Category Archives: Monica

WPC – WEEK 285 – LINES

74 straight weeks of double digit submission and we did it before I even got out of bed on Monday morning! LINES seemed to be a popular theme! I mean, who doesn’t like LINES?

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


WEEK 285 - LINES - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 285 - LINES - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 285 - LINES - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 285 - LINES - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
“Lines in the ceiling, floor, and walls. Plus the lines for Covid vaccine. Got mom vaccinated; well organized and looking like they are starting to hit their stride. Lots vaccinated this weekend.”

WEEK 285 - LINES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 285 - LINES - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 285 - LINES - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk
“The Manitou Incline has 2,000 feet of stairs which are actually lines! And my hamstrings felt every one of them.”

WEEK 285 - LINES - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 285 - LINES - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 285 - LINES - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 285 - LINES - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 285 - LINES - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 285 - LINES - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 285 - LINES - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 285 - LINES - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 285 - LINES - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 285 - LINES - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 285 - LINES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

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


WEEK 286 - PLAY
PLAY

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

A PLAY image is simply an image where the composition includes either something that is PLAYed or somebody PLAYing. There are all types of things that can be PLAYed. Games to musical instruments to sports to people.

Of course, PLAY has multiple meanings. A PLAY can be words on a piece of paper that tell a story or a PLAY can be acting out those words on a stage. It is more than just humans that PLAY. Animals also PLAY.

Think about the following old proverb when you are considering your PLAY interpretation:

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,
All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy.

Meditation on these words will no doubt lead to a fascinating PLAY image.

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

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

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

WPC – WEEK 284 – SYMMETRY & PATTERNS

We did it! Again! 73 straight weeks of double digit submissions. More than a few of the submissions this week were attached to emails with people pointing out that they also like art that is heavy in SYMMETRY & PATTERNS. I immediately crossed these people off my Christmas Card List.

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


WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY  & PATTERNS - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

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


WEEK 285 - LINES
LINES

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

A LINES image is simply an image that heavily incorporates LINES into the composition of the image. Carla’s submission this week would also be an excellent submission for LINES. LINES that appear in a photograph CAN BE framed and positioned by the photographer to draw the viewer’s eye towards a specific point of interest. LINES draw the viewer’s eye to a specific direction of an image.

You can use all sorts of lines in your composition. You can use horizontal LINES. You can use vertical LINES. You can use diagonal LINES. You can use converging LINES. There are just so many options!

Of course, the term LINES has more than one meaning.

Think about the following quote from Martin Luther while considering your LINES image:

God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick.

Meditate on these words and you will create a fascinating LINES image.

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

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

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

WPC – WEEK 283 – WIND

Well, we did it! Andy said it couldn’t be done, but we hit double digits with WIND like it ain’t no thing, but a chicken wing on a string. A phrase, that while I enjoy typing, don’t understand in the slightest. 72 weeks in a row of double digit submissions!

An exciting development this week was that I received the first ever submission from Susanna Funk. For those of you that don’t know Susanna, she is one of the most badass people I know. In addition to be under the stress of being a health care professional in a state (Iowa) with a completely inept governor, she spends her spare time climbing mountains. Her WIND picture comes from Rocky Mountains National Park.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about submission rates to shove it in Andy’s face, you came to see the submissions:


WEEK 283 - WIND - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk

WEEK 283 - WIND - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 283 - WIND - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 283 - WIND - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 283 - WIND - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 283 - WIND - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 283 - WIND - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 283 - WIND - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 283 - WIND - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 283 - WIND - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 283 - WIND - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 283 - WIND - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 283 - WIND - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 283 - WIND - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 283 - WIND - LOGAN KAHLER
WEEK 283 - WIND - LOGAN KAHLER
WEEK 283 - WIND - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 283 - WIND - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

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


WEEK 284 - SYMMETRY & PATTERNS
SYMMETRY & PATTERNS

SYMMETRY & PATTERNS! Another great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

I can’t help but think of Shannon when I think of the theme of SYMMETRY & PATTERNS. Back in the day, we would occasionally go to art shows and fairs together. It often ended up being a painful and frustrating experience because the art booths that she would like to stop and look at were the art that actually hurt my soul (at least a little bit) to look at. It was all symmetrical lines and shapes. I always thought, “if this is the kind of art she likes and she likes my photography, what does that say about my photography? Is it this awful and boring?”

On the other side of the coin, she also hated most of the art I liked. Considered it to be derivative of the illustrations one sees in children’s books. Whatever.

I’m not saying you should tap into your inner Shannon when making your SYMMETRY & PATTERNS picture, but it might not hurt. I’m not saying your picture should be boring and uninteresting. I borderline enjoy the theme reveal picture of the bathroom floor in front of my toilet*. I am saying that you should find a pattern and/or a subject that has symmetry. While this isn’t my favorite theme, I do look forward to seeing your interpretations. I bet Shannon will be counting down the days.

When thinking about creating your SYMMETRY & PATTERNS image, think on the following quote from noted Japanese author Junichiro Tanizaki:

Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides.

Meditate on these words and you will no doubt, make a completely almost interesting SYMMETRY & PATTERNS image.

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

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of SYMMETRY & PATTERNS in this place that admittedly has some symmetry and patterns of its own next Monday.

*Admit it. You are impressed with how clean it is.

WPC – WEEK 281 – BLACK

BLACK! Another theme. Another Monday. Another week of double digit submissions! 70 weeks in a row to be exact! WooHoo!

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


WEEK 282 - BLACK - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 282 - BLACK - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 282 - BLACK - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 282 - BLACK - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 282 - BLACK - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 282 - BLACK - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 282 - BLACK - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 282 - BLACK - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 282 - BLACK - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 282 - BLACK - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 281 - BLACK - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 281 - BLACK - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 281 - BLACK - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 281 - BLACK - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 281 - BLACK - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 281 - BLACK - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 281 - BLACK - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 281 - BLACK - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 281 - BLACK - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 281 - BLACK - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

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


WEEK 282 - USE OF SPACE
USE OF SPACE

USE OF SPACE! Another great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

USE OF SPACE is an important theme historically for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. It was the very first theme ever for THE WEEKY PHOTO CHALLLENGE. All the way back when Vest and I invented THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE in the build area of the Computer Mine. Back then it was called THE RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT and the theme was determined each week by a program that Vest wrote. Back then we both received submissions and he also published submissions on his website.
Much has changed back then, and not just the name. While that little bit of history is fascinating, it doesn’t answer the question, what is a USE OF SPACE picture?

It is possibly a confusing theme on the surface, but couldn’t be simpler in reality. All you have to understand is that in an image, there are two types of “space”. Positive space and negative space.

Positive space is the area in the photo that attracts the viewer’s eye. It’s the main subject that commands attention in the composition.

Negative space is the space in the composition that is typically the background. It usually doesn’t attract very much attention. It is used to define or contour the positive space.

In the example, my hand is the positive space. The brick wall is the negative space. In a USE OF SPACE (or negative space) photo, the photographer uses the space that is usually not the primary focus and uses it to fill in most of the composition. The negative space commands more attention than the positive space and creates a unique perspective. It also adds definition and can create strong emotions.

The challenge of this week is to make an image that is mostly negative space.

It is a counterintuitive way to compose an image. The natural instinct is to fill most of the frame with positive space. But you can really ratchet up the emotional impact by putting more negative space in an image than you normally would.

Of course, there are other ways to define USE OF SPACE. You can meditate on this quote by Bob Dylan, while you think about how to compose your USE OF SPACE picture:

Gates appeal to me because of the negative space they allow. They can be closed but at the same time they allow the seasons and breezes to enter and flow. They can shut you out or shut you in. And in some ways there is no difference.

Meditate on these words while you thinking about how you are going to create your USE OF SPACE photo.

Then send me you submission(s) by 11 AM CST next Monday. Remember, while I might consider you FAMILY, the picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of USE OF SPACE in this place that is tries to make wise USE OF SPACE next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 280 – HOBBIES

HOBBIES! People seem to love them and it is no surprise that HOBBIES was the 69th theme in a row to crack double digit submissions! It did it easy as well. In fact, this might be the record for most submissions ever in one week. The problem is, I don’t know what the record is. I’ll have to do some research and get back to you, but if this isn’t the record, it has to be pretty close!

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


WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 280 - HOBBIES - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

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


WEEK 281 - BLACK
BLACK

BLACK! Another great them for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

What defines a BLACK photo? Well, to be honest, the reason I selected BLACK as one of the themes this year is because I did not allow myself to use any of the Hall of Fame themes for Year 8. That meant no BLACK AND WHITE theme. So I split them up and this year there is a BLACK theme and a WHITE theme. That doesn’t mean that your submission has to be BLACK AND WHITE. I’m just taking you behind the curtain of my thought process.

While all that is very interesting to me and I’ll guess three other people, it doesn’t answer the question, what defines a BLACK photo? BLACK is the very darkest color. It is the absence of light. However, BLACK has many other definitions.

I don’t have a movie quote for you to meditate on this week, instead I have song lyrics from Johnny Cash:

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black
Why you never see bright colors on my back
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone
Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
Living in the hopeless, hungry side of town
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime
But is there because he’s a victim of the time

I wear the black for those who’ve never read
Or listened to the words that Jesus said
About the road to happiness through love and charity
Why, you’d think He’s talking straight to you and me

Well, we’re doing mighty fine, I do suppose
In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes
But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back
Up front there ought to be a man in black

I wear it for the sick and lonely old
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold
I wear the black in mourning for the lives that could have been
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

And I wear it for the thousands who have died
Believing that the Lord was on their side
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died
Believing that we all were on their side

Well, there’s things that never will be right I know
And things need changing everywhere you go
But ’til we start to make a move to make a few things right
You’ll never see me wear a suit of white

Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day
And tell the world that everything’s okay
But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
‘Til things are brighter, I’m the Man In Black

Meditate on the words of the greatest country singer, while thinking about how to create your BLACK image.

Then send me you submission(s) by 11 AM next Monday. Remember, while I might consider you FAMILY, the picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

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

WPC – WEEK 277 – TRANSPORTATION

This is the final week of the Hall of Fame THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes. TRANSPORTATION is a good way to end it, I suppose. 66! That is the number of weeks in a row we have hit double digit submissions! WooHoo!

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


WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEJ 277 - TRANSPORTATION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEJ 277 - TRANSPORTATION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEJ 277 - TRANSPORTATION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 277 -  TRANSPORTATION - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

If you want to take a look back at all the images submitted for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – HALL OF FAME, click on the link below:

Weekly Photo Challenge – HOF

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


WEEK 278 - FAMILY
FAMILY

FAMILY! The first theme of the 8th (full) year of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

What defines a FAMILY photo? First, you need to define what makes a FAMILY? Is it a group of people that share the same Deoxyribonucleic Acid? Or does the definition stretch a little bit farther than what can be placed in a test tube? Is a FAMILY a group of people that have a common set of beliefs? A common set of values? A common set of goals? A common set of experiences? Or perhaps the one thing that binds a group and makes them a FAMILY is LOVE? I’m sure there are more than a few that have come from a dysfunctional FAMILY would argue that love does not define a FAMILY. And others that would argue that just because you share that double helix with somebody, doesn’t make them FAMILY at all.

Personally, I like to think that FAMILY is more than what is in the blood in your body, but is more defined by the people (sentient beings) that you would spill blood for. Yours or others.

There is a scene in one of my favorite movies (Top 100 for sure) GARDEN STATE where the main character (Andrew Largeman) is discussing the idea of home with his romantic interest (Sam). They have the following interaction:

Andrew Largeman: You know that point in your life when you realize the house you grew up in isn’t really your home anymore? All of a sudden even though you have some place where you put your shit, that idea of home is gone.

Sam: I still feel at home in my house.

Andrew Largeman: You’ll see one day when you move out it just sort of happens one day and it’s gone. You feel like you can never get it back. It’s like you feel homesick for a place that doesn’t even exist. Maybe it’s like this rite of passage, you know. You won’t ever have this feeling again until you create a new idea of home for yourself, you know, for your kids, for the family you start, it’s like a cycle or something. I don’t know, but I miss the idea of it, you know. Maybe that’s all family really is. A group of people that miss the same imaginary place.

Sam: [cuddles up to Andrew] Maybe.

Meditate on what FAMILY means to you and take an image that shows exactly that.

Then send me you submission(s) by 11 AM next Monday. Remember, while I might consider you FAMILY, the picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of FAMILY in this not quite imaginary, but not quite real place next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 276 – ROAD TRIP

The September image for the 2021 Photography 139 Calendar is a picture of an orange gazania that I sprayed down with a water bottle. This gazania was grown in the Photography 139 Flower Garden. It is one of the bucket flower pots that lives in the front yard next to my front porch. This picture was taken on June 27, 2020.


2021 Calendar - September

Here are details of the photo:

DETAILS

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M2
LENS: FE 50mm 2.8 Macro
FOCAL LENGTH: 50mm
APERTURE: f/5.6
EXPOSURE: 1/100
ISO: 100
FIELD OF VIEW: 39.6 degrees
LATITUDE: 42.05523
LONGITUDE: -93.87072

+++++++

The theme that will be revealed later in this post for this week is the last theme in the run of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE HALL OF FAME themes. We will start a fresh new set of theme as we change to a new calendar. Particularly, if you have received a Photography 139 Calendar, you will see that the new theme for every week is printed on every Monday. I did not include any of the Hall of Fame theme is the next set of 52 themes. When we get to those set of themes next Monday, my description of every theme might sound a little bit difference to my descriptions in the past.

Here is a look at the next 52 Themes:

1. FAMILY
2. COMMERCIAL
3. HOBBIES
4. BLACK
5. USE OF SPACE
6. WIND
7. SYMMETRY & PATTERNS
8. LINES
9. PLAY
10. PICTURE IN PICTURE
11. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
12. LOVE
13. LOCAL INTEREST – SLICE OF LIFE
14. DRINKS
15. SHADOW
16. HANDS
17. TRAVEL
18. FACE
19. LIGHT
20. GOVERNMENT
21. IN THE AIR
22. WORDS
23. RED
24. WHITE
25. COMMUNICATION
26. ADVENTURE
27. HISTORY
28. MUSIC
29. ARCHITECTURE
30. PATHS
31. TOY
32. MOVEMENT
33. FRIENDS
34. PEOPLE
35. ‘SCAPE
36. JUNK
37. WORK
38. DREAM JOB
39. FLOWER
40. TIME
41. PASSION
42. GREEN
43. HERO
44. BUSINESS
45. RELIGION
46. REFLECTION
47. NATURE
48. BLUE
49. ODD CAMERA ANGLE
50. CANDID PORTRAIT
51. HOLIDAY
52. EDUCATION

There are many themes that we have tackled in the past. Some that haven’t been used in years. Some that have never been used before. Thanks to Andy for being the one person to suggest themes for what will be the 8th Year of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE… born the RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT a decade ago.

+++++++

ROAD TRIP was another theme that triggered plenty of creativity, despite the holiday season. I had double digit submission before I even went to bed Sunday night! 65 straight weeks of double digit submissions.

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


WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 276 - ROAD TRIP - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

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


WEEK 277 - TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION

TRANSPORTATION! What a great theme! But what is a TRANSPORTATION picture? Any picture that has to deal with transporting things from point A to point B. A road is used in the example, but cars that drive on that road could be used. So could railroad tracks. Trains. Planes. Boats. Horses. Anything that takes anything or anybody from point A to point B is fair game!

Here is a look back at all the times in the past that TRANSPORTATION has been a theme:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 42 – TRANSPORTATION

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 67 – TRANSPORTATION

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 114 – TRANSPORTATION

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 180 – TRANSPORTATION

WPC – WEEK 256 – TRANSPORTATION

I look forward to seeing the new interpretations!

+++++++

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

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.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

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 showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and 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 a very transported Monday!

WPC – WEEK 269 – TREE

First, I want to give thanks to Andy for giving suggestions for the next 52 weeks of themes. He was the only person to make a suggestion, but he made some good suggestions:

Music
Water
Wind(tough it would kill streak)
Hero
Sports
Hobby
Charity
Love
Funny
Celebrating
Teaching
Family
Sunrise
Sunset
Dream job
Landscaping
Rock
Red green(duct tape)

At least a few of these will definitely be included in the next set of 52 themes. Thanks Andy!

+++++++

We did it! Despite it getting dark at like 5 PM now and the chaos of the election last week, for the 58th week in a row, we had double digit submissions! Well done America!

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


WEEK 269 - TREE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 269 - TREE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 269 - TREE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 269 - TREE - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 269 - TREE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 269 - TREE - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett


Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 269 - TREE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 269 - TREE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 269 - TREE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 269 - TREE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 269 - TREE - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 269 - TREE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 269 - TREE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

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


WEEK 270 - ART
ART

ART! What a great theme! But what is an ART picture? An ART picture is a picture of any piece of ART or supplies that are used in making ART or a picture of somebody creating ART. A truly confident person could argue that any picture they make is ART. It doesn’t have to be professional or great ART. It can be that thing your kid drew that you hung on the fridge.

Here is a look back at all the times in the past that ART has been a theme:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 46 – ART

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 70 – ART

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 108 – ART

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 174 – ART

WPC – WEEK 239 – ART

I look forward to seeing your new interpretations!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

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.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

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 showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and 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 a very artistic Monday!

WPC – WEEK 266 – BLACK AND WHITE

Double nickels people! Sammy Haggar might not be able to drive 55, but we can do 55 straight weeks of double digits like it ain’t no thing.

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


WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - KALISTA HOWARD
Kalista Howard

WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

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


WEEK 267 - ANIMAL
ANIMAL

ANIMAL! What a great theme! An ANIMAL photo is a simple enough concept. It is merely any picture of an ANIMAL (wild or domesticated) or an ANIMAL byproduct (meat, toy, tracks, food). Easy enough!

Here is a look back at all the times in the past that ANIMALS has been a theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

RWPE Y2 #44 – ANIMAL

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 26 – PET

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 77 – ANIMAL

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 153 – ANIMAL

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 164 – WILD ANIMAL

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 166 – PETS

WPC – WEEK 254 – ANIMAL

I look forward to seeing your new interpretations!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION
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.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

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 showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and 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 a very animalistic Monday!

WPC – WEEK 265 – SELF-PORTRAIT

I need to start by wishing everybody a happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day. I don’t have a picture to represent this holiday, but I do have a suggestion on a way to celebrate it.

I suggest listening to THIS LAND podcast by Crooked Media. It is pretty incredible and infuriating and addictive. Click on the link below:

This Land

A synopsis of the podcast:

Patrick Murphy was convicted of murder by the state of Oklahoma in 2000. But defense attorneys soon discovered that his conviction may have been based on a lie. Hosted by Rebecca Nagle, an Oklahoma journalist and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, this podcast will provide an in depth look at how a cut and dry murder case opened an investigation into half the land in Oklahoma and the treaty rights of five tribes. Follow along to find out what’s at stake, the Trump administration’s involvement, the larger right wing attack on tribal sovereignty and how one unique case resulted in the largest restoration of tribal land in US history.

If you find that interesting, and you should because it is fascinating, click on the link above!

+++++++
We did it! WooHoo! 54 straight weeks of double digit submissions!

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


WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 265 - SELF-PORTRAIT - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe

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


WEEK 266 - BLACK AND WHITE
BLACK AND WHITE

BLACK AND WHITE! What a great theme! In fact, I think you all know by now that is it my favorite theme! BLACK AND WHITE photography was my first love. Still my greatest love. What is a BLACK AND WHITE image? Literally any subject, as long as it is taken in BLACK AND WHITE.

BLACK AND WHITE has been a theme six times. It was not included in the first set of 52 themes. A terrible oversight and I blame Vest. Here is a look back at the six times BLACK AND WHITE was a theme:

RWPE Y2 #27 – BLACK & WHITE

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 14 – BLACK AND WHITE

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 74 – BLACK & WHITE

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 133 – BLACK & WHITE

WPC – WEEK 202 – BLACK & WHITE

WPC – WEEK 251 – BLACK AND WHITE

I look forward to seeing your new interpretations!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION
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.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

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 showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and 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 a very monochrome Monday!