Category Archives: Monica

WPC – WEEK 238 – GOVERNMENT

As we get deeper and deeper into quarantine, I think that there is a chance that participation rates will decline. However, this week, we did manage to make it all the way to 27 straight weeks of 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 238 - GOVERNMENT - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 238 - GOVERNMENT - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

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 239 - ART

ART! What a great theme! But what is ART?

Here are a few observations on ART from experts:

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
-Leonard da Vinci

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
-Thomas Merton

“Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable.”
-George Bernard Shaw

“All art requires courage.”
-Anne Tucker

“I shut my eyes in order to see.”
-Paul Gauguin

“Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”
-Johnathan Swift

and of course the quote that is the tagline for this website:

“Art is a lie that enables us to see the truth.”
-Pablo Picasso

I look forward to seeing your 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 237 – MUSIC

Wow! 26 straight weeks of double digits! I’m so impressed!

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


WEEK 237 - MUSIC - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 237 - MUSIC - 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 238 - GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT! What a great theme! But what is a GOVERNMENT image? A GOVERNMENT image is any image that relates to the GOVERNMENT. Which is actually more than you think. The police. GOVERNMENT. Firefighters. GOVERNMENT. Military. GOVERNMENT. Stop sign. GOVERNMENT. City park. GOVERNMENT. State park. GOVERNMENT. You get the idea.

I look forward to seeing your 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 governed Monday!

WPC – WEEK 236 – ENTERTAINMENT

This is Day 1 of me working from home for the next couple of weeks. So far, so good. I haven’t been crushed with the loneliness of isolation, yet. However, I also have been chatting quite a bit with people. So maybe it will set in this afternoon.

One bonus of working from home is that I can listen to music. I mean really listen to music. None of this headphone trash. Today is going to be Miles Davis all day.

Another bonus of working from home is that I was home when my annual battle with ants in my bathroom started. I was able to get the ant traps out nice and early. On the negative side, while I was cleaning my sink, I knocked my mouthwash onto the floor, spilling, half of it and as a bonus, the lid flew into the toilet.

A positive is that the coronavirus did not stop the streak of double digit submissions! We are now up to 25 straight weeks!

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


WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 236 - ENTERTAINMENT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

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 237 - MUSIC
MUSIC

MUSIC! What a great theme! But what is a MUSIC photo? It is a picture of somebody making MUSIC. An instrument that makes MUSIC. A device that makes MUSIC. I look forward to seeing your 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 musical Monday!

WPC – WEEK 235 – WATER

I was worried that the global pandemic might squash participation this week with WATER. It would have been a minor price to pay for people hunkering down and being safe. Although, there are few better activities when social distancing than a little photography.

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


WEEK 235 - WATER - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 235 - WATER - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 235 - WATER - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 235 - WATER - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 235 - WATER - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 235 - WATER - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 235 - WATER - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 235 - WATER - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 235 - WATER - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 235 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 235 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 235 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 235 - WATER - 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 236 - ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT! What a great theme! Now, I understand, that some might think that ENTERTAINMENT might be a difficult theme when pretty much every concert and sporting event is being cancelled. With the CDC recommending that events with more than 50 people should be cancelled or postponed for the next 8 weeks. But ENTERTAINMENT doesn’t have to be on a grand scale. Many of us will be finding ways to ENTERTAIN(MENT) ourselves in the coming weeks. You hobby is ENTERTAINMENT. Playing games is ENTERTAINMENT. For some sick, sad people, cleaning is ENTERTAINMENT. Photograph the way that your are having ENTERTAINMENT while you are being safe and being cautious.

I look forward to your interpretations! I have a feeling I will find ENTERTAINMENT in them!

+++++++

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 entertaining Monday!

Fly Iowa: The Final Chapter

Buckle up Nancy, this is going to be a long one!

I need to start this post by wishing a very happy birthday to the middle child of the Bennett Sibling Triumvirate. Happy birthday Carla!

Here are some pictures of Carla:


Stensland Family Photo Shoot - 2016

Bennett Family Photo Shoot - 2017

San Antonio Road Trip

October 15, 2019

State Tournament - Albia

I hope your birthday had the exact amounts of joy that you wanted!

+++++++

It is also Monica’s birthday. I think it has been a couple of years since I last saw Monica in person. But I know that she would still take a bullet for me. Small caliber. In the arm. Maybe the leg.

Happy birthday Monica! Here are some Monica pics:


Eastern Iowa Road Trip - 2006

Roland VFW Fundraiser

Cheaper than Therapy

Eastern Iowa Road Trip - 2006

I hope your birthday was absolutely wonderful!

+++++++

The Union Street Theater is pleased to announce that a date has been chosen for March Movie Night. March movie night will be Sunday, March 29. March Movie Night will be a tribute to one of my favorite actors, Kirk Douglas. Kirk was the start of a few of my favorite movies of all-time. PATHS OF GLORY, LUST FOR LIFE, and SPARTACUS. Kirk Douglas was instrumental in elevating the greatest filmmaker in history, Stanley Kubrick, to prominence. If he had done nothing else, that would have been enough.

Kirk Douglas passed away in February at the age of 103. The Union Street Theater is pleased to pay tribute to the iconic Kirk Douglas with our March Movie Night. He is only the second actor to receive such a tribute. Burt Reynolds got a similar tribute in 2018.

These are the movies that will play for the Kirk Douglas Tribute. First, the B Movie is:



SATURN 3

Here is a synopsis of SATURN 3 from IMDB.com:

Two lovers stationed at a remote base in the asteroid fields of Saturn are intruded upon by a retentive technocrat from Earth and his charge: a malevolent eight foot robot.

The feature film will be:



LONELY ARE THE BRAVE

Here is a synopsis of LONELY ARE THE BRAVE from IMDB.com:

A fiercely independent cowboy gets himself locked up in prison to escape with an old friend.

Anders is also providing a short film that is very intriguing. This will also be the 3rd, but hopefully not the last round of Jay’s Root Beer Symposium.

To Recap:

What: Union Street Theater Movie Night
Movies: SATURN 3 & LONELY ARE THE BRAVE
Date: Sunday, March 29, 2020
Time: 6 PM
Where: UNION STREET THEATER
TOILET PAPER SITUATION: As of right now, I still have plenty of toilet paper.

Hope to see you there!

+++++++

Might as well just get to it. This is the 4th collection of images from Fly Iowa:


Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Fly Iowa - 2019

Only about 800 more images to curate!

WPC – WEEK 232 – OLD

OLD was not the most popular WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme, but we still managed to have double digit submission for the 21st straight week with a certain amount of ease!

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


WEEK 232 - OLD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 232 - OLD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 232 - OLD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 232 - OLD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 232 - OLD - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 232 - OLD - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 232 - OLD - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 232 - OLD - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 232 - OLD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 232 - OLD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 232 - OLD - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 232 - OLD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 232 - OLD - 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 233 - FASHION
FASHION

FASHION! What a great theme! But what is a FASHION photo? It doesn’t have to be a high FASHION photo. You don’t need to go to a FASHION show. You don’t need to find somebody that is a fancy dresser. All a FASHION photo needs to be is a picture that shows what somebody is wearing. Probably best to look for somebody that is dressed at least interesting. You can ask them to make their best FASHION model pose, but it isn’t necessary.

I look forward to seeing your 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 fashionable Monday!

WPC – WEEK 230 – REFLECTION

Today is a very big day in the history of my oldest friends. Not just because one of my old friends climbed a building and set his shirt on fire and got arrested yesterday. No, because today is Bill’s birthday!


February 9, 2010

9 Emotions - Bill

March 12, 2019

Happy birthday Bill!

+++++++

Looks like the streak lives on for one more week. 19 weeks in total. REFLECTION struck a chord with the absolute bare minimum to extend the streak 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 230 - REFLECTION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 230 - REFLECTION - 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 231 - FAMILY
FAMILY

FAMILY! What a great theme! But what is a FAMILY picture? A FAMILY picture is any picture that involves a FAMILY. And don’t let any Scrooge McDuck’s from Ankeny try to tell you that FAMILY can only be defined by DNA. Remember, a true family provides its members with emotional and spiritual kinship through:

+ Shared values, beliefs, and traditions
+ Common experiences and activities
+ Unconditional, non-judgmental support

I look forward to seeing your 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 familial Monday!

WPC – WEEK 227 – TEXTURE

I would be remiss if I didn’t open today without wishing everybody a Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Today, I want to share some of his words following the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Often our movement has been referred to as a boycott movement. The word boycott, however, does not adequately describe the true spirit of our movement. The word boycott is suggestive of merely an economic squeeze devoid of any positive value. We have never allowed ourselves to get bogged in the negative; we have always sought to accentuate the positive. Our aim has never been to put the bus company out of business, but rather to put justice in business.

These twelve months have not at all been easy. Our feet have often been tired. We have struggle against tremendous odds to maintain alternative transportation. There have been moments when roaring waters of disappointment poured upon us in staggering torrents. We can remember days when unfavorable court decisions came upon us like tidal waves, leaving us treading in the deep and confused waters of despair. But amid all of this we have kept going with the faith that as we struggle, God struggles with us, and that the arc of the moral universe, although long, is bending toward justice.5 We have lived under the agony and darkness of Good Friday with the conviction that one day the heightening glow of Easter would emerge on the horizon. We have seen truth crucified and goodness buried, but we have kept going with the conviction that truth crushed to earth will rise again.6

(later)

This is the time that we must evince calm dignity and wise restraint. Emotions must not run wild. Violence must not come from any of us, for if we become victimized with violent intents, we will have walked in vain, and our twelve months of glorious dignity will be transformed into an eve of gloomy catastrophy. As we go back to the busses let us be loving enough to turn an enemy into a friend. We must now move from protest to reconciliation. It is my firm conviction that God is working in Montgomery. Let all men of goodwill, both Negro and white, continue to work with Him. With this dedication we will be able to emerge from the bleak and desolate midnight of man’s inhumanity to man to the bright and glittering daybreak of freedom and justice.

If you are ever in Memphis, I can’t urge you to visit the Civil Rights Museum strongly enough.


Civil Rights Museum

Civil Rights Museum

Civil Rights Museum

It is an extremely powerful and rage inducing experience.

As white supremacy continues to be emboldened in this country and has made an ugly resurgence in the last couple of years, I pray that after this current shameful chapter in American history closes, that there is some real healing in this country.

+++++++

WooHoo! TEXTURE makes is 17 straight weeks of double digit submissions! I was a little worried about this week because TEXTURE is one of the more abstract themes. Not technically difficult, but a little on the obtuse side. Plus, at least in central Iowa the temperature barely climbed into positive digits all weekend. But, we hit double digits and I barely had to twist any arms this morning!

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


WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 227 - TEXTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

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 228 - COUNTRY
COUNTRY

COUNTRY! What a great theme! But what is a COUNTRY photo? A COUNTRY photo is really just any photo that is taken outside of a town, city, village, or hamlet. This should be easy enough. I know plenty of you (like me) drive through the COUNTRY to get to work. Some of you live in the COUNTRY. But something doesn’t have to be in the COUNTRY to suggest the COUNTRY. Plus, remember that the word COUNTRY has more than one meaning. A quality tip for people who live in the middle of say Brooklyn or Minneapolis.

I look forward to seeing your 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 country Monday!

WPC – WEEK 225 – HDR

I’m not surprised easily, but you guys surprised me this week. Enough of you dipped your toe into the HDR world to keep the streak of double digit submissions going and to hit 15 straight weeks!

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


WEEK 225 - HDR - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 225 - HDR - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 225 - HDR - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 225 - HDR - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 225 - HDR - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 225 - HDR - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 225 - HDR - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 225 - HDR - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 225 - HDR - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

WEEK 225 - HDR - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 225 - HDR - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 225 - HDR - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

WEEK 225 - HDR - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley Gorshe

WEEK 225 - HDR - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 225 - HDR - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

WEEK 225 - HDR - 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 226 - FOOD
FOOD

FOOD! What a great theme! This is about as easy as a theme can get. Just take a picture of FOOD or somebody preparing FOOD or somebody eating FOOD or anything that is related to FOOD.

Don’t be surprised if your FOOD picture ends up looking disgusting. In some ways, this is THE GREASY STRANGLER of themes. Delicious food often looks disgusting when photographed. That is why in most food advertising, food is often fake. Also, why when local restaurants just do their food photography themselves, the food ends up looking disgusting on their menu. Looking at you Colorado Grill.

I look forward to seeing your 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 hungry Monday!

WPC – WEEK 223 – LANDSCAPE

13!! Lucky number 13! 13 straight weeks of double digit submissions. With the holiday season, it might be rough getting to 14 straight weeks and I will be in Kentucky next Monday. However, that doesn’t change the deadline. So plan accordingly, this week is a very easy theme!

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


WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - JON DEWAARD
Jon DeWaard

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 223 - LANDSCAPE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

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 224 - CANDID PORTRAIT
CANDID PORTRAIT

CANDID PORTRAIT! What a great theme! But what is a CANDID PORTRAIT? A CANDID PORTRAIT is a picture of somebody where they aren’t posing for the picture. Now, they can know that you are taking their picture, but they can’t stop what they are doing and pose for the picture. A perfect Christmas theme where there will be lots of family gatherings of people doing CANDID PORTRAIT type things.

I look forward to seeing your 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 candid Monday!