Category Archives: Pastor Sarah

WPC – WEEK 381 – BODY PART

The last theme of Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! Going into Year 10 I am going to make one change. I am making the Kio Dettman Suggestion the Kio Dettman Rule. In Year 10 there will be a limit of 3 submissions per participant. This could go lower if the number of participants goes up. I considered moving the time of the deadline and the publishing time of this post to later in the day, but for now I’m going to leave everything as it is.

The reason for the Kio Dettman Rule isn’t to squash anybody’s creativity. On the contrary, limitations actually fan the flames of creativity. Compare Spielberg’s early movies to the movies where he had an infinite budget. However, the limitation isn’t about encouraging creativity. It is because a ton of submissions by one person overwhelms the submissions of other people. Also, on average it takes me 5 minutes to process every image I receive to get it from where I got it, to store it locally, to rename it, to upload it, to label it, and to code it so it shows up on these posts. So the Kio Dettman Rule is a way of streamlining my workload.

So what happens if somebody submits more than 3 pictures? Will I choose the 3 that I think are best or fit the theme best? No, I will use the first 3 I get. Sorry, but it is a blessing that participation numbers are up so high, but I have to balance the workload too.

One more thing, I’m toying with retconning the first 2 years of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, when it was known as the RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT into the numbering scheme. So if next Monday the week number jumps 104 numbers (technically 105), you weren’t in a coma for two years. You didn’t gets sucked into a wormhole. You didn’t accidentally trigger a time machine. There wasn’t a blip. It was just me retconning like the director of a HALLOWEEN movie*.

So, was BODY PART a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, December 26, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks
2-Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
3-Willy McAlpine – 6 weeks (3)
4-Tamara Peterson – 8 weeks
5-Brandon Kahler – 19 weeks
6-Linda Bennett – 22 weeks
7-Sarah Toot – 23 weeks
8-Angie DeWaard – 27 weeks
9-Dawn Krause – 31 weeks
10-Kim Barker – 37 weeks
11-Joe Duff – 38 weeks (2)
12-Logan Kahler – 40 weeks (3)
13-Teresa Kahler – 49 weeks
14-Carla Stensland – 49 weeks (2)
15-Michelle Haupt – 50 weeks
16-Micky Augustin – 51 weeks
17-Andy Sharp – 52 weeks
18-Bill Wentworth – 53 weeks
19-Cathie Morton – 57 weeks
20-Elizabeth Nordeen – 58 weeks
21-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 60 weeks
22-Kio Dettman – 62 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 1 week

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - BEKCY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 7 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 9 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 20 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 23 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 24 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 28 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 32 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 38 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 39 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 41 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 50 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 50 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 51 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 52 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 53 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 54 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 58 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 59 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 61 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 63 weeks

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 381 - BODY PART - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett – 485 weeks

28 participants! That is a pretty great week considering it was coming off a holiday weekend.

I received submissions (assumptions mostly on my part) from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas. Elizabeth’s picture was from Ohio. That is the first submission from Ohio for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

And since the next theme will beginning of Year 10, it will wipe the map clean and we will start again. I do ask you, if you took your picture in a different state than the one you live in, please let me know where the picture was taken. For example, Bill lives in Nebraska, so when I get a picture from Bill I will assume it was taken in Nebraska, unless he tells me that it was taken in say Wyoming.

My picture this week was taken in the middle of my house. Well, not the exact middle.

Tomorrow, hopefully, I will be putting together a post with a bunch of statistics and what not from Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. A bunch of stuff that only me and Joe Duff will probably care about.

The big milestone this week was Micky joined the 1 Year Streak Club! There are some whispers that he was going to throw in the towel after he hit 52 weeks. I guess we will find out next week.

There were no streaks snapped this week! Huzzah!

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  382 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES
TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMIBLES! Oh my! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOBOMILES picture? Simply put it is a picture that involves a TRAIN or a PLANE or an AUTOMOBILE. All 3 don’t have to be in the picture. One will suffice. The picture can also be of anything that is tangential to TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMBILES. Roads, bridges, train tracks, terminals, stations, are all fair game.

I made this a theme this year because it will be one of the categories in this years Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. If you submit a photo for this theme, you have a picture you can enter in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.

Boone has lots of TRAINS. Plenty of AUTOMOBILES. Technically 3 airports! If Boone has all that, I bet your town does too.

While considering your subject for TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES meditate on the following quote and you will no doubt create a great image:

You can start by wiping that f****** dumb-ass smile off your rosy f****** cheeks. Then you can give me a f****** automobile. A f****** Datsun. A f****** Toyota. A f****** Mustang. A f****** Buick! Four f****** wheels and a seat!
-Neal

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

RULES

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. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is ude.

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES in this place that was heavily influenced by a book on trains next Monday.

*Thanks to the maybe two people that will get that joke and quietly guffawed to themselves. Which another 2023 goal is to replace LOL with QG. Quietly guffawed.

WPC – WEEK 379 – WATER

It is that time of year. You know what time. The time where I start to reveal the images for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar! The following image is the picture that graces the cover:


2023 Calendar - Front Cover
Front Cover

I took the picture of this mural in a back alley in the downtown business district of Le Mars, Iowa. I like the cover image to have some kind of message to it. Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite writers and I definitely agree that “there is no beauty without some strangeness”.

Just look at my friends. All of them beautiful. All of them strange.

Here are some technical details:

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: March 11, 2022 – 3:19 PM
LENS: Sigma 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
APERTURE: f/3.2
EXPOSURE: 1/200
ISO: 100
EXPOSURE BIAS:+.7
FIELD OF VIEW: 65.5 degrees
HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE: 8.15m

I think I put together a decent calendar this year and if you haven’t seen it yet, I can’t wait for you to see it!

+++++++

Seems like a good time to reveal the 52 themes for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
2. Reflection
3. Red
4. Silence
5. Books
6. Play
7. Frame
8. Music
9. Store
10. Sunrise, Sunset
11. Purple
12. Competition
13. Blue
14. Humans
15. Odd Camera Angle
16. Scenes from your Couch
17. Friends
18. Road Trip
19. School
20. Ruins
21. Happy
22. Park
23. Texture
24. Slice of Life
25. Flower
26. ‘Scape
27. Wild Card
28. Time
29. A Shape
30. Guilty Pleasure
31. Liquid
32. Self-Portrait
33. Negative
34. Art
35. Shadow
36. Nature
37. Shoes
38. Sky
39. Black and White
40. Architecture
41. Religion
42. #instagood
43. Vintage
44. Favorite Sports Team
45. Signs
46. Food
47. Portrait
48. Animal
49. Hometown
50. Lines
51. Street Photography
52. Green

Looks like it ill be a good year!

Special thanks to Sarah Toot, Angie, and Andy for making suggestions for this set of themes. I used or modified and used several of their suggestions. After I trimmed the list to 52 themes, I ran it through the random generator 8 times to set the order.

Hoping Year 10 will be the best year yet!

+++++++

WATER? It is everywhere? But as a theme, is it wet behind the ears, or was it popular. You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

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

1-Sarah Karber – 1 week
2-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks
3-Willy McAlpine – 4 weeks
4-Tamara Peterson – 6 weeks
5-Sara Lockner – 12 weeks
6-Brandon Kahler – 17 weeks
7-Linda Bennett – 20 weeks
8-Sarah Toot – 21 weeks
9-Monica Jennings – 21 weeks
10-Angie DeWaard – 25 weeks
11-Dawn Krause – 29 weeks
12-Kim Barker – 35 weeks (2)
13-Joe Duff – 36 weeks (2)
14-Logan Kahler – 38 weeks (3)
15-Teresa Kahler – 47 weeks (2)
16-Carla Stensland – 47 weeks
17-Michelle Haupt – 48 weeks
18-Micky Augustin – 49 weeks (2)
19-Andy Sharp – 50 weeks
20-Bill Wentworth – 51 weeks
21-Cathie Morton – 55 weeks
22-Elizabeth Nordeen – 56 weeks
23-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 58 weeks
24-Kio Dettman – 60 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 379 - WATER - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 57 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 5 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 26 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 51 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 50 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 48 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 379 - WATER - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 61 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 379 - WATER - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 379 - WATER - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 37 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 47 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 379 - WATER - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 21 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 379 - WATER - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 379 - WATER - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 379 - WATER - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 39 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 379 - WATER - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 2 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 7 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 52 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 379 - WATER - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 30 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 379 - WATER - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 36 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 22 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 1 week

WEEK 379 - WATER - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 49 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 56 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 1 week

WEEK 379 - WATER - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 1 week

WEEK 379 - WATER - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 5 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 22 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 18 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 59 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 13 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest – 1 week

29 participants! That is a great week!

We had submissions (mostly assumptions on my part) from Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas this week.

I took my picture inside my house.

We had some pretty big milestones! Angie joined the Half Year Club as her streak reached 26 weeks.

Bill joined the 1 Year Club as his streak reached 52 weeks!

And there was no bad news! There wasn’t a single streak snapped this week! WooHoo!

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 380 - EXPLORE
EXPLORE

REMINDER: Next Monday is the day after Christmas. It isn’t a holiday per se, but most people don’t work. I don’t work at my day job. I might just go on a road trip that day. What I am saying is plan to get your submission in cause you might not get any kind of reminder.

EXPLORE! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is an EXPLORE picture? Simply put it is a picture taken of somebody that is EXPLOR(E)ing or trying to at least. See Billy’s efforts in the theme reveal image. It can be of something you found when you were out on the EXPLORE. Or it could be a picture of things you use when you are out on the EXPLORE. There are so many possibilities!

While considering possible places for you to EXPLORE, meditate on the following quote:

Not all those who wander are lost.
-J.R.R. Tolkien

I look forward to your interpretation.

RULES

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 your idea of EXPLORE in this place that I hope more than I just get lost in next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 378 – STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY is always the least popular theme. But it is one of my favorite kinds of photography and it was practiced by my favorite photographers. I fully expect it to snap several streaks, but that is okay, I will make you love it!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, December 5, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Mary Green- 1 week
2-Mike Vest – 1 week
3-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks
4-Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks
5-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks
6-Willy McAlpine – 3 weeks
7-Tamara Peterson – 5 weeks
8-Sara Lockner – 11 weeks
9-Suzie Brannen – 15 weeks
10-Brandon Kahler – 16 weeks
11-Linda Bennett – 19 weeks
12-Sarah Toot – 20 weeks
13-Monica Jennings – 21 weeks
14-Angie DeWaard – 24 weeks
15-Dawn Krause – 28 weeks
16-Kim Barker – 34 weeks (2)
17-Joe Duff – 35 weeks
18-Logan Kahler – 37 weeks (3)
19-Teresa Kahler – 46 weeks (3)
20-Carla Stensland – 46 weeks
21-Michelle Haupt – 47 weeks
22-Micky Augustin – 48 weeks
23-Andy Sharp – 49 weeks
24-Bill Wentworth – 49 weeks
25-Cathie Morton – 54 weeks
26-Elizabeth Nordeen – 55 weeks
27-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 57 weeks
28-Kio Dettman – 59 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 25 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 56 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 35 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 47 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 49 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 50 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 60 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 48 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 58 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 20 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 50 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 6 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 36 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 29 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 21 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 17 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 1 week

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 4 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 12 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 38 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 55 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 47 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 22 weeks

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings

WEEK 378 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 4 weeks

25 participants. A decent dip. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY continues to be an unpopular theme, so yes, it will be one of the 52 themes for next year. I will MAKE you LOVE STREET PHOTOGRAPHY!

Sometime soon I will reveal the 52 themes for next year. Probably next Monday.

There were pictures from (assumptions on my part mostly) Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, and Kansas from inside the United States. And then from outside the United States, Kim had submissions from Barbados and St. Kitts. Here is my question for you do you think the picture of her wearing a shirt from Barbados was the one taken in Barbados?

My picture was taken about a mile from my front door.

There were no big milestones this week, but there could be some in the near future.

Like expected, STREET PHOTOGRAPHY did snuff out several streaks. Mary and Vest could not extend their streaks to two. Jen and Sabas couldn’t extend their streaks to three. But most heartbreaking, Suzie’s 15 week streak is gone with the wind.

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 379 - WATER
WATER

WATER! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a WATER picture? Simply put, a WATER picture is a picture where one of the major compositional elements is WATER or related to WATER. For example, in the them reveal picture is a WATER tower. The picture doesn’t necessarily have to include straight WATER. But can be something that is WATER related. Or a picture of something that contains WATER.

While considering possible subjects for your WATER picture, meditate on the following quote:

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.
-Lao Tzu

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

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 your idea of WATER in this place that could easily be destroyed by one good spill next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 376 – IN THE AIR

It is the last Monday of the month, so it is a good time revisit the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE FAQ:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

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

The short answer is, “no”. Some people think that there is a limit of one submission per person because I only present one submission a week, personally. I have the other 6 days to post my photography. So one is more than enough image from me.

However, the longer answer is, 3 would be a good guide to limit yourself to submit. Some people refer to this as The Kio Dettman Rule. Even though it isn’t a rule, but much over 3 begins to start to overwhelm the submissions of the others in the community. Also, if you are submitting multiple submissions, think about your submissions. Are they unique? Are they of wholly different subjects? Is each submission saying something unique? The goal is NOT to take as many picture for the theme as possible. The goal is to take the best picture for the theme you can, during the week.

The three photo suggestion would better be referred to as The Kio Dettman Suggestion or The Kio Dettman Best Practice.

The long answer is, there isn’t a limit, but 3 is a good rule of thumb. If I start to average about 30 participants a week, I will consider putting a limit of 1 per participant, to help manage my workload, but we are a long ways from averaging 30 participants a week. Although we did hit 30 participants last week, so maybe a hard limit of 1 per person is on the horizon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

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

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

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

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme.

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

Suggestions are closed for next year’s list. It will be a minute before they open up again for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

+++++++

Was IN THE AIR a popular theme? Or did people eat too much Thanksgiving turkey to participate? The answer is blowin’ in the wind, so you will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 21, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Jesse Howard – 1 week
2-Sarah Karber – 1 week
3-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
4-Tamara Peterson – 3 weeks
5-Becky Parmelee – 5 weeks
6-Sara Lockner – 9 weeks
7-Suzie Brannen – 13 weeks
8-Brandon Kahler – 14 weeks
9-Linda Bennett – 17 weeks (2)
10-Sarah Toot – 18 weeks
11-Monica Jennings – 19 weeks
12-Angie DeWaard – 22 weeks
13-Dawn Krause – 26 weeks (3)
14-Kim Barker – 32 weeks
15-Joe Duff – 34 weeks
16-Logan Kahler – 35 weeks (2)
17-Teresa Kahler – 44 weeks (2)
18-Carla Stensland – 44 weeks (3)
19-Michelle Haupt – 45 weeks
20-Micky Augustin – 46 weeks
21-Andy Sharp – 47 weeks
22-Bill Wentworth – 48 weeks
23-Cathie Morton – 52 weeks
24-Elizabeth Nordeen – 53 weeks
25-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 55 weeks
26-Kio Dettman – 57 weeks (2)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 23 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR -KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 33 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 47 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 58 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 18 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 2 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 4 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 19 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 35 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 15 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 48 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 45 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 49 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 27 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 36 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 6 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 54 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 10 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 53 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 45 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 56 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 20 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 46 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 14 weeks

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 1 week

WEEK 376 - IN THE AIR - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 2 weeks


29 participants! That is a great week! Especially considering there was a major holiday smack in the middle!

I received submissions from (assumptions on my part mostly) Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, and Colorado this week. That is a lot of places!

I took my picture in my back yard.

There were once again 3 Sara(h)s participating. Over 10 percent of the participants.

Sara Lockner reached the double digit streak club! WooHoo!

Another great development was that no streaks were snapped this week! WooHoo!

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 377 - ANIMAL
ANIMAL

ANIMAL! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is an ANIMAL picture? Simply put it is a picture of an ANIMAL. It can be a wild ANIMAL or it can be a pet or it can be a stuffed ANIMAL or it can be a statue of an ANIMAL. It can be a dog or a bird or a squirrel or a fish or a lizard or a dog or a deer or a possum or a dog or a hamster or a rat or a dog or a bear or an alligator or a dog.

While considering possible subjects for your theme, meditate on the following quote:


Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened, Michelle.
-Anatole France

I might have added the Michelle part.

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

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 your idea of ANIMAL in this place that doesn’t have enough dog pictures next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 375 – COMMUNICATION

Just want to start out by saying that if you or somebody you know needs a place to get a Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving, my church is hosting a Thanksgiving meal. Here is the information:



Pass the word! A bird is the word. A turkey bird.

+++++++

COMMUNICATION? Is it always the same? Was it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 14, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Myriah Sharp – 1 week
2-Tamara Peterson – 2 weeks
3-Mary Green – 4 weeks (3)
4-Becky Parmelee – 4 weeks
5-Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks
6-Sara Lockner – 8 weeks
7-Suzie Brannen – 12 weeks
8-Brandon Kahler – 13 weeks
9-Linda Bennett – 16 weeks (2)
10-Sarah Toot – 17 weeks
11-Monica Jennings – 18 weeks
12-Angie DeWaard – 21 weeks
13-Dawn Krause – 25 weeks (2)
14-Kim Barker – 31 weeks
15-Joe Duff – 33 weeks
16-Logan Kahler – 34 weeks
17-Teresa Kahler – 43 weeks
18-Carla Stensland – 43 weeks (3)
19-Michelle Haupt – 44 weeks
20-Micky Augustin – 45 weeks
21-Andy Sharp – 45 weeks
22-Bill Wentworth – 47 weeks
23-Cathie Morton – 51 weeks
24-Elizabeth Nordeen – 52 weeks
25-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 54 weeks
26-Kio Dettman – 55 weeks (2)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 22 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 32 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 46 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 53 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 56 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 18 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 1 week

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 45 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 48 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 3 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 34 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 26 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 35 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 46 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 44 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 19 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 52 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 44 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 9 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 5 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 18 weeks

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 55 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 1 week

WCP 375 - COMMUNICATION -BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 14 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 13 weeks

WEEK 375 - COMMUNICATION - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 1 week

27 participants! That is a pretty good week!

This week, there were submissions (assumptions on my part mostly) from Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas.

My picture was taking about 1 mile from my front door.

So far this year, I’ve received submissions from these state:


WPC - Submissions Map

It is completely unchanged in the last month. Although I did get two submissions that wouldn’t go on this map. One from Puerto Rico and one from the Bahamas (if I remember correctly). We will check back in on this map in a month.

There were 3 Sara(h)s that submitted this week. That is over 10% of the participants! I need to meet more Sara(h)s!

Cathie reached a big milestone. She joins Kio, Shannon, and Elizabeth with streaks of 1 year or greater! Awesome job Cathie! Can Bill join that club in 4 weeks???

It wasn’t all good news though. Myriah’s streak snapped at 1. Mary’s steak snapped at 4 and Sabas’ streak snapped at 5. The humanity!

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 376 - IN THE AIR
IN THE AIR

IN THE AIR! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is an IN THE AIR image? Simply put, an IN THE AIR image is a picture where the subject of your picture is untethered from the earth. So a flag, that is technically IN THE AIR, but it is still tethered to a flagpole, which is tethered to the earth. (Yeah technically everything is tethered to the earth via gravity, but take it easy Isaac.) This picture can be as simple as throwing something up in the air (or have somebody else do it) and taking a picture of it. An exercise that produces interesting pictures is throw something to somebody and take a picture of them trying to catch it. The portraits you can get this way are often intriguing and are a different way to see somebody.

While considering possible subjects for your IN THE AIR image, meditate on the following quote:

Well, I remember, I remember don’t worry
How could I ever forget?
It’s the first time, the last time we ever met
But I know the reason why you keep this silence up
No, you don’t fool me
The hurt doesn’t show, but the pain still grows
It’s no stranger to you and me

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh, lord
-Phil Collins

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

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 your idea of IN THE AIR in this place that is filled with lots of hot air next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 369 – VIOLET

VIOLET. Purple. Lavender. I got submission sent under all those headings. But did I get a lot of them? Was VIOLET a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 3, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1Becky Parmelee – 1 week
2Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
3Suzie Brannen – 6 weeks
4Brandon Kahler – 7 weeks
5Linda Bennett – 10 weeks (2)
6Sarah Toot – 11 weeks
7Sabas Hernandez – 13 weeks
8Monica Jennings – 13 weeks
9Angie DeWaard – 15 weeks
10Mary Green – 15 weeks (4)
11Dawn Krause – 19 weeks
12Kim Barker – 25 weeks
13Joe Duff – 27 weeks
14Logan Kahler – 28 weeks (2)
15Teresa Kahler – 37 weeks (2)
16Tamara Peterson – 37 weeks
17Carla Stensland – 37 weeks (3)
18Michelle Haupt – 38 weeks
19Micky Augustin – 39 weeks
20Andy Sharp – 40 weeks
21Bill Wentworth – 41 weeks
22Cathie Morton – 45 weeks
23Elizabeth Nordeen – 46 weeks
24Shannon Bardole-Foley – 48 weeks
25Kio Dettman – 51 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 369 - VIOLET - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 38 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 16 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 41 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 40 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 26 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 28 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET -
Carla Stensland – 38 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 52 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 29 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 16 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 1 week

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 49 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 38 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 42 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 46 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 1 week

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 7 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - SARA TOOT
Sarah Toot – 12 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 39 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 11 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 47 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 3 weeks

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 14 weeks


Dawn Krause – 20 weeks


Dawn Krause

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 369 - VIOLET - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 8 weeks

28 participants! That is a good week.

We had submissions from (assumptions on my part mostly) Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. My pictures was taken approximately 16 steps from my front door.

Also, Cathie’s pictures were taken in the Bahamas!

Another fun fact! 3 Sara(h)s is once again the record for most participants of one first name.

Another fun fact! On Sunday I learned that October is Pastor Appreciation Month. There were submissions from 2 former pastors of my church. I do appreciate their contributions into making me the person that I am. Hopefully who I am is appreciated by somebody, cause they definitely tried!

Also, congratulations to Kim who joined the Half Year Club! Way to go Kim!

But it wasn’t all good times. Becky couldn’t extend her streak to 2 weeks. Tragically, Sabas’ epic 13 streak ends at unlucky number 13.

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 370-  MACRO
MACRO

MACRO! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a MACRO photo? There is a long technical definition of MACRO photography that involves being a 1:1 ratio on 35 mm film, but for our purposes, just think of MACRO photography as getting close to your subject. On this theme you should figure out what the closest focusing distance of your camera is and be awful close to that in your closeness to your subject.

While considering possible subjects for you submission, meditate on the following quote:

If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.
-Robert Capa

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

RULES

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 your idea of MACRO in this place that is both a macro and a micro look at my life next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 364 – COLORFUL

Happy Labor Day! A day to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of American works and the millionaires and billionaires that exploit them.

COLORFUL could prove to be a very popular theme. Despite it being a holiday today, I have a good feeling about the participation rates for COLORFUL. You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, August 29, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Suzie Brannen – 1 week
+ Becky Parmelee – 1 week
+ Jesse Howard – 2 weeks
+ Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
+ Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks
+ Brandon Kahler – 3 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 5 weeks (2)
+ Sarah Toot – 6 weeks (2)
+ Sabas Hernandez – 8 weeks
+ Monica Jennings – 8 weeks (3)
+ Mary Green – 10 weeks (3)
+ Angie DeWaard – 11 weeks (2)
+ Dawn Krause – 15 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 21 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 22 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 24 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 32 weeks (3)
+ Tamara Peterson – 32 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 32 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 33 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 34 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 35 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 36 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 40 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 41 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 43 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 46 weeks (5)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 1 week

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - STEVE MARTIN
Steve Martin – 1 week

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - STEVE MARTIN
Steve Martin

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 3 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 3 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 4 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 6 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 7 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 9 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 9 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 11 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 12 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 16 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 22 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 23 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 25 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 33 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 33 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 33 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt 34 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 35 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 36 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 37 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 41 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 42 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 44 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 47 weeks

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett – 468 weeks

30 participants this week! That is a great week! Hopefully we can start averaging 30 participants for a bit!

This is just guess work, but I believe we got submissions from Pennsylvania, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and California this week. It is possible that people travelled away from their homes and I just don’t know it. My picture was taken about 15 miles from my front door.

Got the first every submission from Steve Martin! That is exciting! Plus Sarah Karber and Derrick and Evie both submitted for the first time in a bit!

It wasn’t all good news though. Becky couldn’t extend her streak to two weeks and Sara Lockner’s 2 week streak is history as well.

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 365 - GREEN
GREEN

GREEN! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a GREEN image? Are you seriously asking that question? It is an image of something that is GREEN or GREEN plays a major part of the composition. There are at least a few pictures here that would also have been great submissions for GREEN. Sarah Karber’s and Monica’s come to mind.

Of course there is more than one definition of the word GREEN. Just find a Dave Matthews fan. They will help you out. (For the record marijuana should be legalized and taxed. And so should churches. Be taxed that is.)

While considering possible subjects for your GREEN image, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt something great will come to you.

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight… the truly wise person is colorblind.
-Albert Schweitzer

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

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 your idea of GREEN in this place that is many types of green to me, just not the environmentalist type of green next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 358 – WILD

A reminder that this Friday is the deadline for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Entries are to be submitted to the Chamber office by 5 PM.


Pufferbilly Days Form - 2022

I hope there are plenty of submissions this year! Or at the least, more than there were last year.

+++++++

Was WILD a WILDly popular theme? I guess you will have to scroll down to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 18, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Jesse Howard – 1 week
+ Willy McAlpine – 1 week
+ Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks
+ Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks
+ Monica Jennings – 2 weeks
+ Mike Vest – 2 weeks
+ Sara Lockner – 3 weeks
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 4 weeks
+ Mary Green – 4 weeks
+ Angie DeWaard – 6 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 9 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 11 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 15 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 16 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 18 weeks (2)
+ Teresa Kahler – 26 weeks (2)
+ Tamara Peterson – 26 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 26 weeks (2)
+ Michelle Haupt – 27 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 28 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 29 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 30 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 34 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 35 weeks (2)
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 37 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 40 weeks (3)

You might look at this list and be thinking, “Wait a second. Didn’t Carla’s streak get snapped last week?” You are experiencing the Mandela Effect.

What is the Mandela Effect?

The Mandela Effect refers to a situation in which a large mass of people believes that an event occurred when it did not.

Here is the most famous example:

The famous children’s book series the “Berenstain Bears” is not immune to the Mandela effect. Many people report remembering the name being the Berenstein Bears (spelled with an “e” instead of an “a”).

So that is what is going on here. Just the Mandel Effect.

You also might be coming down with a touch of gaslighting here too…

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 357 - WILD - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 5 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 357 - WILD - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 357 - WILD - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 28 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 1 week

WEEK 357 - WILD - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 1 week

WEEK 357 - WILD - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot

WEEK 357 - WILD - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot

WEEK 357 - WILD - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 27 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 357 - WILD - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 7 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 31 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 41 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 357 - WILD - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 357 - WILD - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 357 - WILD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 10 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 4 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 29 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 357 - WILD - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 357 - WILD - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 35 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 27 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 357 - WILD - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 17 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 27 weeks

WEEK 357 - WILD - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks

WEEK 358 - WILD - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 1 week

WEEK 358 - WILD - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 38 weeks

WEEK 358 - WILD - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 19 weeks

WEEK 358 - WILD - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 358 - WILD - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 16 weeks

WEEK 358 - WILD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 36 weeks

WEEK 358 - WILD - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 3 weeks

WEEK 358 - WILD - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings

WEEK 358 - WILD - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks

WEEK 358 - WILD - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 30 weeks

26 participants! A great week!

Included in that list is the first time ever submissions from Sarah Toot. In fact, it was a big week for Sara(h)s! There were 3 Sara(h) participants. Smashing the previous record held by Michaels. Congratulations to Sara(h)s everywhere!

In another abnormality, it was the second straight week where there was a submission of a Pepsi product. Proving once again that Pepsi is better than Coke (although you shouldn’t drink either cause they are both poison, he said before taking a swig from his 20 oz bottle of Pepsi). The Cola Wars are over. All hail Pepsi!

A big milestone was reached by Dawn. Her streak reached 10 weeks. Another member of the double digit club!

But it wasn’t all good times with the choice of a new generation. 4 streaks were tragically snapped. Jesse couldn’t extend his streak to two weeks. Michael Vest couldn’t join Michael Augustin on the big board. His streak snapped at two. Jen’s streak withered on the vine at 4 weeks. And worst of all, Linda’s streak crumbled at 11 weeks. If there were family streak’s they would be at 12, but there are not family streaks.

I have no doubt all four will get back on the photography horse and have great things for us again in the future.

Here are the current top streaks:

9. Teresa Kahler – 27 weeks
9. Tamara Peterson – 27 weeks
9. Carla Stensland – 27 weeks
8. Michelle Haupt – 28 weeks
7. Micky Augustin – 29 weeks
6. Andy Sharp – 30 weeks
5. Bill Wentworth – 31 weeks
4. Cathie Morton – 35 weeks
3. Elizabeth Nordeen – 36 weeks
2. Shannon Bardole-Foley – 38 weeks
1. Kio Dettman – 41 weeks

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 359 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE
ODD CAMERA ANGLE

ODD CAMERA ANGLE! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

But what exactly is an ODD CAMERA ANGLE photo? It is pretty simple. 99.9% of the pictures in the world are taken from the eye level of the photographer. This theme asks you to move the camera. It can be from an extremely low camera angle. Or it can be from an extremely high camera angle. Move your body and your camera to a perspective of your subject that isn’t normally seen.

While considering possible subjects and angles for your submission, meditate on the following quote:

Your problem is how you are going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you’re going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over people and circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find the truth about who you are.
-Ann Lamott

I look forward to seeing the interpretations.

RULES

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 your idea of ODD CAMERA ANGLE in this place that is my crooked look at the world next Monday.

Town Sign Project: Sioux County

I need to start by pointing out that in the chaos that was my morning yesterday I jacked up Dawn’s #INSTAGOOD submission by accidentally posting Sarah’s post twice. So to make amends…

This was Sarah’s submission:


WEEK 346 - INSTAGOOD - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber

This is Dawn’s submission:


WEEK 347 - #INSTAGOOD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

This is already fixed on the website.

I’ll be better in the future. I probably won’t, but I can claim that I will be.

+++++++

Several weeks back I took to the open road and harvested the town signs of Sioux County. Here are some facts about Sioux County:

+ Population is 34,900 making it the 20th most populous county in Iowa. Below Wapello County and above Lee County.
+ The largest town is Sioux Center. The county seat is Orange City.
+ Sioux County was formed on January 15, 1851.
+ Named after the Sioux tribe.
+ Home of the Orange City Tulip Festival.
+ Home of Dort University and Northwestern College.
+ Major highways are: US-18, US-75, IA-10, IA-12, and IA-60.
+ Adjacent counties are Lyon, O’Brien, and Plymouth.
+ Is currently at peak population.

Sioux County has a beautiful courthouse:


Sioux County Courthouse
The Sioux County Courthouse located in Orange City, Iowa.

The Sioux County Freedom Rock is located in Hawarden, Iowa:


Sioux County Freedom Rock

Sioux County Freedom Rock

Sioux County Freedom Rock

With Sioux County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:


Town Sign Project - 69 Counties
PURPLE=COMPLETED

69 counties completed. 69.7% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Sioux County:


Sioux Center, Iowa
Sioux Center, Iowa
Sioux Center
growing bright
Population: 8,229 (+1,181)

Orange City, Iowa
Orange City, Iowa
Welcome to ORANGE CITY
Population: 6,627 (+267)

Rock Valley, Iowa
Rock Valley, Iowa
Rock Valley
Place of opportunities
Population: 4,059 (+705)

Hawarden, Iowa
Hawarden, Iowa
WELCOME TO HAWARDEN
ESTABLISHED 1887
Population: 2,700 (+154)

Hull, Iowa
Hull, Iowa
WELCOME TO HULL
Population: 2,384 (+1,168)

Alton, Iowa
Alton, Iowa
Welcome to ALTON
Stop & Visit our Historical Attractions!
Population: 1,248 (+541)

Hospers, Iowa
Hospers, Iowa
Hospers Public Library & Museum
Population: 718 (+20)

Boyden, Iowa
Boyden, Iowa
1889
ESTABLISHED
BOYDEN
Population: 701 (+3)

Ireton, Iowa
Ireton, Iowa
Welcome to Ireton
est. 1882
Small Town Values with Big City Goals
Population: 590 (-19)

Granville, Iowa
Granville, Iowa
Welcome to GRANVILLE
Home of Black Soil
Population: 310 (-2)

Maurice, Iowa
Maurice, Iowa
Welcome to Maurice
Small in size, but on the rise
Population: 265 (-10)

Chatsworth, Iowa
Chatsworth, Iowa
CHATSWORTH
Population: 75 (-4)

Matlock, Iowa
Matlock, Iowa
Welcome to Matlock
Population: 74 (-13)

Sioux County has a solid collection of signs, but maybe nothing spectacular. The worst by far is Hospers. The best I could do there was get a picture of their library. Which is strange because Hospers is near a major highway and has a FASCINATING art collection. Hospers is also the closest I’ve come to dying on this trip. A woman almost hit me with her car while I was walking towards this FASCINATING sculpture located in the middle of one of their business district intersections. I have to confess, I was staring at my phone and not paying attention.

To her credit, the woman did stop and talk to me for several minutes. We had a great conversation about the town’s FASCINATING art. She then reminded me not to look at my phone while walking in the middle of the road. Which I confess, is solid advice.

What town gets the purple ribbon for Best in Show in Sioux County? I am fascinated by Granville’s “Home of Black Soil” sign. Turns out, BLACK SOIL is a 1930 novel by Josephine Donovan. A native of Granville. The novel is set in Granville. I do like the Maurice sign. Although I don’t know what hot air balloons have to do with their town. I think that might be a mountain in the background as well. Maybe that is the Loess Hils, but Maurice isn’t really in the Loess Hills. Plus Maurice is home to the Famous Fire Escape Slide. That is something that should be on their sign! I have to give it to Orange City and their wooden shoe sign.


Orange City, Iowa
Orange City – Best in Show – Sioux County

There are a few alternate town signs in Sioux County:


Orange City, Iowa
Orange City – Alternate

Alton, Iowa
Alton – Alternate

Alton, Iowa
Alton – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:


Fontanelle, Iowa
Best in Show – Adair County

Nodaway, Iowa
Best in Show – Adams County

Audubon, Iowa
Best in Show – Audubon County

Norway, Iowa
Best in Show – Benton County

Moingona, Iowa
Best in Show – Boone County

Readlyn, Iowa
Best in Show – Bremer County

Storm Lake, Iowa
Best in Show – Buena Vista County

New Hartford, Iowa
Best in Show – Butler County

Manson, Iowa
Best in Show – Calhoun County

Coon Rapids, Iowa
Best in Show – Carroll County

Anita, Iowa
Best in Show – Cass County

Lowden, Iowa
Best in Show – Cedar County

Dougherty, Iowa
Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Washta, Iowa
Best in Show – Cherokee County

Murray, Iowa
Best in Show – Clarke County

Rossie, Iowa
Best in Show – Clay County

Low Moor, Iowa
Best in Show – Clinton County

Ricketts, Iowa
Best in Show – Crawford County

Dexter, Iowa
Best in Show – Dallas County

Weldon, Iowa
Best in Show – Decatur County

Popejoy, Iowa
Best in Show – Franklin County

Tabor, Iowa
Best in Show – Fremont County

Scranton, Iowa
Best in Show – Greene County

Beaman, Iowa
Best in Show – Grundy County

Menlo, Iowa
Best in Show – Guthrie County

Stanhope, Iowa
Best in Show – Hamilton County

Britt, Iowa
Best in Show – Hancock County

Ackley, Iowa
Best in Show – Hardin County

Modale, Iowa
Best in Sow – Harrison County

Bradgate, iowa
Best in Show – Humboldt County

Ida Grove, Iowa
Best in Show – Ida County

Millersburg, Iowa
Best in Show – Iowa County

La Motte, Iowa
Best in Show – Jackson County

Lynnville, Iowa
Best in Show – Jasper County

Anamosa, Iowa
Best in Show – Jones County

Titonka, Iowa
Best in Show – Kossuth County

Springville, Iowa
Best in Show – Linn County

Lucas, Iowa
Best in Show – Lucas County

George, Iowa
Best in Show – Lyon County

East Peru, Iowa
Best in Show – Madison County

Leighton, Iowa
Best in Show – Mahaska County

Pleasantville, Iowa
Best in Show – Marion County

Haverhill, Iowa
Best in Show – Marshall County

Malvern, Iowa
Best in Show – Mills County

Onawa, Iowa
Best in Show – Monona County

Melrose, Iowa
Best in Show – Monroe County

Grant, Iowa
Best in Show – Montgomery County

Paullina, Iowa
Best in Show – O’Brien County

Melvin, Iowa
Best in Show – Osceola County

College Springs, Iowa
Best in Show – Page County

Mallard, Iowa
Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Plover, Iowa
Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Bondurant, Iowa
Best in Show – Polk County

Walnut, Iowa
Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Malcom, Iowa
Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Maloy, Iowa
Best in Show – Ringgold County

Nemaha, Iowa
Best in Show – Sac County

Elk Horn, Iowa
Best in Show – Shelby County

Orange City, Iowa
Best in Show – Sioux County

Collins, Iowa
Best in Show – Story County

Tama, Iowa
Best in Show – Tama County

Gravity, Iowa
Best in Show – Taylor County

Creston, Iowa
Best in Show – Union County

New Virginia, Iowa
Best in Show – Warren County

Humeston, Iowa
Best in Show – Wayne County

Badger, Iowa
Best in Show – Webster County

Buffalo Center, Iowa
Best in Show – Winnebago County

Joice, Iowa
Best in Show – Worth County

Woolstock, Iowa
Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Plymouth County.

WPC – WEEK 346 – #INSTAGOOD

#INSTAGOOD proved to be a pretty popular theme. Which is good, because there literally isn’t an easier theme on the Year 9 Calendar.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, April 25, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Angie DeWaard – 1 week
+ Jesse Howard – 1 week
+ Evie Gorshe – 2 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 3 weeks
+ Sara Lockner – 3 weeks
+ Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 4 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 4 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 5 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks
+ Monica Henning – 6 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 6 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 14 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 14 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 14 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 15 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 16 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 17 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 18 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 22 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 23 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 25 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 28 weeks

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 347 - #INSTAGOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week

WEEK 346 - INSTAGOOD - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 1 week

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 2 weeks

WEEK 346 - INSTAGOOD - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 2 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe – 3 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 4 weeks

WEEK 347 - #INSTAGOOD - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 4 weeks

WEEK 346 - INSTAGOOD - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 4 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 5 weeks

WEEK 347 - #INSTAGOOD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 5 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 6 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning – 7 weeks

WEEK 346 - INSTAGOOD - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 7 weeks

WEEK 346 - INSTAGOOD - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 15 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 15 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 15 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 16 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 17 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 18 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 19 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley – 23 weeks

WEEK 347 - #INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 24 weeks

WEEK 346 - INSTAGOOD - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 26 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 29 weeks

WEEK 346 - #INSTAGOOD -
Christopher D. Bennett – 448 weeks


25 submissions from 25 participants! That is a great week. I do believe that the 25 participants is a new record.

Only 1 streak was snapped. Linda’s streak of 5 did not make it to 6.

Shannon extended her streak to 26! That is six straight months of submissions! WooHoo!

Here is the current list of top streaks!

1. Kio – 29 weeks
2. Shannon – 26 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 24 weeks
4. Cathie – 23 weeks
5. Bill – 19 weeks
6. Andy Sharp – 18 weeks
7. Micky Augustin – 17 weeks
8. Michelle Haupt – 16 weeks
9. Teresa Kahler – 15 weeks
9. Tamara Peterson – 15 weeks
9. Carla Stensland – 15 weeks

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 347 - SQUARE
SQUARE

SQUARE! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a SQUARE image? A SQUARE image is any image where one of the major elements of your composition is a SQUARE. Remember, all SQUAREs are rectangles, but not all rectangles are SQUAREs. If you look around, you will see that there is are SQUAREs all over the place. Once you see them, you won’t be able to stop seeing them. The next step is to photograph one. I wouldn’t even hate on you if you took a picture of your dog and used a 1:1 aspect ratio.

There are also other definitions of SQAURE you can ponder.

While thinking on your possible subjects for SQUARE, meditate on the following song lyric:

I used to be a renegade
I used to fool around
But I couldn’t take the punishment
And had to settle down
Now I’m playing it real straight
And yes, I cut my hair
You might think I’m crazy
But I don’t even care
Because I can tell what’s going on
It’s hip to be square

I look forward to seeing your interpretations.

RULES

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 your idea of SQUARE in this place that is nothing more than proof that I’m a square next Monday.