Category Archives: Layla

Art, Contests, Dad, Elainie, Evie, Jen, Layla, Lists, Logan, Mom, Nader, Sabas, Self-Portrait, Shannon, State Fair, Street Photography, Tenderloining, Teresa

State Fairin’: Best New Food Field Work

August 25, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

A tradition I started last year was my Iowa State Fair Power Rankings. Last year I just compiled my list of my 10 Favorite Fair Things. This year I’m going to power rank the 10 Iowa State Fair Buildings:

10 Best Iowa State Fair Buildings Power Rankings

#10 MURALS

Murals is actually an electrical sub-station. You can’t go in it, but every side is covered with an incredible mural and is by far the best place on the fairgrounds to do a selfie. Or even a self-portrait. Also a good spot to grab a clandestine smoke apparently.

#9 ANN & BILL RILEY STAGE

Some might argue it isn’t a building, but to me it meets all the requirements. It is one of three free stages to watch entertainment at the Fair and by far the best. Not only is it the site of the Bill Riley Talent Show (which lowkey is one of my favorite parts of the Fair). It seats over 3,000 people. There is shade and it is located right smack in the middle of a good majority of the food options. When I’m on the job of eating with a group of people, I like to setup base there. Then everyone can scatter and find their own food and come back and watch some kid from Decatur City belt out a showtune!

#8 GRANDSTAND

The Grandstand hosts the big time acts that come to the Fair. Admittedly I haven’t been to a concert at the Grandstand since I went to see Maroon 5 with Jill. So that tells you it has been probably a decade. But this year there were many shows that tempted me. Foreigner. Greta Van Fleet. The Avett Brothers. To name a few. I didn’t go to any, but I was tempted. The inside hosts a bunch of flea market type stuff. But most importantly it is the home of Nitro Ice Cream. A must get at the Fair for me every year!

#7 ELWELL FAMILY FOOD CENTER

This is a bit of a nostalgic pick. This was one of my Mom’s must-sees every year. It hosts the food contests. But the favorite here is the cake contests. Both the Ugly Cake Contest and then the, not sure what it is actually called, but the Pretty Cake Contest. An added bonus is that it is air conditioned and it has some of the cleanest bathrooms at the State Fair. But in the last couple of years I have gotten to introduce Elainie to the joy of the Ugly Cake Contest and that makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.

#6 DNR BUILDING

This building would be higher on the list in past years, but in recent years there haven’t been many birds on the pond because of the stupid avian flu. But there are a few, so partial credit. There are still turtles. There are also still the lunkers in the fish tanks inside. Plus sometimes there are snakes and other various creatures. Plus some of the gates were designed and built and installed by an artist that lives 2 houses down from me from garbage pulled out of Iowa rivers. This year they added an archery range, but unfortunately got rid of the water feature that housed a couple of water lilies.

#5 BRUCE L. RASTETTER 4-H EXHIBITS BUILDING

This is another slightly nostalgic pick. Both my sisters were very active in 4-H and frequently had pictures on display in this building. I still love looking at the 4-H photo contest and just looking at all the other exhibits that the young people of our state have put together. They are frequently equal parts fascinating and awe inspiring. It is also an air conditioned building with clean bathrooms and water bottle refill stations. Plus the 4-H food stand is decent and your dollars go to support a good cause.

#4 PAUL R. KNAPP ANIMAL LEARNING CENTER

This is by far the newest and smelliest building on my power rankings. But it is air conditioned. The bathrooms are clean. It is by far the best place to see baby animals. Baby pigs. Baby sheep. Baby goats. Baby cows. Baby chickens. Baby ducks. All super adorable!

#3 PIONEER HALL

There is definitely some nostalgia in this pick. Many of my earliest State Fair memories involve Pioneer Hall. My Dad used to sell antiques here during the Iowa State Fair. It is the oldest building on this list and I think the oldest building of the Iowa State Fair. It was built in 1886 and was originally a poultry building. But nostalgia aside it is one of my favorite buildings to visit. Not just because of all the antique dealers. But the blacksmith display. The old-timey music that comes from the stage. Plus it hosts some of the best contests of the fair. Cow Chip Throwing. Rubber Duck Throwing. Husband Calling. Hog Calling. Turkey Calling. To name a few. Plus it is one of the places to get on the sky glider. There are tractor displays in the courtyard. Plenty to do, even if you don’t like antiques.

#2 JOHN DEERE AGRICULTURE BUILDING

The Agriculture Building doesn’t rank this high just because it is sponsored by John Deere. But it definitely helps. Next to the Agriculture Building is the Discovery Garden. Which is well documented as one of my favorite parts of the Fair. But next to that is the Largest Pumpkin Contest. Inside is where you can get a free hard boiled egg. The butter sculptures are housed here. Plus just a myriad of strange contests that are amongst my favorites. Like the seed mosaic art contest. The Odd Vegetable Contest. Upstairs is where the honey producers have their contests and sell honey lemonade. It is truly atrocious (the lemonade), but you can see Shannon, so that is something! Plus, the 4-H has their Dairy Barn there. Applelishus has a food stand. There is also a small State Fair Souvenir Stand. It really has something for everybody and don’t sleep on that free hard boiled egg!

#1 PATTY & JIM COWNIE CULTURAL CENTER

You should have known this was going to be #1. A very ugly building on the inside and out, it was built in 1949 as the 4-H Girls Dormitory. You can see the 4-H Logo engraved on the corners of the building as the remnants of its original use. But perhaps it is because it is so utilitarian, it is perfect for all of the art that it hosts. Obviously, it hosts the Photography Salon. But it also host the Fine Arts Contest. Plus it hosts the Dollhouse Contest. Woodworking exhibits. The Artist Fair. On the ground floor by the main entrance on the east wall one of my favorite artists has setup and sold for years. I always stop and pickup some new stickers. There is just art of every kind there. And if you like art at all (and if you don’t and are here, my feelings are a touch hurt) this is the best building at the State Fair.

Next year I might Power Rank the best State Fair Contests, but there are so many I don’t know I could do such a list justice. It is a year away, so who knows what will change, but it is my first idea.

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Today is a long one, so buckle up.

I’m going to start by ranking the Finalists for Best New Fair Food. Then just share all the food I ate at the Iowa State Fair:

#3 Iowa Sm’Oak’ed Roll – Whatcha Smokin? BBQ – $14

The description:

Smoked Pork tenderloin stuffed with jasmine rice, jalapeno creamed corn, smoked poblano queso and Giddy Up Texas taco sauce, poblano ranch and smoked sesame seeds.

It just wasn’t good. It was bland. The sauces didn’t work. It was served barely above room temperature. Jesse is the only person I heard say anything good about it. It was one of the worst things I’ve ever had at the Iowa State Fair. Period. Which was disappointing because they are basically a local restaurant for me AND last year, their Iowa Twinkie was my favorite. I have no doubt they will rebound and offer something delicious again next year.

#2 Bacon Cheeseburger Egg Roll – Winn & Sara’s Kitchen – $12

Description:

Ground beef cooked with bacon and pickles with a cheese filling, wrapped in a golden pastry egg roll drizzled with house made burger sauce.

This is the one that went on to win Best New Fair Food. I don’t have a qualm with it. This was definitely tasty AutoFocus. I could see myself sitting in a bar and just hammering these down. But I don’t know that it was transcendent. I definitely plan to hit their actual restaurant in Indianola with Shannon at some point in the future.

#1 Lobster Corn Dog – Destination Grille – $20

Description:

Lobster tail pulled through batter season with cayenne pepper and salt, topped with a lemon aioli drizzle.

I had very little expectation for this. I’m not a big fan of lobster, but this really knocked my sweaty from a full day of State Fair walking socks off! If Red Lobster was like this, I might almost be a lobster man. But not likely. Too much work for me. My theory on why it didn’t win best food is because the price tag was pretty steep and the size of the portion varied wildly. You can look at the picture with me, Logan, and Sabas and see that Sabas clearly got robbed!

I can’t wait to see what new foods come to next year’s Iowa State Fair!

But wait… I’m not done. Here is the rest of the food I ate on my 4 trips to the Iowa State Fair:

Dill Pickle Fried Cheese Curds – From Trip 1 with Teresa

Fry Bread – From Trip 2 with Jen, Evie, and Layla.

Beef Brisket Sandwich – Trip 2

Fried Mushrooms – Stolen from Jen

Evie and Layla enjoying their Piggy in a Donut and Apple Egg Rolls

Biscuit Bar – Trip 3 with Logan and eventually Elainie and Sabas

Layla’s Piggy in a Donut looked so good I had to have one!

Logan’s Mississippi Pot Roast

Logan’s Potato Salad – the best potato salad I’ve had in my life… no fooling!

Logan and his trophy, but we will get into that at a later date!

Italian Grinder – Still Trip 3

Cookies and Milk – Still Trip 3

Smash Burger – Trip 4 with Nader – Jesse and Nader crapped out

I didn’t eat at the Methodist Food Stand, but I did stop to see my favorite server!

Nitro Ice Cream!

The Bacon Cheeseburger Egg Roll sold out!

Fried Veggie Platter

With a Pepsi

Apple Slushie

And my final Iowa State Fair food: Funnel Cake Cheeseburger

This was tasty but messy AutoFocus to eat. I don’t think I would get it again.

One last Pepsi for the road.

Farewell dear Fair!

Next week’s food adventure will involve Logan competing at the State Fair Grilling Contest. Then we will get back to chronological order!

Adam, Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Contests, Dawn, Deanna, Derrick, Elizabeth, Jen, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Layla, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Michelle, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Olympic Sports, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, State Fair, Still Life, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 466 – SCIENCE

August 19, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

In yesterday’s post I revealed the images I entered in the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. Today I thought I would give flowers to the consistent THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE contributors that also had pictures displayed.

It was a great showing by this group! Angie got a major award. Nathanial got 2 First Places. Logan and Nathanial both got 3 images in. To put a little clarity on that. Nobody (for at least the 2nd year in a row) got all 4 images in this year. Only 16 people got 3 pictures exhibited. 16 out of 817 people who entered.

All artistic contests are a bit of a crapshoot to a degree. Dependent on what the judges like that year. But it is still pretty impressive that a major award, a couple 1st Places, and 3 out of the 16 people that got 3 images exhibited came from this little community. I wouldn’t expect that kind of success again next year, but it is still pretty cool.

Also, I should have taken pictures of them, Shannon also did well in the Iowa Honey (Beekeepers) Association (I can’t remember their name)! All sorts of great accomplishments!

+++++++

SCIENCE! A great theme! But did enough people get an example of the third law of thermodynamics to make it a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

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

1-Amy Peterson – 1 week (IA)
2-Evie Gorshe – 1 week (IA, IN)
3-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN)
4-Monica Jennings – 1 week (IA)
5-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
*6-Tim Panages – 2 weeks (IA)
*7-Mary Green – 3 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
8-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 5 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 9 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Suzie Brannen – 14 weeks (IA, MD)
12-Mike Vest – 14 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
13-Alexis Stensland – 16 weeks (IA)
14-Sabas Hernandez – 18 weeks (IA, OH)
*15-Adam Gordon – 23 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS)
16-Lowell Davis – 32 weeks (IA, MO)
17-Michelle Haupt – 32 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
18-Brandon Kahler – 33 weeks (IA, MN)
19-Scott Degeneffe – 51 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*20-Sheri Fakhouri – 61 weeks (IA, NE)
21-Logan Kahler – 62 weeks (IA, MN)
22-Nathanial Brown – 63 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
23-Tamara Peterson – 74 weeks (IA, MN)
*24-Mindi Terrell – 78 weeks (IA)
*25-Linda Bennett – 107 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
26-Sarah Toot – 108 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
*27-Angie DeWaard – 112 weeks (IA, IL, SCT)
28-Dawn Krause – 116 weeks (IA, IL)
29-Kim Barker – 121 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*30-Joe Duff – 123 weeks (TX, NY)
*31-Teresa Kahler – 134 weeks (IA, NE)
32-Carla Stensland – 134 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
33-Micky Augustin – 136 weeks (IA, IL, FL)
34-Andy Sharp – 137 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
35-Bill Wentworth – 138 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
36-Cathie Morton – 142 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
37-Elizabeth Nordeen – 143 weeks (IA, OH)
38-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 145 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
*39-Kio Dettman – 147 weeks (IA)

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.

It is the third week of the month and on the third week of the month I like to share a map of all the states where people have submitted from heading into today. Here is that map:

34 states so far!

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 - WEEK 466 - SCIENCE - MICKY AUGUSTIN

Micky Augustin (Colo, Iowa) – 137 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Hight Trestle Trail Bridge – Boone County, Iowa) – 146 weeks

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 122 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Iowa State Fair – Des Moines, Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 108 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Chicago, Illinois) – 64 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 33 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 52 week

Kio Dettman (Hamilton County, Iowa) – 148 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Roman Baths – Bath England) – 113 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 124 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Newell, West Virginia) – 2 weeks

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 62 weeks

Adam Gordon (Lake Huron – Rogers City, Michigan) – 24 weeks

Adam Gordon (Michigan State University – Lansing, Michigan)

Derrick Gorshe (Ohio) – 1 week

Layla Gorshe (Ohio) – 1 week – “Vapor”

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 33 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa City, Iowa) – 19 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa)

Brandon Kahler (Iowa State Fair – Des Moines, Iowa) – 34 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 63 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 135 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 117 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 143 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 144 weeks

Tim Panages (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 75 weeks

Andy Sharp (Council Bluffs, Iowa) – 138 weeks

Carla Stensland (Cedar Rock – Independence, Iowa) – 135 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 109 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 15 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 139 weeks

36 participants! That is a pretty good week. Not great, but pretty good.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ England (1)
+ Illinois (1)
+ Iowa (28)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Ohio (2)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (2)
+ West Virginia (1)

Thanks to Jen’s travel we had the first EVER submission from West Virginia. If you are curious, since I have started tracking this information, this is the list of states I’ve never had a submission from:

+ Alabama
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Rhode Island

And also, thanks to Angie’s travels, I believe that is the first ever submission from England since I’ve started tracking. All exciting stuff!

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

+ Arkansas (19.5)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (9)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (13)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1236)
+ Kansas (47)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (9)
+ Minnesota (12)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (16.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (40)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (25)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (49)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (1)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

35 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2

Jen has reclaimed the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy, Scott, and Nathanial are in striking distance. Jesse has fallen out of contention.

There were a few big milestones this week. Deanna joined the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! Scott joined the 1 Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all fun and game and rainbows and unicorns. There was a veritable bloodbath of streaks. Amy and Evie couldn’t build on last week’s submission. Their streaks are over before they began. Mary’s streak ends at 3. Jesse’s is over at 4. Suzie’s is kaput at 14! And worst of all Scarecrow, Alexis’ streak is gone with the wind after 16 weeks. Oh the humanity!

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:

STILL LIFE

STILL LIFE! What is a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! I try not to define the themes much these days, but I will for STILL LIFE.

A still life ( pl. : still lifes) is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or human-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, etc.).

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 see your idea of STILL LIFE in this place that tries to stay in motion next Monday.

Art, Basketball, Beckham, Black & White, Derrick, Evie, Harrison, Iowa State, Jen, Layla, Music, Still Life, Street Photography, WPC - Alternate

Remember When I Believed You Meant It

July 13, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time to share the alternate images for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme BLACK & WHITE that I took on July 4. In fact, I took so many pictures on that day, I’m going to split this into 3 days. The first day consists of pictures I took around Ames before and after watching the Independence Day Parade in Ames with the Gorshes.

Let’s get after it:

Still 2 more collections of images from this day left to share.

9 Emotions Project, Anders, Animals, Baby Got Rack, Baier, Becca, Becky, Black & White, Blogging, Candid Portrait, Carla, Christianity, Drone, Evie, Faust, Formal Portrait, Jaycees, Jesse, Kim, Layla, Logan, Micky, Mom, Naima, Nathanial, Nature, Night, Pastor Sarah, Pufferbilly Days, Railroad, Shannon, Still Life, Tenderloining, Teresa, Town Sign Project, Vest, Willy

Post 5,250

July 6, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Can you believe that this is the 5,250th 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.

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 5,250 journal entries. 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.

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 #5005 & INCREASE SINCE BEGINING OF 2024)

10. Carla – 632 (#10 – 39)
9. Formal Portrait – 655 (#6 – 6)
8. Teresa – 657 – (#9 – 49)
7. Road Trip – 657 (#8 – 32)
6. Macro – 662 (#7 – 26)
5. Jesse – 754 (#5 – 54)
4. Animals – 833 (#3 – 34)
3. Art – 842 – (#4 – 75)
2. Flowers – 1,010 (#2 – 40)
1. Black & White – 1,221 (#1 – 27)

No categories dropped from the Top 10. The categories with the best shot at cracking the Top 10 in the next 250 posts are Shannon, Nature, WPC-Submissions, Candid Portrait, & Still Life.

THE TOP 10 NON-HUMAN CATEGORIES
10. Candid Portrait – 504 (#9 – 16)
9. WPC-Submissions – 563 (NR – 27)
8. Nature – 568 (#8 – 26)
7. Formal Portrait – 655 (#5 – 6)
6. Road Trip – 657 (#7 – 32)
5. Macro – 662 (#9 – 26)
4. Animals – 833 (#3 – 34)
3. Art – 842 – (#4 – 75)
2. Flowers – 1,010 (#2 – 40)
1. Black & White – 1,221 (#1 – 27)

Photoshop dropped out of the Top 10.

The categories with the best shot of cracking the Top 10 in the next 250 posts are Still Life, Photoshop, Naima, History, and Self-portrait.

THE TOP 10 HUMAN CATEGORIES

10. Willy – 379 (NR – 27)
9. Vest – 388 (#10 – 29)
8. Micky – 399 (#8 – 29)
7. Logan – 428 (#7 – 37)
6. Kim – 441 (#6 – 35)
5. Mom – 473 (#5)
4. Shannon – 615 (#4 – 30)
3. Carla – 632 (#3 – 39)
2. Teresa – 657 (#2 – 49)
1. Jesse – 754 (#1 – 54)

Jay dropped out of he Top 10. The categories that have the best chance of breaking into the Top 10 in the next 250 posts are Andy, Jay, Jen, Sara, and Derrick.

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 208 categories used on the website. I could cover the Bottom 10, but no real reason. Some of those categories probably need to be purged. I do like to cover the Top 10 of the Bottom 100 though.

THE BOTTOME 10 OF THE TOP 100

10. Nathanial – 82 (+29)
9. Layla – 84 (+8)
8. Commercial – 84 (0)
7. House – 91 (+1)
6. Writing – 92 (0)
5. Becca – 92 (+2)
4. Pastor Sarah – 93 (+2)
3. Pufferbilly Days – 95 (+4)
2. Tenderloining – 96 (+25)
1. Faust – 96 (+4)

The following categories have either fallen out of the Bottom 10 of the Top 100 or climbed out of it:
Andree, Flat Earth Joe, Self-Portrait Project, and Sabas

The following categories have the best shot at dropping back into the Bottom 10 of the Top 10:
Russell, Nate, Jill, Blogging, Sabas, and Lowell.

The following categories have the best shot at climbing up into the Bottom 10 of the Top 10:
Andree, Photo Journal, Self-Portrait Project, Flat Earth Joe, and Mary.

I’m now starting to track what categories have had the greatest gain. These are the ones that have the greatest gain since the beginning of 2024.

THE TOP 10 CATEGORIES BY GAIN

10. Kim – 35
10. Andy – 35
10. Michelle – 35
8. Logan – 37
8. Elizabeth – 37
7. Carla – 39
6. Flowers – 40
5. Teresa – 49
4. Jesse – 54
2. Still Life – 72
2. Street Photography – 72
1. Art – 75

THE TOP 10 NON-HUMAN CATEGORIES BY GAIN

9. Nature -26
9. Nature – 26
7. Black & White – 27
7. WPC – Submissions – 27
6. Road Trip – 32
5. Animals – 34
4. Flowers – 40
2. Still Life – 72
2. Street Photography – 72
1. Art – 75

THE TOP 10 HUMAN CATEGORIES BY GAIN

9. Scottie. D. – 33
9. Linda – 33
9. Sabas – 33
6. Kim – 35
6. Andy – 35
6. Michelle – 35
4. Logan – 37
4. Elizabeth – 37
3. Carla – 39
2. Teresa – 49
1. Jesse – 54

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.

TOP 10 PHOTOGRAPHY 139 PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERIES (LAST 365 DAYS)

To View the Gallery, Click on its Representative Image

10. Naima – 72,941 views

9. Drone – 73,421 views

8. 9 Emotions Project – 98,062 views

7. Weekly Photo Challenge Year 3 – 124,533 views

6. Town Sign Project – 127,555 views

5. Tenderloining – 134,777 views

4. Town Sign Project Auxiliary Images – 172,671 views

3. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 11 – 192,976 views

2. Instagram – 212,131 views

1. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 11 – 289,984 views

Galleries that fell out of the Top 10 are:
Las Vegas 2023, Weekly Photo Challenge Year 9, Selfie Project – 2022,

Galleries that fell just outside of the Top 10 are:
Life, 365 Day Photo Project -2013, Memphis – 2023, New Orleans – 2024, Phot Journal Rejects.

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

10. 2,475 views

9. 2,508 views

8. 2,812 views

7. 3,774 views

6. 3,875 views

5. 3,999 views

4. 4,020 views

3. 4,305 views

2. 4,816 views

1. 20,050 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
Post 5,005

I think that is enough. We will check back in, in another 250 posts.

Art, Beckham, Candid Portrait, Derrick, Evie, Harrison, Jen, Layla, Nature, Road Trip, Self-Portrait, Still Life

Eclipse Road Trip – Day 2

April 30, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

On Day 2 of the Eclipse Road Trip I woke up in the comfort of the bed. Did my business in a toilet with running water. Brushed my teeth. Still opted for a whore’s bath and then decided to do a little bit of exploring while the rest were sleeping I decided to sneak off and do a little exploring. I had done a little research on the Gosport area and found out that there was a beautiful waterfall nearby. There was also an interesting sculpture park, but that didn’t open until 9 AM and by the time I explored it, I wouldn’t have had time to get back to Linda’s to leave for the eclipse party.

Through my research I also learned about a cool bakery in Gosport that had an open kitchen that allowed you to watch them bake all of the tasty goodness.

Here are some pictures from the day:

This cool drive-in theater reminds me that one of my goals this year is to go watch a movie at a drive-in movie theater. Who is in?

It was a beautiful sunrise on a foggy morning. Almost magical.

It cost an outsider like me 9 smackers to visit Cataract Falls State Park. If I was from Indiana, it would have been $7. I thought about how lucky I am to be able to visit Ledges or Mines of Spain or Backbone anytime I want for free, but then I’m also reminded that we don’t even have park rangers any more and are parks are poorly maintained. So maybe it is a wash.

Going over the Eel River was this sweet covered bridge.

Even though I wasn’t there to see the eclipse I got a 5 minute lecture about it from 2 different park rangers. Even though I told both of them that I was just there to see the Niagara Falls of Indiana.

It is really the largest waterfall in Indiana. You might scoff, but it is way bigger than any waterfall in Iowa.

After leaving Cataract Falls I visited the town of Cataract to check out the famous Cataract General Store and the Cataract School. This sign should hang everywhere.

Is that good? That seems good.

I stopped at the cool bakery. I bought a piece of red velvet cake and a piece of carrot cake. I also bought this chocolate milk. I have a longstanding belief that it is impossible to get great chocolate milk outside of Iowa (or outside of the AE Dairy footprint). Kind of like how you can’t get a good tenderloin outside of Iowa. The clerk at the Bakery ranted and raved about this chocolate milk. It was an okay chocolate milk, but if I somehow ever get back to Gosport I’m taking a gallon of AE into the bakery and I’m blowing some minds. Anyways, this chocolate milk comes from a local dairy.

This truck is parked just outside of Paragon. Nobody I talked to seemed to know the story. Rest in peace Jack Brown.

Jen came back from Indiana with one more fur coat. A beaver fur coat this time.

I witnessed quite the wrestling match. I’m not sure who won. But it was quite the match.

I ate so much food at the Eclipse Party. Linda’s ribs were delicious. So was Pete’s chili. I tried something called “fluffy” that Evie was certain was going to change my life. I don’t know it did, but I ate plenty of it. Also a ton of peanut butter bars.

It’s starting!

Styling and profiling!

Totality!

During the eclipse there are these crazy crescent shadows.

My camera filter.

This is the road outside of Linda and Pete’s house. I swear every road that isn’t a highway looks like this road.

After the eclipse we packed up and headed back. We had a hotel booked in Normal, Illinois.

We ended up getting gas in Danville, Illinois. Apparently the no buying gas in Illinois thing was just an elaborate ruse.

I’ve been to shadier gas stations. One in San Antonio comes to mind, but this one was pretty shady.

The drive from Indiana to the hotel was crazy busy. There were a ton of people fleeing Indiana after the eclipse. The last 5 miles or so on the interstate took me over 30 minutes. It was great to get to the hotel. I watched part of UCONN’s dismantling of Purdue. Then watched the kids swim in the pool before calling it a night.

One more sleep before finishing the trip home the next day.

Oh… here is one more bonus image. Evie took this picture of Derrick. We were trying to teach him about Snapchat.

I think we failed and honestly I’m not that great at Snapchat. Evie knows way more than me. So maybe she can keep working on him.

Art, Beckham, Candid Portrait, Derrick, Evie, Flowers, Harrison, Jen, Layla, Road Trip, Still Life

Eclipse Road Trip – Day 1

April 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

The last total eclipse to be visible from the United States for the next 20 years was on April 8. Unfortunately to see the 100% totality, I had to leave my beloved Cyclone State. I originally perused a few options. A spot in Missouri. A spot in Illinois. A spot in Arkansas. A spot in Kentucky. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do. Cause I knew that hotels in the areas were outrageous. I was considering driving to like the Quad Cities on the Sunday before the eclipse and then driving the rest of the way in the morning. Then driving back that night. Then the most magical thing happened. I had a trip just kinda fall into my lap.

The Gorshes are well-known eclipse fiends. They went to New Mexico for an eclipse last year. They were going this year. Travelling to Indiana to camp on Jen’s Aunt Linda’s land. They were going to drive all the way through on Sunday. Watch the eclipse on Monday. Then drive back to Illinois and stay in a hotel in Normal. Then drive back to Iowa on Tuesday. They graciously offered to let me 7th or 8th wheel it on their trip.

They were pulling a camper behind Derrick’s serial killer van* with 2 adults, 4 kids, and a dog. As roomy as the van was I elected to take the RAV4 to the Sycamore State cause for 1 person, I pack a lot of stuff. I think the offer was on the table for me to sleep in the camper as well, but I decided to pack a tent and an air mattress and sleep the way the pioneers did. In a tent. On a queen sized air mattress. With electricity for their CPAP, cause I still haven’t hit 3 months and I have to average over 4 hours a night for the old insurance company to kick in some ducats. Also electricity to charge their cell phone and listen to their sleepy time podcasts. Also electricity to charge their fitness watch. Those steps don’t count if they aren’t tracked! Some real old-timey pioneer stuff.

However, a couple days before we were set to leave, Jen texted me and let me know that I had been upgraded from the tent to Linda and Pete’s camper. With the only caveat being that it was still winterized, so there would be no running water. Me? An old-timey pioneer camper? I don’t need no stinking running water! I could brush my teeth in the rain. Or with the water in my Owala water bottle. Just like the pioneers did. And I had already planned on a whore’s bath for Monday anyways. You know. Pits and… well you know.

According to the Google maps, it is a nearly 8 hour drive from my domicile to Linda’s house in Gosport, Indiana.

I don’t want to brag, but we made it in a touch over 12 hours. That is without accounting for the time zone change.

I didn’t take many cell phone pictures on Day 1, but I took a few and here they are:

Stop 1. They also had a bathroom with running water, but in case you wanted the ambiance of a port-a-potty, “To The Right”. The capitalization of every word on this sign disturbs me and haunts my dreams.

Stop 2. This gas station was very serious about not letting backpacks in their store.

It was in Davenport.

And they brook no nonsense from kids.

I think they aren’t really sorry for the inconvenience. We stopped at virtually the last gas station in Iowa because it was very important to not buy gas in Illinois cause it is apparently very expensive there.

Stop 3 – Sweet insect exhibit at an Illinois rest area.

All rest areas should have giant rubber bugs. This is not open to debate.

Bug needs to work on his arms. Needing a condiment cup to hold himself up. Do you even lift bro?

I am such a sucker for taking pictures of where I am.

This rest are had a sweet lookout and somebody actually wrote a Joe Dirt quote on the railing.

Do sex drugs own the rock-n-roll? Is this person really into rock concerts sponsored by Viagra?

Stop 4 – Another Illinois rest area. I told you I’m a sucker for taking pictures like that.

This rest area was a dump. Just filthy. No urinals. The only positive was these cherry blossoms.

This thing was cool too. While there Harrison had a meltdown in the restroom because he refused to wash his hands. This standoff lasted like 10-15 minutes. I don’t blame him. It was a bathroom that was so dirty that your hands were probably dirtier after washing them. In retrospect, I should have just offered him some of my Bridgerton scented hand sanitizer. Perhaps Bridgerton Study. They have a light scent. Easy on the nose. I’ve never heard anybody claim they are way too strong and demand that I leave their immediate area, shortly after using one. That seemed like an oddly specific denial.

I’m not sure which stop this was. We stopped at a gas station in Crawfordsville. Then we stopped at a Steak ‘n Shake, also in Crawfordsville.

The Steak ‘n Shake had this weird thing. Weird to me, maybe some of you will look down your nose at me and call me a country bumpkin, but I had never seen it before. When you ordered (which by the way the only option to order was via kiosk – which super boo! Shouted this old man at the clouds.) Your receipt also printed out a QR Code. You had to scan this QR Code to use the pop machine. It only activated the pop machine for so long, so you better act fast AND it only worked like 3 times.

When we got out of the restaurant, Derrick’s van wouldn’t start. Neither us have jumper cables (I keep mine in the Camry) so I had to give him a ride to Home Depot to buy a set.

We got his van going and were on the road again. Willie Nelson would have been proud.

Turns out, Linda and Pete didn’t really live in Gosport. We drove through Gosport and then 10 miles more through 3 different towns before getting to their house.

They live closest to Paragon. But they have a Gosport mailing address because that is the only post office in 3 counties. Also, that is the toilet.

Layla teaching the boys the globalist lie.

When we pulled up to our home for the night Linda approached me and asked me if I played the lottery today. The answer is of course not. I don’t play the lottery. It is a self-imposed tax designed to move the tax burden from the wealthy to the poor, uneducated, and the just plain bad at math.

But what I said was, “No.”

She told me I should have because it was my lucky day. I had been upgraded to sleeping in the house, in the guest bedroom. Not only that, I would have my own bathroom. Suck on that whore’s bath! That might have been an unfortunate turn of phrase but no turning back now.

I got a bed, inside a house, with access to all the running water my heart could desire and all the electrical outlets a true pioneer man could use. I should have brought other things into charge, just cause I could. I should have just sat there flushing the toilet. Cause I could. Brushed my teeth 10-12 times. Cause I could.

But I didn’t. I eventually called it a night and drifted into a nice sleep listening to a Cyclone Fanatic podcast. Tomorrow was a big day after all.

*It isn’t really a serial killer van. It has too many windows. But I like to pretend.

Adam, Alexis, Amy, Andy, Angie, Art, Becky, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Christianity, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Johnathan, Kim, Kio, Layla, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Nature, Road Trip, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 446 – #INSTAGOOD

April 1, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

#INSTAGOOD! A great theme! A theme so easy that you could participate if you took one picture this week. But did many people take at least one picture to be able to send us the best picture that they took this week to make #INSTAGOOD a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, March 25, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Evie Gorshe – 1 week (IA)
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week (IA)
3-Tim Panages – 1 week (IA)
4-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA)
5-Deanna McClain – 2 weeks (IA)
6-Johnathan Stensland – 2 weeks (IA)
7-Adam Gordon – 4 weeks (2) (IA, MS, MO)
8-Stehanie Kim – 6 weeks (NY)
9-Becky Parmelee – 6 weeks (AR, IA)
10-Sara Lockner – 10 weeks (IA)
11-Lowell Davis – 12 weeks (IA)
12-Michelle Haupt – 12 weeks (IA, MO)
13-Alexis Stensland – 12 weeks (IA)
14-Brandon Kahler – 13 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Scott Degeneffe – 31 weeks (IA, FL)
16-Sabas Hernandez – 32 weeks (2) (IA)
17-Mike Vest – 36 weeks (IA, MO)
18-Sheri Fakhouri – 41 weeks (2) (IA)
19-Logan Kahler – 42 weeks (IA, MN)
20-Nathanial Brown – 43 weeks(IA, SD, GA, TN)
21-Jesse Howard – 43 weeks (IA, MO, NE)
22-Tamara Peterson – 55 weeks (IA, MN)
23-Mindi Terrell – 58 weeks (2) (IA)
24-Linda Bennett – 87 weeks (KS)
25-Sarah Toot – 88 weeks (2) (PA, NY, VT, NV)
26-Angie DeWaard – 92 weeks (IA)
27-Dawn Krause – 96 weeks (2) (IA)
28-Kim Barker – 102 weeks (2) (IA, CO)
29-Joe Duff – 103 weeks (TX)
30-Teresa Kahler – 114 weeks (2) (IA)
31-Carla Stensland – 114 weeks (IA, MO)
32-Micky Augustin – 116 weeks (IA, IL)
33-Andy Sharp – 117 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA)
34-Bill Wentworth – 118 weeks (NE)
35-Cathie Morton – 121 weeks (IA, FL, BHS)
36-Elizabeth Nordeen – 123 weeks (IA)
37-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 125 weeks (IA)
38-Kio Dettman – 127 weeks (2) (IA)

An observant observer might be wondering why Carla’s streak is intact. She did get a submission in at the horn, but not soon enough for it to be included in the email blast. But is up on the website. You can go look at last Monday’s post and verify.

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

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - SUZIE BRANNEN

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 1 week

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Hampton, Virginia) – 1 week

Layla Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

Mary Green (Michigan) – 1 week

Monica Jennings (Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week

Amy Peterson (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 1 week

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Tim Panages (Ankeny, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Deanna McClain (Perry, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Johnathan Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 5 weeks

Becky Parmelee (Tulsa, Oklahoma) – 7 weeks

Sara Lockner (Ogden, Iowa) – 11 weeks

Lowell Davis (Boone, Iowa) – 13 weeks

Michelle Haupt (Overland Park, Kansas) – 13 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 13 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Story City, Iowa) – 14 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 32 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Ogden, Iowa) – 33 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 37 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 42 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 43 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Des Moines, Iowa) – 44 weeks

Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 44 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 56 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa) – 59 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 88 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 89 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 93 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 97 weeks

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 103 weeks

Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 104 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 115 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 115 weeks

Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 117 weeks

Andy Sharp (Red Oak, Iowa) – 118 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 119 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 122 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 124 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (West Des Moines, Iowa) – 126 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 128 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Mines of Spain State Recreation Area – Dubuque County, Iowa) – 550 weeks

42 participants! That is a great week! Breaking the previous high for this year held by DECORATION at 40. I believe 42 ties the all-time high. Held by the #INSTAGOOD theme from last year. But I’d have to check my records to confirm that.

Thanks to Becky’s trip we added Oklahoma to the Photography 139 Submissions Map!

Thanks to Jen’s trip we added Virginia to the Photography 139 Submissions Map! Virginia was one of the states we didn’t get a submission from in 2023! So that makes it extra exciting!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Michigan (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)
+ Virginia (1)

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

+ Arkansas (6.5)
+ Bahamas (1)
+ California (1)
+ Colorado (4)
+ Florida (3)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (1)
+ Indiana (2)
+ Iowa (444)
+ Kansas (19)
+ Louisiana (2)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (6)
+ Mississippi (1.5)
+ Missouri (8.5)
+ Nebraska (18)
+ Nevada (1)
+ New York (9)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (12)
+ South Dakota (3)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (20)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)

25 states so far! 1 foreign country! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA) – 7
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA) – 6
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA) – 4
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV) – 4
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN) – 3
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE) – 3
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BS) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL) – 2
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL) – 2
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Sara Lockner (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO) -2
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO) – 2

Andy holds a 1 state lead over Jen to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

There were no big milestones reached this week. However, Layla submitted for the first time this year! WooHoo! There was some sadness. Evie couldn’t build on her submission from last week and her streak is over before it began. Elainie’s streak is over after 2 weeks. But worst of all, Steph’s streak goes down after 6 weeks!

PASSION – SUGGESTED BY SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY

PASSION! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I’m not describing the themes this year unless I think they need a little explanation. One thing to remember that PASSION is not just something you like bunches and bunches. PASSION is something you are willing to suffer for. When you take your pictures, would you be willing to take a punch to the face for this thing? Would you be willing to take something worse for this thing? If the answer is “yes”, then you have a PASSION subject.

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 see your idea of PASSION in this place that is a bit of passion project next Monday.

Art, Evie, Jen, Layla, Music, Olympic Sports, Street Photography

RAGBRAI – Ames

February 21, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

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:

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!

Art, Contests, Evie, Jen, Layla, State Fair, Still Life, Street Photography

Iowa State Fair – Day 1 – Beta

February 9, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

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:

You may recognize this artist’s style. Some of her work hangs up at Jimmy’s Barbecue.

I love this idea.

I’m a sucker for a picture of people looking at art.

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!

Evie, Jen, Layla, State Fair

Iowa State Fair – Day 1 – Alpha

February 2, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

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: