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Weekly Photo Challenge Year 11 in Review

January 7, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

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

JUNE

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony 7M4
LENS: SIGMA 150-600 f/5-6.3 DG DN
FOCAL LENGTH: 395mm (but image is cropped)
APERTURE: f/11
SHUTTER: 1/160
ISO: 800
DATE TAKEN: April 8, 2024

I drove in a caravan with the Gorshes all the way to Indiana to take this picture. It isn’t the picture that was taken farthest from my home to be included in this calendar. That was the February image that was taken in New Orleans, but it is the farthest I traveled specifically to take a certain picture. And the gap between that and 2nd place this year is pretty considerable. I drove to Mines of Spain to photograph the Horseshoe Canyon. That is probably second. But those pictures didn’t make it to the calendar. Sorry for the spoiler.

When the eclipse is happening, you kind of forget everything you had planned and you have to balance between actually experiencing the total solar eclipse and photographing the total solar eclipse. It isn’t an easy balance. I can’t tell you anything about the technical settings because everything is such a blur. A rush to experience it. To get the shot. Don’t blow the shot. Then it is over. And you can’t believe how quickly it is over.

I selected this image for June because traditionally I always put a black and white image in June because June is the month of my Dad’s birth. Now he didn’t shoot only black & white, but I always associate his photography with black and white because of the black and white darkroom and the black and white postcards. However, this picture technically isn’t black and white. It is actually a color image that doesn’t have any color in it.

Everyone knows that black and white photography is my first and greatest love in photography, but there is not a single pure black and white image in the calendar in 2025. Because of that I put the closest thing I had to a black and white image in June.

Here are the people that selected this as their favorite 2025 Photography 139 Calendar image:

Alexis

Beckham

J.J.

I look forward to revealing the July image tomorrow!

+++++++

As yesterday closed the book on Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, now seems like a good time to review all that happened.

There were 56 different people that submitted photos. Ranging from submitting 1 picture to 97 pictures.

There were 2,466 photos submitted.

The average week had 36.4 participants.

The average week had 46.5 submissions.

The most popular week was Week 446. The theme was #INSTAGOOD. There were 42 participants.

The most popular week by submissions was Week 456. The theme was ANYTHING BUT A CAT. There were 60 submissions.

The least popular week by participants was Week 479. The theme was GAMES. There were 31 participants.

The least popular week by submissions was Week 483. The theme was REFLECTION. There were 38 submissions.

Here is my favorite submission from all 56 different people that submitted and some statistics about each participant.

DON’T READ INTO THIS THAT I THINK THIS IS YOUR BEST PICTURE OR THE BEST USE OF COMPOSITION OR BEST USE OF TECHNICAL SKILLS. ALSO DON’T THINK I SPENT HOURS EXAMINING EACH IMAGE. IT IS JUST MY FAVORITE THAT I SAW WHEN GIVING THEM A QUICK ONCE OVER.

WPC - WEEK 466 - SCIENCE - DERRICK GORSHE

Derrick Gorshe
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No Current Streak
Submitted from: Ohio

Myriah Sharp
1 week – 2%
2 submissions
No Current Streak
Submitted from: Hawaii

Jason Stensland
1 week – 2%
2 submissions
No Current Streak
Submitted from: South Dakota

Jennie Green
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No Current Streak
Submitted from: California

Fran Duncan
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No Current Streak
Submitted from: Wisconsin

Bunny
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No Current Streak
Submitted from: Iowa

Beckham Gorshe
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current Streak
Submitted from: Iowa

Layla Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa and Ohio
Click for Layla’s Submissions

Nader Parsaei
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Nader’s Submissions

Evie Gorshe
3 weeks – 6%
3 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Evie’s Submissions

Susanna Funk
3 weeks – 6%
3 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa and Colorado
Click for Funk’s Submissions

Kyle Sharp
4 weeks – 8%
6 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, and Colorado
Click for Kyle’s Submissions

Tim Panages
5 weeks – 9%
7 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Tim’s Submissions

Stephanie Kim
6 weeks – 11%
6 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: New York
Click for Steph’s Submissions

Amy Peterson
11 weeks – 21%
16 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Amy’s Submissions

Elainie Hernandez
17 weeks – 34%
18 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Elainie’s Submissions

Becky Parmelee
20 weeks – 38%
22 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, and New York
Click for Becky’s Submissions

Deb Powers
21 weeks – 40%
39 submissions
19 week streak
Submitted from: Montana and Iowa
Click for Deb’s Submissions

Johnathan Stensland
21 weeks – 40%
22 submissions
1 week streak
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Johnathan’s Submissions

Jen Ensley-Gorshe
24 weeks – 46%
27 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Colorado, Missouri, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Florida, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and Washington.
Click for Jen’s Submissions

Adam Gordon
31 weeks – 58%
54 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan, and Canada
Click for Adam’s Submissions

Mary Green
36 weeks – 68%
64 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and Puerto Rico
Click for Mary’s submissions

Alexis Stensland
41 weeks – 77%
60 submissions
Current Streak: 2 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Alexis’ submissions

Michelle Haupt
40 weeks – 75%
40 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana, and Michigan
Click for Michelle’s submissions

Monica Jennings
42 weeks – 79%
48 submissions
Current Streak: 1 week
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Monica’s submissions

Deanna McClain
43 weeks – 81%
45 submissions
Current streak – 1 week
Submitted from: Iowa and Minnesota
Click for Deanna’s submissions

Sara Lockner
42 weeks – 79%
42 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Bahamas, Minnesota, and Florida
Click for Sara’s submissions

Willy McAlpine
46 weeks – 87%
48 submissions
Current Streak: 25 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Willy’s submissions

Jesse Howard
46 weeks – 87%
53 submissions
No current streak
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Florida, Minnesota, Aruba, and Curacao
Click for Jesse’s submissions

Suzie Brannen
48 weeks – 91%
65 submissions
Current Streak
Submitted from: Iowa and Maryland
Click for Suzie’s submissions

Sabas Hernandez
49 weeks – 92%
55 submissions
Current Streat: 1 week
Submitted from: Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin
Click for Sabas’ submissions

Mike Vest
52 weeks – 96%
54 submissions
Current Streak: 33 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas
Click for Vest’s submissions

Lowell Davis
53 weeks – 100%
69 submissions
Current Streak: 53 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas
Click for Lowell’s submissions

Brandon Kahler
53 weeks – 100%
56 submissions
Current Streak: 54 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa and Minnesota
Click for Brandon’s submissions

Scott Degeneffe
53 weeks – 100%
65 submissions
Current Streak: 72 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Florida, Utah, Colorado, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
Click for Scott’s submissions

Sheri Fakhouri
53 weeks – 100%
73 submissions
Current Streak: 82 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Nebraska, and Georgia
Click for Sheri’s submissions

Logan Kahler
53 weeks – 100%
78 submissions
Current Streak: 83 streaks
Submitted from: Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri
Click for Logan’s submissions

Nathanial Brown
53 weeks – 100%
62 submissions
Current Streak: 84 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, South Dakota, Georgia, Tennessee, Ireland, North Ireland, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New York and Missouri
Click for Nathanial’s submissions

Tamara Peterson
53 weeks – 100%
56 submissions
Current Streak: 95 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa and Minnesota
Click for Tamara’s submissions

Mindi Terrell
53 weeks – 100%
97 submissions
Current Streak: 99 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Mindi’s submissions

Linda Bennett
53 weeks – 100%
78 submissions
Current Streak: 128 weeks
Submitted from: Kansas, Iowa, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Missouri
Click for Linda’s submissions

Sarah Toot
53 weeks – 100%
66 submissions
Current Streak: 129 weeks
Submitted from: Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland, Kansas, and Missouri
Click for Sarah’s submissions

Angie DeWaard
53 weeks – 100%
67 submissions
Current Streak: 132 weeks
Submitted: Iowa, Illinois, Scotland, England, Minnesota, and Florida
Click for Angie’s submissions

Dawn Krause
53 weeks – 100%
74 submissions
Current Streak: 137 weeks
Submitted from Iowa and Illinois
Click for Dawn’s submissions

Kim Barker
53 weeks – 100%
63 submissions
Current Streak: 143 weeks
Submitted: Iowa, Colorado, and Louisiana
Click for Kim’s submissions

Joe Duff
53 weeks – 100&
80 submissions
Current Streak: 144 weeks
Submitted from: Texas and New York
Click for Joe’s submissions

Teresa Kahler
53 weeks – 100%
88 submissions
Current Streak: 155 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa and Nebraska
Click for Teresa’s submissions

Carla Stensland
53 weeks
86 submissions
Current Streak: 155 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado
Click for Carla’s submissions

Micky Augustin
53 weeks – 100%
Submissions: 43
Current Streak: 157 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Illinois, Florida, Alaska, and Arizona
Click for Micky’s submissions

Andy Sharp
53 weeks – 100%
Submissions: 71
Current Streak: 158 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and South Dakota
Click for Andy’s submissions

Bill Wentworth
53 weeks – 100%
Submissions: 57
Current Streak: 159 weeks
Submitted from: Nebraska, Missouri, and Florida
Click for Bill’s submissions

Cathie Morton
53 weeks – 100%
Submissions: 62
Current Streak: 163 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Florida, Bahamas, Missouri, Louisiana, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah
Click for Cathie’s submissions

Elizabeth Nordeen
53 weeks – 100%
62 submissions
Current Streak: 164 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa and Ohio
Click for Elizabeth’s submissions

Shannon Bardole-Foley
53 weeks – 100%
57 submissions
Current Streak: 166 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, California, Nevada, Arkansas, Missouri, Mexico, and Texas
Click for Shannon’s submissions

Kio Dettman
53 weeks – 100%
81 submissions
Current Streak: 168 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa
Click for Kio’s submissions

Christopher D. Bennett
53 weeks – 100%
53 submissions
Current Streak: 590 weeks
Submitted from: Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, and Louisiana

But as they say, it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. There were 6 participants from Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE that never got hit by the old inspo to submit once this year.

+ Lori Backous
+ Melissa Degeneffe
+ Porter Degeneffe
+ Corey Faust
+ Sarah Karber
+ Ernie Reddd

Maybe in Year 12 they will get that creative photography hankering again. Here is hoping!

In Year 11 I tracked the states pictures were submitted from closer than in the past. In the end, we had submissions from:

+ 39 states
+ 1 U.S. District
+ 1 U.S. Territory
+ 7 Foreign Countries

Here is a look at the final Year 11 THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE UNITED STATES CONQUEST MAP:

39 STATES!

Rather than listing all the states that had pictures taken from them, here are the 11 states that weren’t reached:

+ Alabama
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Idaho
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ New Hampshire
+ North Dakota
+ Oregon
+ Rhode Island
+ South Carolina

The 10 Most Popular States to Submit from:

10. Minnesota – 15
9. Florida – 16
8. Arkansas – 20.5
7. New York – 23
6. Missouri – 28.5
5. Pennsylvania – 42
4. Nebraska – 61
3. Kansas – 72
2. Texas – 79
1. Iowa – 1967

The 5 People that Submitted from the Most Locations:

5. Cathie Morton – 9
5. Scott Degeneffe – 9
4. Sarah Toot – 10
3. Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 13
2. Nathanial Brown – 15
1. Andy Sharp – 16

There were submissions from 7 foreign countries (depending on how countries are defined), here is a look at the world map:

There were a few world travelers and I know that there will be at least a few world travelers in Year 12. So maybe that map will be even more filled in after Year 12.

Finally, a look back at where we’ve been.

Here are a few quick stats from Year 9:

+ 44 different participants
+ 1811 photos submitted
+ Least popular theme for participation was ROCK with 16 participants
+ Most popular theme for participation was SELF-PORTRAIT with 31 participants
+ Least popular theme for submissions was ROCK with 20 submissions
+ Most popular theme for submission was LINES with 51 submissions
+ The average week had 24.6 participants
+ The average week had 34.8 submissions

The same stats from Year 10:

+ 59 different participants
+ 2311 photos submitted
+ Least popular theme for participation was a tie with TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES; REFLECTION; and SUNRISE, SUNSET each having 25 participants
+ Most popular them for participation was #INSTAGOOD with 41 participants
+ Least popular them for submissions was TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES with 30 submissions
+ The most popular them for submissions was FLOWER with 62 submissions
+ The average week had 31.1 participants
+ The average week had 44.4 submissions

Comparing Year 11 to Year 10:

+ 3 less different participants
+ 155 more submissions
+ The most popular theme had 1 more participant
+ The most popular theme had 2 less submissions
+ The average participation was up 5.3 participants per week
+ The average submissions was up 2.1 submissions per week.

Year 11 had a slight upward trend, but it was probably unrealistic to expect a giant jump like there was in Year 10. Hopefully Year 12 continues to trend upward!

I look forward to seeing all the submissions in Year 12!

Adam, Art, Carla, Flowers, Jason, Jesse, Macro, Road Trip, Russell, Shannon, Still Life, Tenderloining

Cue: Kansas City Field Work

January 5, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

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

APRIL

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony 7M4
LENS: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro
FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm
APERTURE: f/8
EXPSOURE: 1/125
ISO: 640
DATE: April 13, 2024

I took this picture a couple of weeks before the Pella Tulip Festival in Pella, Iowa. I used as small of an aperture as I could to keep as much of the picture in focus as possible. Using a decent speed on the shutter speed as I was using a longer length macro lens and was shooting handheld.

More than a couple people struggled to see that this picture was of a flower and I struggle to accept that. But my favorite memory was when Kelli was going through the calendar somebody at her table asked, “What is that a picture of?”

And another person at the table said, “It’s a flower! Like Georgia O’Keeffe!”

I picked this picture to represent April because tulips generally come up and bloom in April.

Despite the Georgia O’Keefffe comparison, April wasn’t a super popular image. But a couple of people found it to be their favorite:

I look forward to revealing the May image tomorrow!

+++++++

Back in November Carla, Jason, Jesse, and I loaded up into a car and headed to Kansas City to watch Iowa State play football in the dump known as Arrowhead Stadium. But before going to the game we stopped at a barbecue joint that I’ve wanted to try for a bit called Q39.

Here are some pictures from the meal:

Q39 is what Adam (a noted Kansas City and Memphis barbecue expert) refer to as BougieQ. And he isn’t wrong. Q39 is kind of a hipster barbecue. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t good.

If I have a major complaint about BougieQ, it is that it is expensive and the portion size are pretty dang small. But for this meal, the chicken wings were fair. I don’t know I would get them again. The brisket was fantastic, but the real show stopper were the burnt ends. They were one of the best things I ate all year. On the other end of the spectrum, the corn side was terrible. Bland. Tasteless. Hopefully it was made with Nebraska’s inferior corn an wasn’t a waste of good Iowa corn.

The final verdict is that I would eat there again, but if I was in Kansas City and was looking for barbecue, I’d still go to Joe’s first.

Next Sunday’s food adventure will take place considerably closer to home.

Adam, Baier, Flowers, Fran, History, Jason, Macro, Night, Sign, Street Photography, Travel

Your Song

January 2, 2025 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

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

JANUARY

Technical Details

CAMERA: Sony 7M4
LENS: Tamron 17-28 f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 24 mm
APERTURE: f/2.8
EXPOSURE: 1/30
ISO: 160
DATE TAKEN: December 27, 2023

This picture was taken in Memphis, Tennessee on Jesse and I’s trip to watch Iowa State play in the Liberty Bowl. This neon sign for the Lorraine Hotel is part of the Civil Rights Museum. We walked around the grounds of the museum after eating at Central BBQ nearby. We didn’t visit the museum on this trip, but if you are ever in Memphis, I highly recommend visiting it. Despite my love for history, I’m not really a museum person, but this museum is a very powerful experience. I picked this image to represent January because Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is in January.

There were a few people that picked this image as their favorite calendar image. Here are the people that picked it:

Fran

Adam

Jason Stensland

Jason Baier

Ryan

Jesse

I’m pretty excited to reveal the February image tomorrow!

+++++++

It’s a little bit funny
This feelin’ inside
I’m not one of those who can easily hide
I don’t have much money, but boy, if I did
I’d buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, heh
But then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travellin’ show, oh
I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one’s for you

And you can tell everybody
This is your song
It may be quite simple, but
Now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is
While you’re in the world

And kicked off the moss
Well, a few of the verses
Well, they’ve got me quite cross
But the sun’s been quite kind
While I wrote this song
It’s for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgettin’
But these things I do
You see, I’ve forgotten
If they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway, the thing is
What I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen

I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is
While you’re in the world
-Written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin
-Performed by Elton John

I was inspired to use this great song because I was watching “No Good Deed” on Netflix recently and this song makes an appearance. And it truly is one of the great songs of all-time!

But Thursdays are for flowers and this flowertography session took place in my yard:

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will also involve flowers from my yard.

Adam, Boone FUMC, Christmas, Music

The Story of Christmas

December 21, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Last Sunday was the kid’s Christmas Pageant at Boone First United Methodist Church. As always, they did a wonderful job and I snapped a few pictures.

Here are some of my favorites:

Everybody involved did a fantastic job! It brightened what ended up being a pretty terrific day!

Adam, Andy, Boone FUMC, Still Life, Street Photography, Thanksgiving

Community Thanksgiving 2024

December 7, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time to share some pictures from the actual Thanksgiving Community meal served by the Boone First United Methodist Church. All in all the album of pictures from my time (me not pictured) helping with the meal has 563 images in it. I probably could have taken more, but I left about 12:30ish to get to my family Thanksgiving at Carla’s house.

Here are some of my favorite images:

If you want to look through all 563 pictures, just clicking on any image in this post will take you to the gallery.

All in all, we served between 600-700 meals this year.

But perhaps the most important development of the year is that the inflatable turkey finally has a name. The turkey was a gift from my Mom close to 10 years ago and it never had a name. I’m not into naming things that will never know they have a name. I would never give a name to a car or to a fish or to a cat or to an inflatable turkey. But the kids that were working the outside crew have deemed the inflatable turkey “Bartholomew”. Henceforth, that is how he will be known.

Another, not major development, but a change this year is that Jennifer from the Chamber loaned us the barricades and cones used for Pufferbilly Days. Such a big improvement over the half saw horse things the city has begrudgingly loaned us the last several years.

I already look forward to next year’s Thanksgiving meal. If you want to get involved, I know a guy you can talk to.

Adam, Alexis, Andy, Angie, Art, Aunt Linda, Bill, Birthdays, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Johnathan, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Micky, Mindi, Nader, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 476 – GLASS

October 28, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

REMINDER: THIS IS ONE OF TWO WEEKS WHERE YOU CAN LEAVE A SUGGESTION FOR THE THEMES FOR NEXT YEAR’S WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. YOU CAN DO THAT BY LEAVING A COMMENT ON THIS ENTRY ON THE WEBSITE. NO OTHER WAY. DON’T EMAIL THEM TO ME. DON’T TEXT THEM TO ME. LEAVE THEM IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS POST.

YOU DON’T NEED TO SUGGEST SOME STALWARTS, BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING ARE ALREADY BAKED IN TO THE CAKE:
+ BLACK & WHITE
+ STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
+ ROAD TRIP
+ ART
+ MUSIC
+ #INSTAGOOD
+ SLICE OF LIFE

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

Happy birthday Nader!

I hope your birthday is filled with all the movies you can handle!

+++++++

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. These are:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

What skill level photographer can participate?

THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is open to photographers of all skill levels. From award winning photographers to professionals to the highly ranked amateurs to those that are just beginning to those who don’t even know how to focus a camera. All skill levels are encouraged and welcome. You can’t be too bad and you can’t be too good! Everyone has room to learn and be challenged!

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

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 like 45 participants a week, I will lower the limit to 1.

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 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.

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact (AND CAN’T EMPATHIZE THIS ENOUGH) I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

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 widest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point. But don’t tempt me!

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works. You will notice, dear Apple Cultists, that .HEIC is not on the list.

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. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that. In fact, I appreciate you letting me know where a picture was taken. If you don’t let me know, I will assume the picture was taken in the state you live in.

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. Hey, that’s today!

+++++++

GLASS! What a great theme! But did enough people crack out the glass on a camera to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 21, 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)
2-Mary Green – 3 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
3-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
4-Alexis Stensland – 3 weeks (IA)
*5-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks (IA, MD)
6-Sabas Hernandez – 6 weeks (IA, OH)
*7-Deb Powers – 8 weeks (MT, IA)
8-Monica Jennings – 11 weeks (IA)
9-Sara Lockner – 12 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
10-Willy McAlpine – 15 weeks (IA)
11-Deanna McClain – 19 weeks (IA, MN)
12-Mike Vest – 22 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
13-Lowell Davis – 42 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Brandon Kahler – 43 weeks (IA, MN)
*15-Scott Degeneffe – 61 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*16-Sheri Fakhouri – 71 weeks (IA, NE)
17-Logan Kahler – 72 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
18-Nathanial Brown – 73 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI)
19-Tamara Peterson – 84 weeks (IA, MN)
*20-Mindi Terrell – 88 weeks (IA)
21-Linda Bennett – 117 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
*22-Sarah Toot – 118 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
23-Angie DeWaard – 121 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN)
*24-Dawn Krause – 126 weeks (IA, IL)
25-Kim Barker – 132 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
26-Joe Duff – 133 weeks (TX, NY)
*27-Teresa Kahler – 144 weeks (IA, NE)
28-Carla Stensland – 144 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
29-Micky Augustin – 146 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
30-Andy Sharp – 147 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
31-Bill Wentworth – 148 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
32-Cathie Morton – 151 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
*33-Elizabeth Nordeen – 153 weeks (IA, OH)
34-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 155 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
35-Kio Dettman – 157 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.

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:

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 158 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Honey Hollow – Summerset, Iowa) – 156 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa)- 154 weeks

Cathie Morton (Epcot Center, Florida) – 152 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 149 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 148 weeks

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 145 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 145 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

Joe Duff (Texas) – 134 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 133 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 127 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 122 weeks

Andie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 119 weeks

Sarah Toot (Tannersville, Pennsylvania)

Linda Bennett (New York City, New York) – 118 weeks

Linda Bennett (New York City, New York)

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 89 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 85 weeks

Nathanial Brown (New York City, New York) – 74 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 73 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Tybee Island, Georgia) – 72 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Tybee Island, Georgia)

Scott Degeneffe (Boone, Iowa) – 62 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Sioux City, Iowa) – 44 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 43 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 23 weeks

Deann McClain (Iowa) – 20 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 16 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 13 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 9 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 7 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 5 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa)

Mary Green (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa)

Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa)

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa)

Kyle Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

Kyle Sharp (Boone, Iowa)

Johnathan Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

37 participants! That is a pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Florida (1)
+ Georgia (2)
+ Iowa (42)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New York (3)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (2)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (12)
+ Georgia (3)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1535)
+ Kansas (59)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (18.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (51)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (4)
+ New York (21)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (36)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (64)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 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) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 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
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 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
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 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
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Nathanial now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

The big… huge… milestone this week was Kio became the first ever member of the 3 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all warm fuzzies! Jen couldn’t build on her submission from last week and her streak is over before it began. Monica… oh Monica. Monica who even texted me on Saturday to verify the theme… Moncia’s streak is over at 11!

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:

PLACES

PLACES! What a great them for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

This is a theme that was added because it was a class for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. It ended up being by far the most popular theme in this year’s Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. So popular I think I’m going to split it into separate categories next year. Something like IOWA PLACES and NOT IOWA PLACES. Still thinking on it.

I look forward to your GLASS 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 PLACES in this place that is a place next Monday.

Adam, Art, Jesse, Ruins, Street Photography, Tenderloining, Travel

Home of the Blues – Day 3 & 4

October 4, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Day 3 of the Liberty Bowl Road Trip was the day of the actual Liberty Bowl. A game that didn’t go very well. I didn’t take very many pictures as most of the day was spent at the game. Afterwards, was in no mood to take pictures. Before the game we went to Gibson’s Donuts. A recommendation from Adam and one that definitely hit the mark. Then we met up with Jon and his friend at Railgarten for a We Will pregame brunch.

Gibson’s was amazing and Railgarten was one of the coolest bars I’ve graced with my presence. It just had a really cool setup.

The next day we loaded up and went back home. That was pretty close to a straight trip home. I only took a few pictures on the trip. So this collection will wrap up the collection of images from the Liberty Bowl Road Trip:

Now I’m through this trip, I can start on pictures from the Eclipse Road Trip!

Adam, Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Bill, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Contests, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Jonah Kahler, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Pufferbilly Days, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 471 – PARK

September 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

PARK! What a great theme! But did enough people get in gear to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

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

1-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week (IA, OH)
2-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
*3-Mary Green – 2 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
*4-Deb Powers – 3 weeks (MT, IA)
5-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
6-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Monica Jennings – 6 weeks (IA)
8-Sara Lockner – 7 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 10 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 14 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 17 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Adam Gordon – 27 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 37 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 37 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*15-Brandon Kahler – 38 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 56 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 66 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 67 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 68 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN)
20-Tamara Peterson – 79 weeks (IA, MN)
*21-Mindi Terrell – 83 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 112 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 113 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 117 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 121 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 127 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 128 weeks (TX, NY)
28-Teresa Kahler – 139 weeks (IA, NE)
*29-Carla Stensland – 1389 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 141 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
31-Andy Sharp – 142 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 143 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 146 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 148 weeks (IA, OH)
*35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 150 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
36-Kio Dettman – 152 weeks (IA)

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

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 68 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 118 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 2 weeks

“Bunny” (Jester Park – Iowa) – 1 week

Sara Lockner (Jester Park – Iowa) – 8 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 57 weeks

Cathie Morton (Altoona, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa) – 28 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 149 weeks

Jesse Howard (Hunziker Park – Ames, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Michelle Haupt (Ankeny, Iowa) – 38 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 67 weeks

Andy Sharp (Bayliss Park – Council Bluffs, Iowa)

Deanna McClain (Eagle Point Park – Dubuque, Iowa) – 15 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Interurban Park – Camp Dodge – Johnston, Iowa) – 80 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Interurban Park – Camp Dodge – Johnston, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Linwood Cemetery – Boone, Iowa) – 11 weeks

Carla Stensland (Pufferbilly Days Parade – Boone, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Dawn Krause (Art in the Park – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 122 weeks

Kio Dettman (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Kio Dettman (Opal Dubois Anderson Park)

Logan Kahler (McHose Park) – 68 weeks

Monica Jennings (Art in the Park – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa)

Mike Vest (Edgewood Park – Madrid, Iowa) – 18 weeks

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 128 weeks

Deb Powers (Saylorville Lake – Iowa)

Mindi Terrell (Saylorville Lake – Iowa) – 84 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Saylorville Lake – Iowa)

Brandon Kahler (South Park – Story City, Iowa) – 39 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Colby Park – Windsor Heights, Iowa) – 151 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 144 weeks

Sarah Toot (Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey) – 114 weeks

Sarah Toot (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

Joe Duff (Texas) – 129 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

35 participants this week. Not a great week. But not bad. Not a lot of people like nature all that much.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (35)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (2)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1377)
+ Kansas (54)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (46)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (30)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (56)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 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) – 11
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 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
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 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
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 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
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

There were no major milestones reached this week. But a few streaks went kaput. Alexis couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Mary’s streak is gone after 2 weeks. Suzie’s streak is gone after 4!

OUT-OF-DATE (Suggested by Angie DeWaard)

OUT-OF-DATE! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

What is an OUT-OF-DATE picture? A picture of something that is no longer necessary in these times.

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 idea of OUT-OF-DATE in this place that that is timeless next Monday.

Adam, Alexis, Andy, Angie, Aunt Linda, Bill, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Music, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Taylan, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 470 – MUSIC

September 16, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

MUSIC! A great theme! But did enough people hear it to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out! Am I silently judging anybody’s taste in MUSIC? You don’t have to scroll down. I am. I definitely in.

On a sad note, I learned today that my favorite record store and the place where I get many of the records for my NEW-TO-ME-VINYL FRIDAY stories on Snapchat closed down recently. Wax Xtatic in Marshalltown was awesome! And now it is gone. So I’ll be looking for a new independent record store to frequent. I’m open to suggestions.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 9, 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 – 1 week (IA)
*3-Deb Powers – 2 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
5-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks (IA, MD)
*6-Amy Peterson – 3 weeks (IA)
7-Monica Jennings – 5 weeks (IA)
8-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 9 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 13 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 16 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Adam Gordon – 26 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 36 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 36 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*15-Brandon Kahler – 37 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 55 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 65 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 65 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 67 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
20-Tamara Peterson – 78 weeks (IA, MN)
21-Mindi Terrell – 82 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 111 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 112 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 116 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 120 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 126 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 127 weeks (TX, NY)
*28-Teresa Kahler – 138 weeks (IA, NE)
29-Carla Stensland – 138 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 140 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*31-Andy Sharp – 141 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 142 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 146 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 147 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 149 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
36-Kio Dettman – 151 weeks (IA)

It is the third week of the month and on the third week of the month I like to share a map of all the states where people have submitted from heading into today. Here is that map:

36 states!

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

Micky Augustin (Iowa)- 141 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Farmer’s Market – Bentonville, Arkansas) – 150 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Outside of Jane, Missouri)

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 127 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone Theater – Boone, Iowa)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks suzi

Nathanial Brown (Albert Lea, Minnesota) – 68 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Pierce, Nebraska)

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 117 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 56 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 128 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 66 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 27 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

Jesse Howard (Homecoming – Boone, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Dawn Krause (Fraser, Iowa) – 121 weeks

Sara Lockner (Pork Tornados – Adventureland – Altoona, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 14 weeks

Cathie Morton (Des Moines, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 148 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Debb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Andy Sharp (Boone First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 113 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 83 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 17 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 143 weeks

37 participants! That is a pretty solid week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas (1)
+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (2)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1377)
+ Kansas (52)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (45)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (29)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (54)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

The big milestone this week was Willy reaching the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Elainie couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Amy’s streak also came to a halting crash after 3 weeks! The humanity!

PARK

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

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 idea of PARK in this place that that is a bit of a respite from the world next Monday.

Adam, Alexis, Art, Aunt Linda, Birthdays, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Christianity, Commercial, Formal Portrait, Iowa State, Mom, Nature, Night, Road Trip, Still Life, Teresa, Work, WPC - Alternate

In a Beautiful World

September 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Today is Adam’s birthday so I have to with him a happy birthday:

Cause All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Enough for You

Happy birthday Adam!

I hope your birthday is another big advance in your recovery and we will see you back in the pulpit soon!

+++++++

This is a comprehensive sweep of all the pictures from 2023 (except formal portraits) that I took in 2023 that were leftover and didn’t quite fit into other posts. It kind of is all over the place from short trips to church pictures to alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Let’s get at it:

Came across this cross on a tenderloining road trip in northeast Iowa.

These images were alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM.

There is a lot of my family in this picture. Starting with Alexis, obviously.

But Teresa made the hat and the scarf.

The bear belonged to my Mom.

The coat belonged to my Grandpa Paris and my Mom frequently wore it.

Feels good that almost all the 2023 pictures are out there. Just need to share the rest of the Memphis pictures and get to those pesky formal portraits!