Category Archives: Kim

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest – 2021

It seems like a good time to review my first time as the Chair of the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. I don’t know I can say it was an extreme success, but enough of a success to build on. Participation was way down this year, but I think that was to be expected as participation seems to be down across the board and there were lots of things working against the Photo Contest.

I was able to fix a few of the things that have bothered me about the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest in the past:

#1. The pictures were up for display on time, in fact, a day early.
#2. All the pictures were labelled with the name of the photographer, what class they were in, and the name of image.
#3. There was a display that named the winners that you could easily look at to see who placed in each class.
#4. Some small organizational things here and there, like putting stickers on the back of the entries, having a system for dividing and then combining the entries by photographer, and putting all the entries into bags with the judging forms, so they are easy to pick up.

There are plenty of changes I want to make next year, but I’ll get into that at the end.

I need to thank everybody that helped with the contest this year:

+ Michelle – Thanks for helping with adjusting the entry form and saved the life of at least one tree.
+ Kim – Thanks for the use of your Dymo for printing labels and the box.
+ Vest – Thanks for help with working with the OTHER Dymo.
+ Teresa – Thanks for all the help with the clerical/organizational side and creating the awards sign.
+ Carla – Thanks for all the help with the clerical/organization side, including labeling the ribbons.
+ Logan – Thanks for being a judge and smoking the meat for supper on the night of the judging.
+ Nathanial – Thanks for being a judge and bringing the sides for supper on the night of judging.
+ Lisa – Thanks for being a judge and bringing some experience and wisdom to this process.
+ Elainie – Thanks for being inside the window and setting up and taking down the display.
+ Kio – Thanks for getting me this gig and being the outside window helper when setting up the display.
+ Jesse – Thanks for putting up the banner and writing the thank you notes with your good penmanship. Also for distributing the flyers.
+ Megan – Thanks for your brilliant sidewalk chalk art.
+ Jorge – Thanks for the LaserJet printer that we used to print the labels.
+ The Staff of KWBG – For being supper supportive and always going the extra mile.
+ Boone First United Methodist Church – For providing a place to judge the images with an elevator.

I’m sure I’m forgetting somebody that helped during the process. This is not an intentional error. I thank whomever I forgot.

Here are some pictures from the judging process:


Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

We did the judging in Fellowship Hall at the Boone First United Methodist Church. I selected three judges because I didn’t want ties (although that was still a possibility) and I want a diversity of opinions and photographic skills.

The judges were:

Logan Kahler – Runs his own photography business. Former editor of the Boone News-Republican. Does wedding and event photography. Also does quite a bit of real estate photography.

Nathanial Brown – Proprietor of Nathanial Brown Productions. The leading force in Abandoned Iowa Photography and does a town of concert and event photography. Plus all sorts of photography for musicians in general.

Lisa Person – Half of Person Photography with her husband Bob. One of the best photographers I’ve ever known and it was particularly meaningful to me on a personal level to have her as part of the team for my first go as chair of this event. Their family and my family have always been intertwined in the world of photography. They did Senior Pictures for me and my sisters. They did the photography for all of our weddings. My Dad took a photography class (probably several) from Bob.

The story I’ve always heard about how Bob and my Dad met goes back to a 4-H display at the Boone County Fair. One of my sisters had entered a picture and Bob was a judge. Bob had given one of the pictures not a very good score. My Dad (who was over 6 foot and had a full manly beard) approached Bob who is more like 5 foot 6 (maybe) about why he gave this picture such a low score. (The picture used a technique called “soft focus”, but Bob considered that to just be out of focus.) Bob was terrified (or at least scared and intimidated) because he thought he had this big guy (that could surely squash him) pissed at him for giving his daughter’s picture low marks. But he soon found out that my Dad was only looking for information. Pointers. Advice. From that one conversation, they soon became great friends.

While Lisa was not a sentimental pick by any stretch of the imagination, it was very sentimental for me to have her in the room.

I got Megan Osborn to put down some sidewalk chalk art in front of the Photo Contest display to try to draw some more attention to it.

Here are some pictures of Megan:


Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Unfortunately, it rained that very night and washed most of it away. But then Jennifer from KWBG and her daughter traced over it and brought it back to life. Then it rained again. So the sidewalk chalk art didn’t draw people in, but now I know how to get it to rain.

Here are picture of the photo display being put up and taken down:


Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Here are some statistics from the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest:

+ 24 total entries
+ 20 Adult entries
+ 4 Youth entries
+ 5 Photoshop Enhanced (Adult) entries
+ 3 Hidden Treasures of Boone County (Adult) entries
+ 1 Photojournalism (Adult) entry
+ 11 Nature (Adult) entry
+ 5 Adult photographers
+ 2 Youth photographers

The Award Winners:

Adult – Hidden Treasures of Boone County
1. John Roberts – Last Train of the Season
2. John Roberts – Slowly Sinking
3. Tyler Alber – Boone County IA Sunset

Adult – Nature
1. Angie DeWaard – Golden Glow of Summer
2. Ava Stevens – Floral Summer Sun of My Heart
3. Angie DeWaard – Dragonfire

Adult – Photoshop Enhanced
1. Beatrice Upah – Are those donkeys?
2. Beatrice Upah – Rest Time
3. Beatrice Upah – Middle of Nowhere

Adult – Photojournalism
1. Angie DeWaard – Pandemic Chicken

Youth – Hidden Treasures of Boone County
1. Kayelee Burns – train turn about

Youth – Photojournalism
1. Daphne Harris – Fun in the Park

Youth – Photoshop Enhanced
1. Daphne Harris – Reflextion of Pinkie Pie
2. Kayelee Burns – My dog at ledges

My two main concerns for next year are that I need to figure out a way to get participation up. The other thing I need to come up with is a plan for getting the window display cooled. It gets extremely hot in that display and that causes many of the pictures to curl and I swear almost melt. I have a few ideas in mind for this problem. One of them includes replacing a window (or windows) with peg board. If anybody comes across some free or very cheap peg board that I can cut down… well I’m your huckleberry.

I’m also researching air conditioner options.

Here is a list of ideas I may bring to the 2022 Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Not all ideas are mine, but all of them are being considered.

+ Change the classes. In particular, I’m not a fan of the Photoshop Enhanced and Photojournalism category. I’m not sure what the new classes would be, but I’ve received more than one suggestion that there should be a railroad class for a festival that celebrates railroad heritage.
+ Move the deadline back to the Friday before Pufferbilly Days.
+ Add a Best in Show winner.
+ Customized Ribbons.
+ A People’s Choice Winner where people can vote online for their favorite. (This will take some work.)
+ Get the rules and entry form out as soon as possible. Get the flyer out as soon as possible. I plan on sending a reminder postcard out to all of this year’s entries when the Chamber is ready to start taking in entries.
+ Split the age divisions into Youth, Teen, and Adult. Get rid of classes for Youth. One of the Youth entries I got simply listed their class as “Photo”. I made the command decision on what category to enter it into. I don’t think kids should get wrapped up in categories. The important thing is just that they take pictures.
+ I also want to get somebody with actual graphic design skills to design the flyer next year. Also, somebody with artistic skills to design a logo for the contest. I already have an idea of what I want it to look like.
+ I also want to tweak the rules. I don’t know that I will require foam board, but it might be strongly encouraged. Also dry mounting. I’m not joking when I say that some of the photos practically melted in there. I think I will also include some tips for entering photo contests. That sounds arrogant, because I definitely don’t want to claim that I have anything figured out on that front, but little things like don’t enter more than one picture that looks similar or has the same subject. Those are just going to compete against each other in the judges’ eyes and a picture of a different subject will scoot right by it and earn a ribbon.

Those are just the ideas off the top of my head. I know that there are more percolating around my head and heads of others. But I have plenty of time to work on it.

+++++++

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


WEEK 309 - MOVEMENT
MOVEMENT

MOVEMENT! What a great theme! But what is a MOVEMENT photo? Simply put, a MOVEMENT photo is a picture of something that is in motion. There are two different ways to capture movement. Use a quick shutter speed to freeze movement. Use a longer shutter speed to blur motion.

And if you can’t control shutter speed, don’t worry about it too much. Just get a picture of something in motion and the photography gods will take care of the rest.

Happy photo harvesting!

Selfie Project – July 2021

On Saturday night I completed another successful month of THE SELFIE PROJECT. It probably wasn’t the most exciting month, but I think we did some good work here now and then.

Here are my favorites from July:


Day 183 - July 2, 2021
July 2, 2021

Day 184 - July 3, 2021
July 3, 2021

Day 185 - July 4, 2021
July 4, 2021

Day 186 - July 5, 2021
July 5, 2021

Day 187 - July 6, 2021
July 6, 2021

Day 190 - July 9, 2021
July 9, 2021

Day 191 - July 10, 2021
July 10, 2021

Day 192 - July 11, 2021
July 11, 2021

Day 193 - July 12, 2021
July 12, 2021

Day 195 - July 14, 2021
July 14, 2021

Day 197 - July 16, 2021
July 16, 2021

Day 198 - July 17, 2021
July 17, 2021

Day 199 - July 18, 2021
July 18, 2021

Day 202 - July 21, 2021
July 21, 2021

Day 204 - July 23, 2021
July 24, 2021

Day 205 - July 24, 2021
July 24, 2021

Day 206 - July 25, 2021
July 25, 2021

Day 208 - July 27, 2021
July 27, 2021

Day 209 - July 28, 2021
July 28, 2021

Day 212 - July 31, 2021
July 31, 2021

There can only be one Selfie per day, but I’ve decided to start sharing some alternate selfies from the month, that just didn’t make the cut:


A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

A Selfie Project 2021 Alternate

If you want to peruse all the THE SELFIE PROJECT images from 2021, click on the link below:

Selfie Project – 2021

Hopefully August is another successful month!

WPC – WEEK 306 – ARCHITECTURE

The theme of ARCHITECTURE rang the bell of a few people. Quite a few people, actually. Anita Ward would be proud.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 306 - ARCHITECTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

A great week of submissions!

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 307 - PATHS
PATHS

PATHS! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a PATHS image? Simply put, a PATHS image is a picture of a route used by beings to get from one place to another. Trails are PATHS. Roads are PATHS. Railroads are PATHS. Sidewalks are PATHS. Aisles are PATHS. Of course, you don’t have to be literal. There are the PATHS we are on in our life. There is the faith PATHS that we walk.

In the theme reveal image, there is a literal trail from an observation tower back to the woods and eventually, back to my car.

When considering subjects for this week’s image, consider the following quote:

When the path ignites a soul, there’s no remaining in place. The foot touches the ground, but not for long.
-Hakim Sanai

Heed these works and there is no doubt your path will take you to a most intriguing PATHS image.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of PATHS in this place that like to think it is your trail to my soul next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 305 – MUSIC

While we have been working on sorting things at my Mom’s house, we recently have come through a whole pile of genealogy stuff. While sorting through it, I thought I would share a bit of family history from my Dad’s side of the family. It is a story I’ve known, but never knew all the details that well. Through a series of 6 newspaper clippings, I’m going to share the story of my Grandma Bennett’s brief second marriage.

Handschin-Kessler Wedding
Sunday, December 31st

After morning services at the Central Church of Christ Sunday, December 31st, a wedding ceremony was solemnized in which Mrs. Bernice Kessler, daughter of Mr. anad Mrs. O.M. Needham, 1517 Sixth street, became the bride of Mr. Maurice Handschin of Sioux City, Iowa. The Rev. G. Harvey Sutton officiated at the double ring ceremony in his study. Attending the couple were Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Spratt of Boone.

For her wedding, the bride wore an attractive dress of plaid sheer wool with black accessories.

Later in the day, a wedding supper was served at the Spratt Restaurant, seventeen being present for the event. Both the bride and bridegroom attended Boone High school and have many friends in Boone who will be interested in reading of their marriage. The bride is employed at the Rollins Hosiery Mill and Mr. Handschin is employed by Swift Packing company at Sioux City, where the couple will make their home.

The articles are printed on thermal paper, it appears, and are not in good shape. Here is what it looks like:



There will be more to the story tomorrow.

+++++++

The language of MUSIC seemed to speak to several people this week. Of course, that is MUSIC to my ears, or maybe MUSIC to my eyes.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 305 - MUSIC - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 305- MUSIC - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 305- MUSIC - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 305- MUSIC - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 305 - MUSIC - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

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 306 - ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE

Architecture! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

But what is an ARCHITECTURE image? Simply put ARCHITECTURE photography is the photographing of structures. Buildings mostly, but there are other types of structures. Bridges. Towers. Bleachers. Try to capture a beautiful construction or parts of it in an interesting way.

Think on the following quote when you think about creating your ARCHITECTURE image:

Even a brick wants to be something.
-Louis Kahn

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of MUSIC in this place that is created by a computer architect next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 304 – HISTORY

Lots of people decided to make HISTORY by taking a HISTORY image this week. I understand that it can be a bit difficult for people that aren’t like me. You see, it is easy for me cause I’m making HISTORY every day.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 304 - HISTORY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - CHIRSTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEL 304 - HISTORY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEL 304 - HISTORY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

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 305 - MUSIC
MUSIC

BY THE WAY: WEDNESDAY IS THE LAST CITY BAND CONCERT OF THE YEAR IN BOONE.

MUSIC! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a MUSIC photo? A MUSIC photo is any picture that’s composition includes anything related to MUSIC. A person playing MUSIC. Sheet MUSIC. A MUSICal instrument. Anything involved in the creation of MUSIC.

While thinking on your MUSIC photo, consider this quote:

Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing.
-John Erskine

Think on that quote, and you will no doubt create a stunning MUSIC image for next MONDAY.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of MUSIC in this place that like to think it is a metaphorical melody next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 301 – WHITE

It appears that WHITE was not a super popular theme.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 301 - WHITE -SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 301 - WHITE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 301 - WHITE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 301 - WHITE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 301 - WHITE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 301 - WHITE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 301 - WHITE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 301 - WHITE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 301 - WHITE - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 301 - WHITE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 301 - WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 301 - WHITE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

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 302 - COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a COMMUNICATION image? It is simply any picture that shows a type of COMMUNICATION or people COMMUNICATIONing or things that are used for COMMUNICATION. For example, in the theme reveal there are several things being COMMUNICATIONed. The business is a carwash. The phone number to reach the proprietor is 515-890-1900. Somebody fears the commercialization of Christmas. They also must like fish. Signs are a great form of COMMUNICATION, as just an example.

Think on these lyrics by Led Zeppelin while you are thinking about subjects for your COMMUNICATION image:

Hey, girl, stop what you’re doin’
Hey, girl, you’ll drive me to ruin
I don’t know what it is I like about you, but I like it a lot
Won’t you let me hold you, now, let me feel your lovin’ touch

Communication breakdown, it’s always the same
Havin’ a nervous breakdown, a-drive me insane

Meditate on these words any you will no doubt, create a phenomenal COMMUNICATION image.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

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

WPC – WEEK 299 – WORDS

Despite last Monday being a holiday and a shorter week for some people, there were still a fair amount of submissions for WORDS.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 299 - WORDS - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 299 - WORDS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 299 - WORDS - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 299 - WORDS - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 299 - WORDS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 299 - WORDS - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 299 - WORDS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 299 - WORDS - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 299 - WORDS - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 299 - WORDS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 299 - WORDS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 299 - WORDS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 299 - WORDS - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 299 - WORDS - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 299 - WORDS - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

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 300 - RED
RED

RED! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a RED image? A RED image is simply any image where the color RED plays an important part of the composition of the image. For example, the main subject of the picture is RED.

Meditate on these words as you consider your RED image:

Red is the ultimate cure for sadness.
-Bill Blass
If you consider those words, you will no doubt create a fascinating RED image.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

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

WPC – WEEK 297 – GOVERNMENT

Once again, there was a healthy amount of submissions for GOVERNMENT. Apparently many of you decided that GOVERNMENT wasn’t all that bad. Or at least better than anarchy.

But you didn’t come her to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions.


WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 297 - GOVERNMENT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

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 298 - UP IN THE AIR
UP IN THE AIR

First thing to note is that next Monday is Memorial Day. While the GOVERNMENT, banks, and possibly your job takes the day off, there are no holidays on the Photography 139 Calendar (not literally). If you are going to be going to the cemetery or to a service or camping or grilling out, plan when you submit accordingly.

UP IN THE AIR! Another great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

But what is a UP IN THE AIR photo? It is simply a photo of something that is UP IN THE AIR. A bird. A plane. Superman? Well, if Superman isn’t standing on the ground. A good idea is to just throw something into the air and photograph it. Or a good candid portrait is to throw something in the air and have them try to catch it. This is a great candid portrait technique.

But whatever you do, do not think about this quote from the movie UP IN THE AIR while composing your image:

How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you’re carrying a backpack. I want you to feel the straps on your shoulders. Feel ’em? Now I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life. You start with the little things. The things on shelves and in drawers, the knick-knacks, the collectibles. Feel the weight as that adds up. Then you start adding larger stuff, clothes, table-top appliances, lamps, linens, your TV. The backpack should be getting pretty heavy now. And you go bigger. Your couch, bed, your kitchen table. Stuff it all in there. Your car, get it in there. Your home, whether it’s a studio apartment or a two bedroom house. I want you to stuff it all into that backpack. Now try to walk. It’s kind of hard, isn’t it? This is what we do to ourselves on a daily basis. We weigh ourselves down until we can’t even move. And make no mistake, moving is living. Now, I’m gonna set that backpack on fire. What do you want to take out of it? What do you want to take out of it? Photos? Photos are for people who can’t remember. Drink some ginkgo and let the photos burn. In fact, let everything burn and imagine waking up tomorrow with nothing. It’s kind of exhilarating, isn’t it? Now, this is gonna be a little difficult, so stay with me. You have a new backpack. Only this time, I want you to fill it with people. Start with casual acquaintances, friends of friends, folks around the office, and then you move into the people that you trust with your most intimate secrets. Your cousins, your aunts, your uncles, your brothers, your sisters, your parents and finally your husband, your wife, your boyfriend or your girlfriend. You get them into that backpack. And don’t worry. I’m not gonna ask you to light it on fire. Feel the weight of that bag. Make no mistake – your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. Do you feel the straps cutting into your shoulders? All those negotiations and arguments, and secrets and compromises. You don’t need to carry all that weight. Why don’t you set that bag down? Some animals were meant to carry each other, to live symbiotically for a lifetime – star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not those animals. The slower we move, the faster we die. We are not swans. We’re sharks.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of UP IN THE AIR in this place that travels from my server to your computational device through the air next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 295 – FACE

There was a decent amount of submissions for FACE this week. Apparently lots of you know a FACE or two that you like.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 295 - FACE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 295 - FACE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 295 - FACE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 295 - FACE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 295 - FACE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 295 - FACE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 295 - FACE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 295 - FACE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 295 - FACE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 295 - FACE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 295 - FACE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 295 - FACE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 295 - FACE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 295 - FACE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 295 - FACE - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley


Submitted by Andy Sharp by Caree Severson

WEEK 295 - FACE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

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 296 - LIGHT
LIGHT

LIGHT! Another great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

A LIGHT image is pretty simple. It is merely a picture where LIGHT plays a major compositional element. A wise person might argue that any picture they take is a LIGHT picture because all photography really is, is the capturing of LIGHT. But warning, when you take a picture of LIGHT, don’t face your camera straight towards a bright LIGHT.. You will surely damage it. The camera. The LIGHT will be just fine.

Think about the following song lyric when you are contemplating your LIGHT image:

I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
-Hank Williams

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

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

WPC – WEEK 294 – TRAVEL

There was a decent amount of submissions for TRAVEL. It looks like several people left their house this weekend and had TRAVEL adventures.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEL 294 - TRAVEL - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEL 294 - TRAVEL - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEL 294 - TRAVEL - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 294 - TRAVEL - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

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 295 - FACE
FACE

FACE! Another great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

A FACE image is pretty simple. It is merely a picture where a FACE is a major compositional element. Everybody has access to a FACE. Almost everybody either has a FACE or knows somebody that has a FACE. But not just humans have a FACE. Animals have a FACE. Clocks have a FACE. Even cliffs have a FACE.

Think about the following quote when you are contemplating your FACE image:

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
-Victor Hugo

Meditate on this quote and I have no doubt your submission will be one that is ready to FACE the world.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of FACE in this place that sometimes doesn’t know which way to FACE next Monday.