Category Archives: Friends

Angie, Baseball/Softball, Carla, Jodie, Kim, Shannon, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 48 – SPORTS

August 15, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

SPORTS was clearly not as popular as ARCHITECTURE, but that was to be expected considering the time of year and all that.

Here are the submissions for SPORTS:

Angie DeWaard 1

Angie DeWaard 2

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Carla Stensland 3

Jodie Bennett

Shannon Bardole

Christopher D. Bennett

Kim Barker

Still, a very healthy selection 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:

REFLECTIONS!

What a great theme! I’m glad I thought of it. There are reflections everywhere you look. In mirrors, in water, in windows, in aluminum foil, in shiny metal… The list goes on an on. My advice (if I’m allowed to give any) is to find a reflection that alters the appearance of what it reflects. Or maybe take a picture of somebody doing some mental reflection. Or maybe take a picture that is a reflection of your actions. As always, define the theme any way that you see fit.

HOUSEKEEPING

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 a very reflective Monday.

Automobiles, Formal Portrait, Gretchen, Sara, Shawn Lockner

Jay Leno’s Jealousy

August 9, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 5 Comments

I was recently tapped to do a photo shoot of the Junck family and their newest old timey firetruck.

This photo of Gretchen is one of my favorites from the day:

I’ll probably share a few more from this photo shoot at some point.

PARTICULARS

CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
ISO: 100
FOCAL LENGTH: 20mm
APERTURE: f/8
EXPOSURE: 1/125
DATE: 07/31/2016 – 12:18
LATITUDE: 42.02893°
LONGITUDE: -94.04409°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: SARA AND SHAWN
PHOTO EDITING SOUNDTRACK: The quiet murmur of world-class support.

Angie, Bill, Carla, Dawn, Iowa State, Kim, Monica, Steph, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 47 – ARCHITECTURE

August 8, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 5 Comments

Quite a large selection of submissions this week. It is almost as if THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE has hit its stride. I hope that there is this much passion in the middle of winter!

Dawn has made her first submission(s). I expect big things from her in the future!

Here are the submissions for ARCHITECTURE:

Angie DeWaard

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Carla Stensland 3

Dawn Krause 1

Dawn Krause 2

Dawn Krause 3

Bill Wentworth

Monica Kewer 1

Monica Kewer 2

Monica Kewer 3

Monica Kewer 4

Monica Kewer 5

Mike Vest

Stephanie Kim 1

Stephanie Kim 2

Stephanie Kim 3

Kim Barker

Christopher D. Bennett

While I know most people will appreciate my throw away ARCHITECTURE pictures to my submission, but that is okay. I’m dedicating it to somebody, with whom, I have a special relationship.

That being said, a very solid week of submissions. I’m proud of all of us, everyone.

SPORTS!

But what are SPORTS?

Well, one definition would be:

“an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.”

But of course another would be:

“a person who behaves in a good or specified way in response to teasing, defeat, or a similarly trying situation.”

So go out an do some physical exertion, or bully somebody. Do whatever it takes? Or define the theme in any way you see fit!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

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.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS REMINDER DIVISION

Just a reminder, that if you ever want to look back at previous submissions for the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, visit the Gallery by clicking on the link below:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE TAKE 3

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 sporty Monday.

Andree, Angie, Baier, Basketball, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Dawn, Derrick, Faust, Flat Earth Joe, Frank, History, Jen, Jesse, Jill, Jorge, Laura, Lowell, Mark, Michelle, Micky, Nader, Robert, Russell, Sara, Shannon, Shawn Lockner, Tim, Toby, Willy

ROUNDBALL ORACLES – YEAR 12

August 5, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

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.

Roundball Oracles - Year 12 Champion - Michelle Haupt

Michelle Haupt – Newest Immortal (Pictured with Lily)
Past Roundball Oracles Champions (The List of Immortals)

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.

Becky, Bill, Carla, Jesse, Kim, Sara, Shannon, Steph, Still Life, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 46 – ART

August 1, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 9 Comments

A few of the regulars were missing this week, but there were still plenty of submissions for ART!

The submissions for ART:

Bill Wentworth

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Stephanie Kim 1

Stephanie Kim 2

Stephanie Kim 3

Shannon Bardole

Christopher D. Bennett

Sara Lockner

Becky Perkovich

Kim Barker 1

Kim Barker 2

Kim Barker 3

Another solid week of submissions! I feel like this little project is starting to gain some steam. I know that there somebody out there that badly wanted this to return should start submitting soon, now that she is done with school. Hint-hint!

ARCHITECTURE!

But what is this ARCHITECTURE you speak of? According to Wikipedia:

“Architecture” can mean:

+ A general term to describe buildings and other physical structures.[3]
+ The art and science of designing buildings and (some) nonbuilding structures.[3]
+ The style of design and method of construction of buildings and other physical structures.[3]
+ Knowledge of art, science, technology and humanity.[3]
+ The practice of the architect, where architecture means offering or rendering professional services in connection with the design and construction of buildings, or built environments.[4]
+ The design activity of the architect,[3] from the macro-level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro-level (construction details and furniture).

For our purposes, I’d say that you should go out and find a building, a staircase, a bridge, a road, or something that was built by humans (or ancient aliens) that is interesting. Or at least take an interesting photograph of such a structure. However. As always. Define the theme any way that you want.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

This was a big week for the PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION. Thanks to Sara Lockner*, (PHOTOGRAPHY 139 STAR OF THE WEEK) not one, not two, but three people showed their class, taste, and sophistication by becoming Photography 139 email subscribers. So if you see Shawn walking the mean streets of Johnston or Steve and Jessica walking the mean streets of Burnsville, Minnesota feel free to give them a knowing glance and feel free to show them the super-secret Photography 139 handshake.

Because my day job lunch hour is growing short, I won’t going into much details about these great, grand, and wonderful people. It is enough to say that Shawn is married to Sara, so he is a winner at life. Steve is a Cyclone and I hope he joins us for a tailgate this Fall. Jessica is a leather artist of some note as well. Maybe she is a future submitter to the WEEKLY PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE!?!?

This means that I believe there are now 5 married couples that are Photography 139 email subscribers. This also makes 4 Photography 139 email subscribers in Burnsville, Minnesota and 3 Photography 139 email subscribers in Johnston, Iowa. For those of you checking your Photography 139 Heat Maps. Those towns are on fire!

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 architectural Monday.

*First trip to that taco bar is on me!

Baby Got Rack, Boone County Fair, Melissa, Scottie D.

Baby Got Boone County Fair

July 27, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

This isn’t exactly new news, because it has been leaked to the social media realm, but here it is:

Team Baby Got Rack cleaned up at the Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest. Baby Got Rack won all the categories except for two. Claiming the title for Turkey, Beef, Combination, and Overall.

This victory has secured Baby Got Rack a berth at the Iowa State Fair’s Barbecue Contest. We will be loading up Scott’s truck and heading down to do battle with the Cyclone State’s best barbecue teams on August 16th. It is a Tuesday, but if you are at the Fair, I invite you to come look us up.

After we were given our victor’s crown, we put our fedoras back on and posed for a picture.

Photo Credit: Mel D.

There will be a plethora of pictures from the competition published at some point. That point is when I get a chance to edit them. A smart person would be able to figure out how to look at the unedited pictures through this blog… but I digress.

One other thing. Let me put a bug in your ear. Baby Got Rack will be defending our People’s Choice Award at the Pufferbilly Days Barbecue Contest in about 6 weeks. I invite you to come down for that and help us defend our title against 23 other barbecue teams. More information on that as it becomes available.

Automobiles, Black & White, Photoshop, Russell

Silver Efex Pro 2 Volume 2

July 26, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

A look at the remainder of the default filters in the Silver Efex Pro 2 filter from the Nik Plugin Collection.

Original Image

Fine Art High Key Framed

Triste 1

Triste 2

Wet Rocks

Full Contrast and Structure

Silhouette

Dark Sepia

Soft Sepia

Cool Tones 1

Cool Tones 2

Film Noir 1

Film Noir 2

Film Noir 3

Yellowed 1

Yellowed 2

Antique Plate 1

Antique Plate 2

Pinhole

My Original Creation

That should close out our look at the Nik Plugin Collection.

But I cannot complete this post with out wishing a hap, happiest birthday to long time Photography 139 supporter, Russell!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Angie, Becky, Carla, Flowers, Kim, Shannon, Steph, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 45 – FLOWER

July 25, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 12 Comments

There was a tremendous reaction to FLOWER. Lots of participation! How exciting!

The submissions for FLOWER:

Angie DeWaard 1

Angie DeWaard 2

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Carla Stensland 3

Carla Stensland 4

Carla Stensland 5

Shannon Bardole

Kim Barker 1

Kim Barker 2

Mike Vest 1

Mike Vest 2

Christopher D. Bennett

Becky Perkovich

Stephanie Kim

Another solid week of submissions!

ART!

What is ART? I can’t define it but I know it when I see it.

Get out there and get a picture of your favorite sculpture or mural or stained glass window. Take a picture of somebody creating art. Somebody doing art. Something that is used to make art. Make you are arrogant enough to think any time you click the shutter release you make ART. I’m not here to judge. As always, though define the theme any way that you want. Maybe you know a guy named Art, I wish I did.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nothing new to report. Nobody new has displayed their class, taste, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try to do better next week.

That’s all I got, 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.

Baseball/Softball, Bethany, Dae Hee, Jesse, Nora, Pastor Sarah, Road Trip, Shawn Karber

The Twins vs. The Indigenous Persons of Cleveland

July 19, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

Last weekend I took a trip up to Minnesota with Jesse and Nader to visit Bethany, Dae Hee, Nora, Sarah, and Shawn.

Most of the pictures are on my phone, which I won’t publish, but they are on Instagram if you are interested. I did take a few pictures at the Twins game with my point & shoot.

Here are a few of them:

Before the game, we ate chicken at Revival. Big recommend! Then we had ice cream at Milkjam Creamery. Big recommend!

Maybe next year, but sometime soon, Jesse and I are going to take 2 weeks and drive from New York City to San Francisco. I don’t know many people that could survive going on Jesse and I’s adventures, for that long. This trip was Nader’s audition. He will be getting the results in the mail sometime soon.

Angie, Becky, Carla, Kim, Monica, Pastor Sarah, Shannon, Steph, Still Life, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 44 – SMOKE

July 18, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

I was worried that this wouldn’t be a very popular theme, but it actually has garnered quite the response. How exciting! Looks like this theme will make the cut for next year’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

If you want to have your voice heard about next year’s themes, I’d advise you to start commenting in the COMMENTS section below. It wouldn’t hurt to read the COMMENTS section from last week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Ignore the stuff about what Shannon should change her last name to after she gets married. It is Fauxdole. Debate over.

Here are the submissions for SMOKE:

Carla Stensland

Monica Kewer

Christopher D. Bennett

Sarah Karber

Angie DeWaard

Becky Perkovich

Kim Barker 1

Kim Barker 2

Mike Vest 1

Mike Vest 2

For the last submission, the photographer wished to add a disclaimer. Normally I say that art should just stand on its own. However, because of the nature of the image, I’m allowing it.

Quick note: I happened to be visiting a friend in a state with legal recreational marijuana laws when the smoke theme was announced. Attempts for an artsy picture failed but I am happy to share a little window into what this situation “looks” like — different, tested, regulated strains with varied intentions/side effects; medicine-like packaging; clear labels that includes warnings and information. It’s so far advanced from your average college-stoned-and-stupid experience and heavy taxes (25% in OR) can be applied to various important government funding. I recommend for folks to at least visit a dispensary to see what the future holds.

Stephanie Kim

Stephanie did ask about what was considered inappropriate subject matter for the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. There isn’t really anything. Just don’t send me anything illegal. If you catch what I’m saying. By illegal… I mean. Starts with a C and ends with a Y. Two words. You’ll figure it out. Other than that, almost anything is fair game.

FLOWER!

I told you that this week’s theme would be easy. Hopefully it will be easy enough that a couple of dudes might contribute again. Mondays are beginning to feel like lady’s night here at Photography 139. Nothing wrong with that. I’m just disappointed in my gender.

EDITOR’S NOTE: At the buzzer Vest submitted a photo. Dudes didn’t get shut out.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nothing new to report. Nobody new has displayed their class, taste, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try to do better next week.

That’s all I got, 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 flowery Monday.