Derrick Gorshe 193
33. Andree Jauhari 193
34. tim peterson 192
35. Bill Wentworth 183
36. Olivia Baier 180
37. Russ Kennerly 180
38. Carla Stensland 175
39. William Baier 170
40. Rachel Johnson 167
41. Robert Henning 162
42. Joe Lynch 156
43. Laura Priest 152
Laura (Miller) Priest won the 3rd Annual “The Sara” for last place adult that tried. Joining the trophy’s namesake Sara Lockner and Derrick Gorshe as past winners. I don’t have a picture of Laura with her new trophy yet, but I will as soon as I get “The Sara” in the mail, it arrives in Manhattan, and she sends me a picture with her new pride and joy.
Participation took a little bit of hit this week. I’m sure it probably had to do a bit with the fact that there are only 2 times a day somebody could take a picture for this theme. If they were taking the theme literally. Or maybe something else caused a dip. I don’t know. I can’t read minds. I can barely read social media posts. I’m only human.
However, the submissions we did get were solid. The submissions for SUNRISE/SUNSET:
Carla Stensland 2
Carla Stensland 3
Christopher D. Bennett
Kim Barker 1
Kim Barker 2
Stephanie Kim
Michelle Haupt
Joe Lynch
Jodie Bennett 1
Jodie Bennett 2
Jodie Bennett 3
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:
Also, perhaps not the most easily accessible subject. However, if you have to, go hang out with a smoker. Some of them don’t even smell that bad. Like the ones that smoke ribs on their decks. Those smokers smell delicious. Yes, I’m saying that Scottie D. smells delicious. I’m comfortable with it. Are you?
Personally, I’m hoping to get caught up in the middle of a protest this weekend. #BLACKLIVESMATTER If that doesn’t work out, I’m looking forward to having an excuse to start a fire. It really is a win-win! Social justice or pyromania!
If you think this is a difficult theme… 2 things:
1. Next week’s theme will be almost painfully easy.
2. It is probably a good time to leave suggestions for next year’s themes in the comments section of this here blog. To date, the only suggestion is GLITTERY.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION
1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.
2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.
That is it, them’s the rules.
MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION
Nothing new to report. Nobody new has displayed their class, taste, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try to do better next week.
That’s all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very smoky Monday.
Another rose from the State Center Rose Garden:
Wish I would’ve been able to spend more time with better light there.
PARTICULARS
CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
ISO: 500
FOCAL LENGTH: 60mm
APERTURE: f/4
EXPOSURE: 1/100
DATE: 06/04/2016 – 20:37
LONGITUDE: 42.01488°
LONGITUDE: -93.16005°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: JOE LYNCH
EDITING SOUNDTRACK: “Better Get Hit in Yo’ Soul” by Charles Mingus
A couple Saturdays back I traveled to America’s crossroads: Colo, Iowa to take place in a turtle race that I have dubbed The Colo Derby.
My noble steed Titian dominated the competition, but on that day, it would NOT only be the turtles that smelled fishy. If you get what I’m laying down. Nudge-nudge-wink-wink! I’m saying the officiating was terrible. Okay.
Here are a few photos of this most American of travesties.
Victory. Titian is thy name!
A training lap.
I’m hoping we can make some wishes out of turtle-planes.
The combatants and their steeds. Cathie (left) was the “victor”.
The official results and some dimestore (albeit very accurate) analysis:
1. Cathie’s Turtle (won because some people don’t understand time.)
2. Titian (second place because of the base ugly human emotion called jealousy.)
3. Joe’s Turtle (third place because Joe was afraid to touch his turtle and his turtle didn’t respect him for this weakness.)
4. Michelle’s Turtle (last place because Michelle hates animals and the turtle could sense it and the turtle quit on her.)
After the race was run, I placed Titian back in the 5 gallon bucket from which he came. I am a man. He is a turtle, but I know we made a very special connection that day. Our paths will cross again. We will have our vengeance!
This week’s theme seemed to really inspire lots of people. Including first time contributor and conspiracy theory enthusiast Joe Lynch. Who wanted it known that those aren’t clouds in his picture. They are chem trails. Dropped by “them” on the “masses” to dumb us down or make us easier to control or more violent or something. Wake up people!
Here are the submissions for SKY/CLOUDS:
Angie DeWaard
Christopher D. Bennett
Carla Stensland 1
Carla Stensland 2
Jodie Bennett 1
Jodie Bennett 2
Stephanie Kim 1
Stephanie Kim 2
Stephanie Kim 3
Stephanie Kim 4
Becky Perkovich 1
Becky Perkovich 2
Mike Vest
An impressive collection of submissions methinks.
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 should be easy enough. Almost everybody has access to something BLUE. Blue is even an emotion. My inbox should be just packed full of BLUE submissions.
If you normally don’t pay attention to HOUSEKEEPING, you might want to this week. Or you might be disappointed next week.
MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION
1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.
2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.
That is it, them’s the rules.
MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION
Nothing new to report on this front. However, if you are reading these words and don’t have a Photography 139 email subscription. Let this guy know. I’ll get you hooked up!
MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SCHEDULING DIVISION
I will be in Milwaukee next Monday for my church’s Youth Group Mission Trip. The deadline for BLUE will not change. However, the submissions will not be published next Monday. More like Friday night or Saturday when I return. However, at 12:01 PM next Monday, the week’s theme will publish and you can begin working in earnest on it.
MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 FACE BOOK IS THE DEVIL DIVISION
Just a heads up that I probably won’t be publishing a link to this here post today. Any time there is a mass shooting I stay away from Facebook for a couple days. Considering the nature of this latest symptom of our country’s disease, I’m sure Facebook is even worse than normal with posts that are racist, homophobic, scapegoating the mental health system, and highly inaccurate with its interpretation of the Second Amendment. These types of incidents always just make me sad. I don’t need anger pile on top of it.
I like to think that humans are mostly decent people. Even if most of the evidence seems to suggest otherwise. Seems like the timing of the Mission Trip is perfect.
That’s all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune again next Monday.
QUESTION 17
How many biological siblings do I have? Be very specific.
ANSWER: 2.5
BOUNS
What are their names?
ANSWER: TERESA, CARLA, & JODIE
I had a recent trip to Marshalltown to try some pizza with some friends, co-workers, and co-working friends. On the way back Joe begged me to stop at the State Center Rose Garden. I obliged him.
It is one of my favorite places to visit every year and I can almost always have it to myself. Like Lone Wolf(s) like it!
PARTICULARS
CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
ISO: 400
FOCAL LENGTH: 60mm
APERTURE: f/4
EXPOSURE: 1/100
DATE: 06/04/2016 – 20:31
LATITUDE: 42.01533°
LONGITUDE: -93.16016°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Joe Lynch
PHOTO EDITING SOUNDTRACK: “Bakai” by John Coltrane – COLTRANE (Track 1)
QUESTION 15
I was hardcore even as a child. As a youngster, what band was the first rock concert I ever attended?
ANSWER: REO SPEEDWAGON
BONUS
I saw my current favorite band in concert at First Ave. Who are they?
ANSWER: THE SWELL SEASON
When the light poking from the trees picture were first published 9 years ago, most people thought it was a setting sun. Actually it is a street lamp. Now all my secrets are known.
Next week’s folder includes a dragonfly. Well, it might as well be a dragonfly.
I know! I’m super excited too!
QUESTION 10
I was so scary to my employees at the Campustown Outpost of the Evil Clown Empire that they gave me a button with a ferocious bear on it and my terrifying nickname. What was that terrifying nickname?
ANSWER: The Intimidator
BONUS
I share a cubicle with a guy that thinks the Earth is flat, that most people are clones, and that Hitler faked his death. Basically an awesome dude that I’m proud to call my WB. What does WB stand for?
ANSWER: Workspace Buddy
Recently my WB Joe stumbled across an article that Google had made their Nik Plugins free.
I rushed to the website and downloaded this collection of 7 plugins to play with immediately.
I thought I would give you a quick overview of some of the settings of these plugins, starting with the Analog Efex Pro plugin.
The description of this plugin from the website is as follows:
Get the photo you’re looking for, even if you don’t own the equipment. Let effects inspired by traditional cameras bring you back to the vintage age of photo development.
There are 9 default classic cameras you can start from and I’ll show you what those look like.
Let’s start with the original image from a gas station in tourist hot spot Cottonwood Falls, Kansas (photo assistant – Nate Miller).
When I took this photo, this was my original vision.
Here is a look at the 9 default Classic Camera settings in the Plugin.
Classic Camera 2
Classic Camera 3
Classic Camera 4
Classic Camera 5
Classic Camera 6
Classic Camera 7
Classic Camera 8
Classic Camera 9
But these Classic Cameras are just a jumping off point. Within this plugin you can play with roughly 50 different DIRT & SCRATCHES settings, 3 different LENS VIGNETTE settings, and roughly 50 different FILM TYPE settings.
I played with it a bit and came up with this image that feels like Cottonwood Falls, Kansas to me:
It is a cool FREE plugin to grab and add to your arsenal. Especially if you’re like me and love old and vintage photography.
Works with Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements (more or less), and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
There are several more plugins in this collection. We’ll be taking a look at those as well.
