This dump of photos from the backlog are from when Micky and I delivered some crates for work to this group of people forming some kind of art thing in the old grain elevator in west Ames.
It was my favorite day of work all year! The place was falling apart and covered in bird poo! It was magnificent!
The week’s theme triggered an interesting and solid week of submissions.
Here are the submissions for OLD:
Becky Perkovich
Stephanie Kim
Kim Barker 1
Kim Barker 2
Kim Barker 3
Christopher D. Bennett
Michael Augustin
Cathie Raley 1
Cathie Raley 2
Cathie Raley 3
Cathie Raley 4
Carla Stensland 1
Carla Stensland 2
Carla Stensland 3
Mike Vest
Dawn Krause 1
Dawn Krause 2
A good, healthy week of submissions!
But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind. Do this. Don’t do that. Can’t you read the sign? There are signs everywhere. Telling us what to do. Telling us what to buy. Telling us what to think. Telling us how to vote. Telling us what to wear. Telling us where to go. Telling us to wash our hands. Some are new. Some are old. Some are filled with buckshot. But signs with words on them are not the only kind of signs out there. Much communication is done through nonverbal signs. Some believe that God give us signs to help us along our life’s journey. As always, feel free to define signs any way you see fit.
Just get out there and find a sign that speaks to you.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION
1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.
2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.
That is it, them’s the rules.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION
We are pleased to announce that Linda Toot is the latest person to display, taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. Linda is my aunt on my Dad’s side of the family. While she was raised in Boone/Jordan her life adventure settled her into Easton, Kansas. This makes the 3rd or 4th subscriber (I need to check my records) residing in the Sunflower State. Making the Photography 139 empires presence strong there. If I were to check the heat map, I believe Kansas now ranks 3rd behind Iowa and Minnesota for Photography 139 subscribers. If you see Linda out and about walking the mean streets of Easton, feel free to give her a knowing glance and show her the Super Secret Photography 139 Handshake.
That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise (thinking of you eastern Iowa), we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a Monday filled with signs!
Lots and lots of up close and personal submissions for MACRO this week.
Don’t take my word for it, have a look:
Angie DeWaard 2
Micky Augustin
Kim Barker
Sarah Karber
Stephanie Kim 1
Stephanie Kim 2
Teresa Kahler 1
Teresa Kahler 2
Teresa Kahler 3
Becky Perkovich
Dawn Krause
Shannon Bardole
Mike Vest
Christopher D. Bennett
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:
What a perfect excuse for loading up your favorite cooler with a six pack of be… soda… and hit the open road! Of course, maybe your schedule this week doesn’t allow for you to actually hit the open road. That’s no excuse Nancy! A wide assortment of photos can be taken that suggest a road trip. From maps, to your car, to your favorite tunes, to that bag of Funyuns you have to buy or it isn’t an official road trip. Just think about it and record and image that says ROAD TRIP to you. After all, you are free to translate the theme any way you want.
WARNING!!!
Remember that next Monday is Labor Day. While the government, your bank, and even the Computer Mine takes that day off, Photography 139 doesn’t. Plan your submissions accordingly!
A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 ANNOUNCEMENT DIVISION
A quick heads up that next Monday I will be revealing the 52 themes for the next 52 weeks of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. In the comments section below is the last chance for you to have any input.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION
1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.
2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.
That is it, them’s the rules.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION
Nobody this week showed class, taste or sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 Email Subscription. I’ll try to do better next week.
That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be an open road kinda Monday.
I recently presented The Trophy for winning the 12th year of the Roundball Oracles to this year’s champion… Michelle Haupt
It was an exciting NCAA Tournament and an equally exciting Roundball Oracles NCAA Tournament Pool. If North Carolina would’ve won the NCAA Championship Game, Sara Lockner would’ve come home with the trophy this year. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Congratulations Michelle! May your reign be short.
2005 – William McAlpine
2006 – William McAlpine
2007 – Tim Peterson
2008 – Mark Wolfram
2009 – Mark Wolfram
2010 – Mark Wolfram
2011 – Carrie Baier
2012 – Lowell Davis
2013 – William McAlpine
2014 – Brandon Kahler
2015 – Derek Dohrman
2016 – Michelle Haupt
Here be the final standings.
1. Michelle Haupt – 275
2. Sean Clubine – 270
3. sara lockner – 259
4. Yours Truly 255
5. Micky Augustin 245
6. Angie DeWaard 241
7. Jackson Faust 241
8. Derek Dohrman 237
9. Frank Meiners 233
10. Toby Sebring 230
11, Lowell Davis 230
12, Mark Wolfram 228
13. Jason Baier 227
14, Corey Faust 221
15, Paul Golden 220
16, Wily McAlpine 218
17, Jordan Toot 217
18. Jesse Howard 216
19. Shannon Bardole 215
20. Benjamin Baier 214
21. Liz Nordeen 214
21. Jill Gorshe 214
23 . Jon DeWaard 207
24. JJ Baier 204
25. Dawn Krause 203
26. Nader Parsaei 202
27, Brandon Kahler 201
28. Carrie Baier 197
29. Jorge Rios 197
30. shawn lockner 194
31. Jen Gorshe 193
32. Derrick Gorshe 193
33. Andree Jauhari 193
34. tim peterson 192
35. Bill Wentworth 183
36. Olivia Baier 180
37. Russ Kennerly 180
38. Carla Stensland 175
39. William Baier 170
40. Rachel Johnson 167
41. Robert Henning 162
42. Joe Lynch 156
43. Laura Priest 152
Laura (Miller) Priest won the 3rd Annual “The Sara” for last place adult that tried. Joining the trophy’s namesake Sara Lockner and Derrick Gorshe as past winners. I don’t have a picture of Laura with her new trophy yet, but I will as soon as I get “The Sara” in the mail, it arrives in Manhattan, and she sends me a picture with her new pride and joy.
As I promised, after two days of having to look at disgusting Coca-Cola products, I would reward you with fuzzy cuteness. If I am nothing, I am a man of my word!
A week or so back, I was in the backyard with my legendary hunting pooch Naima. We were in the process of putting away a tarp that I was drying out. As I picked up the tarp, Naima started going crazy. After I moved the tarp I uncovered one of her favorite toys. I naturally assumed this is what she wanted so badly. I pointed it out to her, but she ignored it and she kept barking.
I turned around to see what she was all jacked up about. Turns out having fallen out of the tarp was this cute little baby possum.
After snapping a few photos, I placed the tarp over him and let him be. Despite the advice of legendary outdoorsman and animal lover Micky Augustin to just hit it with a shovel and throw it in the garbage.
When Naima woke me up at 5:30 in the morning the next day (as is our custom), I went outside and removed the tarp. Baby Possum was gone. Having moved on to spread his fuzzy cuteness to the rest of the world.
I hope our paths can cross again and and if they do I’m sure he will give me a knowing glance that says, “Hey pal. Thanks for not hitting me in the head with a shovel and throwing me in the garbage. That was doing a brother a solid.”
PARTICULARS
CAMERA: Sony SLT-A65V
ISO: 500
FOCAL LENGTH: 60mm
APERTURE: f/4
EXPOSURE: 1/100
DATE: 06/09/2016 – 19:50
LATITUDE: 42.05525°
LONGITUDE: -93.87058°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Naima
PHOTO EDITING SOUNDTRACK: “My Name Is” by Eminem
QUESTION 20
Even though I can’t find a good glass of it in Kansas or Minnesota or anywhere else I may travel outside of Iowa, what do I always drink with my breakfast?
ANSWER: CHOCOLATE MILK
BONUS
What decidedly Iowa food item do Scottie D. and I travel the backroads of the Cyclone State to eat, rate, and seek out the best of?
ANSWER: Tenderloin
A couple Saturdays back I traveled to America’s crossroads: Colo, Iowa to take place in a turtle race that I have dubbed The Colo Derby.
My noble steed Titian dominated the competition, but on that day, it would NOT only be the turtles that smelled fishy. If you get what I’m laying down. Nudge-nudge-wink-wink! I’m saying the officiating was terrible. Okay.
Here are a few photos of this most American of travesties.
Victory. Titian is thy name!
A training lap.
I’m hoping we can make some wishes out of turtle-planes.
The combatants and their steeds. Cathie (left) was the “victor”.
The official results and some dimestore (albeit very accurate) analysis:
1. Cathie’s Turtle (won because some people don’t understand time.)
2. Titian (second place because of the base ugly human emotion called jealousy.)
3. Joe’s Turtle (third place because Joe was afraid to touch his turtle and his turtle didn’t respect him for this weakness.)
4. Michelle’s Turtle (last place because Michelle hates animals and the turtle could sense it and the turtle quit on her.)
After the race was run, I placed Titian back in the 5 gallon bucket from which he came. I am a man. He is a turtle, but I know we made a very special connection that day. Our paths will cross again. We will have our vengeance!
Recently I picked, trained, and raced a turtle in the Colo Derby. We were quite victorious, as I’m sure time and history will record. Below is a photo of my loyal steed.
Some of the other combatants from that day will claim that my turtle did not win. They will cite a video as their flimsy evidence. I have no doubt that when the video from the man on the grassy knoll surfaces, I will be vindicated and lauded in a manner that befits me.
PARTICULARS
CAMERA: SONY-SLT-A65V
ISO: 100
FOCAL LENGTH: 60mm
APERTURE: f/4
EXPOSURE: 1/100
DATE: 06/04/2016 16:54
LATITUDE: 42.01001°
LONGITUDE: -93.34610°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Micky Augustin
PHOTO EDITING SOUNDTRACK: “Blue Train” by John Coltrane from BLUE TRAIN
QUESTION 13
My website is named after my favorite Bible verses. What is that chapter?
ANSWER: Psalm 139
BONUS
What is my second favorite Bible verse?
ANSWER: Ephesians 4:29
I was actually quite shocked by how few people got this one right. I’ll try to remedy that in some way in the future.
Before I start rambling about this picture, I should point out that AM Outdoors expert and friend of this here blog Michael Augustin corrected my assertion that yesterday’s blog featured a ground squirrel. When in fact, it was a chipmunk. A pox upon me, my good fellows.
Today’s post features a flower that I’ve always loathed. The iris. Take a look, you’ll see what I mean.
Don’t you just want to punch that flower?
PARTICULARS
CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
FOCAL LENGTH: 70mm
APERTURE: f/5.6
EXPOSURE: 1/125
DATE: 05/31/2016 – 17:03
LATITUDE: 42.02903°
LONGITUDE: -93.62927°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Nader Parsaei
Friend of this here blog Michelle recently pointed out that the last 2 posts have not included an answer to the CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT TRIVIA QUIZ. So today you get two answers.
QUESTION 8
One year for Christmas I received Nirvana’s NEVERMIND for Christmas from my Grandparents. Many of my aunts and uncles were offended by what they called the album cover’s “child pornography”. My Grandpa put the cassette in his stereo, put on his headphones and listened to SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT. Upon the conclusion of listening to this song he summed it up like this, “Well it ain’t…” Which of his favorite artists did he compare to Nirvana?
ANSWER: HANK meaning HANK WILLIAMS SR.
BONUS
In 1983 I began attending Iowa State football games with my Grandpa. Where did we park?
ANSWER: Highway 30
Here is another photo from the work afternoon I spent with a group of people turning the old grain elevator in west Ames into an “art place”.
This was painted onto a window on the third or fourth floor.
PARTICULARS
CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
FOCAL LENGTH: Unrecorded
APERTURE: Unrecorded
EXPOSURE: 1/80
DATE: 04/13/2016 13:38
LATITUDE: 42.03700°
LONGITUDE: -93.68144
ASSISTANT: Micky Augustin
Another solid week of submissions. Here are the submissions for PORTRAIT:
Bill Wentworth 1
Bill Wentworth 2
Angie DeWaard 1
Angie DeWaard 2
Sarah Karber
Christopher D. Bennett
Mike Vest
Micky Augustin
Carla Stensland 1
Carla Stensland 2
Solid submissions across the board! But why live in the past. Let’s look to the future. After all, that is where we will live the balance of our lives.
This week’s theme…
Those of you with a little bit of elephant in you may be a little like: “Didn’t we just do GLASS?” However, those of you that are more learned will know that more than just windows are made of GLASS. Things like glasses are made of GLASS. The kind you drink out of and the kind you put on your face. (At least they used to be.) Bottles. Also made of glass. (At least they used to be.) Lenses. Made of glass. (At least they used to be.) Lots of wonderful art is made out of GLASS. So go out and explore the wonderful world of GLASS.
HOUSEKEEPING
Nothing new to report. I’ll try to do better next week.
