Category Archives: Pufferbilly Days

WPC – WEEK 460 – BLACK & WHITE

Today is going to be a long one, so buckle up and get your popcorn ready!

Today is Jay’s birthday, so I need to start by wishing him a happy birthday.


Day 70 - March 11, 2022
Happy birthday Jay!

I hope your birthday is magical in the nothingness you attempt to do!

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It is that time of year when a little yellow card shows up in the mailboxes of many a photographer in the state of Iowa. The yellow card that tells you if you had any pictures accepted into one of the hardest photo contests in the country. The Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. A contest that only displays 25% of the pictures submitted. It is the only photo contest that I enter (for a wide variety of reasons) and as such I did get my yellow card in the mail last week. It looked a little something like this:



You might be wondering what pictures I entered this year. I’m the only person that currently knows what pictures I entered. But, you can go down to the Iowa State Fair and see them for yourself. I will reveal what pictures I entered and what pictures got in on the last day of the Fair. As is my custom.

But I wasn’t the only regular contributor to THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE that got pictures accepted to the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. Angie, Logan, and Nathanial all got pictures accepted! WooHoo! Which makes sense, because when THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE was birthed into existence as THE RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT all those years ago by me and Mike Vest, the idea was (to be honest more his idea than mine) that at the end of the year, you would have 52 photos you could consider for entering in photo contests. Maybe in 2025 there will be MORE than 4 people from THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE displayed at the Iowa State Fair. I have an eye on a few of you.

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Must be time to see the submission for BLACK & WHITE, right? Not yet. As you may know, it is about 10 weeks out from the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. So it is past time that I published the rules for this year’s contest. They are identical as last year.

Have a look:



I hope many of you enter again this year! Now I need to get to work!

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BLACK & WHITE! A great theme! But did enough people see the world in monochrome to make it a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 1, 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)
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week (IA)
3-Amy Peterson – 1 week (IA)
4-Deanna McClain – 3 weeks (IA, MN)
5-Mary Green – 4 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR) <2>
6-Sara Lockner – 4 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
7-Suzie Brannen – 8 weeks (IA, MD) <2>
8-Mike Vest – 7 weeks (IA, MO)
9-Alexis Stensland – 10 weeks (IA) <2>
10-Sabas Hernandez – 12 weeks (IA, OH) <2>
11-Adam Gordon – 19 weeks (IA, MS, MO) <2>
12-Lowell Davis – 26 weeks (IA)
13-Michelle Haupt – 26 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA)
14-Brandon Kahler – 27 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Scott Degeneffe – 45 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL) <2>
16-Sheri Fakhouri – 55 weeks (IA, NE)
17-Logan Kahler – 55 weeks (IA, MN) <2>
18-Nathanial Brown – 57 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL)
19-Jesse Howard – 56 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
20-Tamara Peterson – 68 weeks (IA, MN)
21-Mindi Terrell – 72 weeks (IA) <2>
22-Linda Bennett – 101 weeks (KS, IA)
23-Sarah Toot – 102 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ)
24-Angie DeWaard – 106 weeks (IA, IL) <2>
25-Dawn Krause – 110 weeks (IA, IL) <2>
26-Kim Barker – 116 weeks (IA, CO, LA) <2>
27-Joe Duff – 117 weeks (TX, NY)
28-Teresa Kahler – 128 weeks (IA, NE) <2>
29-Carla Stensland – 128 weeks (IA, MO, SD)
30-Micky Augustin – 130 weeks (IA, IL, FL)
31-Andy Sharp – 131 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL) <2>
32-Bill Wentworth – 132 weeks (NE, MO)
33-Cathie Morton – 135 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) <2>
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 137 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 139 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
36-Kio Dettman – 141 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:


WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Boone, Iowa) – 20 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Madrid, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Boone, Iowa) – 11 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Prescott, Wisconsin) – 132 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Plymouth, Minnesota)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 133 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Story City, Iowa) – 28 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Devil’s Tower National Monument – Wyoming) – 129 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Arkansas River – Salida, Colorado)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Ankeny, Iowa) – 136 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 111 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - DEANNA MCCLAIN
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 138 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Ames, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (New York) – 118 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (New York)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 117 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 142 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Boone, Iowa) – 102 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 56 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Bone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Kansas City, Missouri) – 27 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Kansas City, Missouri)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 27 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Colo, Iowa) – 131 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Grove, Oklahoma) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Bentonsville, Arkansas)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Mitchellville, Iowa) – 73 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Tampa, Florida) – 58 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 13 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 103 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 46 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Honey Hollow – Summerset, Iowa) – 140 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 56 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 103 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 129 weeks

WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

37 participants this week! A pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas (1)
+ Colorado (1)
+ Florida (1)
+ Iowa (41)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Missouri (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New York (2)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Wisconsin (1)
+ Wyoming (1)

Thanks to Carla’s travels, we were able to add Wyoming to the map!

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

+ Arkansas (16.5)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ California (3)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Colorado (7)
+ Florida (13)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (11)
+ Indiana (4)
+ Iowa (943)
+ Ireland (3)
+ Kansas (36)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (10)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (18.5)
+ Nebraska (34)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Ohio (2)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (19)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (38)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (2)
+ Wyoming (1)

31 states so far! 1 U.S. Terriorty! 5 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) – 10
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL) – 8
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL) – 7
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL) – 7
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA) – 4
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK) – 4
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA) – 2
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2

Andy now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” Jen, Jesse, Scott, and Nathanial remain in striking distance though.

There were no major milestones reached this week. And unfortunately a few streaks bit it. Willy and Amy couldn’t build on their submissions from last week. Their streaks are over before they began. Then worst of all, Jesse’s 56 week streak is over! It lasted over a year, but now it is over. The humanity!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WPC - WEEK 461 - FACELESS PORTRAIT
FACELESS PORTRAIT

FACELESS PORTRAI! What a great 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 FACELESS PORTRAIT in this place that isn’t afraid to show its face next Monday.

Post 5,250

Can you believe that this is the 5,250th entry in the blog known as “An Artist’s Notebook”? Every 250 posts or so I like to take a moment to reflect on where this post has been and post a lot of meaningless stats.

As always on these posts, I like to start by quoting the very first “An Artist’s Notebook” entry that published on August 9, 2006. That first post that published 6,296 days.

That post that started with these words:

So here is the first journal entry. I felt like having as pretentious sounding name as possible for my journal. I have a few goals about this journal. My main goal is just to actually write in it. My second goal is to be as truthful as possible towards my true thoughts and feelings. I have another journal on another website, but it is really just a collection of sarcastic statements and cheap jabs at open faced sandwiches. This journal is meant to be about what my achievements and failures are in the world of art. What projects I am working on and what I have accomplished and what I have failed to accomplish. What I am photographing and what I am thinking about entering in photo contests. What I am thinking about. It might not always make sense. It might just be things I need to write down because they strike me as poignant or inspirational. This is in a small way an online “idea box”.

Since those words, I have posted 5,250 journal entries. This website is still something of an “idea box”. Sometimes I’m just working stuff out here. I don’t know why, sometimes I need to work stuff out in public. But this website is definitely more than just an “idea box”. It is a place where I post a few thoughts and a ton of pictures. I’ve gone through a few photo projects on these pages. From THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT to the 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT to THE SELFIE PROJECT to the POSTCARD RECREATION PROJECT to name just a few. This website has also created a community with THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Which is one of my proudest achievements. Even if it sputtered and spit and barely survived in its first few years.

On these reflective posts, I like to publish a bunch of statistics that me and Joe Duff find interesting. So I might as well get to it.

Every post in “An Artist’s Notebook” is tagged with at least one Category. It is one of the easiest ways to navigate around the website. They are listed at the top of each post. Here are some statistics about Categories:

THE TOP 10 MOST USED CATEGORIES (RANK IN POST #5005 & INCREASE SINCE BEGINING OF 2024)

10. Carla – 632 (#10 – 39)
9. Formal Portrait – 655 (#6 – 6)
8. Teresa – 657 – (#9 – 49)
7. Road Trip – 657 (#8 – 32)
6. Macro – 662 (#7 – 26)
5. Jesse – 754 (#5 – 54)
4. Animals – 833 (#3 – 34)
3. Art – 842 – (#4 – 75)
2. Flowers – 1,010 (#2 – 40)
1. Black & White – 1,221 (#1 – 27)

No categories dropped from the Top 10. The categories with the best shot at cracking the Top 10 in the next 250 posts are Shannon, Nature, WPC-Submissions, Candid Portrait, & Still Life.

THE TOP 10 NON-HUMAN CATEGORIES
10. Candid Portrait – 504 (#9 – 16)
9. WPC-Submissions – 563 (NR – 27)
8. Nature – 568 (#8 – 26)
7. Formal Portrait – 655 (#5 – 6)
6. Road Trip – 657 (#7 – 32)
5. Macro – 662 (#9 – 26)
4. Animals – 833 (#3 – 34)
3. Art – 842 – (#4 – 75)
2. Flowers – 1,010 (#2 – 40)
1. Black & White – 1,221 (#1 – 27)

Photoshop dropped out of the Top 10.

The categories with the best shot of cracking the Top 10 in the next 250 posts are Still Life, Photoshop, Naima, History, and Self-portrait.

THE TOP 10 HUMAN CATEGORIES

10. Willy – 379 (NR – 27)
9. Vest – 388 (#10 – 29)
8. Micky – 399 (#8 – 29)
7. Logan – 428 (#7 – 37)
6. Kim – 441 (#6 – 35)
5. Mom – 473 (#5)
4. Shannon – 615 (#4 – 30)
3. Carla – 632 (#3 – 39)
2. Teresa – 657 (#2 – 49)
1. Jesse – 754 (#1 – 54)

Jay dropped out of he Top 10. The categories that have the best chance of breaking into the Top 10 in the next 250 posts are Andy, Jay, Jen, Sara, and Derrick.

If you have spent any time on the Photography 139 website, you know that on the left sidebar, the “Top 100 Categories” are listed. I thought I would give a little bit of coverage to the Bottom 10 of the Top 100. There are currently 208 categories used on the website. I could cover the Bottom 10, but no real reason. Some of those categories probably need to be purged. I do like to cover the Top 10 of the Bottom 100 though.

THE BOTTOME 10 OF THE TOP 100

10. Nathanial – 82 (+29)
9. Layla – 84 (+8)
8. Commercial – 84 (0)
7. House – 91 (+1)
6. Writing – 92 (0)
5. Becca – 92 (+2)
4. Pastor Sarah – 93 (+2)
3. Pufferbilly Days – 95 (+4)
2. Tenderloining – 96 (+25)
1. Faust – 96 (+4)

The following categories have either fallen out of the Bottom 10 of the Top 100 or climbed out of it:
Andree, Flat Earth Joe, Self-Portrait Project, and Sabas

The following categories have the best shot at dropping back into the Bottom 10 of the Top 10:
Russell, Nate, Jill, Blogging, Sabas, and Lowell.

The following categories have the best shot at climbing up into the Bottom 10 of the Top 10:
Andree, Photo Journal, Self-Portrait Project, Flat Earth Joe, and Mary.

I’m now starting to track what categories have had the greatest gain. These are the ones that have the greatest gain since the beginning of 2024.

THE TOP 10 CATEGORIES BY GAIN

10. Kim – 35
10. Andy – 35
10. Michelle – 35
8. Logan – 37
8. Elizabeth – 37
7. Carla – 39
6. Flowers – 40
5. Teresa – 49
4. Jesse – 54
2. Still Life – 72
2. Street Photography – 72
1. Art – 75

THE TOP 10 NON-HUMAN CATEGORIES BY GAIN

9. Nature -26
9. Nature – 26
7. Black & White – 27
7. WPC – Submissions – 27
6. Road Trip – 32
5. Animals – 34
4. Flowers – 40
2. Still Life – 72
2. Street Photography – 72
1. Art – 75

THE TOP 10 HUMAN CATEGORIES BY GAIN

9. Scottie. D. – 33
9. Linda – 33
9. Sabas – 33
6. Kim – 35
6. Andy – 35
6. Michelle – 35
4. Logan – 37
4. Elizabeth – 37
3. Carla – 39
2. Teresa – 49
1. Jesse – 54

If you are wondering what is your best way to improve your Photography 139 Score and crack the Top 10, it is simply to be active in THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE or go on trips with me or participate in various other photo projects or be related to me. Now these aren’t necessarily the 10 people that have influenced my photography the most, but these are the 10 people that have made the largest imprint on this website.

I can tell you the people that have influenced my photography the most, but that is a tale for another time. But I’m pretty sure you can guess who.

TOP 10 PHOTOGRAPHY 139 PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERIES (LAST 365 DAYS)

To View the Gallery, Click on its Representative Image

Naima at Dickcissel Park
10. Naima – 72,941 views

Rodan139: Des Moines River Valley
9. Drone – 73,421 views

9 Emotions Project - Anders Runestad
8. 9 Emotions Project – 98,062 views

WEEK 32 - COUNTRY - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
7. Weekly Photo Challenge Year 3 – 124,533 views

Bonaparte, Iowa
6. Town Sign Project – 127,555 views

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant
5. Tenderloining – 134,777 views

Jackson County - Saint Donatus
4. Town Sign Project Auxiliary Images – 172,671 views

WPC - WEEK 449 - TIME - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
3. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 11 – 192,976 views


2. Instagram – 212,131 views

WEEK 388 - FRAME - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
1. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 11 – 289,984 views

Galleries that fell out of the Top 10 are:
Las Vegas 2023, Weekly Photo Challenge Year 9, Selfie Project – 2022,

Galleries that fell just outside of the Top 10 are:
Life, 365 Day Photo Project -2013, Memphis – 2023, New Orleans – 2024, Phot Journal Rejects.

But what are the most popular single images of the last 365 days? Don’t worry, I’m gonna feed you baby birds.

Top 10 Photography 139 Images

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023
10. 2,475 views

RedzBand - 05-30-2008
9. 2,508 views

Watermelon Day - 2023
8. 2,812 views


7. 3,774 views


6. 3,875 views

Color the Wind - 2023
5. 3,999 views

Ben Baier - 2024
4. 4,020 views

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023
3. 4,305 views

Kentucky Road Trip - 2013
2. 4,816 views


1. 20,050 views

If you are interested in checking out some of the milestone posts of the past, I got you. Click on any of the links below to check them out:

Post 1
Post 750
Post 850
Post 1,000
Post 1,101
Post 1,200
Post 1,447
Post 1,718
Post 2,500
Post 3,000
Post 3,252
Post 3,751
Post 4,000
Post 4,250
Post 4,500
Post 4,757
Post 5,005

I think that is enough. We will check back in, in another 250 posts.

Pufferbilly Days Parade Three

Today is Anders’ birthday, so I need to wish him a happy birthday!


9 Emotions Project - Anders Runestad
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDERS!

I hope your birthday is filled with all the British and 70s science fiction you can handle!

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Time to share the final collection of images from the Pufferbilly Days Parade and the final collection of Pufferbilly Day images altogether. Man… you will have to wait until September for more Pufferbilly Day images. Stay strong.


Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Probably would be a good time to start sharing pictures from my many trips to the Iowa State Fair.

Pufferbilly Days Parade One

I am the opposite of what you would call a fan of parades. They don’t usually entertain me much. They are one of those things that is way more fun to be in than to watch. Like playing baseball versus watching baseball. Like lighting off fireworks versus watching fireworks.

But I did go down and take some pictures of the Pufferbilly Days Parade because, while they are often boring, they can be a source of some interesting pictures.

Here is the first collection:

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2023

Still plenty of pictures from the parade left to share!

Pufferbilly Days Car Show – 2023

Time to share the October image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture of a mural of Jack from THE SHINING near Graffiti Alley in Des Moines.


2024 Calendar - October
OCTOBER

I chose this image for October since it is an artistic depiction from THE SHINING, one of the 5 best horror movies every made.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: September 30, 2023 – 1:23 PM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
APERTURE: f/5
EXPOSURE: 1/100
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the November image from the calendar!

+++++++

Seems like a good time to start sharing pictures from Pufferbilly Days that aren’t related to the Photo Contest. I’m not a car person, per se, but I do like attending the occasional car show. Partially cause old cars are cool looking and partially because I have a few friends that display cars at car shows.

Here are some pictures:


Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Car Show - 2023

Next Friday I will share some pictures from the Pufferbilly Days Parade.

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Recap

I know I might have written that I was finally going to start sharing pictures from the Color the Wind Festival today, but instead I’m going to do a recap of the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest before it gets too long in the tooth.

First, I should announce to those of you that voted in the People’s Choice Award what photo took home the prize:



Road Trip by Savannah Martin

Road Trip received 50 votes. The next highest vote total received was 21 votes.

If you are interested in seeing this year’s photo books, click on the links below:

Readable Photo Book

Printable Photo Book

There is a lot of people I need to thank for making this years Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest a success.

The Judges:
+ Andie DeWaard
+ Janae Erickson
+ Lisa Person

The Administrative Staff:
+ Teresa Kahler
+ Carla Stensland

The Pegboard Builders:
+ Andy Sharp
+ Jason Stensland

The Graphic Designer:
+ Monica Jennings

The Photo Display Team:
+ Dawn Krause
+ Jesse Howard
+ Monica Jennings
+ Graham Jennings

The Book Designer:
+ Michelle Haupt

The Best of Show & People’s Choice Award Creator:
+ Anonymous

The Merchants that hosted the photo entries:
+ Boone Theater (Teen and Adult Places)
+ Ema’s Elegance (Adult Animals)
+ The Houndstooth Haberdashery (Adult Trains, Planes, & Automobiles)
+ Infamous Ink (Adult Black & White)
+ The Lavender Basket (Adult Plants)
+ Paradox (Youth)
+ Studio 721 (Adult People)

I didn’t take as many pictures as I have in the past of the machinations of the Photo Contest but I did take a few.

Here are some from the Judging:


Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Judging went very smooth. There was some good and spirited debate from the judges and for the first time ever, had to engage in some tie-breakers. Including a tie-breaker for Best in Show.

I already have 2 of the judges picked out for next year. Still thinking on that third judge, for now. But I have a pretty good idea. Or at least a couple of candidates in mind.

Monica and I set up the photo displays on Thursday. Paradox and Studio 721 set up the displays themselves, which was a big help. Monica really put the displays together and I did the grunt work.

Here are some pictures of the displays:


Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

On Saturday Jesse and I tore down all the displays. On Sunday we transported them out to McHose Park. Graham and Monica met us out there and setup the tents and the display. Jesse and I sat out there in the pouring rain all day trying to keep the pictures dry.

Here are some pictures from Art in the Park:


Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest - 2023

Watching over the photo display at Art in the Park was a pretty cool experience, even if the conditions weren’t ideal. I got to meet and speak with a few of the photographers that I hadn’t met before. And I met one person that is interested in entering next year and another that is an artist that urged their friend to enter this year. I enjoyed all of those interactions.

After Art in the Park concluded Dawn and Nathanial helped tear down the display and the tents. Logan returned all the pictures that weren’t picked up at Art in the Park for me.

All things considered, it was a successful year. I’m not sure what changes I will make for next year, but I know I will need to add some new faces to the list of volunteers. That volunteer might be you!

WPC – WEEK 413 – NEGATIVE

WARNING! NEXT MONDAY I WILL BE ON THE ROAD, SO NEXT WEEK’S POST WILL PUBLISH LATE AND THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANY REMINDERS. PLAN ACCORDINGLY!

I need to start this post by wishing Russ a happy birthday. Happy birthday Russ!


Mother's Day - 2009

I hope you have lots of visitors today!

+++++++


I did have a late submission for SELF-PORTRAIT that I do need to share. A couple actually:


WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Vallunareju Norte – Peru)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Vallunareju Norte – Peru)

You might be asking yourself why Funk gets special privileges and can blow past the deadline and nobody else can? Because she is climbing a mountain in Peru! If you go climb a mountain in Peru, I will also let you miss the deadline. Maybe.

+++++++

NEGATIVE! An abstract and maybe demanding theme. But were there many people that could find some NEGATIVE in their life to make NEGATIVE into a positive theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, August 7, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 1 week
2-Sara Lockner – 1 week (3)
3-Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks
4-Willy McAlpine – 4 weeks
5-Mike Vest – 5 weeks
6-Suzie Brannen – 6 weeks
7-Sabas Hernandez – 6 weeks
8-Sheri Fakhouri – 8 weeks
9-Monica Jennings – 9 weeks
10-Logan Kahler – 9 weeks
11-Nathanial Brown – 10 weeks
12-Jesse Howard – 10 weeks (2)
13-Tamara Peterson – 13 weeks
14-Alexis Stensland – 18 weeks
15-Mindi Terrell – 25 weeks (3)
16-Brandon Kahler – 49 weeks
17-Linda Bennett – 54 weeks
18-Sarah Toot – 55 weeks (3)
19-Angie DeWaard – 59 weeks
20-Dawn Krause – 63 weeks (2)
21-Kim Barker – 69 weeks
22-Joe Duff – 70 weeks
23-Teresa Kahler – 81 weeks (3)
24-Carla Stensland – 81 weeks
25-Micky Augustin – 83 weeks
26-Andy Sharp – 84 weeks
27-Bill Wentworth – 85 weeks
28-Cathie Morton – 89 weeks
29-Elizabeth Nordeen – 90 weeks
30-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 92 weeks
31-Kio Dettman – 94 weeks
* Susanna Funk – 1 week

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


WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Hickory Grove Park – Story County, Iowa) – 84 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (High Trestle Trail – Boone County, Iowa) – 93 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 70 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Ann Arbor, Michigan) – 55 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 7 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa State Fair – Des Moines, Iowa) – 11 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 95 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa)

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 60 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Dallas, Texas) – 71 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 11 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Des Moines, Iowa) – 10 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 50 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 10 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 82 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 64 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 90 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 91 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - TAMARA PTERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 14 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 85 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 19 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 82 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 26 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 56 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE -
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 6 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 86 weeks

WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Orpheum Theater – Minneapolis, Minnesota)

29 participants! Subtracting last week’s 33 participants, creates a negative 4. But 29 is still pretty good considering it is somewhat of an abstract theme.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

33 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 60% of the way there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Vallunareju Norte – Peru
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I took my picture 226 miles from my front door. But in a state that has already been marked. I continue to not contribute.

The big milestones this week were Monica and Logan reaching The Double Digit Streak Club. WooHoo! Mindi reached The Half Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Becky’s 3 week streak ended. Willy’s 4 week streak is gone. Sabas’ 6 week streak is no more.

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 414 - ART
ART

ART! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is an ART photo? Simply put, it is a picture of an existing piece of ART. You could simply find a piece of ART and stand back and take a picture of it. But I would urge you to take an ARTistic look at a piece of an ART. Take a picture of it from a different angle. Take a picture of only part of the picture. Take a picture of it in its environment. Other possibilities are to take pictures of an ARTist making a piece of ART or tools made in the creation of ART. There are just so many possibilities.

While considering possible subject for your submission, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt your ART submission will be a new piece of ART all its own:

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.
-Stella Adler

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of NEGATIVE in this place that started with a pile of negatives next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 412 – SELF-PORTRAIT

SELF-PORTRAIT! Maybe not the most artistic theme, but on the other hand, it is a chance for some of you to introduce yourself to the rest of you. But did a bunch of people do that? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 31, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
2-Willy McAlpine – 3 weeks
3-Scott Degeneffe – 4 weeks
4-Mike Vest – 4 weeks
5-Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks
6-Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks
7-Sheri Fakhouri – 7 weeks (2)
8-Monica Jennings – 8 weeks
9-Logan Kahler – 8 weeks
10-Nathanial Brown – 9 weeks
11-Jesse Howard – 9 weeks
12-Tamara Peterson – 12 weeks
13-Alexis Stensland – 17 weeks (3)
14-Mindi Terrell – 24 weeks (3)
15-Brandon Kahler – 49 weeks
16-Linda Bennett – 53 weeks
17-Sarah Toot – 54 weeks (2)
18-Angie DeWaard – 58 weeks
19-Dawn Krause – 62 weeks
20-Kim Barker – 68 weeks
21-Joe Duff – 69 weeks
22-Teresa Kahler – 80 weeks (2)
23-Carla Stensland – 80 weeks
24-Micky Augustin – 82 weeks
25-Andy Sharp – 83 weeks
26-Bill Wentworth – 84 weeks
27-Cathie Morton – 88 weeks
28-Elizabeth Nordeen – 89 weeks
29-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 91 weeks
30-Kio Dettman – 93 weeks (3)

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


WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Washington D.C.) – 1 week

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Altoona, Iowa)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Washington D.C.) – 1 week

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Bella Vista, Arkansas) – 3 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (The Outlets at Orange – Orange County, California) – 6 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 6 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 9 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - NATHANIAL BROWN
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)- 10 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa) – 10 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 13 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 18 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 50 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 54 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Sedgefield Country Club – Greensboro, South Carolina) – 55 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Sedgefield Country Club – Greensboro, South Carolina)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Sedgefield Country Club – Greensboro, South Carolina)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Nebraska – probably) – 59 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 63 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Fort Madison, Iowa) – 69 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 70 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Gretna, Nebraska) – 81 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Gretna, Nebraska)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Gretna, Nebraska)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Don Williams Lake – Ogden, Iowa) – 81 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Room M4470B, Converse, 4th Floor, Friley Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA)

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Undisclosed Location – Iowa) – 83 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Las Vegas, Nevada) – 84 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 85 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 89 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 90 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp – Spirit Lake, Iowa) – 92 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 94 weeks

WEEK 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa) – 516 weeks

32 submissions this week! That is a pretty great week! Plus, thanks to Sarah Toot, we’ve now added South Carolina to the map! WooHoo!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ Nevada
+ South Carolina
+ Texas
+ Washington D.C.

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

33 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 60% of the way there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I took my picture about 1 mile from my front door, so I continue not to contribute.

Both Nathanial and Jesse joined the Double Digit Streak Club. WooHoo! But it wasn’t all good news. Scottie D.’s streak came crashing to a halt at 4 weeks. The humanity!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 413 - NEGATIVE
NEGATIVE – SUGGESTED BY ANGIE DEWAARD

NEGATIVE! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a NEGATIVE photo? NEGATIVE might be an abstract theme that might be hard to wrap your mind around at first. But there are multiple types of NEGATIVE. There are simply bad things or things you don’t like. In the theme reveal picture there are dead sunflowers, which is a NEGATIVE. Plus, I inverted the colors so it looks like an old school NEGATIVE. You know a film NEGATIVE. So you could just edit a photo so that colors are inverse. That would be a NEGATIVE. So it could be something that is a NEGATIVE in your life. Like bad weather or work. Or it can simply mean rejecting something. A disagreement. Or in science (and electricity) there is also NEGATIVE. I think once you put your mind to it, you will come up with something that is NEGATIVE. Maybe some of you still have physical film NEGATIVE(s).

While considering possible subjects for your NEGATIVE picture meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with an interesting picture:

It’s as if my life were magically run by two electric currents: joyous positive and despairing negative – whichever is running at the moment dominates my life, floods it.
-Sylvia Plath

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of NEGATIVE in this place that started with a pile of negatives next Monday.

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest – 2023

This weekend is Pufferbilly Days. So all the work the me and so many others have put into the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest is now on display and will also be on display tomorrow at Art in the Park.

I will get into all the people that helped and the fact that entries more than doubled for the 2nd straight year at a later date.

But here is a look at the winners:

YOUTH – TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

#111
1ST TPA: Emarose Davis-In the Air

#102
2ND TPA: Kayelee Burns – Welcome to Boone

#89
3RD TPA: Brantlee Staebler – Wing Cart

YOUTH – PLANTS

#116
1ST PLANTS: Daphne Harris-Up to the Sky

#96
2ND PLANTS: Trevor Upah – Tulips

#97
3RD PLANTS: Trevor Upah – Vines

YOUTH – PLACES

#92
1ST PLACES: Layla Gorshe-City Sky

#93
2ND PLACES: Layla Gorshe – Hudson Yards

#90
3RD PLACES: Evie Gorshe – The Inbetween

YOUTH – PEOPLE

#108
1ST PEOPLE: Emarose Davis – Kitten Love

#95
2ND PEOPLE: Trevor Upah – Mom and Scarlett

#86
3RD PEOPLE: Brantlee Staebler – I’m Happy

YOUTH – BLACK & WHITE

#99
1ST BLACK & WHITE: Kayelee Burns – Hungry Bee

#107
2ND BLACK & WHITE: Emarose Davis – Sheep on the Cliff

#112
3RD BLACK & WHITE: Daphne Harris – Dragonfly

YOUTH – ANIMALS

#103
1ST ANIMALS: Hazel Davis – Kitty Cat

#113
2ND ANIMALS: Daphne Harris – Duck Duck

#106
3RD OVERALL: Emarose Davis-In the Air

YOUTH OVERALL

#92
1ST OVERALL: Layla Gorshe-City Sky

#116
2ND OVERALL: Daphne Harris-Up to the Sky

#111
3RD OVERALL: Emarose Davis-In the Air

TEEN – PLANTS

#79
1ST PLANTS: Noah Davis – Flowers

#120
2ND PLANTS: Tommy Williams – Moss on Tree

TEEN – PLACES

#121
1ST PLACES: Tommy Williams – Light Shining through Corridor at ISU

#83
2nd PLACES: Simon Enabnit – My Backyard

TEEN – BLACK & WHITE

#118
1ST BLACK & WHITE: Tommy Williams – Barbed Wire with Clouds

#75
2ND BLACK & WHITE: Emma Wiebold – Crossroads Motel

#77
3RD BLACK & WHITE: Emma Wiebold – Evil Mabel

TEEN – ANIMALS

#76
1ST OVERALL: Emma Wiebold – Hen in Clover

#81
2ND ANIMALS: Simon Enabnit – Playful Kitty

#82
3RD ANIMALS: Simon Enabnit -Why, Hello There

TEEN OVERALL

#76
1ST OVERALL: Emma Wiebold – Hen in Clover

#118
2ND OVERALL: Tommy Williams – Barbed Wire with Clouds

#121
3RD OVERALL: Tommy Williams – Light Shining through Corridor at ISU

ADULT – TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

#74
1ST TPA: Nathanial Brown – Sun Up to Sun Down

#67
2ND TPA: Alex Grimes – 102 Seconds of Building

#58
3RD TPA: John Roberts – Fast Colors

ADULT – PLANTS

#17
1ST PLANTS: Savannah Martin-Dawn of the Dahlia

#3
2ND PLANTS: Monica Jennings – Corn Rows

#27
3RD PLANTS: Jolene Bowman – Haze

ADULT – PLACES

#72
1ST PLACES: Nathanial Brown – Narrow Pass

#41
2ND PLACES: Logan Kahler – Quiet Curve

#35
3RD PLACES: Dawn Krause – Iron Mountain Road

ADULT – PEOPLE

#73
1ST PEOPLE: Nathanial Brown – Burning the Midnight Oil

#66
2ND PEOPLE: Alex Grimes – Tattoos as Rings

#70
3RD PEOPLE: Nathanial Brown – Ride Fast

ADULT – BLACK & WHITE

#39
1ST BLACK & WHITE: Logan Kahler – Veiled Beauty

#16
2ND BLACK & WHITE: Savannah Martin – Shattered Dreams

#71
3RD BLACK & WHITE: Nathanial Brown – Sold Out

ADULT – ANIMALS

#49
1ST ANIMALS: JoAnne Korpi – Mr. Will on the Hill

#26
2ND ANIMALS: Allison Kayser – Froggy Feeder

#56
3RD ANIMALS: John Roberts – Reflection? Nope

ADULT – OVERALL

#73
1ST OVERALL: Nathanial Brown – Burning the Midnight Oil

#49
2ND OVERALL: JoAnne Korpi – Mr. Will on the Hill

#39
3RD OVERALL: Logan Kahler – Veiled Beauty

BEST IN SHOW

#73
Nathanial Brown – Burning the Midnight Oil

The only thing left to determine in the People’s Choice Award. If you are interested in voting, first go here to see ALL the entries:

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Entries – 2023

Then go here to vote:

People’s Choice Award Poll

Choose wisely.