Category Archives: Layla

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest – 2023

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

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

But here is a look at the winners:

YOUTH – TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

#111
1ST TPA: Emarose Davis-In the Air

#102
2ND TPA: Kayelee Burns – Welcome to Boone

#89
3RD TPA: Brantlee Staebler – Wing Cart

YOUTH – PLANTS

#116
1ST PLANTS: Daphne Harris-Up to the Sky

#96
2ND PLANTS: Trevor Upah – Tulips

#97
3RD PLANTS: Trevor Upah – Vines

YOUTH – PLACES

#92
1ST PLACES: Layla Gorshe-City Sky

#93
2ND PLACES: Layla Gorshe – Hudson Yards

#90
3RD PLACES: Evie Gorshe – The Inbetween

YOUTH – PEOPLE

#108
1ST PEOPLE: Emarose Davis – Kitten Love

#95
2ND PEOPLE: Trevor Upah – Mom and Scarlett

#86
3RD PEOPLE: Brantlee Staebler – I’m Happy

YOUTH – BLACK & WHITE

#99
1ST BLACK & WHITE: Kayelee Burns – Hungry Bee

#107
2ND BLACK & WHITE: Emarose Davis – Sheep on the Cliff

#112
3RD BLACK & WHITE: Daphne Harris – Dragonfly

YOUTH – ANIMALS

#103
1ST ANIMALS: Hazel Davis – Kitty Cat

#113
2ND ANIMALS: Daphne Harris – Duck Duck

#106
3RD OVERALL: Emarose Davis-In the Air

YOUTH OVERALL

#92
1ST OVERALL: Layla Gorshe-City Sky

#116
2ND OVERALL: Daphne Harris-Up to the Sky

#111
3RD OVERALL: Emarose Davis-In the Air

TEEN – PLANTS

#79
1ST PLANTS: Noah Davis – Flowers

#120
2ND PLANTS: Tommy Williams – Moss on Tree

TEEN – PLACES

#121
1ST PLACES: Tommy Williams – Light Shining through Corridor at ISU

#83
2nd PLACES: Simon Enabnit – My Backyard

TEEN – BLACK & WHITE

#118
1ST BLACK & WHITE: Tommy Williams – Barbed Wire with Clouds

#75
2ND BLACK & WHITE: Emma Wiebold – Crossroads Motel

#77
3RD BLACK & WHITE: Emma Wiebold – Evil Mabel

TEEN – ANIMALS

#76
1ST OVERALL: Emma Wiebold – Hen in Clover

#81
2ND ANIMALS: Simon Enabnit – Playful Kitty

#82
3RD ANIMALS: Simon Enabnit -Why, Hello There

TEEN OVERALL

#76
1ST OVERALL: Emma Wiebold – Hen in Clover

#118
2ND OVERALL: Tommy Williams – Barbed Wire with Clouds

#121
3RD OVERALL: Tommy Williams – Light Shining through Corridor at ISU

ADULT – TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

#74
1ST TPA: Nathanial Brown – Sun Up to Sun Down

#67
2ND TPA: Alex Grimes – 102 Seconds of Building

#58
3RD TPA: John Roberts – Fast Colors

ADULT – PLANTS

#17
1ST PLANTS: Savannah Martin-Dawn of the Dahlia

#3
2ND PLANTS: Monica Jennings – Corn Rows

#27
3RD PLANTS: Jolene Bowman – Haze

ADULT – PLACES

#72
1ST PLACES: Nathanial Brown – Narrow Pass

#41
2ND PLACES: Logan Kahler – Quiet Curve

#35
3RD PLACES: Dawn Krause – Iron Mountain Road

ADULT – PEOPLE

#73
1ST PEOPLE: Nathanial Brown – Burning the Midnight Oil

#66
2ND PEOPLE: Alex Grimes – Tattoos as Rings

#70
3RD PEOPLE: Nathanial Brown – Ride Fast

ADULT – BLACK & WHITE

#39
1ST BLACK & WHITE: Logan Kahler – Veiled Beauty

#16
2ND BLACK & WHITE: Savannah Martin – Shattered Dreams

#71
3RD BLACK & WHITE: Nathanial Brown – Sold Out

ADULT – ANIMALS

#49
1ST ANIMALS: JoAnne Korpi – Mr. Will on the Hill

#26
2ND ANIMALS: Allison Kayser – Froggy Feeder

#56
3RD ANIMALS: John Roberts – Reflection? Nope

ADULT – OVERALL

#73
1ST OVERALL: Nathanial Brown – Burning the Midnight Oil

#49
2ND OVERALL: JoAnne Korpi – Mr. Will on the Hill

#39
3RD OVERALL: Logan Kahler – Veiled Beauty

BEST IN SHOW

#73
Nathanial Brown – Burning the Midnight Oil

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

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Entries – 2023

Then go here to vote:

People’s Choice Award Poll

Choose wisely.

WPC – WEEK 403 – TEXTURE

NOTE: THERE ARE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS WEEK’S THEME, SO MAKE SURE TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THEM. JUST DON’T SKIM BY THEM. NOT THAT ANYBODY DOES THAT. EVERYBODY HANGS ON MY EVERY WORD.

TEXTURE. It is something you really have to feel. But as a theme, did a bunch of people feel it? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, May 29, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Susanna Funk – 1 week (3)
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
3-Melissa Degeneffe – 2 weeks
4-Scott Degeneffe – 2 weeks (2)
5-Mary Green – 2 weeks (3)
6-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
7-Tamara Peterson – 3 weeks (2)
8-Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks
9-Mike Vest – 5 weeks
10-Alexis Baugher – 8 weeks (3)
11-Mindi Terrell – 15 weeks (3)
12-Monica Jennings – 20 weeks (2)
13-Brandon Kahler – 40 weeks
14-Linda Bennett – 44 weeks
15-Sarah Toot – 45 weeks (2)
16-Angie DeWaard – 49 weeks
17-Dawn Krause – 53 weeks (3)
18-Kim Barker – 59 weeks
19-Joe Duff – 60 weeks (2)
20-Logan Kahler – 62 weeks (2)
21-Teresa Kahler – 71 weeks (2)
22-Carla Stensland – 71 weeks
23-Micky Augustin – 73 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 74 weeks (2)
25-Bill Wentworth – 75 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 79 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 80 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 82 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 84 weeks (3)

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


WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - SUZUE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Bella Vista, Arkansas) – 1 week

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Oregon) – 2 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Oregon)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Rural Boone County, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa) – 9 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa)

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 16 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 41 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Boone, Iowa) – 45 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 46 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 50 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 54 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Altoona, Iowa) – 60 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Altoona, Iowa)

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 61 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 72 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 72 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa)

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 74 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 75 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa)

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 76 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 80 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 81 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 83 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 85 weeks

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa)

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa) – 507 weeks

Before I get into participation rates and all that jazz, I want to reveal something on I saw on Instagram from one of our regular participants yesterday. I came across one of Mindi’s posts and the caption was:

Weekly Photo Challenge has made me excited about photography again.

This is up there with one of my favorite things anybody has ever said about THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. It is up there with when Joe told me that THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE changed the way he sees the world.

To be excited about photography and change the way you see the world. These are two of the very unstated goals of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Thanks Mindi! I’m very excited that you are a regular participant and I always look forward to seeing your submissions.
However, the answer is still “No” about starting a Facebook group. Maybe a THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE participants “party” could happen though. Probably not though.

31 participants! That is a GREAT week! That is 3 straight weeks with 30+ participants. WooHoo!

Thanks to Funk being a mountain climbing badass, Oregon was added to the map this week.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

27 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over halfway there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I took my picture about 24 steps from my front door, so I continue to not contribute to expanding the map.

There were no major milestones reached this week. But there are some people closing in on some in the coming weeks. Particularly exciting this week was the 1st submission of the year from Layla! WooHoo!

However, it wasn’t all good news. There was a bloodbath of streaks, including some major streaks biting the dust. Melissa and Mary’s 2 week streaks are no more. Sabas’ 5 week streak is also no more. Monica’s 20 streak is history. Devastating. Just devastating. But perhaps most heartbreaking is that Logan’s 62 week streak is over. The longest streak to ever come to an end.

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 404 - SLICE OF LIFE
SLICE OF LIFE

SLICE OF LIFE! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a SLICE OF LIFE image? This is where I normally give you kind of a broad definition of the theme, but not this week. For those that don’t know SLICE OF LIFE is the name of the postcard company that my Dad started and ran out of the basement darkroom in our house.

Here is the Trade Name documentation he filed in March of 1984:



He passed away in December of the same year.

He specialized in black & white postcards of local interest. Here is this week’s assignment. It is to take a picture that you could see being used on a postcard. Now back in the day, they used to take pictures of all sorts of things and put them on postcards. So don’t think that there is nothing in your area that would make it on a postcard. It could be a building that is interesting looking or has a historical significance. It could simply be a pretty scene. Back when I was doing THE POSTCARD RECREATION PROJECT, sometimes they took pictures of downtown intersections and put those on postcards.

While I will require your submission to be a postcard like image, meaning don’t try to “interpret” Slice of Life to mean something different, I will only strongly encourage you to submit the picture in black & white and also only slightly encourage you to throw some text on the image, if you have the editing skills or software.

There is one more thing. The is the one and only theme where if you write a SHORT description of your image (like you would see on the backside of a postcard) that I will include it along with your submission.

Here are some examples of my Dad’s postcards that will hopefully inspire you (excuse the low quality of the scans):


Slice of Life Postcards

Slice of Life Postcards

Slice of Life Postcards

Slice of Life Postcard

Slice of Life Postcard

I don’t manipulate the order of themes for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. I put the 52 themes in a random generate it and then I have it generate the theme the number of times as there are letters in the name of my favorite person at that moment*. EXCEPT for this theme. This theme I put this week specifically. This week is my Dad’s birthday. So it seemed apropos to put the theme that is an homage to him during this week.

RULES

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

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of SLICE OF LIFE in this place that is a continuation in many ways next Monday.

Weekly Photo Challenge Year 9 Review

Thought I would take a quick look back at Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Here are a few quick stats:

+ 44 different participants
+ 1811 photos submitted
+ Least popular theme for participation was ROCK with 16 participants
+ Most popular theme for participation was SELF-PORTRAIT with 31 participants
+ Least popular theme for submissions was ROCK with 20 submissions
+ Most popular theme for submission was LINES with 51 submissions
+ The average week had 24.6 participants
+ The average week had 34.8 submissions

If you want to look back at all 1811 images that were submitted this year, click on the link below:

Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 9

Michelle once told me that her kids think that THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is a contest and they always ask her if she “won” this week. It isn’t a contest and I’m not really sure art should compete against other art (yes I run and enter photo contests), but I thought I would share my favorite picture from all 44 participants this year:


WEEK 332 - TRIANGLE - ROBYN AUGUSTIN
Robyn Augustin
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 362 - WEEKENDS - TIM CUCULIC
Tim Cuculic
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 339 - GOVERNMENT - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 361 - FAMILY - BROOKLYN ERB
Brooklyn Erb
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - STEVE MARTIN
Steve Martin
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 2
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MYRIAH SHARP
Myriah Sharp
Weeks Participated: 1 – 2%
Submissions: 1
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim
Weeks Participated: 2 – 4%
Submissions: 2
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 354 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous
Weeks Participated: 3 – 6%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 340 - ABSTRACT - HARRISON GORSHE
Gorshe Twins
Weeks Participated: 3 – 6%
Submissions: 3
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 341 - SHADOW - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 8 – 15%
Submissions: 8
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber
Weeks Participated: 10 weeks 19%
Submissions: 10
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 377 - ANIMAL - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 16 weeks – 31%
Submissions: 17
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 351 - FLOWER - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe
Weeks Participated: 18 weeks – 35%
Submissions: 18
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 342 - FRAMED - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest
Weeks Participated: 19 weeks – 37%
Submissions: 19
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 380 - EXPLORE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine
Weeks Participated: 21 weeks – 40%
Submissions: 23
Current Streak: 7

WEEK 371 - LINES - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez
Weeks Participated: 23 – 44%
Submissions: 23
Current Streak: 3

WEEK 365 - GREEN - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler
Weeks Participated: 24 weeks – 46%
Submissions: 24
Current Streak: 20

WEEK 363 - CIRCLE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot
Weeks Participated: 24 – 46%
Submissions: 37
Current Streak: 24 weeks

WEEK 360 - PEOPLE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green
Weeks Participated: 26 – 50%
Submissions: 66
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 365 - GREEN - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner
Weeks Participated: 32 – 62%
Submissions: 43
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 353 - SERVICE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee
Weeks Participated: 32 – 62%
Submissions: 36
Current Streak: 3

WEEK 379 - WATER - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen
Weeks Participated: 35 weeks – 67%
Submissions: 38
Current Streak: 0

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard
Weeks Participated: 36 – 69%
Submissions: 44
Current Streak: 28

WEEK 362 - WEEKENDS - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard
Weeks Participated: 40 – 77%
Submissions: 46
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 357 - WORK - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett
Weeks Participated: 42 – 81%
Submissions: 94
Current Streak: 23

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Jennings
Weeks Participated: 44 – 85%
Submissions: 60
Current Streak: 1

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker
Weeks Participated: 48 – 92%
Submissions: 59
Current Streak: 38

WEEK 363 - CIRCLE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause
Weeks Participated: 48 – 92%
Submissions: 70
Current Streak: 32

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
Weeks Participated: 49 – 94%
Submissions: 63
Current Streak: 39

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler
Weeks Participated: 49 – 94%
Submissions: 102
Current Streak: 41

WEEK 377 - ANIMAL - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson
Weeks Participated: 50 – 96%
Submissions: 55
Current Streak: 9

WEEK 338 - HOBBIES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 51
Current Streak: 51

WEEK 377 - ANIMAL -  TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 106
Current Streak: 50

WEEK 368 - RUINS - CAR;A STENSLAND
Carla Stensland
Weeks Participated: 51 – 98%
Submissions: 93
Current Streak: 50

WEEK 349 - HAT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 57
Current Streak: 52

WEEK 355 - ENTERTAINMENT - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 53
Current Streak: 61

WEEK 348 - SLICE OF LIFE - CHRISTOHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 52
Current Streak: 485

WEEK 367 - SIGNS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 156
Current Streak: 63

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Morton
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 56
Current Streak: 58

WEEK 347 - #INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 64
Current Streak: 59

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 71
Current Streak: 53 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth
Weeks Participated: 52 – 100%
Submissions: 54
Current Streak: 54

Don’t think I put a ton of effort into picking my favorite images from each person. But I did put some effort in it.

2022 was a great year for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Hopefully 2023 is even better!

Iowa State Fair – Day 1 Wanderings

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


Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

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

+++++++

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


WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR
IN THE AIR

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

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

Happy photo harvesting!

Iowa State Fair – Irish Dancing

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

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


Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

Iowa State Fair - 2022

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

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

+++++++

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


WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION

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

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

Happy photo harvesting!

Renaissance Faire – Joust

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022
People watching at a Renaissance Faire. It is fantastic!

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

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

+++++++

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


WEEK 374 - STRONG
STRONG

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

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

Happy photo harvesting!

Renaissance Faire – Misc

Back in May I met up with Jen, Layla and the twins at the Renaissance Faire down in Des Moines to watch Evie do her Irish dance thing.

Here is a collection of pictures from just walking around the Faire:


Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

There is one more collection of pictures from my day at the Renaissance Faire left to share.

+++++++


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


WEEK 373 - DECORATION
DECORATION

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

But what exactly is a DECORATION photo? A DECORATION image is simply a picture of a DECORATION or a picture where a DECORATION plays a heavy element in the composition.

Happy photo harvesting!

Renaissance Faire – Knight Battle

Way back in May I met up with Jen, Layla, and the twins at the Renaissance Faire down in Des Moines to watch Evie dance. I’ve already shared the pictures of Evie dancing, but I took plenty more pictures on that day.

This collection is of the knight battle we watched. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. I was expecting a sword duel that would put the sword fight between Inigo Montoya and the Dread Pirate Roberts to shame. This was mostly dudes in armor kind of grabbing each other and trying to throw the other to the ground.

While Inigo Montoya’s swordplay still stands as the greatest these eyes have ever seen, this battle was still fun to watch.

I’m not steeped in Renaissance Faire culture. I knew some people in college that were involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism, but I was too big of a jerk then to take anything they said seriously. Therefore, I didn’t learn much. But my understanding, is that one of the knights in the battle had to win so many fights to become fully knighted or something like that. I should have taken notes.

One thing I remember clearly is that it was incredibly hot that day, so wearing all that armor and fighting, must have been brutal. The guy trying to earn his title was wearing a helmet that didn’t have a way to access his face, so in between bouts they had to run a tube from a water bottle through the helmet to keep him hydrated.


Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

Renaissance Faire - 2022

I still have a couple more collections of pictures from the Renaissance Faire to share.

I wasn’t sure if I was a Renaissance Faire Person, but I had a great time. I hope Evie dances down there again next year and I get to go again.

+++++++

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


WEEK 372 - ART
ART

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

But what is an ART image? It is simply a picture of something that is a piece of ART. I would urge you to not just take a standard straight on picture of a piece of ART. Try to see it from a different angle than it might be normally viewed. While your subject might be ART, your interpretation of your subject should be ARTistic. Now a truly arrogant photographer could just claim that every picture they take is ART.

Happy photo harvesting!

Selfie Project – August 2022

Another month down and another month of THE SELFIE PROEJCT in the books. I think I had a pretty active August. At least in spurts. With Pufferbilly Days and the State Fair and some much needed vacation all in August, I did some things man.

I don’t anticipate September being anywhere as busy, but hopefully I’ll do some cool stuff this month.

Here are some of my favorites from August for THE SELFIE PROJECT:


Day 213 - August 1, 2022
August 1

Day 214 - August 2, 2022
August 2

Day 215 - August 3, 2022
August 3

Day 216 - August 4, 2022
August 4

Day 217 - August 5, 2022
August 5

Day 218 - August 6, 2022
August 6

Day 220 - August 8, 2022
August 8

Day 221 - August 9, 2022
August 9

Day 223 - August 11, 2022
August 11

Day 224 - August 12, 2022
August 12

Day 225 - August 13, 2022
August 13

Day 226 - August 14, 2022
August 14

Day 228 - August 16, 2022
August 16

Day 229 - August 17, 2022
August 17

Day 230 - August 18, 2022
August 18

Day 231 - August 19, 2022
August 19

Day 232 - August 20, 2022
August 20

Day 233 - August 21, 2022
August 21

Day 236 - August 24, 2022
August 24

Day 237 - August 25, 2022
August 25

Day 238 - August 26, 2022
August 26

Day 239 - August 27, 2022
August 27

Day 240 - August 28, 2022
August 28

Day 241 - August 29, 2022
August 29

Day 243 - August 31, 2022
August 31

Of course there can only be one selfie that represents THE SELFIE PROJECT every day, but I did have a busy August, so here are the many alternates:


SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

You might be thinking, “That is a lot of pictures with ice cream!” There is a reason for that. The reason isn’t because I love ice cream, but that is probably the base level reason. I’ll explain the real reason in a future post. Or I won’t. What is important for you to know is that your humble narrator is a champion. A ice cream champion. Also, Willy and Jesse owe me dinner.

You also might be thinking, “How many gray t-shirts do you own?” The answer is, plenty.

Finally you might be thinking, “You need to retire that green t-shirt.” Yeah, that is true enough.

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Results

Before I delve into the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest, I do know what picture and what award I got into the Iowa State Fair. It is my policy not to reveal the pictures I entered until after the State Fair is over, but your clue is don’t go all the way into the main room. Go almost into that room, then look to your left.

+++++++

I think that the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest was a success this year. Not a smashing success, but I definitely feel like it is on greater footing now. A more solid foundation. In 2021 there were only 24 pictures entered. This year that number more than doubled to 61. Which is a good number, but I won’t be satisfied until that number hits triple digits. Until we outgrow KWBG and I’m forced to find a new location.

This is how the entries broke down.

ADULT
+ BLACK & WHITE – 1 entry (I can’t put into word how this breaks my heart!)
+ HIDDEN TREASURES OF BOONE COUNTY – 3 entries
+ NATURE – 16 entries
+ PEOPLE – 5 entries
+ TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES – 6 entries
+ TOTAL – 31 entries

TEEN
+ BLACK & WHITE – 3 entries
+ HIDDEN TREASURES OF BOONE COUNTY – 1 entry
+ NATURE – 7 entries
+ PEOPLE – 1 entry
+ TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES – 0 entries
+ TOTAL – 12 entries

YOUTH
+ BLACK & WHITE – 4 entries
+ HIDDEN TREASURES OF BOONE COUNTY – 1 entry
+ NATURE – 10 entries
+ PEOPLE – 1 entry
+ TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES – 2 entries
TOTAL – 18 entries

Thank God for the Youth and teens that are holding down the BLACK & WHITE class. Once again the balance with the NATURE class was all out of whack, so next year I’m going to split them up into ANIMALS and PLANTS.

These are the winners:



Best of Show – “Pismo Beach Beauty” – Angie DeWaard


People’s Choice Award – “Just A Swingin'” – Daphne Harris


1st Place Adult Overall – “Pismo Beach Beauty” – Angie DeWaard


2nd Place Adult Overall – “The Art in Nature” – Angie DeWaard


3rd Place Overall – “La Vita Dolce” – Angie DeWaard


1st Place Teen Overall – “Edison Phonographs” – Emma Wiebold


2nd Place Teen Overall – “Happy Little Squirrel” – Simon Enabnit


3rd Place Teen Overall – “Cartwheel in the Creek” – Emma Wiebold


1st Place Youth Overall – “Light Shining on Tables” – Tommy Williams


2nd Place Youth Overall – “Fly” – Layla Gorshe


3rd Place Youth Overall – “Lake Sunset” – Reese Howie


1st Place Adult Nature – “Pismo Beach Beauty” – Angie DeWaard


2nd Place Adult Nature – “Libella pulchella” – Allison Kayser


3rd Place Adult Nature – “Lithobates castebeianus maculosus” – Allison Kayser


1st Place Adult People – “The Art in Nature” – Angie DeWaard


2nd Place Adult People – “Good Sports” – Angie DeWaard


3rd Place Adult People – “Persevere” – Jen Ensley


1st Place Adult Trains, Planes, and Automobiles – “La Vita Dolce” – Angie DeWaard


2nd Place Adult Trains, Planes, and Automobiles – “Two Tracks” – Sally Kay Whitney


3rd Place Adult Trains, Planes, and Automobiles – “Spike Driving Contest” – Bea Upah


1st Place Adult Black & White – “Zebra Bark” – Angie DeWaard


1st Place Adult Hidden Treasures of Boone County – “Through the Wires in Pilot Mound” – Angie DeWaard


2nd Place Adult Hidden Treasures of Boone County – “Mill Creek Stone Arch” – Bea Upah


3rd Place Adult Hidden Treasures of Boone County – “Sunset Over Boone” – Nicole Schecklman


1st Place Teen Nature – “Happy Little Squirrel” – Simon Enabnit


2nd Place Teen Nature – “Fence Post” – Emma Wiebold


3rd Place Teen Nature – “Garden Raider” – Simon Enabnit


1st Place Teen People – “Cartwheel in the Creek” – Emma Wiebold


1st Place Teen Hidden Treasures of Boone County – “Beautiful Garbage” – Simon Enabnit


1st Place Teen Black & White – “Edison Phonographs” – Emma Wiebold


2nd Place Teen Black & White – “Rosie the Pug” – Emma Wiebold


3rd Place Teen Black & White – “Old Tree in Pasture” – Emma Wiebold


1st Place Youth Nature – “Lake Sunset” – Reese Howie


2nd Place Youth Nature – “The Cone” – Kayelee Burns


3rd Place Youth Nature – “Black Lab Smelling Flowers” – Tommy Williams


1st Place Youth People – “Grass” – Evie Gorshe


1st Place Youth Hidden Treasures of Boone County -“Kate Shelley Museum” – Kayelee Burns


1st Place Youth Trains, Planes, and Automobiles – “Fly” – Layla Gorshe


2nd Place Youth Trains, Planes and Automobiles – “Steam Engine” – Kayelee Burns


1st Place Youth Black & White – “Light Shining on Tables” – Tommy Williams


2nd Place Youth Black & White – “Easy on Me” – Kayelee Burns


3rd Place Youth Black & White – “Snickers” – Daphne Harris

Maybe you don’t agree with the judges? Which is fine. I don’t agree with all of their decisions, but I selected a great collection of judges this year and they did a tremendous job!

Meet them:



One thing I learned this year is that a lot of people seem to think I was “the judge” or “a judge” and then when they found out I wasn’t a judge, then I didn’t really do that much. Which I think is funny, but I’m okay with people not knowing how much work goes into this and thinking the judges do all the work. If people see how much work this is, then I’m not doing my job.

I’ve already mentally selected the three judges for next year. Two of them have already committed. I’m sure the third one will commit as well, I just have to make the call. Janae will be returning and Nathanial and Logan will be rotating out. The second judge that has committed is Angie. I had been playing with the idea of whomever wins Best of Show gets to be a judge the following year. Her winning Best of Show cemented that or maybe quickcreted it for this year, at least.

While I’ve already tried to explain how much work I put into this contest. I definitely don’t do it myself. I need to thank people that helped along the way:
+ Kim Barker – Helped with label printing and only complained once, but for good reason.
+ Nathanial Brown – a judge, but also a good idea man. For example, his idea to split the youth division into Teen and Youth. Also provided sides for dinner AND most responsible for streamlining the Judges Form.
+ Kio Dettman – Got me this gig, but also is part of the Display Team. Both setting up and tearing down.
+ Janae Erickson – Judge while being super pregnant. A trooper.
+ Michelle Haupt – Did the Photo Contest Book. It looks professional because it is professional. I think she was only moderately frustrated when she would ask a question and 9 times out of 10 my answer was “I trust you.”
+ Jesse Howard – Part of the tear down team and gophered stuff between Ames and Boone for me. Including purchasing the photo stands for the overall photos.
+ Jay Janson – Designed one of the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Flyers.
+ Monica Jennings – Designed multiple Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Flyers, designed and assembled the judges board for the display case, designed and put together the certificates that went with each ribbon. She was also instrumental in putting together the display. Bossing Logan around even more than I did. Which is saying something. I got so many compliments on what the display looked like this year. I think that was a lot of Monica.
+ Logan Kahler – Was a judge. Which was big. But even bigger in my mind, was being the “inside the display case” man when putting the display together. He also provided the meat for the judgement night meal. It was delicious.
+ Teresa Kahler – Did a ton of the administrative stuff and has big ideas for streamlining that process next year with mail merge.
+ Carla Stensland – Did a ton of administrative stuff as well. She was the judges’ assistant and helped keep them moving forward.
+ The Staff of KWBG – They are all wonderful, but Jennifer in particular is VERY helpful. She put up lights so there is some lighting in there at night and fixed some of the small mistakes that were made on the administrative end.

I’ve already mentioned some of the tweaks I’m going to make for next year. There are still more to make. However, the rest I’m going to keep close to my vest for now. But I might share them when I share some of the behind the scenes pictures in the future.

However, I think there is time for one last look back. I mentioned the incredible job that Michelle did on the book. This idea is pretty much completely stolen from, I mean influenced by, the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. Michelle is a genius when it comes to making this kind of thing and I think you should click on the links below and really appreciate her work:

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Book – Easy to Read

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Book – Easy to Print

Be wary, next year I might try bothering you to get you on the photo contest team! Or even better, maybe next year you or your kids will enter. I heard more than one story about this being a great activity for parents to do with their children and grandparents to do with their grandchildren.