Category Archives: Scottie D.

Angie, Bill, Cathie, Dawn, Jeff Kewer, Kim, Politics, Scottie D., Steph, Still Life, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 58 – POP ART

October 24, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

I wasn’t sure how POP ART would go over as a WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme as it is a little bit harder to wrap one’s mind around than the typical theme. However, there was still good participation. I love it!

Although I good stand here and talk all tommyrot about participation, you just want to see the submissions. Here they are:

Bill Wentworth

Christopher D. Bennett

Jeff Kewer

Stephanie Kim

Kim Baldus

Angie DeWaard 1

Angie DeWaard 2

Mike Vest

Cathie Raley 1

Cathie Raley 2

Cathie Raley 3

Cathie Raley 4

Dawn Krause

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:

ROAD TRIP!

We did this theme not that long ago, so it should be fairly fresh in the old memory banks. A picture of anything that might be a part of a road trip. My personal favorite road trip pictures are the super kitschy ones where your posse takes their picture in front of some landmark. That’s just what I enjoy. It isn’t like the photography I enjoy had me recently compared to a serial killer or something… By people who I’m sure are experts in the field… But I digress. All sorts of things would qualify. Pictures of an open road. Pictures of a car. Of a map. Of some place you went on a road trip. A ROAD TRIP could be solo. It could be with 5 friends. It could be a trip across the country. It could be a trip to the store. You’ll figure it out. BUT I WILL REMIND ME YOU OF RULE #1! Just because you took a great ROAD TRIP last weekend… doesn’t help you at all this week.

As always, feel free to define the theme how you see fit.

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

Nothing new to report. 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 open roadsy Monday

Baby Got Rack, Carla, Contests, Flat Earth Joe, Jesse, Mom, Pufferbilly Days, Scottie D., Teresa

Can You Smell What the People’s Champ is Cookin’?

September 22, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 14 Comments

I’m sure I mixed up that pro wrestling reference. I don’t watch pro wrestling. I went to college.

That being said, here are some pictures from Baby Got Rack’s day at the Pufferbilly Day Barbecue Contest:

Marcus whipping up a batch of Marfins. Not to be confused with Scuffins. Which is an entirely different thing.

That’s not Tone’s. That is our proprietary rub.

Vote 5! Stay alive! It sounds like a threat but, well maybe it was a threat.

Not all of our trophies are on display. That Coke can might have been self-awarded.

I made 6 gallons of Thick Soul Sweet Tea. Secret ingredient… more sugar.

Marcus’ sidewalk chalk rendition of Sir Pigs-a-Lot.

Pork loins going on Fat Boy. (The bigger smoker isn’t really named Fat Boy.)

Chicken coming off Little Man. (The smaller smoker isn’t really named Little Man.)

Scottie D. and I (mostly Scottie D.) brokered a deal for a silver pig from Paradox. We partnered with them (Baby Got Rack is all about synergy) at first to borrow the pig for the day. But then we sweetened the deal with a gallon of Thick Soul Sweet Tea and a ton of barbecue and that pig came come with me. Part of the partnering process included our bull getting a picture taken with their bull. If you have never checked out Paradox, I would highly recommend it. It is a pretty sweet store with some pretty sweet stuff.

We handed out pork loin sliders. Marcus cut the meat. I cut the buns. Scottie D. worked the crowd.

Scottie D. working the crowd.

The line for Baby Got Rack! Is that famous Flat Earth Theorist Joe Lynch in the crowd. You better believe it!

Bull working the crowd. My Mom pouring people stiff cups of Thick Soul Sweet Tea.

Did we win the kid’s vote? You bet your bottom donut! I’m being told that most people don’t use donuts for currency. I’m confused.

Baby Got Rack currently has two kinds of barbecue sauce. S + M and for the more daring sorts Anaconda Picosa. Story about that later.

Look at that line! People’s Champs!

Mmmmmmmm… Do you want to know what is in our injection? Love and goodness and other stuff.

Maybe we’ll do pork loin for my birthday next year. Maybe I won’t do a birthday party next year. One never knows.

Fat Boy cooling off.

This guy stopped by in the morning when we didn’t have any food to give out. We recruited him to come back and HE DID! Feeling the Baby Got Rack love!

Always time for a selfie with Bull!

Look at all these votes!

Note the silver pig.

People’s Choice!

First, thanks to Carla for taking many of these pictures.

Second, 2 quick stories.

Story 1

I told you we had two sauces: S + M and Anaconda Picosa. Anaconda Picosa is our spicier sauce. Scottie D.’s job while working the crowd was to explain the difference between the two sauces to the people. One guy approached the table and Scottie D. said, “Are you trying the Sweet + Mild?”

The guy stared Scottie D. down. There was 5 seconds of silence. Then he said, “Do I look Sweet + Mild?” He paused and then continued, “I’m an anaconda!”

He might’ve flexed after that, I’m not sure because I was laughing so hard.

Story 2

This one is creepier.

One of the other barbecue combatants arrived at Baby Got Rack’s tent early in the morning. To deliver this message:

“I’m going to win the People’s Choice Award this year. My niece… well she’s smokin’ hot. When it is time to give out samples, I’m going to have her come up here and hand out the samples dressed all sexy.”

There was some manly banter that I definitely don’t want to bore any females in the audience with.

A few hours later, he came back. This time, he had his niece with him. Holding a pan of samples for us to try.

“See what I’m saying?” He blurted out.

All I’m going to say is he better get a sexier niece for next year, cause you know who went home with that People’s Choice Award!

Finally, if you want to see all the Baby Got Rack images from 2016 (there might even be a picture of that niece in there) click on the link below:

BABY GOT RACK – 2016

That concludes the competitive barbecue season for 2016, but I’m sure Baby Got Rack will be back with a vengeance in 2017! Winning all the hearts and minds and trophies!

Baby Got Rack, Carla, Flat Earth Joe, Jay, Jesse, Mom, Pufferbilly Days, Sara, Scottie D., Teresa, Willy

The People’s Rack

September 14, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 5 Comments

Team Baby Got Rack competed in the Pufferbilly Days Barbecue Contest this past Sunday.

I will take away many cherished memories from this Sunday, I’ll share those when I share the majority of the Baby Got Rack images at a later date.

Here is what is important to know.

At this contest we debuted our two signature barbecue sauces:

Sweet + Mild
Anaconda Picosa

We also debuted our new signature drink: Thick Soul Sweet Tea.
We also debuted our new logo: Sir Pigs-a-Lot.
We also debuted a mascot, that at this time we are going to just call Cow or Bull.
We also attempted to debut a new signature style shirt to go with our signature fedoras. We weren’t quite there on that.

But what about the results? Well it wasn’t our best day. But even on a tiger’s worst day, it still gets to be a friggin’ tiger! We came home with the People’s Choice Award for the second straight year. Proving that you can’t spell D-Y-N-A-S-T-Y without Baby Got Rack.

Here is the team picture (with Cow or Bull) from Sunday:

Photo Credit: Melissa D.

Another unofficial category we dominated was The Fun Department. As you will see in a later post where I tell some of the stories of Saturday. Including my favorite guy from the day, who delivered the best line of the day.

In closing, I would just like to thank all the people that came up and supported us (helping ease the pain of Baby Got Rack Superfan Willy McAlpine’s absence), like my sisters and Mom, WB Joseph Lynch and his posse, the Howard Clan, the Thornburgs, and the Petersons to name a few. And of course, those that were there in spirit. Too many to name.

And to Sara for loaning us her chalkboards. To Jay for offering us the use of his can opener too!

Baby Got Rack, Contests, Scottie D., State Fair

State Champs!

August 24, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 8 Comments

As some may have heard from various social media outlets or via press release, Baby Got Rack competed at the Iowa State Fair barbecue contest in the Combination category last Tuesday and brought home the championship.

Word on the street is that we were very close to winning the Grand Championship, but fell just short because we didn’t have our own barbecue sauce. An oversight that has been remedied. 4X over.

Here are a few photos from the day.

We were set up and ready to rock by 5 AM.

This corn dog stand can take a long walk off a short pier.

Marcus holding down the smoker.

Chicken and pork loin on!

IPTV setup a timelapse camera in our booth, but didn’t use the footage in their show.

Meat check.

Meat resting.

This guy’s shirt. Came to the right place.

60 total barbecue combatants.

Never hurts to work the Staties.

Getting the pizza ready.

The Marriage Saver

Scott and the judges.

Cynthia Fodor spent quite a bit of time hanging around our booth.

Media Obligations

More Media Obligations

Even More Media Obligations. This interview was on IPTV.

The Grand Champion Judges

Scott receiving his award. If we would’ve won Grand Champion, he would’ve gotten that crown.

I also took some pictures of the preparations, but we don’t want any of the trade secrets going public.

If you’re sad you missed Baby Got Rack’s most recent competition, we will be competing again during the Pufferbilly Days barbecue contest. We will be looking to defend our People’s Choice Award. We have a few tricks up our sleeve for this one. An ace in the hole from a marketing standpoint. Almost as good as our trademark fedoras.

Some come up and try our free samples on Sunday, September 11. Downtown Boone. Follow the smell of smoky and goodness. Vote for Baby Got Rack! The one vote you can cast this fall that you won’t regret later.

Baby Got Rack, Boone County Fair, Scottie D.

Baby Got Prelim

August 18, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

I should probably get around to posting more images from Baby Got Rack’s dominance of the Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest.

Pictures from the Iowa State Fair Barbecue Contest will be coming in the near future, I’m sure.

Animals, Birthdays, Flowers, Macro, Scottie D., State Fair, Teresa

Discoverbee

August 17, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 5 Comments

Yesterday, Baby Got Rack competed at the State Fair barbecue contest. After we got the pork and the chicken on the smoker, we had a couple of hours to kill. We smoke the chicken and pork for close to two hours and then we allow the meat to rest another hour.

During this time, we mostly conversate, dance, and wait anxiously for root beer stands to open. While Scottie D. and Marcus held down the fedora fort, I used a small amount of this time to pay my respects to the spot on the fairgrounds that used to hold Jennie’s Grinders. Then I went to visit probably my favorite part of the fairgrounds, Discovery Gardens.

While I was there, I took this picture:

As always, when I take a bee picture. I ask you all to take a moment to remember the horrible bee attack that decimated Houston in the 1970s. Never forget!

PARTICULARS

CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
ISO:640
FOCAL LENGTH: 60mm
APERTURE: f/4
EXPOSURE:1/160
DATE: 08-16-2016
LATITUDE: 41.59489°
LONGITUDE: -93.55139°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Team Baby Got Rack
EDITING SOUNDTRACK: “Retreat” by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

Also, I’d be a failure if I didn’t recognize the anniversary of the birth of long time Photography 139 supporter and long time sister Teresa Kahler!

Happy Birthday Teresa!

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.

Carla, Flat Earth Joe, Jodie, Kim, Michelle, Nature, Scottie D., Steph, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 43 – SUNRISE/SUNSET

July 11, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 22 Comments

Participation took a little bit of hit this week. I’m sure it probably had to do a bit with the fact that there are only 2 times a day somebody could take a picture for this theme. If they were taking the theme literally. Or maybe something else caused a dip. I don’t know. I can’t read minds. I can barely read social media posts. I’m only human.

However, the submissions we did get were solid. The submissions for SUNRISE/SUNSET:

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Carla Stensland 3

Christopher D. Bennett

Kim Barker 1

Kim Barker 2

Stephanie Kim

Michelle Haupt

Joe Lynch

Jodie Bennett 1

Jodie Bennett 2

Jodie Bennett 3

SMOKE!

Also, perhaps not the most easily accessible subject. However, if you have to, go hang out with a smoker. Some of them don’t even smell that bad. Like the ones that smoke ribs on their decks. Those smokers smell delicious. Yes, I’m saying that Scottie D. smells delicious. I’m comfortable with it. Are you?

Personally, I’m hoping to get caught up in the middle of a protest this weekend. #BLACKLIVESMATTER If that doesn’t work out, I’m looking forward to having an excuse to start a fire. It really is a win-win! Social justice or pyromania!

If you think this is a difficult theme… 2 things:

1. Next week’s theme will be almost painfully easy.
2. It is probably a good time to leave suggestions for next year’s themes in the comments section of this here blog. To date, the only suggestion is GLITTERY.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

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 smoky Monday.

Anders, Derrick, Eric, Flowers, Jay, Jesse, Nate, Russell, Sara, Scottie D., Willy

For Russell

May 25, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

I actually have been pretty lax about photographing flowers this year. That is partially because the 2017 Photography 139 Calendar will go in a new direction. Partially because I haven’t even planted flowers in my yard this year. Partially because my daffodils didn’t bloom this year. Partially because I missed my window of opportunity to go to Pella this year to photograph tulips. Regardless, my daisies were the first of my flowers to bloom this year.

So I dedicate the first flower picture of 2016 to Russell, because he hates my flower photography. He will be in mourning since flowers will start to become a bigger part of this here blog in the coming months. Probably. Sorry Russell, that is how the cookie crumbles.

PARTICULARS

CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
ISO: 125
FOCAL LENGTH: 60mm
APERTURE: f/20
EXPOSURE: 1/100
DATE: 05/22/2016 – 13:18
LATITUDE: 42.05511°
LONGITUDE: -93.87082°
PHOTO ASSISTANT: None

THE CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT TRIVIA QUIZ ANSWER SHEET

QUESTION 5

When Olivia and I got married, who were my 5 groomsmen?

ANSWER: Jesse Howard, Anders Runestad, Jay Janson, William McAlpine, and Eric Hiatt

BONUS

I’ve been a groomsman or bridesman 7 times. Name the 7 grooms/brides I’ve served:

ANSWER: Jesse Howard, Jay Janson, Anders Runestad, Scott Degeneffe, Derrick Gorshe, Sara Lockner, and Nate Miller

Alexis, Anders, Andree, Baier, Bethany, Birthdays, Brandon, Carla, Dae Hee, Dawn, Derrick, Evie, Geri, Gretchen, Jason, Jeff Daniel, Jeff Kewer, Jen, Jesse, Johnathan, Kelly, Kim, Layla, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Mom, Monica, Nader, Naima, Nora, Sara, Scottie D., Shannon, Shawn Lockner, Steph, Steve, Suzie, Teresa, Tim, Willy, Yin

The Birthday Party of Fate (Roundup)

May 15, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

I’ve thanked all these people in person, but I’d like to publicly thank everybody that helped out in some either small or big way with my birthday party on Saturday.

Big shout out to Scott for making tons of delicious mouth watering chicken and jalapeno cream corn. I only wish I would have had time to help do more than just brine the chicken. If I am so inclined to do this again next year and you are so inclined to help with the food next year, I will have to schedule this so I can be more hands on with the process. I may have been The Master, but Scott was undeniably the Smoker Master. I just can’t overstate how amazing the chicken was people.

Much love to Scott’s (better-other-less high maintenance) half for making the Pick and Pluck. If I would’ve thought of it, I would’ve bought several gallons of ice cold chocolate milk to knock down while setting up shop on that thing.

Thanks to Logan and Corinna for holding down the grill and making an assortment of hot dogs and sausages to compliment the mouth watering chicken. I don’t really have any photos of the event, perhaps next year I can talk him/them into doing some candid photography for the party.

I’m always able to count on Dae Hee when I need some assistance. He came over and helped put up the canopies for the outdoor dining area, the tent for an additional child area, moved all the chairs from the basement to the outdoors, and watched 2 hours of GAME OF THRONES. A pretty solid effort!

Thanks to Jason for loaning me his Cornhole set.

Thanks to Shannon for loaning me her canopies, although I’m still unclear where one gets tailgating tents that don’t have Iowa State colors. Or why a person would even want such a thing.

Thanks to Jesse for laminating the beverage identification signs.

Thanks to Teresa for helping out in various tasks before the party started.

Thanks to my Mom for making a copious amount of side dishes and desserts. Nobody went home hungry. That is for sure.

Finally, thanks to everybody that took time out of their lives to come visit me:

Teresa
Brandon
Logan & Corinna
Aunt Linda
Kio
Steph, Katie, Jeff, & Yin
Carla, Jason, Alexis, and Johnathan
Mom
Scott, Melissa, Austin, and Porter
Steve
Dawn, Kevin, Scott, and Kayelee
Jen, Derrick, Evie, and Layla
Sara, Shawn, and Gretchen
Jesse, Kelly, Kalista, Saydie, and Taylan
Willy
Dan and Angie
Suzie
Monica and Jeff
Bethany, Dae Hee, and Nora
Jason, Will, Ben, and Nader
Andree
Anders & Nicholas
Shannon and Jason
Geri
Michelle, Craig, and Lily
Kim and Kevin

A special thanks to Dae Hee, Bethany, and Nora who came from Minnesota. Aunt Linda who came from Kansas. Stephanie who came all the way from Brooklyn. I guess I’m morally obligated to visit her in October now. Right?

Since I think that this party was a success on some level, I am tentatively planning on doing it again next year. Tentatively thinking about some time on Memorial Day Weekend next year. We’ll see how the cookie crumbles.

Now to the less than stellar news…

The Photo Booth was a success, but far from perfect. It turns out that the photo booth program I used has a painful little quirk. If the “Finish” button wasn’t pushed at the conclusion of the photo session, the program timed out and didn’t save the photo strip! The good news is that it did save the original images. The bad news is that there will be a night in my future where I’ll be piecing together photo strips from saved images. Yeah me!

For that reason, I did load up all the images into the party gallery. Not just the “finished” photo strips.

To see those images, click on the link below… (You can also download them by clicking on the down arrow icon.)