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WPC – WEEK 487 – MOTION

January 13, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time to reveal the December image of the 2025 Photography 139 Calendar:

DECEMBER

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony 7 IV
LENS: Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro
APERTURE: f/8
SHUTTER: 1/2000
ISO: 100
DATE: April 13, 2024

This picture of a bird soaring through the sky was taken at the Last Chance Cemetery near Chariton, Iowa. I ended up there as I was lunching nearby and saw it on the map and thought Last Chance Cemetery was a peculiar name and I decided to go visit it hoping for some photography opportunities. I had hoped for at the very least, a photogenic sign. However, the cemetery was fairly pedestrian. But while looking towards the heavens I saw a bird flying through a beautiful sky. It was not a wasted trip after all.

Here are the people that chose December as their favorite image:

Johnathan

Sabas

That concludes the calendar images, but tomorrow I will reveal all the images that I considered for the calendar, but decided to leave out for one reason or another.

+++++++

Here we are! Year 12. A far cry from when THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE was birthed violently into this world on January 14, 2010 under the name the Random Weekly Photo Experiment.

These were the two pictures submitted for the first ever theme of USE OF SPACE:

Christopher D. Bennett

Mike Vest

Then on January 2, 2012, I put the RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT to bed. It had never really grown much in popularity. In the last several weeks of its existence, Vest and I were the only people to submit. It was time to admit it was a failure.

These were the last 2 pictures submitted for the final theme of SELF-PORTRAIT:

Mike Vest

Christopher D. Bennett

But the RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE wouldn’t stay down. There were a few people that lobbied for it to return. In particular I remember Dawn and Angie making a case for its return. I brought it out of mothballs. Knocked the crust out of its eyes. Gave it a new name. THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. It was brought back to life on September 21, 2015. The rest, as they say, is photography community history.

Here are the submissions for that week, for the theme of NIGHT:

Angie DeWaard

Becky Perkovich

Michael Augustin

Michelle Haupt

Dawn Krause

Mike Vest

Christopher D. Bennett

The original point of the RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT was simple. The idea was to take 52 different themes and by merely taking on the challenge of tackling the themes you would improve your photography skills. Either through just the act of practicing the craft or through taking photographs that are outside your comfort zone or area of expertise. You don’t improve by NOT taking pictures and this challenge would force you to touch your camera at least once a week. At the end of the year you would have 52 unique images. Images that you could consider for entering into photo contests if you want.

Sometimes people mistakenly think this is a contest. It is not. Merely a challenge. I’m glad so many people have been up for it!

Here we are now. 11 years of submissions complete. Ready to start the 12th year. I hope you are as excited as I am!

Let us begin, shall we?

MOTION! What a great theme! But how many people got their photography juices in motion? Keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, January 6, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

1-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week
2-Monica Jennings – 1 week
3-Deanna McClain – 1 week
4-Johnathan Stensland – 1 week
5-Alexis Stensland – 2 weeks
6-Suzie Brannen – 14 weeks
*7-Deb Powers – 19 weeks
8-Willy McAlpine – 25 weeks
9-Mike Vest – 33 weeks
10-Lowell Davis – 53 weeks
11-Brandon Kahler – 54 weeks
12-Scott Degeneffe – 72 weeks
13-Sheri Fakhouri – 82 weeks
*14-Logan Kahler – 83 weeks
15-Nathanial Brown – 84 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 95 weeks
*17-Mindi Terrell – 99 weeks
18-Linda Bennett – 128 weeks
19-Sarah Toot – 129 weeks
20-Angie DeWaard – 132 weeks
*21-Dawn Krause – 137 weeks
22-Kim Barker – 143 weeks
*23-Joe Duff – 144 weeks
*24-Teresa Kahler – 155 weeks
*25-Carla Stensland – 155 weeks
26-Micky Augustin – 157 weeks
*27-Andy Sharp – 158 weeks
28-Bill Wentworth – 159 weeks
29-Cathie Morton – 163 weeks
30-Elizabeth Nordeen – 164 weeks
31-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 166 weeks
32-Kio Dettman – 168 weeks

Here is the list of rules for Year 12 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. If you submit 2 pictures, make sure they are of different subjects.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM Central Time the following Monday. But that is a deadline. Pictures can be submitted as soon as you take them.
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.
6. Please include the location of where the picture was taken with your submission.

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.

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 487 - MOTION - ALEXIS STENSLAND

Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Andy Sharp (West Roads Mall – Omaha, Nebraska) – 159 weeks

Andy Sharp (West Roads Mall – Omaha, Nebraska)

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 133 weeks

Becky Parmelee (Bella Vista, Arkansas) – 1 week

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 160 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 55 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ankeny, Iowa) – 156 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 164 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Hilton Coliseum – Ames, Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 138 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 20 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 165 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 145 weeks

Kim Barker (Ames, Iowa) – 144 weeks

Kio Dettman (Ogden, Iowa) – 169 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 129 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 84 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 54 weeks

Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 1 week

Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa)

Micky Augustin (Story County, Iowa) – 158 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 34 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 100 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Ohio) – 85 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)

Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week

Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa)

Sara Lockner (Brenton Park – Des Moines, Iowa) – 1 week

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 130 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 73 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset, Iowa) – 167 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 96 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 156 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 26 weeks

34 participants this week. That is a solid way to start Year 12.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas (1)
+ Iowa (32)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Nebraska (3)
+ Ohio (1)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (1)

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

+ Arkansas (1)
+ Iowa (32)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Nebraska (3)
+ Ohio (1)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (1)

There were quite a few milestones this week! Willy hit the Half Year Streak Club! Woo! Mindi hit the Triple Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! Sarah hit the 2.5 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! Woo! Carla and Teresa both hit the 3 Year Streak Club! WooHoo WooHoo! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Johnathan couldn’t build on his submission from last week. His streak is over before it began. Suzie’s streak is gone after 14 weeks.

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:

COLORFUL

COLORFUL! A great theme for Year 12 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP OF THE WEEK

There are several ways to make colors really pop in a picture, but the easiest by far is to slightly underexpose the image.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see a bunch of COLORFUL submissions in this place that tries to be splashed in saturation next Monday.

Animals, Becky, Black & White, Calendar, Elizabeth, Flowers, Macro, Melissa, Michelle

Don’t Be Cruel

January 9, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time to reveal the August image for the 2025 Photography 139 Calendar:

August

TECHNICAL DETAILS

CAMERA: Sony 7M4
LENS: Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN
FOCAL LENGTH: 16mm
APERTURE: f/5.6
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/3200
ISO: 160
DATE: July 29, 2024

I took this picture just south of US30. A little east of Ogden. Next to the Harrier Marsh. A sunflower patch was planted out there. I wandered around it with a very wide angle lens because I mostly was looking to capture an image of a lot of sunflowers in the field. But after looking at the images, this ending up being my favorite. Catching a glint of the sun as it was starting to descend in the western sky. I remember as I was beginning to leave the sunflower patch a mom with several teenage girls pulled up to take selfies in the sunflower patch.

Here are the people that picked August as their favorite image:

Becky

Elizabeth

Melissa

Michelle

I’m excited to share the September image tomorrow!

+++++++

You know I can be found
Sitting home all alone
If you can’t come around
At least please telephone
Don’t be cruel to a heart that’s true

Baby, if I made you mad
For something I might have said
Please, let’s forget my past
The future looks bright ahead
Don’t be cruel to a heart that’s true
I don’t want no other love
Baby it’s just you I’m thinking of, mmh

Don’t stop thinking of me
Don’t make me feel this way
Come on over here and love me
You know what I want you to say
Don’t be cruel to a heart that’s true
Why should we be apart?
I really love you baby, cross my heart

Let’s walk up to the preacher
And let us say I do
Then you’ll know you’ll have me
And I’ll know that I’ll have you
Don’t be cruel to a heart that’s true
I don’t want no other love
Baby it’s just you I’m thinking of

Don’t be cruel to a heart that’s true
Don’t be cruel to a heart that’s true
I don’t want no other love
Baby it’s just you I’m thinking of
-Written by Elvis Presley and Otis Blackwell
-Performed by Elvis Presley

Yesterday was Elvis’ 90th birthday, so it seems apropos that I pick one of his great love songs.

An interesting story is the song was almost 100% written by Otis Blackwell. But here is some info on how Elvis got a writing credit from The Wiki:

“Don’t Be Cruel” was the first song that Presley’s song publishers, Hill & Range, brought to him to record. Blackwell was more than happy to give up 50% of the royalties and a co-writing credit to Presley to ensure that the “hottest new singer around covered it”. But unfortunately he had already sold the song for only $25 ($289 in 2024), as he stated in an interview of American Songwriter.

Freddy Bienstock, Presley’s music publisher, gave the following explanation for why Presley received co-writing credit for songs like “Don’t Be Cruel”. “In the early days Elvis would show dissatisfaction with some lines and he would make alterations, so it wasn’t just what is known as a ‘cut-in’. His name did not appear after the first year. But if Presley liked the song, the writers would be offered a guarantee of a million records and they would surrender a third of their royalties to Elvis’.”

Presley recorded the song on July 2, 1956, during an exhaustive recording session at RCA Victor Studios in New York City.[1] During this session he also recorded “Hound Dog”, and “Any Way You Want Me”. The song featured Presley’s band of Scotty Moore on lead guitar (with Presley usually providing rhythm guitar), Bill Black on double bass, D. J. Fontana on drums, Shorty Long on piano, and backing vocals from the Jordanaires. The producing credit was given to RCA’s Stephen H. Sholes, although the studio recordings reveal that Presley produced the songs in this session by selecting the song, reworking the arrangement on piano, and insisting on 28 takes before he was satisfied with it. He also ran through 31 takes of “Hound Dog”.

“Don’t Be Cruel” was the B Side for “Hound Dog”. Amazing.

Happy birthday Elvis and I hope you know a little more about one of the greatest songwriters of the 1950s, Otis Blackwell.

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography session took place in my yard.

Next Thursday’s flowertography session actually won’t take place in my yard!

Adam, Amy, Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Beckham, Becky, Bill, Brandon, Calendar, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Deb, Derrick, Elainie, Elizabeth, Evie, Fran, Funk, Jason, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Johnathan, Kim, Layla, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nader, Nathanial, Nature, Sabas, Sara, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Steph, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

Weekly Photo Challenge Year 11 in Review

January 7, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett

It is time to reveal the June image for the 2025 Photography 139 Calendar:

JUNE

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony 7M4
LENS: SIGMA 150-600 f/5-6.3 DG DN
FOCAL LENGTH: 395mm (but image is cropped)
APERTURE: f/11
SHUTTER: 1/160
ISO: 800
DATE TAKEN: April 8, 2024

I drove in a caravan with the Gorshes all the way to Indiana to take this picture. It isn’t the picture that was taken farthest from my home to be included in this calendar. That was the February image that was taken in New Orleans, but it is the farthest I traveled specifically to take a certain picture. And the gap between that and 2nd place this year is pretty considerable. I drove to Mines of Spain to photograph the Horseshoe Canyon. That is probably second. But those pictures didn’t make it to the calendar. Sorry for the spoiler.

When the eclipse is happening, you kind of forget everything you had planned and you have to balance between actually experiencing the total solar eclipse and photographing the total solar eclipse. It isn’t an easy balance. I can’t tell you anything about the technical settings because everything is such a blur. A rush to experience it. To get the shot. Don’t blow the shot. Then it is over. And you can’t believe how quickly it is over.

I selected this image for June because traditionally I always put a black and white image in June because June is the month of my Dad’s birth. Now he didn’t shoot only black & white, but I always associate his photography with black and white because of the black and white darkroom and the black and white postcards. However, this picture technically isn’t black and white. It is actually a color image that doesn’t have any color in it.

Everyone knows that black and white photography is my first and greatest love in photography, but there is not a single pure black and white image in the calendar in 2025. Because of that I put the closest thing I had to a black and white image in June.

Here are the people that selected this as their favorite 2025 Photography 139 Calendar image:

Alexis

Beckham

J.J.

I look forward to revealing the July image tomorrow!

+++++++

As yesterday closed the book on Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, now seems like a good time to review all that happened.

There were 56 different people that submitted photos. Ranging from submitting 1 picture to 97 pictures.

There were 2,466 photos submitted.

The average week had 36.4 participants.

The average week had 46.5 submissions.

The most popular week was Week 446. The theme was #INSTAGOOD. There were 42 participants.

The most popular week by submissions was Week 456. The theme was ANYTHING BUT A CAT. There were 60 submissions.

The least popular week by participants was Week 479. The theme was GAMES. There were 31 participants.

The least popular week by submissions was Week 483. The theme was REFLECTION. There were 38 submissions.

Here is my favorite submission from all 56 different people that submitted and some statistics about each participant.

DON’T READ INTO THIS THAT I THINK THIS IS YOUR BEST PICTURE OR THE BEST USE OF COMPOSITION OR BEST USE OF TECHNICAL SKILLS. ALSO DON’T THINK I SPENT HOURS EXAMINING EACH IMAGE. IT IS JUST MY FAVORITE THAT I SAW WHEN GIVING THEM A QUICK ONCE OVER.

WPC - WEEK 466 - SCIENCE - DERRICK GORSHE

Derrick Gorshe
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No Current Streak
Submitted from: Ohio

Myriah Sharp
1 week – 2%
2 submissions
No Current Streak
Submitted from: Hawaii

Jason Stensland
1 week – 2%
2 submissions
No Current Streak
Submitted from: South Dakota

Jennie Green
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No Current Streak
Submitted from: California

Fran Duncan
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No Current Streak
Submitted from: Wisconsin

Bunny
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No Current Streak
Submitted from: Iowa

Beckham Gorshe
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current Streak
Submitted from: Iowa

Layla Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa and Ohio
Click for Layla’s Submissions

Nader Parsaei
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Nader’s Submissions

Evie Gorshe
3 weeks – 6%
3 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Evie’s Submissions

Susanna Funk
3 weeks – 6%
3 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa and Colorado
Click for Funk’s Submissions

Kyle Sharp
4 weeks – 8%
6 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, and Colorado
Click for Kyle’s Submissions

Tim Panages
5 weeks – 9%
7 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Tim’s Submissions

Stephanie Kim
6 weeks – 11%
6 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: New York
Click for Steph’s Submissions

Amy Peterson
11 weeks – 21%
16 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Amy’s Submissions

Elainie Hernandez
17 weeks – 34%
18 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Elainie’s Submissions

Becky Parmelee
20 weeks – 38%
22 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, and New York
Click for Becky’s Submissions

Deb Powers
21 weeks – 40%
39 submissions
19 week streak
Submitted from: Montana and Iowa
Click for Deb’s Submissions

Johnathan Stensland
21 weeks – 40%
22 submissions
1 week streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Johnathan’s Submissions

Jen Ensley-Gorshe
24 weeks – 46%
27 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Colorado, Missouri, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Florida, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and Washington.
Click for Jen’s Submissions

Adam Gordon
31 weeks – 58%
54 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan, and Canada
Click for Adam’s Submissions

Mary Green
36 weeks – 68%
64 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and Puerto Rico
Click for Mary’s submissions

Alexis Stensland
41 weeks – 77%
60 submissions
Current Streak: 2 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Alexis’ submissions

Michelle Haupt
40 weeks – 75%
40 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana, and Michigan
Click for Michelle’s submissions

Monica Jennings
42 weeks – 79%
48 submissions
Current Streak: 1 week
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Monica’s submissions

Deanna McClain
43 weeks – 81%
45 submissions
Current streak – 1 week
Submitted from: Iowa and Minnesota
Click for Deanna’s submissions

Sara Lockner
42 weeks – 79%
42 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Bahamas, Minnesota, and Florida
Click for Sara’s submissions

Willy McAlpine
46 weeks – 87%
48 submissions
Current Streak: 25 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Willy’s submissions

Jesse Howard
46 weeks – 87%
53 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Florida, Minnesota, Aruba, and Curacao
Click for Jesse’s submissions

Suzie Brannen
48 weeks – 91%
65 submissions
Current Streak
Submitted from: Iowa and Maryland
Click for Suzie’s submissions

Sabas Hernandez
49 weeks – 92%
55 submissions
Current Streat: 1 week
Submitted from: Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin
Click for Sabas’ submissions

Mike Vest
52 weeks – 96%
54 submissions
Current Streak: 33 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas
Click for Vest’s submissions

Lowell Davis
53 weeks – 100%
69 submissions
Current Streak: 53 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas
Click for Lowell’s submissions

Brandon Kahler
53 weeks – 100%
56 submissions
Current Streak: 54 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa and Minnesota
Click for Brandon’s submissions

Scott Degeneffe
53 weeks – 100%
65 submissions
Current Streak: 72 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Florida, Utah, Colorado, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
Click for Scott’s submissions

Sheri Fakhouri
53 weeks – 100%
73 submissions
Current Streak: 82 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Nebraska, and Georgia
Click for Sheri’s submissions

Logan Kahler
53 weeks – 100%
78 submissions
Current Streak: 83 streaks
Submitted from: Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri
Click for Logan’s submissions

Nathanial Brown
53 weeks – 100%
62 submissions
Current Streak: 84 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, South Dakota, Georgia, Tennessee, Ireland, North Ireland, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New York and Missouri
Click for Nathanial’s submissions

Tamara Peterson
53 weeks – 100%
56 submissions
Current Streak: 95 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa and Minnesota
Click for Tamara’s submissions

Mindi Terrell
53 weeks – 100%
97 submissions
Current Streak: 99 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Mindi’s submissions

Linda Bennett
53 weeks – 100%
78 submissions
Current Streak: 128 weeks
Submitted from: Kansas, Iowa, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Missouri
Click for Linda’s submissions

Sarah Toot
53 weeks – 100%
66 submissions
Current Streak: 129 weeks
Submitted from: Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland, Kansas, and Missouri
Click for Sarah’s submissions

Angie DeWaard
53 weeks – 100%
67 submissions
Current Streak: 132 weeks
Submitted: Iowa, Illinois, Scotland, England, Minnesota, and Florida
Click for Angie’s submissions

Dawn Krause
53 weeks – 100%
74 submissions
Current Streak: 137 weeks
Submitted from Iowa and Illinois
Click for Dawn’s submissions

Kim Barker
53 weeks – 100%
63 submissions
Current Streak: 143 weeks
Submitted: Iowa, Colorado, and Louisiana
Click for Kim’s submissions

Joe Duff
53 weeks – 100&
80 submissions
Current Streak: 144 weeks
Submitted from: Texas and New York
Click for Joe’s submissions

Teresa Kahler
53 weeks – 100%
88 submissions
Current Streak: 155 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa and Nebraska
Click for Teresa’s submissions

Carla Stensland
53 weeks
86 submissions
Current Streak: 155 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado
Click for Carla’s submissions

Micky Augustin
53 weeks – 100%
Submissions: 43
Current Streak: 157 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Illinois, Florida, Alaska, and Arizona
Click for Micky’s submissions

Andy Sharp
53 weeks – 100%
Submissions: 71
Current Streak: 158 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and South Dakota
Click for Andy’s submissions

Bill Wentworth
53 weeks – 100%
Submissions: 57
Current Streak: 159 weeks
Submitted from: Nebraska, Missouri, and Florida
Click for Bill’s submissions

Cathie Morton
53 weeks – 100%
Submissions: 62
Current Streak: 163 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Florida, Bahamas, Missouri, Louisiana, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah
Click for Cathie’s submissions

Elizabeth Nordeen
53 weeks – 100%
62 submissions
Current Streak: 164 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa and Ohio
Click for Elizabeth’s submissions

Shannon Bardole-Foley
53 weeks – 100%
57 submissions
Current Streak: 166 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, California, Nevada, Arkansas, Missouri, Mexico, and Texas
Click for Shannon’s submissions

Kio Dettman
53 weeks – 100%
81 submissions
Current Streak: 168 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Kio’s submissions

Christopher D. Bennett
53 weeks – 100%
53 submissions
Current Streak: 590 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, and Louisiana

But as they say, it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. There were 6 participants from Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE that never got hit by the old inspo to submit once this year.

+ Lori Backous
+ Melissa Degeneffe
+ Porter Degeneffe
+ Corey Faust
+ Sarah Karber
+ Ernie Reddd

Maybe in Year 12 they will get that creative photography hankering again. Here is hoping!

In Year 11 I tracked the states pictures were submitted from closer than in the past. In the end, we had submissions from:

+ 39 states
+ 1 U.S. District
+ 1 U.S. Territory
+ 7 Foreign Countries

Here is a look at the final Year 11 THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE UNITED STATES CONQUEST MAP:

39 STATES!

Rather than listing all the states that had pictures taken from them, here are the 11 states that weren’t reached:

+ Alabama
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Idaho
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ New Hampshire
+ North Dakota
+ Oregon
+ Rhode Island
+ South Carolina

The 10 Most Popular States to Submit from:

10. Minnesota – 15
9. Florida – 16
8. Arkansas – 20.5
7. New York – 23
6. Missouri – 28.5
5. Pennsylvania – 42
4. Nebraska – 61
3. Kansas – 72
2. Texas – 79
1. Iowa – 1967

The 5 People that Submitted from the Most Locations:

5. Cathie Morton – 9
5. Scott Degeneffe – 9
4. Sarah Toot – 10
3. Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 13
2. Nathanial Brown – 15
1. Andy Sharp – 16

There were submissions from 7 foreign countries (depending on how countries are defined), here is a look at the world map:

There were a few world travelers and I know that there will be at least a few world travelers in Year 12. So maybe that map will be even more filled in after Year 12.

Finally, a look back at where we’ve been.

Here are a few quick stats from Year 9:

+ 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

The same stats from Year 10:

+ 59 different participants
+ 2311 photos submitted
+ Least popular theme for participation was a tie with TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES; REFLECTION; and SUNRISE, SUNSET each having 25 participants
+ Most popular them for participation was #INSTAGOOD with 41 participants
+ Least popular them for submissions was TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES with 30 submissions
+ The most popular them for submissions was FLOWER with 62 submissions
+ The average week had 31.1 participants
+ The average week had 44.4 submissions

Comparing Year 11 to Year 10:

+ 3 less different participants
+ 155 more submissions
+ The most popular theme had 1 more participant
+ The most popular theme had 2 less submissions
+ The average participation was up 5.3 participants per week
+ The average submissions was up 2.1 submissions per week.

Year 11 had a slight upward trend, but it was probably unrealistic to expect a giant jump like there was in Year 10. Hopefully Year 12 continues to trend upward!

I look forward to seeing all the submissions in Year 12!

Art, Art Festival, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Christianity, Christmas, Elizabeth, Lists, Michelle, Movies, Music, Scottie D., Still Life, Street Photography

Joy to the World!

December 25, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

1. Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.

2. Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns;
Our mortal songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy.

3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.

4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.

One of my favorite Christmas carols! And it has an interesting backstory.

From the Wiki:

“Joy to the World” is an English hymn and Christmas carol. It was written in 1719 by the English minister and hymnist Isaac Watts. It is usually sung to the American composer Lowell Mason’s 1848 arrangement of a tune attributed to George Frideric Handel. The hymn’s lyrics are a Christian reinterpretation of Psalm 98 and Genesis 3.

Since the 20th century, “Joy to the World” has been the most-published Christmas carol in North America, even though it was not originally associated with Christmas. As of December 2009, it was published in 1,387 hymnals in North America, according to the Dictionary of North American Hymnology.

“Joy to the World” was written by English minister and hymnist Isaac Watts, based on a Christian interpretation of Psalm 98 and Genesis 3. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts’ collection The Psalms of David: Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian State and Worship. The paraphrase is Watts’ Christological interpretation. Consequently, he does not emphasize with equal weight the various themes of Psalm 98. In first and second stanzas, Watts writes of heaven and earth rejoicing at the coming of the King. Watts did not write this hymn as a Christmas carol, as the lyrics do not reflect the Virgin birth of Jesus, but rather Christ’s Second Coming. Stanza three, an interlude that alludes to Genesis 3:17–19 rather than to the psalm text, speaks of Christ’s blessings extending victoriously over the realm of sin. The cheerful repetition of the phrase “far as the curse is found” has caused this stanza to be omitted from some hymnals. But the line makes joyful sense when understood from the New Testament eyes through which Watts interprets the psalm. Stanza four celebrates Christ’s rule over the nations.” The nations are called to celebrate because God’s faithfulness to the house of Israel has brought salvation to the world.

So not actually meant to be about Christ’s birth, but about Christ’s return. That being said, once you put art into the world, it is up to interpretation. Sorry not sorry Ike, we turned “Joy to the World” into a Christmas Banger!

But speaking of Christmas. I need to wish all of you a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Joy to the world! The Lord is come!

I hope all of you have the merriest Christmas that you possibly can!

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This is going to be a long one, so get comfortable.

I’m not a big fan of Christmas movies. I do love and will staunchly argue that the best Christmas movie ever made was IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. I always watch it on Christmas Eve before I nestle down for my sleep. This year I decided to get more into the Christmas spirit by watching a different Christmas movie, that I’ve never seen, every day of December leading up and including Christmas day.

Here are the movies I watched and some information from Rotten Tomatoes:

Our Little Secret – 2024 (Netflix) – December 1

+ Tomatometer (Critics) – 36%
+ Popcornmeter (Audience Score) – 54%
+ Bennettmeter – 45%
+ Stars: Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls), Ian Harding (Who?), Kristen Chenoweth (Hairspray), Tim Meadows (Mean Girls)
+ IMDB Synopsis: Avery and Logan haven’t spoken in the 10 years since they broke up. As Christmas approaches, they discover that their new partners are siblings, and both of them have been invited to stay with the family for the holidays. Avery proposes that they keep their past a secret to avoid any awkward confrontations, but hiding the truth turns out to be more difficult than it seems–and spending time together reignites old sparks.
+ Bennett Synopsis: Linsday Lohan’s boyfriend’s sister is dating her old boyfriend. For no apparent reason they decide to pretend that they have never met. Oh, I know why. Cause otherwise there is no movie. Maybe the most interesting thing in the movie is when the pastor at the church calls them “Fairweather Christians” cause they only show up to church at Easter and Christmas. Maybe the term Chreaster was too offensive?

The Merry Gentlemen – 2024 (Netflix) – December 2

Tomatometer: 44%
Popcornmeter: 23%
Bennettmeter: 10%
+ Stars: Britt Robertson (Dan in Real Life), Chad MIchael Murray (Freaky Friday)
+ IMDB Synopsis: To save her parents’ small-town performing venue, a former big-city dancer decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.
+ Bennett Synopsis: Lady that is too old to be a Broadway dancer goes home and saves the Dad from Family Ties music club that holds about 10 people by teaching a janitor how to be a stripper. No full monty. ‘

Hot Frosty – 2024 (Netflix) – December 3

Tomatometer: 76%
Popcornmeter: 54%
Bennettmeter: 60%
Stars: Lacey Chabert (Christianmingle: The Movie), Dustin Milligan (A Simple Favor)
IMDB Synopsis: Widow Kathy magically brings a snowman to life. His innocence helps her heal and find love again. They bond before the holidays, but he’s doomed to melt.
Bennett Synopsis: Widow (cause there is always one in a these movies) accidentally makes a snowman come to life by putting a magic scarf on him. But he probably isn’t hot. I’d say mid at best. Unless you seem him with a beard. Then I can see it. But I’m not expert on the beauty of men. If my girl Lacey was the snowwwoman brought to life. Hot Frosty makes sense. Craig Robinson plays one note over and over again as the Sheriff that pursues Mid Frosty for running down the street giving off the full monty.

Haul Out the Holly – 2022 (Netflix) – December 4

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: 45%
Bennettmeter: 55%
Stars:Lacey Chabert (Christianmingle: The Movie, Hot Frosty), Wes Brown (Glory Road)
IMDB Synopsis: Emily arrives home hoping to visit her parents, only to find that they are going on a trip of their own. While she stays at her house for the holidays, her HOA is determined to get Emily involved in the neighborhood Christmas festivities.
Bennett Synopsis: A horror story about the evils of living with an overbearing HOA.

Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up! – 2023 (Netflix) – December 5

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: 39%
Bennettmeter: 45%
Stars: Lacey Chabert (Christianmingle: The Movie, Hot Frosty, Haul Out the Holly), Wes Brown (Haul Out the Holly)
IMDB Synopsis: As the holidays approach, Emily and Jared are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together again, this time as a couple. Emily, now embracing Evergreen Lane’s uniquely festive spirit, is ready to work with Jared, Ned, Mary Louise and Pamela to make this year’s Christmas celebrations the best yet – even if being the HOA president’s girlfriend doesn’t stop those dreaded decorating citations. When a house on the block goes up for sale, it causes quite a stir with residents. When the soon-to-be neighbors turn out to be holiday royalty, it looks like this year’s competition is about to heat up. As the welcoming committee prepares for the new arrivals, only one thing is certain – this Christmas, Evergreen Lane is going to sleigh.
Bennett Synopsis: Reality television stars move in and our tormented by the overbearing HOA.

A Merry Scottish Christmas – 2023 (Netflix) – December 6

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: 56%
Bennettmeter: 8%
Stars: Lacey Chabert (Christianmingle: The Movie, Hot Frosty, Haul Out the Holly, Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up), Scott Wolf (Go)
IMDB Synopsis: Follows estranged siblings Lindsay and Brad as they travel to Scotland at Christmas to reunite with their mother Jo.
Bennett Synopsis: Lacey Chabert and her boring brother go to Scotland and find out they are the product of inbreeding, I mean if they are nobility. Then they have to decide on whether or not to be the products of inherited wealth. Tough decision. Not my girl Lacey’s best film.

Miracle in Bethlehem, PA – 2023 (Netflix) – December 7

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: 68%
Bennettmeter: 15%
Stars: Laura Vandervoort (Smallville), Benjamin Ayres (Who?)
IMDB Synopsis: Just before Christmas, Mary Ann adopts a baby girl to raise alone. She and the infant spend the Christmas stuck in Bethlehem, PA, due to bad weather. Her only choice when the inn is full is to stay with Joe, the brother of the innkeeper.
Bennett Synopsis: Single mom Mary and her newly adopted baby have to stay in Bethlehem with Joe, who’s house in like a barn. Get it. Look! They are so clever! Mary also seems to treat her mom like garbage for no particular reason.

The Christmas Quest – 2024 (Hallmark) – December 8

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: No score
Bennettmeter: 18%
Stars: Lacey Chabert (Christianmingle: The Movie, Hot Frosty, Haul Out the Holly, Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up, A Merry Scottish Christmas), Kristoffer Polaha (Who?)
IMDB Synopsis: An archaeologist, her ex-husband who is a Norse language expert, search for legendary treasure in Iceland during Christmas. Others join the hunt, leading to a thrilling race to secure the treasure before the wrong people obtain it.
Bennett Synopsis: Lacey Chabert as Indiana Jones? Yes please! But not in this movie where the only fun part is saying Yule Lads.

Holiday Touchdown A Chiefs Love Story – 2024 (Hallmark) – December 9

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: No Score
Bennettmeter: 65%
Stars: Joey King’s sister, Tyler Hynes (Who?)
IMDB Synopsis: Alana Higman, a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan and her family are competing to win the team’s Fan of the Year contest, in a process judged by the director of fan engagement Derrick.
Bennett Synopsis: I wanted to hate this movie, cause the Chief fanbase in pretty insufferable and their stadium is a dump, but dang it I actually liked it. Joey King’s sister is pretty charming and anybody that is a sport fan will definitely be able to relate to the story and the pay off at the end is earned. Although the green screen in the midfield scene is reminiscent of the green screen in THE ROOM. That means it is atrociously bad.

Meet Me Next Christmas – 2024 (Netflix) – December 10

Tomatometer: 69%
Popcornmeter: 53%
Bennettmeter: 55%
Stars: Christina Milian but the real star is Kalen Allen.
IMDB Synopsis: In pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla must race through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.
Bennett Synopsis: Christina Milian meets a rando at the airport, but they are both attached but they agree that if they are both unattached next Christmas they will meet at a Pentatonix concert the following Christmas, but this is all just a pretense to see some absolutely terrible acting by Pentatonix. Just really bad. But the cousin character redeems the movie. But if I met some hottie at the airport that told me she would meet me at a Pentatonix concert next year at Christmas if her current boyfriend cheated on her, I’d pass. I know she is just going to hook up with the guy that tries to get her a ticket to that concert. I’ve seen that movie before. Well, I’ve seen it now.

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: 56%
Bennettmeter: 38%
Stars: Rachel Skarsten
IMDB Synopsis: When a snowstorm diverts Kate’s first private flight en route to Switzerland to Christmas Island, she must team up with an air traffic controller to secure her dream job as the family’s pilot.
Bennett Synopsis: Movie that tries to push the lie that rich people aren’t terrible at their core. They just need to make a Christmas tree out of lobster cages to not suck. Not here for your right wing propaganda movie! Okay, it had its moments.

I Believe in Santa – 2022 (Netflix) – December 12

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: 28%
Bennettmeter: 9%
Stars: Christina Moore, Tom Ducey
IMDB Synopsis: Love is a gift. But when you find out the man you’ve fallen for still believes in Santa, do you accept it – or send it back?
Bennett Synopsis: Send it back.

That Christmas – 2024 (Netflix) – December 13

Tomatometer: 66%
Popcornmeter: 73%
Bennettmeter: 75%
Stars: Bill Nighy, Brian Cox
IMDB Synopsis: It’s an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone’s plans, including Santa’s.
Bennett Synopsis: Who is more irresponsible? Adults? Kids? Both? But the storyline with the nice twin and the naughty twin is very endearing.

Last Christmas – 2019 (Max) – December 14
Tomatometer: 46%
Popcornmeter: 81%
Bennettmeter: 61%
Stars: Emilia Clarke, Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding
IMDB Synopsis: Kate is a young woman subscribed to bad decisions. Working as an elf in a year-round Christmas store is not good for the wannabe singer. However, she meets Tom there. Her life takes a new turn–that seems too good to be true.
Bennett Synopsis: So much great Wham! music that takes the lyrics of the literal song a little too literal. But Emilia Clarke is watchable in anything. Even as a depressed, alcoholic, heart transplant survivor that finally finds her direction while volunteering at a homeless shelter. Plus a cameo by Andrew Ridgeley!

A Sudden Case of Christmas – 2024 (Hulu) – December 15

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: No score
Bennettmeter: 5%
Stars: Danny DeVito, Andie McDowell, Wilmer Valderrama
IMDB Synopsis: An American couple bring their 10-year-old daughter to her grandfather’s hotel in Italy to tell her that they are separating. Hoping to bring them back together, she asks to celebrate one last Christmas together, even though it’s August.
Bennett Synopsis: Am I bad person for rooting for divorce? Cause I was rooting for divorce.

The Holiday List – 2024 (Peacock) – December 16

Tomatometer: No score
Popcornmeter: No score
Bennettmeter: 2%
Stars: Brittany Snow, Lucas Bravo
IMDB Synopsis: A woman sets out a well-intentioned plan of bringing her dysfunctional family together in the wake of the family’s matriarch, her mother-in-law.
Bennett Synopsis: So bleak and dreary that even Sexy Chef from “Emily in Paris” can’t even save it.

Best Christmas. Ever! – 2023 (Netflix) – December 17

Tomatometer: 40%
Popcornmeter: 19%
Bennettmeter: 40%
Stars: Heather Graham, Brandy, Jason Biggs
IMDB Synopsis: Friendships are put to the ultimate test over a boastful holiday newsletter.
Bennett Synopsis: I miss Christmas letters. I miss Christmas cards. I don’t get any, but I miss them and that may have pulled me a long ways in this movie until they get to the solar powered hot air balloon. What? Movie kinda circles the drain after that.

The Grinch – 2018 (Peacock) – December 18

Tomatometer: 49%
Popcornmeter: 59%
Bennettmeter: 57%
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Pharrell Williams, Rashida Jones
IMDB Synopsis: A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.
Bennett Synopsis: It is definitely not in the league as the Boris Karloff Grinch, but a far sight better than the wretched Jim Carrey version. The pop culture references definitely dated it pretty fast!

Krampus – 2015 (Peacock) – December 19

Tomatometer: 66%
Popcornmeter: 52%
Bennettmeter: 60%
Stars: Adam Scott, Toni Collette
IMDB Synopsis: A boy who has a bad Christmas accidentally summons a festive demon to his family home.
Bennett Synopsis: The creativity of the monsters is incredible. A pretty phenomenal cast, especially for a horror movie. But the story is… mid.

Red One – 2024 (Prime) – December 20

Tomatometer: 30%
Popcornmeter: 90%
Bennettmeter: 70%
Stars: J.K. Simmons, Chris Evens, Dwayne Johnson
IMDB Synopsis: After Santa Claus is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security must team up with a notorious hacker in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.
Bennett Synopsis: The best part of this movie is the extreme attention to detail it gives to how Santa would be able to deliver presents to billions of children in a single night. The rest is kind of boiler plate action. Of course J.K. Simmons was magnificent!

Spirited – 2022 (AppleTV) – December 21

Tomatometer: 70%
Popcornmeter: 80%
Bennettmeter: 75%
Stars: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds
IMDB Synopsis: A musical version of Charles Dickens’s story of a miserly misanthrope who is taken on a magical journey.
Bennett Synopsis: I’m a sucker for a good take on “A Christmas Carol”. This is particularly clever and it took me a minute to accept the ending, but I did. And now I’m at peace with it. Also, great music. And if you don’t like it, Good afternoon to you sir!

Fred Claus – 2007 (Disney+> – December 22
Tomatometer: 20%
Popcornmeter: 45%
Bennettmeter: 90%
Stars: Vince Vaugn, Paul Giamatti
IMDB Synopsis: Fred Claus, Santa’s bitter older brother, is forced to move to the North Pole to help Santa and the elves prepare for Christmas in exchange for cash.
Bennett Synopsis: This should put to rest once and for all the very inaccurate notion that I am an elitist. My favorite Christmas movie of the 25 has an astonishingly low score on Rotten Tomatoes! Me? An elitist. Hogwash! Horse pucky! As Sabrina Carpenter might say, Nonsense! And maybe it is because this movie corrects, if I may be so bold, the flaw in the Santa Clause “character”. Fred utters this line and I think it embodies what should be the true Christmas spirit:

“Nick, there’s been one thing that’s been eating at me since I’ve been here. That Naughty-Nice List that you got? There’s no naughty kids, Nick. They’re all good kids. But some of them are scared. And some of them don’t feel listened to. Some of them had some pretty tough breaks too. But every kid deserves a present on Christmas.”

The Christmas Break – 2023 (Hulu) – December 23

Tomatometer: No Score
Popcornmeter: 22%
Bennettmeter: 26%
Stars: Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers), India Mullen
IMDB Synopsis: A married couple travels from Chicago to spend Christmas with the wife’s family in a small town in Ireland, for a holiday that will test their patience–and their marriage.
Bennett Synopsis: I was really just here cause I want to go to Ireland next year and the scenes of Gaelic football, but other than that, not much to see here.

Fatman – 2020 (Peacock) – December 24
Tomatometer: 44%
Popcornmeter: 84%
Bennettmeter: 0%
Stars: Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins
IMDB Synopsis: A rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus is fighting to save his declining business. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12 year old, hires a hit man to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.
Bennett Synopsis: While that sounds like it could be a fun movie. It isn’t. And what it neglects to mention is that Santa and his elves are building weapons for the United State military. Everything about this movie makes me want to puke from the lame action scene near the end where Santa gets stabbed and the shot in the eye and Mrs. Claus shoots the assassin in the back to the ending where Santa goes to the kids house that hired the assassin to threaten him. All of it is puke.

Mary – 2024 (Netflix) – December 25

Tomatometer: 31%
Popcornmeter: 37%
Bennettmeter: 35%
Stars: Noa Cohen, Anthony Hopkins
IMDB Synopsosis: In this timeless coming-of-age story, Mary is shunned following an otherworldly conception and forced to flee when Herod’s insatiable thirst for power ignites a murderous pursuit for the newborn.
Bennett Synopsis: This movie was created to answer the age old questions: Was Mary a hot 24 year old Israeli supermodel. Yes, yes she was. Could Mary jump off a burning building shortly after giving birth to Jesus? Yes she can. Was Joseph good with a sword? Yes. But not good enough to save Mary’s dad from being killed. Could Joseph murder somebody? He sure could! What would it be like if Hannibal Lecter and King Herod were the same person? Pretty weird.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Thanks to Elizabeth, Michelle, and Scottie D. for some of the suggestions for Christmas movies. I don’t know I will do this again next year. We will see where I’m at on the Ebeneezer Scrooge character arc next year.

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I said this would be a long one. Go ahead and pour yourself another cup of nog. Time to share the rest of the pictures I took on my brief solo trip to the Des Moines Arts Festival:

Still my favorite!

I don’t necessarily hate winter, but I’m ready for it to warm back up so festivals and farmer’s markets come back! I miss you so much! Soon, though, soon enough.

Art, Black & White, Cathie, Elizabeth, Flowers, Jesse, Michelle, Micky, Music, Street Photography, Work

Witch Hunt Banquet Street Photography

December 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I “run” this sports prognostication game at work known colloquially as “The Witch Hunt”. I would explain why it is called the Witch Hunt and the mythology of the game, but that would involve a fair amount of work and if you aren’t in the Witch Hunt, you don’t deserve to know.

I bring it up because at the end of the Witch Hunt we have a banquet where we tell tall tales of the battles past and coronate that year’s Witch and present them with the travelling trophy. This banquet is always at Zeno’s in Marshalltown. This year the banquet was a little light. Many of the witch hunters are sociopaths* and never show up. But this year many of the regulars came up with weak ass excuses. Elizabeth was “sick”. Likely story. Micky went to see a hillbilly in concert. Just kidding a hillbilly would be worth seeing in concert. He went to see a pretend cowboy in concert. The Clevengers ghosted. Jesse claimed he loved his family more than pizza. All of the a collection of hooligans and bad people. However I showed up. And the good people showed up. The Haupts. Cathie. Jordan and Jonah. Hopefully those that made the sin of shaft-ation (The second greatest sin after pride.) will make amends for their biggest failing of 2024.

I got to Marshalltown a bit early so I could go to their records store and do some light street photography. These are those pictures:

Ready for the next tornado to hit it.

This place has since closed and it makes me very sad!

Raindrops on roses and rock snakes of all sizes…

Some of the best street art I’ve ever seen!

I’m putting some of you on notice! Time to take your fashion up a notch.

A pig with sunglasses! A goat with a bowtie! I do believe the impossible is possible!

Don’t even try it junior.

I love van Gogh so much I even love his imitators!

Miss you. Will see you again soon!

I need to make this place into a future food adventure. Allegedly the best Maid-Rites in the world.

It was a great banquet and I’m looking forward to it again already. Hopefully only the real ones show up again.

*I define sociopath my the medical definition, which is “doesn’t love pizza”.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Bill, Black & White, Bokeh, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Johnathan, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Street Photography, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 474 – STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

October 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

Today is Sarah Toot’s birthday so I have to wish her a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Sarah!

That picture of us after seeing a American Idiot on Broadway is almost 13 years old. Guess we should get an updated selfie at some point. Anyways I hope your birthday is amazing and filled with fantastic food, music and friends!

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STREET PHOTOGRAPHY! What a great theme! But were enough people public enough to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 7, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week (IA)
3-Jesse Howard – 1 week (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
*4-Amy Peterson – 1 week (IA)
5-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
6-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks (IA, OH)
*8-Deb Powers – 6 weeks (MT, IA)
9-Monica Jennings – 9 weeks (IA)
10-Sara Lockner – 10 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
11-Willy McAlpine – 13 weeks (IA)
12-Deanna McClain – 17 weeks (IA, MN)
13-Mike Vest – 20 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
*14-Lowell Davis – 40 weeks (IA, MO)
15-Brandon Kahler – 41 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 59 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
17-Sheri Fakhouri – 69 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 70 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
*19-Nathanial Brown – 71 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI)
20-Tamara Peterson – 82 weeks (IA, MN)
*21-Mindi Terrell – 86 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 115 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
*23-Sarah Toot – 116 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
*24-Angie DeWaard – 120 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN)
*25-Dawn Krause – 124 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 130 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*27-Joe Duff – 131 weeks (TX, NY)
28-Teresa Kahler – 142 weeks (IA, NE)
29-Carla Stensland – 142 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 144 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*31-Andy Sharp – 145 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 146 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 149 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 151 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 153 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
*36-Kio Dettman – 155 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.

WPC - WEEK 474 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - ALEXIS STENSLAND

Alexis Stensland (Ankeny, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 146 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 121 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 147 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Story City, Iowa) – 42 weeks

Carla Stensland (west Ames, Iowa) – 143 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

Cathie Morton (Hoyt Sherman – Des Moines, Iowa) – 150 weeks

Cathie Morton (Hoyt Sherman – Des Moines, Iowa)

Christopher D. Bennett (Des Moines, Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Near Pilot Mound, Iowa) – 125 weeks

Dawn Krause (Gustafson’s Pumpkin Patch – Iowa)

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 18 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 132 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Johnathan Stensland (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

Kim Barker (Ankeny, Iowa) – 131 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 156 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 116 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 71 weeks

Lowell Davis (Ames, Iowa) – 41 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Michelle Haupt (Lebanon, Missouri) – 1 week

Micky Augustin (Altoona, Iowa) – 145 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 21 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 87 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Paton, Iowa) – 72 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Yetter, Iowa)

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa)

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 11 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 117 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Adventureland – Altoona, Iowa) – 60 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Adventureland – Altoona, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Des Moines, Iowa) – 154 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 70 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Perry, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 83 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Manning, Iowa) – 143 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Manning, Iowa)

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 14 weeks

37 participants this week! That is a pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (41)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (2)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1456)
+ Kansas (57)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (18.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (49)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (18)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (34)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (61)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

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

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI) – 13
+ 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
+ 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
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ 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
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon 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
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Nathanial now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

There were a couple of big milestones this week. Monica joined the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! Kio joined the 3 YEAR STREAK CLUB!!! WooHoo! WooHoo! WooHoo! At some point, hopefully there will be “badges” for these accomplishments, but I have to get a new logo first. Priorities people!

But it wasn’t all glitter and rainbows! Elainie and Amy couldn’t build on last week’s submissions and their streaks are over before they began.

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:

ANIMAL (Suggested by Shannon Bardole-Foley)

ANIMAL! What a great them for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! Thanks to Shannon for suggesting it. Technically she suggested PET, but I changed it to ANIMAL because I felt it was more fair to people that don’t have pets.

And speaking of suggesting themes… The 2 week window for suggesting themes for Year 12 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. So suggestions have to be made in the Comments section of the last THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE post in October (will be October 28) and the first THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE post in November (will be November 4). That is the only way to make suggestions.

I look forward to your ANIMAL interpretations.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of ANIMAL in this place that loves almost all of them next Monday.

Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Bill, Black & White, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Nature, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 472 – OUT OF DATE

September 30, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

It is the last Monday of the month and on the last Monday of the month I like to revisit our Frequently Asked Questions. Who asks these questions? I mostly ask them of myself. But that isn’t a Frequently Asked Question. These are:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

What skill level photographer can participate?

THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is open to photographers of all skill levels. From award winning photographers to professionals to the highly ranked amateurs to those that are just beginning to those who don’t even know how to focus a camera. All skill levels are encouraged and welcome. You can’t be too bad and you can’t be too good! Everyone has room to learn and be challenged!

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind. These are the people I can think of off the top of my head that I know have won a photography award at some point in their lives: Yours Truly, Jen, Logan, Teresa, Carla, Dawn, Monica, Shannon, Nathanial, Angie, Vest, and I’m sure I’m forgetting about somebody.

Is this a competition?
NO. It is a challenge. There are no winners and losers. Well the people that don’t participate are losers.

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

Yes. That limit is 2. If you send me more than 2, I will post the first 2 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload.

If you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If I start to average like 45 participants a week, I will lower the limit to 1.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme every week. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones. I would say on the average week over 80% of participants seem to have understood the assignment.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact (AND CAN’T EMPATHIZE THIS ENOUGH) I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their widest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point. But don’t tempt me!

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that. In fact, I appreciate you letting me know where a picture was taken. If you don’t let me know, I will assume the picture was taken in the state you live in.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I will take suggestions only and ONLY in the comments sections of the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE posts the last week of October and the 1st week of November.

+++++++

OUT OF DATE! What a great theme! But were enough people up with current times to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 23, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Bunny – 1 week (IA)
2-Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA, OH)
*3-Deb Powers – 4 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Jesse Howard – 5 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
5-Monica Jennings – 7 weeks (IA)
6-Sara Lockner – 8 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
7-Willy McAlpine – 11 weeks (IA)
8-Deanna McClain – 15 weeks (IA, MN)
9-Mike Vest – 18 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
10-Adam Gordon – 28 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
11-Lowell Davis – 38 weeks (IA, MO)
12-Michelle Haupt – 38 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*13-Brandon Kahler – 39 weeks (IA, MN)
14-Scott Degeneffe – 57 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
15-Sheri Fakhouri – 67 weeks (IA, NE)
16-Logan Kahler – 68 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
17-Nathanial Brown – 69 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN)
*18-Tamara Peterson – 80 weeks (IA, MN)
*19-Mindi Terrell – 84 weeks (IA)
*20-Linda Bennett – 113 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
*21-Sarah Toot – 113 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
22-Angie DeWaard – 118 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
23-Dawn Krause – 122 weeks (IA, IL)
24-Kim Barker – 128 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*25-Joe Duff – 129 weeks (TX, NY)
26-Teresa Kahler – 140 weeks (IA, NE)
27-Carla Stensland – 140 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
28-Micky Augustin – 142 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
29-Andy Sharp – 143 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
30-Bill Wentworth – 144 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
31-Cathie Morton – 147 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 149 weeks (IA, OH)
*33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 151 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
*34-Kio Dettman – 153 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.

WPC - WEEK 472 - OUT OF DATE - KIO DETTMAN

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 154 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Boone, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 150 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 148 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 145 weeks

Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 144 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone County Courthouse – Boone, Iowa)

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 143 weeks

Carla Stensland (Arnolds Park, Iowa) – 141 weeks

Carla Stensland (Arnolds Park, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 141 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 130 weeks

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 129 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 123 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa)

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 119 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa)

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 115 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas ) – 114 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 85 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 81 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Custer State Park – South Dakota) – 70 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 69 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 68 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 58 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 40 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 39 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 39 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 19 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 16 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 12 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 9 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 8 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Perry, Iowa) – 1 week

Christopher D. Bennett (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa)

Only 33 participants this week! A dismal number for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. One has to wonder, had THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE jumped the shark? Is it circling the drain? Will have to keep a close eye on it in the future.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (37)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ South Dakota (1)
+ Texas (1)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1414)
+ Kansas (55)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (47)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (31)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (5)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

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

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN) – 11
+ 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
+ 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
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ 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
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon 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
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

The big milestone this week was Joe reaching the 2.5 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! Woo!

But in what tracks with the extreme disdain most people had for this theme and the slipping popularity of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, there were a bunch of streaks that went kaput! Bunny couldn’t build on last week’s submission and her streak is over before it began. Jesse’s streak is gone after a 5 spot. Worst of all, Adam’s streak is gone after 28 weeks. The humanity!

PATH

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

I look forward to seeing 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 PATH in this place that cuts one through this world next Monday.

Adam, Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Bill, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Contests, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Jonah Kahler, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Pufferbilly Days, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 471 – PARK

September 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

PARK! What a great theme! But did enough people get in gear to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 16, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week (IA, OH)
2-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
*3-Mary Green – 2 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
*4-Deb Powers – 3 weeks (MT, IA)
5-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
6-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Monica Jennings – 6 weeks (IA)
8-Sara Lockner – 7 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 10 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 14 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 17 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Adam Gordon – 27 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 37 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 37 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*15-Brandon Kahler – 38 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 56 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 66 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 67 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 68 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN)
20-Tamara Peterson – 79 weeks (IA, MN)
*21-Mindi Terrell – 83 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 112 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 113 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 117 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 121 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 127 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 128 weeks (TX, NY)
28-Teresa Kahler – 139 weeks (IA, NE)
*29-Carla Stensland – 1389 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 141 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
31-Andy Sharp – 142 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 143 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 146 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 148 weeks (IA, OH)
*35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 150 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
36-Kio Dettman – 152 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.

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 68 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 118 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 2 weeks

“Bunny” (Jester Park – Iowa) – 1 week

Sara Lockner (Jester Park – Iowa) – 8 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 57 weeks

Cathie Morton (Altoona, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa) – 28 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 149 weeks

Jesse Howard (Hunziker Park – Ames, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Michelle Haupt (Ankeny, Iowa) – 38 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 67 weeks

Andy Sharp (Bayliss Park – Council Bluffs, Iowa)

Deanna McClain (Eagle Point Park – Dubuque, Iowa) – 15 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Interurban Park – Camp Dodge – Johnston, Iowa) – 80 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Interurban Park – Camp Dodge – Johnston, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Linwood Cemetery – Boone, Iowa) – 11 weeks

Carla Stensland (Pufferbilly Days Parade – Boone, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Dawn Krause (Art in the Park – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 122 weeks

Kio Dettman (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Kio Dettman (Opal Dubois Anderson Park)

Logan Kahler (McHose Park) – 68 weeks

Monica Jennings (Art in the Park – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa)

Mike Vest (Edgewood Park – Madrid, Iowa) – 18 weeks

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 128 weeks

Deb Powers (Saylorville Lake – Iowa)

Mindi Terrell (Saylorville Lake – Iowa) – 84 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Saylorville Lake – Iowa)

Brandon Kahler (South Park – Story City, Iowa) – 39 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Colby Park – Windsor Heights, Iowa) – 151 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 144 weeks

Sarah Toot (Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey) – 114 weeks

Sarah Toot (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

Joe Duff (Texas) – 129 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

35 participants this week. Not a great week. But not bad. Not a lot of people like nature all that much.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (35)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (2)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1377)
+ Kansas (54)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (46)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (30)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (56)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

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

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

There were no major milestones reached this week. But a few streaks went kaput. Alexis couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Mary’s streak is gone after 2 weeks. Suzie’s streak is gone after 4!

OUT-OF-DATE (Suggested by Angie DeWaard)

OUT-OF-DATE! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

What is an OUT-OF-DATE picture? A picture of something that is no longer necessary in these times.

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 OUT-OF-DATE in this place that that is timeless next Monday.

Michelle, Still Life, Tenderloining

Michelle’s Family’s Chicken Tradition

September 22, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

A few months back I was invited to join Michelle’s family for their annual chicken making tradition. I don’t really have a way of describing it, so I’ll just share some pictures:

I can say that without a doubt it was one of the more delicious meals I’ve had this year!

Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve RAGBRAI!

Adam, Alexis, Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Bill, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Music, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Taylan, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 470 – MUSIC

September 16, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

MUSIC! A great theme! But did enough people hear it to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out! Am I silently judging anybody’s taste in MUSIC? You don’t have to scroll down. I am. I definitely in.

On a sad note, I learned today that my favorite record store and the place where I get many of the records for my NEW-TO-ME-VINYL FRIDAY stories on Snapchat closed down recently. Wax Xtatic in Marshalltown was awesome! And now it is gone. So I’ll be looking for a new independent record store to frequent. I’m open to suggestions.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 9, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week (IA)
*3-Deb Powers – 2 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
5-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks (IA, MD)
*6-Amy Peterson – 3 weeks (IA)
7-Monica Jennings – 5 weeks (IA)
8-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 9 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 13 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 16 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Adam Gordon – 26 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 36 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 36 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*15-Brandon Kahler – 37 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 55 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 65 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 65 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 67 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
20-Tamara Peterson – 78 weeks (IA, MN)
21-Mindi Terrell – 82 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 111 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 112 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 116 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 120 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 126 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 127 weeks (TX, NY)
*28-Teresa Kahler – 138 weeks (IA, NE)
29-Carla Stensland – 138 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 140 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*31-Andy Sharp – 141 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 142 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 146 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 147 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 149 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
36-Kio Dettman – 151 weeks (IA)

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:

36 states!

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.

Micky Augustin (Iowa)- 141 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Farmer’s Market – Bentonville, Arkansas) – 150 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Outside of Jane, Missouri)

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 127 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone Theater – Boone, Iowa)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks suzi

Nathanial Brown (Albert Lea, Minnesota) – 68 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Pierce, Nebraska)

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 117 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 56 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 128 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 66 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 27 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

Jesse Howard (Homecoming – Boone, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Dawn Krause (Fraser, Iowa) – 121 weeks

Sara Lockner (Pork Tornados – Adventureland – Altoona, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 14 weeks

Cathie Morton (Des Moines, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 148 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Debb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Andy Sharp (Boone First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 113 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 83 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 17 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 143 weeks

37 participants! That is a pretty solid week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas (1)
+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (2)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1377)
+ Kansas (52)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (45)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (29)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (54)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

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

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

The big milestone this week was Willy reaching the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Elainie couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Amy’s streak also came to a halting crash after 3 weeks! The humanity!

PARK

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

I look forward to your interpretation.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of PARK in this place that that is a bit of a respite from the world next Monday.