Category Archives: Bokeh

Animals, Bokeh, Calendar, Christianity, Elainie, Greyson, Hot Air Balloon Festival, Jesse, Layla, Logan, Sign, Still Life, WPC - Alternate

I Don’t Care if it Hurts

January 8, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time to reveal the July image for the 2025 Photography 139 Calendar:

JULY

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony 7M4
LENS: Sigma 150-600 f/5-6.3 DG DN
FOCAL LENGTH: 276mm
APERTURE: f/14
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/6400
ISO: 160
DATE TAKEN: August 2, 2024

I took this picture on my trip to the Indianola National Balloon Classic with Jesse. It is always a roll of the dice when you go to the Balloon Classic because a myriad of weather conditions will keep the balloons from going up. But on the night we went the balloons went up in the air and I got a ton of great shots. This is one of my favorites and I’m considering this picture and another one I took on this evening for entry into the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon this year. Which is about as forward thinking as I have ever been for that contest. Don’t worry, I’ll lie down and the feeling will pass.

There isn’t much to say about the technical aspects of the picture. High shutter speed to freeze the image and under exposure balance to a silhouette and make the colors pop.

I selected this picture to represent July because the Balloon Classic starts in July.

It was a fairly popular image and here are the people that selected it as their favorite image:

Elainie

Jason (Carpenter)

Layla

Will

I’m excited to share the August image tomorrow!

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This is one of those miscellaneous posts that cleans up some images that I took but didn’t fit into any previous posts. These images are from late May and early June. Some are of a baby deer that hung around Lori and Roger’s house for a few days. Some are of a garage sale Logan had. Some are from just around town. But most are of Bokeh. From the first failed attempts* to get the image that would become the March image and an entry to the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon.

I’m not sure if Logan made any money on the garage sale, but Greyson cleaned up. His grandparents bought something from his table for $60 and then turned around gave the thing back to him. That is a solid business plan if you can implement it!

*The window ended up being too dirty in these shots.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Animals, Aunt Linda, Bill, Bokeh, Brandon, Calendar, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Deb, Elizabeth, Flowers, Joe Duff, Johnathan, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 486 – WHEELS

January 6, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

It is time to reveal the May image for the 2025 Photography 139 Calendar:

May

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony 7M4
LENS: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro
FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm
APERTURE: f/9
EXPOSURE: 1/125
ISO: 800
DATE: August 13, 2024

I took this picture of a bee on a zinnia at the Iowa State Fair Discovery Garden. Well-documented to be one of my favorite parts of the Iowa State Fair. I used a longer macro lens to get closer to the bee without spooking it. I used a smaller aperture to try to keep as much of the bee in focus as possible. Then a somewhat faster shutter speed because of the length of the lens. To compensate for the small aperture and quick shutter speed I used a higher ISO than normal.

I don’t have a good reason for why this picture was selected for May. I normally put a picture that I personally love but think has a small audience appeal in May, since it is my birthday month. However, this picture ended up as the May image as it was the last image that didn’t have a home. Kind of disappointing reasoning I know.

May wasn’t a super popular image, but here are the people that selected it as their favorite:

Carla

Roger and Carol

I look forward to revealing the June image tomorrow!

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WHEELS! What a great theme! But did enough people roll out and get a WHEELS image to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, December 30, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA, DC, WA)
2-Jesse Howard – 1 week (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
3-Becky Parmelee – 1 week (AR, IA, OK, NY)
*4-Kyle Sharp – 1 week (IA, MO, CO)
*5-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
*6-Mary Green – 2 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
*7-Suzie Brannen – 14 weeks (IA, MD)
*8-Deb Powers – 18 weeks (MT, IA)
9-Willy McAlpine – 25 weeks (IA)
10-Mike Vest – 32 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
11-Lowell Davis – 52 weeks (IA, MO, KS)
12-Brandon Kahler – 53 weeks (IA, MN)
13-Scott Degeneffe – 71 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
14-Sheri Fakhouri – 81 weeks (IA, NE, GA)
*15-Logan Kahler – 82 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
16-Nathanial Brown – 83 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI, NY, MO)
*17-Tamara Peterson – 94 weeks (IA, MN)
*18-Mindi Terrell – 98 weeks (IA)
*19-Linda Bennett – 127 weeks (KS, IA, MI, NY, MO)
*20-Sarah Toot – 128 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL, MD, KS, MO)
21-Angie DeWaard – 131 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL)
22-Dawn Krause – 136 weeks (IA, IL)
*23-Kim Barker – 142 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*24-Joe Duff – 143 weeks (TX, NY)
*25-Teresa Kahler – 154 weeks (IA, NE)
*26-Carla Stensland – 154 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
27-Micky Augustin – 156 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK, AZ)
*28-Andy Sharp – 157 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS, AZ, CO, NM, UT)
29-Bill Wentworth – 158 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
30-Cathie Morton – 162 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA, AZ, NM, CO, UT)
*31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 163 weeks (IA, OH)
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 165 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO, MEX, TX, MO)
*33-Kio Dettman – 167 weeks (IA)

WHEELS was the last theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. The rule for Year 12 are pretty much the same, maybe some minor tweaks to the language.

Here is the list of rules for Year 12 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. The picture must 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 and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit. If you submit 2 pictures, make sure they are of different subjects.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM Central Time the following Monday. But that is a deadline. Pictures can be submitted as soon as you take them.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.
6. Please include the location of where the picture was taken with your submission.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

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

WPC - WEEK 486 - WHEELS - SABAS HERNANDEZ

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 1 week

Deanna McClain (Perry, Iowa) – 1 week

Johnathan Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – Ogden, Iowa

Alexis Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 15 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 19 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 26 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 33 weeks

Lowell Davis (Ames, Iowa) – 53 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 54 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 72 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 82 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 83 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Nathanial Brown (Saint Louis, Missouri) – 84 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 95 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 99 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 128 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 129 weeks

Angie DeWaard (West Des Moines, Iowa) – 132 weeks

Dawn Krause (Les’s Auto – Boone, Iowa) – 137 weeks

Dawn Krause (Urbandale, Iowa)

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 143 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 144 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 155 weeks

Teresa Kahler (House of Colour – Ankeny, Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 155 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 157 weeks

Andy Sharp (Ankeny, Iowa) – 158 weeks

Andy Sharp (Dakota Dunes, South Dakota)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 159 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 163 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 164 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Honey Hollow – Rural Warren County, Iowa) – 166 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone County Courthouse – Boone, Iowa) – 168 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa) – 590 weeks

There were 33 participants this week. Year 11 goes out with a bit of whimper. But not doubt Year 12 will see a significant rebound in participation!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (35)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ South Dakota (1)
+ Texas (2)

Here is the final Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Alaska (1)
+ Arizona (2.5)
+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (14)
+ Florida (16)
+ Georgia (3)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (14)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1968)
+ Kansas (71)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (2)
+ Michigan (13)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (28.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (61)
+ Nevada (5)
+ New Jersey (5)
+ New Mexico (1.5)
+ New York (23)
+ North Carolina (3)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (42)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (6)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (79)
+ Utah (2.5)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ Washington (2)
+ Washington D.C. (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (6)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (4)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ Mexico (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

39 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 1 District! 7 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS, AZ, CO, NM, UT, SD) – 16
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI, NY, MO) – 15
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA, DC, WA) – 13
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL, MD, KS, MO) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA, AZ, NM, CO, UT) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO, MEX, TX) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL) – 6
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI, NY, MO) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK, AZ) – 5
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK, NY) – 4
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN, FL) – 4
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH, WI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Kyle Sharp (IA, MO, CO) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Andy ends Year 11 as the “THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE most travelled photographer!”

Amazingly, there were no minor or major milestones reached this week. But on the contrary, there was a bloodbath of streaks. Jen, Jesse, Becky, and Kyle. Not a one of them could build on last week’s theme and their streaks are over before they began. Mary’s streak goes kaput at 2 weeks. It was indeed a bleak week in THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE world.

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:

MOTION

MOTION! What a great first theme for Year 12 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

There are really two ways to capture MOTION in a photograph.

1. Use a fast shutter speed to freeze motion.
2. Use a slow shutter speed to blur the motion.

I look forward to your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your MOTION in this place that tries to keep moving forward next Monday.

Andy, Baier, Becca, Bill, Bokeh, Boone FUMC, Brandon, Calendar, Christmas, Equipment, Gretchen, Harrison, Jay, Jorge, Kim, Kio, Lensbaby, Micky, Nader, Nature, Sara, Scottie D., Still Life, Vest

Sweet 22: The Beginning

January 4, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time to reveal the March image for the 2025 Photography 139 Calendar:

MARCH

TECHNICAL DETAILS

CAMERA: Sony 7M4
LENS: 14-24 Sigma f/2.8 DG DN Art
FOCAL LENGTH: 24mm
APERTURE: f/8
EXPOSUER: 1/800
ISO: 400
DATE: June 12, 2024

I took this picture because I wanted a Bokeh picture to enter into the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. It took 3 different photo sessions before I got the image that I wanted. Or as close as an artist ever gets to their real vision. Art is never finished after all, only abandoned. On one of these sessions, Becca was the photo assistant. Shoutout Becca! What you might not realize is that the hardest part of this image was getting it without a reflection. For the most part Bokeh would hang out on top of the window long enough for me to get a few images. But battling reflections in the glass took some tinkering with the setup. Hint: The solution ended up involving blankets.

I chose a fairly small aperture to keep as much of the image in focus as possible. I used a relatively fast shutter speed to freeze any motions Bokeh made. I overexposed the image by nearly a full stop to try capture Bokeh as bright as possible, but without fully blowing out the sky.

I picked this image to represent March because Bokeh’s birthday is in March. Check your calendar if you doubt me. (Sorry to people that the USPS lost their calendar.)

This was by far the most popular image from the 2025 Photography Calendar. Here are the people that picked it as their favorite:

Andy

Harrison

Brandon

Jay

Jorge

Kim

Kio

Micky

Nader

Olivia

Sara and Gretchen

Scott

Vest

Bill

Tomorrow I will reveal the April image. I’m so excited. I can barely hide it. Fair chance I will lose control. I think I’m moderately enjoying it.

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I’m efforting to get better at sharing when I add new equipment to the arsenal. I’m not a big equipment nerd. I’m about the craft and not about the equipment. But like (and I can’t stress this enough) all art, the equipment you have does have a say in what you make. But what I really like are nerdy manual focus lenses with limited purposes.

I’m sure at least one other photographer thought, “Why doesn’t he just say Lensbaby lenses?”

And you got me hypothetical photographer friend. The most recent piece of glass I’ve added is indeed a Lensbaby lens. For the last few years it has been traditional for me to give my self a Lensbaby lens for Christmas. However, unless they release some new lenses, I’m probably just about out of Lensbaby lenses I can buy. Maybe this Christmas it will be a 7Artisans lens.

If we are being honest, I do totally have the 7Artisans website up on a different monitor right now thinking about their new 60mm f/2.8 2x macro lens. So that might be my birthday present to myself. Or maybe that will be Bokeh’s birthday present to me. I can tell she really wants me to have that lens.

But we’ve gathered here today, to get through this thing called “life”. And the most recent lens I’ve purchased from Lensbaby to get me through life is the Sweet 22.

This is what the bad boy looks like:

If you were to go to the Lensbaby website for a description of this lens you would read something like this:

The Sweet 22 pancake lens from Lensbaby features the smallest sweet spot with the most blur outside the sweet spot of any Lensbaby lens. With a compact, robust metal body and built-in focus down to 5 inches from the front element, this new mirrorless-only creative effects lens brings dramatic optical effects to stills and video imagery that have never before been possible.

The tiny, tack-sharp, centered sweet spot created by the Sweet 22 gives a sense of motion to still images while creating dramatic focus transitions of moving subject matter coming into or out of the Sweet 22’s sweet spot when shooting video. A sea of impressionistic blur gradually transitioning to a precise, tack sharp sweet spot gives photographers the chance to create imagery more dramatic than previous selective focus lenses.

And if you were a big equipment nerd, you might click on the specs and read something like this:

Focal Length: 22mm
Primary Effect: Spot of Focus
Optic Swap Compatible: No
Aperture: f/3.5 fixed
Circular Aperture: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 127mm (5.0in)
Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 1:5
Filter threads: 46 mm
Format Compatibility: 35mm Full Frame; APS-C
Camera Compatibility: MIL cameras
Focus Type: Manual Barrel Focus
Diagonal Angle of View: Full Frame: 90°; APS-C (1.5x): 64°
Angle of Tilt: N/A
Diaphragm Blades: None
Elements/Groups: Zone Plate: 4 elements / 2 groups
Coating: Broadband multi-coated anti-reflective

But since all of you are nerds, but nerds of a different flavor, you just want to see a picture taken with it. So here is a collection of the first few pictures I took with the new sweetness… The Sweet 22:

You might be wondering why I bought a lens with such a peculiar purpose that produces images that are destined to be unpopular. And if that is the case:

1. You must be new here.
2. I have no doubt I’m going to take some bomb images with the new sweetness. Even if it is only in my mind.

You will just have to stay tuned.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Becky, Bill, Bokeh, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deb, Elizabeth, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Micky, Mindi, Nathanial, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Street Photography, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, World Religion, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 485 – HOLIDAYS

December 30, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

It is the last Monday of the month and on the last Monday of the month I like to revisit our Frequently Asked Questions. Who asks these questions? I mostly ask them of myself. But that isn’t a Frequently Asked Question. But as we are heading into a new year, I’m going to update and tackle the FAQ in a slightly different direction. Here is the FAQ:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

Who are your favorite submitters?

Obviously all of you are my favorites. But the real ones do 4 things.
1. Submit by Sunday night. (Yes, the deadline is 11 AM, but we’re talking about the real ones.)
2. Submit in the correct format. (That is .jpg or .png. Notice, not listed is .heic. I get it. You are a big time Apple fanboy. But .heic images have to be converted. Please save me from having to convert your images!)
3. Their submission communication includes that the picture if for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE and isn’t just some random image that they are sending me to share about their life, hopes, and dreams.
4. Their submission communication includes where the picture was taken.

Here is an example of a PERFECT submission text message:

Here is an example of a PERFECT submission email:

Here is an example of why size matters:

This isn’t to single Mary out. It is just an example I have from this week. Those are great pictures, but they can barely be seen. Remember that the “suggested” minimum resolution is 1280 pixels x 853 pixels for a 4 x 6 image. Don’t overcrop.* Check your email and text message settings. Are they resizing your images?

Is this a competition?
NO. It is a challenge. There are no winners and losers. Well the people that don’t participate are losers.

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

Yes. That limit is 2. If you send me more than 2, I will post the first 2 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload.

If you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If I start to average 45 participants a week, I will lower the limit to 1.

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 for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme every week. 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.

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

I will take suggestions only and ONLY in the comments sections of the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE posts the last week of October and the 1st week of November.

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HOLIDAYS! What a great theme! But did enough people holiday it up to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, December 23, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

*1-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA)
3-Sara Lockner – 3 weeks (IA, BHS, MN, FL)
4-Monica Jennings – 5 weeks (IA)
5-Sabas Hernandez – 6 weeks (IA, OH, WI)
*6-Suzie Brannen – 13 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Deb Powers – 17 weeks (MT, IA)
8-Willy McAlpine – 24 weeks (IA)
9-Deanna McClain – 28 weeks (IA, MN)
10-Mike Vest – 31 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
11-Lowell Davis – 51 weeks (IA, MO, KS)
12-Brandon Kahler – 52 weeks (IA, MN)
13-Scott Degeneffe – 70 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
14-Sheri Fakhouri – 80 weeks (IA, NE, GA)
15-Logan Kahler – 81 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
16-Nathanial Brown – 82 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI, NY)
17-Tamara Peterson – 93 weeks (IA, MN)
18-Mindi Terrell – 97 weeks (IA)
*19-Linda Bennett – 126 weeks (KS, IA, MI, NY, MO)
20-Sarah Toot – 127 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL, MD, KS)
21-Angie DeWaard – 130 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL)
22-Dawn Krause – 135 weeks (IA, IL)
*23-Kim Barker – 141 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*24-Joe Duff – 142 weeks (TX, NY)
25-Teresa Kahler – 153 weeks (IA, NE)
*26-Carla Stensland – 153 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
27-Micky Augustin – 155 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK, AZ)
28-Andy Sharp – 156 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS)
29-Bill Wentworth – 157 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
30-Cathie Morton – 161 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA, AZ, NM, CO, UT)
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 162 weeks (IA, OH)
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 164 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO, MEX, TX, MO)
33-Kio Dettman – 166 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. The picture must 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 and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Kio Dettman (Hy-Vee – Boone, Iowa)- 167 weeks

Kio Dettman (1st Baptist Church – Boone, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Dakota City, Iowa) – 165 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 163 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 162 weeks

Bill Wentworth (St. Louis, Missouri) – 158 weeks

Andy Sharp (4 Corners – Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah) – 157 weeks

Andy Sharp (4 Corners – Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah)

Micky Augustin (Des Moines, Iowa) – 156 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 154 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Boone First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 154 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

Joe Duff (Texas) – 143 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 136 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 131 weeks

Sarah Toot (Kansas City, Missouri) – 128 weeks

Sarah Toot (Charlotte Douglas International Airport – Charlotte, North Carolina)

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 127 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 98 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 94 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa)

Nathanial Brown (St. Louis, Missouri) – 83 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 82 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 81 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Nob Hill – Boone County, Iowa) – 71 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 53 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 52 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 32 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) – 25 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 18 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 14 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa)

Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa)

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Reiman Gardens – Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Alexis Stensland (Iowa)

Kyle Sharp (Colorado) – 1 week

Jesse Howard (Reiman Gardens – Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Becky Parmelee (Napier, Iowa) – 1 week

Christopher D. Bennett (Maccabees Kosher Deli – Des Moines, Iowa)

34 participants this week! That is a fair week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arizona (.5)
+ Colorado (2.5)
+ Iowa (41)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Missouri (3)
+ New Mexico (.5)
+ North Carolina (1)
+ Texas (2)
+ Utah (.5)

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Alaska (1)
+ Arizona (2.5)
+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (11.5)
+ Florida (16)
+ Georgia (3)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (14)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1934)
+ Kansas (71)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (2)
+ Michigan (13)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (27.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (60)
+ Nevada (5)
+ New Jersey (5)
+ New Mexico (2.5)
+ New York (23)
+ North Carolina (3)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (41)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (77)
+ Utah (2.5)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ Washington (2)
+ Washington D.C. (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (6)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (4)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ Mexico (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

39 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 1 District! 7 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI, NY, MO) – 15
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS, AZ, CO, NM, UT) – 15
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA, DC, WA) – 13
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL, MD, KS, MO) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA, AZ, NM, CO, UT) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO, MEX, TX) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL) – 6
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI, NY, MO) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK, AZ) – 5
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK, NY) – 4
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN, FL) – 4
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH, WI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Kyle Sharp (IA, MO, CO) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Heading into the last week of Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, Nathanial and Andy are tied to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer of Year 11!”

The milestone this week is that Lowell joined the 1 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! Micky joined the 3 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all candy canes and sugar plums! There was a literal bloodbath of people who couldn’t make merry with their camera this week. Elainie’s streak is gone at 2. Sara’s is over at 3. Monica’s streak goes kaput at 4. Sabas’ streak is no more at 6. And worst of all scarecrow, Deanna’s streak is now only something you’ll read about it in history books at 28! Bah humbug!

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:

WHEELS (Suggested by Sarah Toot)

WHEELS! What a great FINAL theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of WHEELS in this place that isn’t stationary next Monday.

*Don’t overcrop is a rule you should live by. Or as I would say, in almost all situations crop (or zoom) with your feet.

Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Bill, Bokeh, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dad, Dawn, Deanna, Deb, Elainie, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Micky, Mindi, Mom, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 484 – 6:00 PM

December 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Today marks the 40th anniversary of my Dad’s passing. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be into photography. This website wouldn’t exist. None of the pictures on it would exist. I need to start this website by sharing some pictures of him.

WEEK 304 - HISTORY - CHIRSTOPHER D. BENNETT

I couldn’t find a picture of Dad with Carla right away, so here is a picture he took of Carla.

I read this quote once about grief. I’ve read too many quotes about grief. It isn’t the best quote about grief, but it has a lot of truth in it:

“Losing a parent is something like driving through a plate-glass window. You didn’t know it was there until it shattered, and then for years to come you’re picking up the pieces”

40 years later. Still picking up pieces, but another quote about grief that I like better.

“Life is full of grief, to exactly the degree we allow ourselves to love other people”.

The fact that you are here. Submitting pictures in this quirky little photo challenge is what I feel is an incredible testament to his legacy. And not just his kids. His grandkids. His sister. His niece. All of you.

+++++++

6:00 PM! What a great theme! But did enough people do something interesting at 6:00 PM just one time last week to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, December 16, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week (IA)
2-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks (IA, BHS, MN, FL)
3-Monica Jennings – 4 weeks (IA)
4-Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks (IA, OH)
5-Suzie Brannen – 12 weeks (IA, MD)
6-Deb Powers – 16 weeks (MT, IA)
7-Willy McAlpine – 23 weeks (IA)
8-Deanna McClain – 27 weeks (IA, MN)
9-Mike Vest – 30 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
10-Lowell Davis – 50 weeks (IA, MO, KS)
11-Brandon Kahler – 51 weeks (IA, MN)
12-Scott Degeneffe – 69 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
13-Sheri Fakhouri – 79 weeks (IA, NE, GA)
14-Logan Kahler – 80 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
15-Nathanial Brown – 81 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI, NY)
16-Tamara Peterson – 92 weeks (IA, MN)
*17-Mindi Terrell – 96 weeks (IA)
*18-Linda Bennett – 125 weeks (KS, IA, MI, NY, MO)
*19-Sarah Toot – 126 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL, MD)
20-Angie DeWaard – 129 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL)
21-Dawn Krause – 134 weeks (IA, IL)
22-Kim Barker – 140 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
23-Joe Duff – 141 weeks (TX, NY)
24-Teresa Kahler – 152 weeks (IA, NE)
25-Carla Stensland – 152 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
26-Micky Augustin – 154 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
27-Andy Sharp – 1545weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS)
28-Bill Wentworth – 156 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
29-Cathie Morton – 160 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA, AZ, NM, CO, UT)
30-Elizabeth Nordeen – 161 weeks (IA, OH)
31-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 163 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO, MEX, TX, MO)
*32-Kio Dettman – 165 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. The picture must 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 and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

WPC - WEEK 484 - 6:00 PM - MICKY AUGUSTIN

Micky Augustin (Phoenix, Arizona) – 155 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa)- 28 weeks

Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 106 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 51 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa) – 1 week

Mary Green (Iowa)

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 130 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 80 weeks

Deb Powers (Iowa) – 17 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 93 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 70 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 97 weeks

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 141 weeks

Kim Barker (Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 162 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 52 weeks

Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 81 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 135 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 24 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Seven Oaks – Boone County, Iowa) – 82 weeks

Andy Sharp (Pizza King – Council Bluffs, Iowa) – 156 weeks

Mike Vest (Des Moines, Iowa) – 31 weeks

Sara Lockner (Johnston, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 161 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset, Iowa) – 164 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 126 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Sarah Toot (Easton, Kansas)- 127 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 157 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 142 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Sabas Hernandez (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) – 6 weeks

34 participants this week. That is a fair week.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arizona (1)
+ Iowa (32)
+ Kansas (3)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Texas (2)
+ Wisconsin (1)

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Alaska (1)
+ Arizona (2)
+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (11)
+ Florida (16)
+ Georgia (3)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (14)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1894)
+ Kansas (69)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (2)
+ Michigan (13)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (24.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (60)
+ Nevada (5)
+ New Jersey (5)
+ New Mexico (2)
+ New York (23)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (41)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (75)
+ Utah (2)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ Washington (2)
+ Washington D.C. (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (6)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (4)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ Mexico (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

39 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 1 District! 7 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI, NY) – 14
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA, DC, WA) – 13
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS) – 11
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA, AZ, NM, CO, UT) – 9
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL, MD, KS) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO, MEX, TX) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL) – 6
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI, NY, MO) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK, AZ) – 5
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK, NY) – 4
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN, FL) – 4
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH, WI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2
+ Kyle Sharp (IA, MO) – 2

Nathanial is clinging lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

Their were a couple of big milestones reached this week. Brandon joined the 1 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! Angie joined the 2 and Half Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! Woo! Anndy joined the 3 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! WooHoo! Plus no streaks were snapped this week!

HOLIDAYS

HOLIDAYS! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

Just don’t get so wrapped up in the HOLIDAYS that you don’t forget to submit a HOLIDAYS photo next Monday.

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of HOLIDAYS in this place that doesn’t take many next Monday.

Bokeh, Flowers, Macro

Christmas Time is Here

December 19, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
We’ll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
We’ll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
-Composer Vince Guaraldi
– Lyrics Lee Mendelson

“Christmas Time is Here” is from what for my money is the best Christmas special every created. “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. I can say while this song is beautiful and I love it on a deep level. It is also one of those songs that listening to makes me sad instantly. The vocal version. The instrumental version might make me a little sad, but not the depths of despair that the vocal version does.

It also has an interesting story. From the Wiki:

“Christmas Time Is Here” was composed by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi to accompany the opening of the 1965 television special A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was originally written as an instrumental, but producer Lee Mendelson decided that the song needed lyrics. Mendelson recalled, “When we looked at the show about a month before it was to go on the air, I said, ‘That’s such a pretty melody; maybe we should try and find some people to put some lyrics to it.'” When he was unable to find someone available, he wrote the lyrics himself:

So I sat down with an envelope — I’ll never forget this — at our kitchen table and wrote ‘Christmas Time Is Here’ in about ten minutes. It was a poem that just came to me — never changed the words to this day. It was only about a minute long. And Vince got a bunch of little kids together to sing it.

The vocals for the song were provided by the children’s choir at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael, California. Guaraldi had previously performed with the ensemble at his May 1965 “jazz mass” performance at Grace Cathedral which was released album At Grace Cathedral.

Coincidentally, the day I sat down to write this entry to “An Artist’s Notebook” was also the day I switched to my winter plates. When I went to bring the plates down from the upper cupboard I found some cookie cutters for many of the characters from Peanuts. So if anybody wants to make a Snoopy shaped cookie or a Linus shaped cookie, you know how to get a hold of me.

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that the whole score of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by Vince Guaraldi is absolutely brilliant. The type of thing a guy could add to his growing vinyl collection! I hope I didn’t give New to Me Vinyl Friday away.

But Thursday’s are for flowers. This flowertography collection took place in my yard.

Hard to believe that the next time we gather for another flowertography session, Christmas will have come and gone. That flowertography session will once again involve flowers from my yard.

Animals, Bokeh, Flowers, Macro

Last Christmas

December 12, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away (You gave it away)
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special (Special)

Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye
Tell me, baby, do you recognise me?
Well, it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me
“Happy Christmas,” I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying, “I love you,” I meant it
Now I know what a fool I’ve been
But if you kissed me now, I know you’d fool me again

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away (You gave it away)
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special (Special)
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special (Special, oh)
Oh, oh, baby

A crowded room, friends with tired eyes
I’m hiding from you and your soul of ice
My God, I thought you were someone to rely on
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on
A face-on lover with a fire in his heart
A man undercover, but you tore me apart
Ooh-ooh
Now I’ve found a real love, you’ll never fool me again

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away (You gave it away)
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special (Special)
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away (You gave me away)
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special (Special)

A face-on lover with a fire in his heart (I gave you my heart)
A man undercover, but you tore him apart
Maybe next year
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone special

Special
Someone
Someone
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone special
Who give me something in return
(I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone)
Hold my heart and watch it burn
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone special
I thought you were here to stay
How could you love me for a day?
I thought you were someone special
I gave you my heart
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
You gave it away
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone
-Written by George Michael
-Performed by Wham!

Maybe one of the greatest unrequited Christmas love songs of all-time! Here is some info on it from the Wiki:

“Last Christmas” had its beginnings in 1983, while George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were visiting Michael’s parents. It was written by Michael in his childhood bedroom. Michael played Ridgeley the introduction and chorus melody to “Last Christmas”, which Ridgeley later called “a moment of wonder”.

This song was on the charts as the same time as “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by Band Aid. But let’s face it. This is the superior Christmas song.

But Thursday’s are for flowers! This Thursday flowertography session took place in my yard on June 22.

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will also take place in my yard.

Birthdays, Bokeh, Jay, Jesse

Bokeh and Her Ball

December 10, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Today is Jesse’s birthday so I need to wish him a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Jesse!

I hope it is an absolutely amazing birthday!

+++++++

Time to share a few more pictures of Bokeh from her early days.

They grow up so fast!

Bokeh, Flowers, Macro

Winterlude

December 5, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Winterlude, winterlude, oh darlin’
Winterlude by the road tonight
Tonight there will be no quarrelin’
Everything is gonna be all right
Oh, I see by the angel beside me
That love has a reason to shine
You’re the one I adore, come over here and give me more
Then winterlude, this dude thinks you’re fine

Winterlude, winterlude, my little apple
Winterlude by the corn in the field
Winterlude, let’s go down to the chapel
Then come back and cook up a meal
Well, come out when the skating rink glistens
By the sun, near the old crossroads sign
The snow is so cold, but our love can bold
Winterlude, this dude thinks you’re fine

Winterlude, winterlude, my little daisy
Winterlude by the telephone wire
Winterlude, it’s makin’ me lazy
Come on, sit by the logs in the fire
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand
Come out tonight, everything will be tight
Winterlude, this dude thinks you’re grand
-Written and Performed by Bob Dylan

I can’t stand Bob Dylan as a performer, but anybody that can write a lyric like “this dude thinks you’re fine” is a songwriting genius in my book.

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography session took place in my yard and includes a couple of bonus Bokeh images!

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will also take place in my yard.

Bokeh, Elainie, Sabas

Bokeh Meets Elainie and Sabas

December 3, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time for a batch of Bokeh photos! This collection is from when Bokeh met Elainie and Sabas before our trip to Marshalltown to visit the record store that sadly no longer exists, hit up The Flying Elbow, and La Michoacana.

Here are the pictures:

Still plenty more pictures of Bokeh from her early days left to share.