Category Archives: Pufferbilly Days

Art, Pufferbilly Days, Running, Willy, WPC - Reminder

Pufferbilly Days Race

August 26, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

I took a lot more pictures at Pufferbilly Days this year. At least I made the effort. This was for two reasons. One is because I’m going to use these images for the photo project I’m going to move onto after the completion of THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT. The second reason is simply that I was around. I’m usually not around much during Pufferbilly Days. It used to be in September and September Saturdays are for Iowa State football. However, it was extremely hot on the Saturday of Pufferbilly Days. So hot that at least one event got moved to Sunday and I believe one event didn’t happen at all.

One event that definitely did happen was the Pufferbilly Days 5K and 10K. Thankfully it was ran early in the morning, cause I can’t imagine how brutal it would have been for the athletes if the race had been run at like 5 PM like it was in 2021.

I went up there to photograph part of the race cause Willy was running in it. There are also usually plenty of other runners I know in the competition. But this year Avril and Tiffany didn’t run. Neither did Katelyn. But she is teaching in the Czech Republic for the next year. So the only runners I knew were Willy and Katelyn’s sister Erica. Them and a new friend from Carroll.

One thing that was a little dangerous about the Pufferbilly Days Race is that it ended in front of the Dutch Oven Bakery. That intersection is also where the vendors for the Craft Fair were entering Story Street to setup their wares.

I setup near this intersection because more than one driver just blasted through the barriers in attempt to go to prison for vehicular manslaughter. Hyperbole? Not by much. While standing there, a guy who was attempting to stop traffic struck up a conversation with me.

He admired my shirt. I was wearing a shirt that Sara had made for me for my birthday. It says something about how Life is like a camera. I can’t remember the exact wording. He wanted to know if he could use my camera to take a picture of me. I suddenly felt like Grant from YOUNG GUNS.

Don’t remember Grant from YOUNG GUNS? Grant was the guy that Billy the Kid strikes up a conversation with in a saloon that brags to Billy the Kid, without knowing he is talking to Billy Kid, that he is going to kill Billy the Kid.

Billy asks Grant to hold his gun because:

“I admire you, Sir. And if I can touch the gun that’s gonna kill Billy the Kid…”

Grant relents and hands the gun to Billy. After Billy admires the gun for a bit, Grant asks for it back:

“Pass her back. Son. You stroke another man’s gun like that you might as well be strokin’ his woman.”

I don’t “have a woman”, but I feel the same way about my camera. I told him that I was good, but I appreciated the offer.

After that though we had a good conversation. I learned he was from Carroll and he was there watching his wife run. He asked me for restaurant recommendations in the area and he told me about his experience with Belluci’s and the Thompson Special. He was told it had a white sauce, but was horrified when he got it and learned the white sauce is mayonnaise. It made me laugh.

The pictures of the man running next to a woman filming her with his cell phone is my new friend from Carroll.

Here are some pictures I took of the race. The first couple of pictures are of sidewalk art done by local artist (and family friend) Don Hughes. It was a tribute to the 1963 Boone High Marching Band that marched in the Rose Bowl Parade. There was exhibit at the Boone Historical Society Museum about them. The farthest the Boone High Marching Band ever traveled in my day was Pella. Which is where the infamous Chuggler Incident happened. We don’t talk about the Chuggler Incident.

Lots more Pufferbilly Days photos to come! Choo! Choo!

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This is your reminder that this week’s theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is CIRCLE:

CIRCLE

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

But what is a CIRCLE image? It is simply a picture where a major compositional element of the picture is a CIRCLE. 360 degrees of fury! There are CIRCLE(s) literally everywhere! Once you starting looking for them, it is hard to not see them everywhere.

Happy photo harvesting!

Angie, Carla, Contests, Evie, Jay, Jen, Jesse, Kim, Kio, Layla, Logan, Michelle, Monica, Pufferbilly Days, State Fair, Teresa

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Results

August 13, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Before I delve into the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest, I do know what picture and what award I got into the Iowa State Fair. It is my policy not to reveal the pictures I entered until after the State Fair is over, but your clue is don’t go all the way into the main room. Go almost into that room, then look to your left.

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I think that the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest was a success this year. Not a smashing success, but I definitely feel like it is on greater footing now. A more solid foundation. In 2021 there were only 24 pictures entered. This year that number more than doubled to 61. Which is a good number, but I won’t be satisfied until that number hits triple digits. Until we outgrow KWBG and I’m forced to find a new location.

This is how the entries broke down.

ADULT
+ BLACK & WHITE – 1 entry (I can’t put into word how this breaks my heart!)
+ HIDDEN TREASURES OF BOONE COUNTY – 3 entries
+ NATURE – 16 entries
+ PEOPLE – 5 entries
+ TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES – 6 entries
+ TOTAL – 31 entries

TEEN
+ BLACK & WHITE – 3 entries
+ HIDDEN TREASURES OF BOONE COUNTY – 1 entry
+ NATURE – 7 entries
+ PEOPLE – 1 entry
+ TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES – 0 entries
+ TOTAL – 12 entries

YOUTH
+ BLACK & WHITE – 4 entries
+ HIDDEN TREASURES OF BOONE COUNTY – 1 entry
+ NATURE – 10 entries
+ PEOPLE – 1 entry
+ TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES – 2 entries
TOTAL – 18 entries

Thank God for the Youth and teens that are holding down the BLACK & WHITE class. Once again the balance with the NATURE class was all out of whack, so next year I’m going to split them up into ANIMALS and PLANTS.

These are the winners:

Best of Show – “Pismo Beach Beauty” – Angie DeWaard

People’s Choice Award – “Just A Swingin'” – Daphne Harris

1st Place Adult Overall – “Pismo Beach Beauty” – Angie DeWaard

2nd Place Adult Overall – “The Art in Nature” – Angie DeWaard

3rd Place Overall – “La Vita Dolce” – Angie DeWaard

1st Place Teen Overall – “Edison Phonographs” – Emma Wiebold

2nd Place Teen Overall – “Happy Little Squirrel” – Simon Enabnit

3rd Place Teen Overall – “Cartwheel in the Creek” – Emma Wiebold

1st Place Youth Overall – “Light Shining on Tables” – Tommy Williams

2nd Place Youth Overall – “Fly” – Layla Gorshe

3rd Place Youth Overall – “Lake Sunset” – Reese Howie

1st Place Adult Nature – “Pismo Beach Beauty” – Angie DeWaard

2nd Place Adult Nature – “Libella pulchella” – Allison Kayser

3rd Place Adult Nature – “Lithobates castebeianus maculosus” – Allison Kayser

1st Place Adult People – “The Art in Nature” – Angie DeWaard

2nd Place Adult People – “Good Sports” – Angie DeWaard

3rd Place Adult People – “Persevere” – Jen Ensley

1st Place Adult Trains, Planes, and Automobiles – “La Vita Dolce” – Angie DeWaard

2nd Place Adult Trains, Planes, and Automobiles – “Two Tracks” – Sally Kay Whitney

3rd Place Adult Trains, Planes, and Automobiles – “Spike Driving Contest” – Bea Upah

1st Place Adult Black & White – “Zebra Bark” – Angie DeWaard

1st Place Adult Hidden Treasures of Boone County – “Through the Wires in Pilot Mound” – Angie DeWaard

2nd Place Adult Hidden Treasures of Boone County – “Mill Creek Stone Arch” – Bea Upah

3rd Place Adult Hidden Treasures of Boone County – “Sunset Over Boone” – Nicole Schecklman

1st Place Teen Nature – “Happy Little Squirrel” – Simon Enabnit

2nd Place Teen Nature – “Fence Post” – Emma Wiebold

3rd Place Teen Nature – “Garden Raider” – Simon Enabnit

1st Place Teen People – “Cartwheel in the Creek” – Emma Wiebold

1st Place Teen Hidden Treasures of Boone County – “Beautiful Garbage” – Simon Enabnit

1st Place Teen Black & White – “Edison Phonographs” – Emma Wiebold

2nd Place Teen Black & White – “Rosie the Pug” – Emma Wiebold

3rd Place Teen Black & White – “Old Tree in Pasture” – Emma Wiebold

1st Place Youth Nature – “Lake Sunset” – Reese Howie

2nd Place Youth Nature – “The Cone” – Kayelee Burns

3rd Place Youth Nature – “Black Lab Smelling Flowers” – Tommy Williams

1st Place Youth People – “Grass” – Evie Gorshe

1st Place Youth Hidden Treasures of Boone County -“Kate Shelley Museum” – Kayelee Burns

1st Place Youth Trains, Planes, and Automobiles – “Fly” – Layla Gorshe

2nd Place Youth Trains, Planes and Automobiles – “Steam Engine” – Kayelee Burns

1st Place Youth Black & White – “Light Shining on Tables” – Tommy Williams

2nd Place Youth Black & White – “Easy on Me” – Kayelee Burns

3rd Place Youth Black & White – “Snickers” – Daphne Harris

Maybe you don’t agree with the judges? Which is fine. I don’t agree with all of their decisions, but I selected a great collection of judges this year and they did a tremendous job!

Meet them:

One thing I learned this year is that a lot of people seem to think I was “the judge” or “a judge” and then when they found out I wasn’t a judge, then I didn’t really do that much. Which I think is funny, but I’m okay with people not knowing how much work goes into this and thinking the judges do all the work. If people see how much work this is, then I’m not doing my job.

I’ve already mentally selected the three judges for next year. Two of them have already committed. I’m sure the third one will commit as well, I just have to make the call. Janae will be returning and Nathanial and Logan will be rotating out. The second judge that has committed is Angie. I had been playing with the idea of whomever wins Best of Show gets to be a judge the following year. Her winning Best of Show cemented that or maybe quickcreted it for this year, at least.

While I’ve already tried to explain how much work I put into this contest. I definitely don’t do it myself. I need to thank people that helped along the way:
+ Kim Barker – Helped with label printing and only complained once, but for good reason.
+ Nathanial Brown – a judge, but also a good idea man. For example, his idea to split the youth division into Teen and Youth. Also provided sides for dinner AND most responsible for streamlining the Judges Form.
+ Kio Dettman – Got me this gig, but also is part of the Display Team. Both setting up and tearing down.
+ Janae Erickson – Judge while being super pregnant. A trooper.
+ Michelle Haupt – Did the Photo Contest Book. It looks professional because it is professional. I think she was only moderately frustrated when she would ask a question and 9 times out of 10 my answer was “I trust you.”
+ Jesse Howard – Part of the tear down team and gophered stuff between Ames and Boone for me. Including purchasing the photo stands for the overall photos.
+ Jay Janson – Designed one of the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Flyers.
+ Monica Jennings – Designed multiple Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Flyers, designed and assembled the judges board for the display case, designed and put together the certificates that went with each ribbon. She was also instrumental in putting together the display. Bossing Logan around even more than I did. Which is saying something. I got so many compliments on what the display looked like this year. I think that was a lot of Monica.
+ Logan Kahler – Was a judge. Which was big. But even bigger in my mind, was being the “inside the display case” man when putting the display together. He also provided the meat for the judgement night meal. It was delicious.
+ Teresa Kahler – Did a ton of the administrative stuff and has big ideas for streamlining that process next year with mail merge.
+ Carla Stensland – Did a ton of administrative stuff as well. She was the judges’ assistant and helped keep them moving forward.
+ The Staff of KWBG – They are all wonderful, but Jennifer in particular is VERY helpful. She put up lights so there is some lighting in there at night and fixed some of the small mistakes that were made on the administrative end.

I’ve already mentioned some of the tweaks I’m going to make for next year. There are still more to make. However, the rest I’m going to keep close to my vest for now. But I might share them when I share some of the behind the scenes pictures in the future.

However, I think there is time for one last look back. I mentioned the incredible job that Michelle did on the book. This idea is pretty much completely stolen from, I mean influenced by, the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. Michelle is a genius when it comes to making this kind of thing and I think you should click on the links below and really appreciate her work:

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Book – Easy to Read

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Book – Easy to Print

Be wary, next year I might try bothering you to get you on the photo contest team! Or even better, maybe next year you or your kids will enter. I heard more than one story about this being a great activity for parents to do with their children and grandparents to do with their grandchildren.

Art, Contests, Logan, Pufferbilly Days, Road Trip, WPC - Reminder

Plymouth and Sioux County Aux – Vol. 5

August 12, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Here is the final collection of pictures I took on my road trip to harvest the town signs of Plymouth and Sioux County.

Lots more great art:

Next time we hit the dusty trail for auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Woodbury County.

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is FAMILY:

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

But what exactly is a FAMILY photo? It is simply a picture of a FAMILY or something that comes from a FAMILY. An example might be a keepsake from a relative that has passed on. But don’t be hampered by the strict DNA definition of FAMILY. In the theme reveal image, none of the 3 people share any DNA. They were the judges for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. They are a photography FAMILY. They are in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest FAMILY. The people that come here and submit pictures are a FAMILY of sorts as well. Even though I am the only one that has met every single one of you.

I should note that I am on vacation next Monday. I don’t necessarily have plans for that day yet, but it is quite possible that there will be no reminders going out that day. Also possible the submission post might be later in the day than usual.

Happy photo harvesting!

Andy, Angie, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Pufferbilly Days, Sabas, Sara, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 360 – PEOPLE

August 8, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

PEOPLE was probably a popular theme. I even found some PEOPLE I like to photograph. Well one PEOPLE, but if the rest of the PEOPLE are good with Fran, they are probably okay PEOPLE. But to find out, you’ll have to keep scrolling. But I bet there were a ton of pictures taken at Pufferbilly Days submitted.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, August 1, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Linda Bennett – 1 week (2)
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
+ Mike Vest – 1 week
+ Brandon Kahler – 2 weeks
+ Sarah Toot – 2 weeks (2)
+ Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks
+ Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks
+ Monica Jennings – 4 weeks
+ Mary Green – 6 weeks (3)
+ Angie DeWaard – 8 weeks (2)
+ Dawn Krause – 11 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 17 weeks (2)
+ Joe Duff – 18 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 20 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 28 weeks (2)
+ Tamara Peterson – 28 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 28 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 29 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 30 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 31 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 32 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 35 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 37 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 39 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 42 weeks (4)

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:

Andy Sharp – 32 weeks

Kim Barker – 18 weeks

Micky Augustin – 31 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 38 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 29 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Sara Lockner – 1 week

Willy McAlpine – 1 week

Carla Stensland – 29 weeks

Carla Stensland

Logan Kahler – 21 weeks

Logan Kahler

Jesse Howard – 1 week

Monica Jennings – 5 weeks

Cathie Morton – 36 weeks

Joe Duff – 19 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Kio Dettman – 43 weeks

Kio Dettman

Linda Bennett – 2 weeks

Linda Bennett

Mary Green – 7 weeks

Mary Green

Michelle Haupt – 30 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 40 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 29 weeks

Sarah Toot – 3 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 33 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks

Dawn Krause – 12 weeks

Dawn Krause

Angie DeWaard – 9 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks

26 participants! That is a great week! The Photography 139 Empire stretched from North Carolina to Michigan to Texas to Kansas to California and back to Iowa this week. Possibly other places that I don’t even realize.

Only 3 streaks were broken this week. Jen and Vest couldn’t build there streak up to 2. Brandon’s 2 week streak is also history.

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:

FAMILY

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

When thinking of possible subjects for FAMILY, meditate on the following quote:

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect in each other’s life.
– Richard Bach

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of FAMILY in this place that is made is definitely a branch of my FAMILY next Monday.

Alexis, Animals, Art, Black & White, Boone County Fair, Boone FUMC, Brandon, Dad, Dahlia, Flowers, Football, Iowa State, Jay, Jesse, Johnathan, Mom, Nader, Naima, Night, Photo of the Day, Pufferbilly Days, Railroad, Still Life, Street Photography, Willy

Fat Mum Slim – July 2022

August 6, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

A quick heads up. If you were thinking of going to or entering an animal into the Pufferbilly Days Dog and Exotic Animal Show, because of the extreme heat of today it was postponed. It is now tomorrow at noon at the park on 9th and Story.

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I have another month done in the Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day Challenge. This month wasn’t as difficult as last month because they were just standard themes. I think the images I took are a fair record of my experiences in July.

July 1 – Reflection

July 2 – Letters

July 3 – Human

July 4 – I’m Working On This…

July 5 – Wall

July 6 – Bright Colours

July 7 – A Fave Place

July 8 – Out of Focus

July 9 – A Boomerang

July 10 – Behind Someone

July 11 – Interior

July 12 – Exterior

July 13 – Life

July 14 – Create A Postcard

July 15 – Where I Stood

July 16 – Pattern

July 17 – Water

July 18 – Street Photography

July 19 – A Cylinder

July 20 – Hug

July 21 – A Church

July 22 – Current Interest

July 23 – Still Life

July 24 – A Metaphor

July 25 – Beauty

July 26 – Beauty

July 27 – Countryside

July 28 – An Old Car

July 29 – Black and White

July 30 – Happy Days

July 31 – Sunday Morning

I think there was some pretty good work in July. Hopefully some good work to be done in August.

Here are the August prompts:

August 1 – I Am…
August 2 – I Love This Colour…
August 3 – I Walked Here…
August 4 – I Like To…
August 5 – I Love This Time of Day…
August 6 – I Love…
August 7 – I Made This…
August 8 – I Work Here…
August 9 – I Held This…
August 10 – I Wrote This…
August 11 – I Saw…
August 12 – I Like To Drink…
August 13 – I Stood Here…
August 14 – I Do This On Sundays…
August 15 – I Once…
August 16 – I Never…
August 17 – I Went To…
August 18 – I Read This…
August 19 – I Did This Good Thing…
August 20 – I Love This View…
August 21 – I Don’t Life To…
August 22 – On Mondays I…
August 23 – I Sat Here…
August 24 – I Like To Eat…
August 25 – I Have To…
August 26 – I Wore This…
August 27 – On Weekends I…
August 28 – I Watched This…
August 29 – I Can…
August 30 – I Can’t…
August 31 – I Believe…

I guess people will get to know me better this month… unless I can help it.

If you want to follow this project on the daily, they are posted on my Fat Mum Slim Instagram account.

@fmsbennett

Otherwise, we’ll check in on this next month.

Amanda, Andy, Baby Got Rack, Brandon, Dahlia, Football, Iowa State, Jay, K.J., Logan, Nader, Naima, Pufferbilly Days, Russ, Scottie D., Self-Portrait, Self-Portrait Project, Shannon, Teresa, Willy, WPC - Reminder

Selfie Project – July 2022

August 5, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

This is a reminder that tomorrow there is a dog and exotic animal pet show for Pufferbilly Days. A person could also enter a cat, but people don’t, cause… cat. I mean, it explains itself.

However, I give this reminder with the caveat that it is possible that the Dog and Exotic Animal Pet Show could possibly be cancelled due to heat.

Here is the information you need if you are interested:

If it goes down, I will be there to photograph it. If it doesn’t go down, I’ll probably be eating ice cream, in the air conditioning.

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It is time once again to check in with THE SELFIE PROJECT. One of the things I like about THE SELFIE PROJECT I get to take a quick look back at everything I did last month and be like, “that was last month? I thought that was forever ago!”

I think I had a pretty busy July, but you can be the judge of that.

Here are some of my favorite images:

July 1

July 2

July 3

July 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

July 9

July 10

July 12

July 13

July 14

July 15

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

July 20

July 21

July 23

July 27

July 28

July 29

July 30

July 31

Obviously there were lots of selfies that couldn’t make the cut for this month’s THE SELFIE PROJECT. Here are some of my favorite alternates:

My August calendar is pretty loaded up with Pufferbilly Days, the Iowa State Fair, and numerous TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trips all planned for the month. I’m even going to take some time off work. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just not going to work for a few days. I’m looking forward to it. I hope when we reconvene to look at my August pictures that there are some great new memories in there as well.

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is PEOPLE:

PEOPLE

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

But what is a PEOPLE picture? Well, it is simply a picture that has a PEOPLE or multiple PEOPLE in it. (Somewhere an English teacher is hanging their head so low right now.) I know. PEOPLE are vile and disgusting subjects. They are a failed species that are responsible for 99.999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the evil on this planet. Completely susceptible to propaganda. Responsible for the complete and utter raping of our planet. Avarice. Greed. War. Genocide. Racism. Homophobia. Transphobia. Misogyny. All unique products of PEOPLE. What I’m trying to say is that in the coming war between monkeys and humans, I am hard core #TeamMonkey*. I’d like to say we’ve had a good run, but all the evidence is to the contrary.

I have to admit that after some of the events of the past week, I’m still 100% #TeamMonkey in the coming Human vs. Monkey War (where do you think Monkey Pox comes from), but I think slightly better of our doomed and failed species than I did on Monday.

While thinking on possible subjects for your PEOPLE picture think on the words of the Law Giver:

“Beware the beast man, for he is the devil’s pawn.”
“Alone among God’s primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. ”
“Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother’s land. ”
“Let him not breed in great numbers for he will make a desert of his home and yours. ”
“Shun him. ”
“Drive him back into his jungle lair. ”
“For he is the harbinger of death. “

Happy photo harvesting!

Contests, Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest – People’s Choice Award

August 4, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

I know that Thursdays are for flowers, so I apologize for sullying our Thursday with a non-flower post on a Thursday. However, this information is somewhat time sensitive. By the time this publishes, hopefully, the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Display will be complete and ready for the world to see in the KWBG windows.

In 2021, there were 24 entries. This year there were 61. More than double! It still isn’t where I want it to be, but it is a big step in the right direction. Hopefully we make another good sized jump in 2023. I already have ideas on what I want to change for next year. This is a learning process and adjustments have to be made every year. It is art right? There is no such thing as perfection.

One thing I added this year was the People’s Choice Award. I completely stole, I mean I was influenced by, the old Pufferbilly Day Barbecue Contest where Baby Got Rack came home with the People’s Choice Award every year.

I had 3 excellent judges this year. All professional photographers. Trained in their fields through education and experience. But now that the “experts” have had their say, it is now time for the rest of us to have our say. It is time for the people to speak!

I want you to vote for the People’s Choice Award. It is simple enough. Every picture below has a number below it. Pick out the ONE that is your favorite or you think is the best. Doesn’t really matter to me how you pick the picture you vote for. Then at the bottom of this post, click on the link to the voting form. Once there, put in the number that corresponds with your favorite picture. Click Submit and you have voted!

The entries:

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Click on the link below to vote!

People’s Choice Award Voting Form

I will be updating the current rankings at the Photo Display every few hours throughout the weekend.

Contests, Flowers, Macro, Pufferbilly Days

My Song

July 28, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Reminder that tomorrow is the deadline to turn in your entries to the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.

Important things to note:
+ Entry Deadline: July 29, 2022 – 5 PM
+ Turn entries in at the Boone County Chamber of Commerce – 903 Story Street – Boone, Iowa
+ 3 Age Divisions: 7-12, 12-18, and 18+
+ Categories are: Nature, People, Hidden Treasures of Boone County, Trains Planes & Automobiles, and Black & White
+ Limit of 6 entries per person.
+ Picture can’t already have been entered in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.
+ Photos must be mounted on 11 x 14 foam board. Photos can be any size up to 11 x 14. Photos can be, but do not have to be matted. Mats will not be judged.
+ Entry tag should be affixed to the upper right hand corner of the back of the image. Apparently virtually nobody did this last year and Laura (the head of Pufferbilly Days) filled these out and attached them herself. Which I recently found out and makes me really disappointed in people’s ability to follow very simple instructions.
+ 1st, 2nd, & 3rd will be awarded in each photo class for each age division.
+ A Best in Show will be awarded to the overall best photograph (as determined by the 3 judges – I am not a judge, the only way my opinion would enter into any of this, is if we need a 2nd tie-breaker) and that Best in Show could come from any Age Division.
+ A People’s Choice Award will also be awarded. There will be directions on how to vote at the Photo Display. I will also (hopefully) create a way to tell you how to vote besides going to the display. If I have the skills to pay those bills.
+ Current plan is to put the display up on the morning of Thursday, August 4. But they will definitely be up on August 5.
+ Display will be taken down on the morning of Monday, August 8. Pictures can be picked up at the Boone County Chamber of Commerce definitely after 12 PM on that day.
+ You don’t have to be from Boone or Boone County to enter.

And while you are at it, you might as well get your pet ready and enter them into the Pufferbilly Days Pet Show:

Just to clarify, you can enter a cat. Just nobody ever does. Which is just a total mystery to somebody like me that thinks cats are just swell.

Also, I will be there photo-documenting the event. So you will get to see me, which is a bonus of some kind.

+++++++

Everything I do,
Surrounds these pieces of my life,
That always change,
Or hey, maybe I’ve changed.

Sometime being happy
Can be self-destructive,
Even when you’re sane
Yeah you’re only insane.

Thursdays are for flowers and this collection of flower pictures were all taken in my yard. I do need to branch out and take more flower pictures outside of my yard. I’m sure I will get on that at some point.

Man, I love me some alliums.

Art, Contests, Pufferbilly Days, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Buchanan County

July 26, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A reminder that this Friday is the deadline to enter the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest is this Friday at 5 PM. Entries should be turned in to the Boone Chamber of Commerce at 903 Story Street.

Photos will be displayed at KWBG at 824 Keeler St. Definitely starting on Friday, August 5. But the goal is to have them up Thursday morning. August 4. People’s Choice voting will begin shortly thereafter.

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Back at the end of May, I cruised around Buchanan County harvesting their town signs. It was a good trip.

Here are some facts about Buchanan County:
+ Population is 21,141. Making it the 29th most populous county in Iowa. Below Washington County and above Jones County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Independence.
+ Created in 1837.
+ Named after Senator James Buchanan, who would go on to be the 15th President of the United States.
+ Home of Iowa’s largest frying pan.
+ Major highways are: I-380, US-20, IA-27, IA-150, IA-187, and IA-281.
+ Adjacent counties are Clayton, Fayette, Delaware, Linn, Benton, Black Hawk, and Bremer.
+ Population peaked in 1980 at 22,900. Population has declined in the last two census.

The Buchanan County Courthouse is fair looking:

The Buchanan County Courthouse located in Independence, Iowa.

The Buchanan County Freedom Rock is located in Independence, Iowa.

With Buchanan County completed, here is the Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

81 counties down. 81.8% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Buchanan County:

Independence, Iowa
Independence
Celebrate our spirit!
Population: 6,064 (+98)

Jesup, Iowa – Partially in Black Hawk County
CITY of JESUP
Population: 2,508 (+12)

Fairbank, Iowa – Partially in Fayette County
Welcome to Fairbank
Population: 1,111 (-2)

Winthrop, Iowa
Winthrop
“Friendliest town for miles around”
Population: 823 (-27)

Hazleton, Iowa
HAZLETON
Welcomes You!
Population: 713 (-110)

Quasqueton, Iowa
City of Quasky
Quasqueton
Est. 1842
Population: 570 (+16)

Lamont, Iowa
Welcome to LAMONT
WEST GATEWAY to BACKBONE STATE PARK
Population: 429 (-32)

Brandon, Iowa
Welcome to BRANDON
A Little Town
We’re Proud to Call Home
Population: 341 (-32)

Rowley, Iowa
Welcome To ROWLEY
IOWA’S BEST KEPT SECRET
Population: 270 (+6)

Aurora, Iowa
Welcome to Aurora
Population: 169 (-16)

Stanley, Iowa – Partially in Fayette County
STANLEY
Population: 81 (-44)

Buchanan County is a collection of some solid signs. Even a few great ones. I don’t think there is a bad sign in the bunch. I don’t think I can single one out as the worst.

But what get the purple ribbon? Who gets Best in Show? I love Brandon’s sign because it has the frying pan on it. I love the rapids on the Quasqueton sign. I love the fact that the words “Iowa’s Best Kept Secret” are pretty much a secret on the Rowley sign. However, I think the purple ribbon has to go to Stanley and their dilapidated Tin Man town sign. I’m sure some will argue it is the worst, but I love it. Even it blows over in the next derecho.

Stanley – Best in Show – Buchanan County

There are a few alternate town signs in Buchanan County:

Quasqueton – Alternate

Stanley – Alternate

Independence – Alternate

Aurora – Alternate

Jesup – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams County

Best in Show – Appanoose County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Black Hawk County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Bremer County

Best in Show – Buchanan County

Best in Show – Buena Vista County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Cass County

Best in Show – Cedar County

Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Best in Show – Cherokee County

Best in Show – Chickasaw County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County

Best in Show – Emmet County

Best in Show – Floyd County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Fremont County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Grundy County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hancock County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Sow – Harrison County

Best in Show – Howard County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Iowa County

Best in Show – Jackson County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Jones County

Best in Show – Keokuk County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Lyon County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Mahaska County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills County

Best in Show – Mitchell County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe County

Best in Show – Montgomery County

Best in Show – O’Brien County

Best in Show – Osceola County

Best in Show – Page County

Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Best in Show – Plymouth County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Ringgold County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby County

Best in Show – Sioux County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Taylor County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago County

Best in Show – Woodbury County

Best in Show – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will look at the town signs of Delaware County.

Andy, Angie, Animals, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Contests, Dawn, Elizabeth, Fisheye, Flowers, Formal Portrait, Greyson, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Logan, Macro, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Pastor Sarah, Pufferbilly Days, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 358 – WILD

July 25, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the Mandela Effect?

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

Here is the most famous example:

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

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

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

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

Mary Green – 5 weeks

Mary Green

Michelle Haupt – 28 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks

Sarah Karber – 1 week

Sarah Toot – 1 week

Sarah Toot

Tamara Peterson – 27 weeks

Tamara Peterson

Angie DeWaard – 7 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 31 weeks

Kio Dettman – 41 weeks

Kio Dettman

Dawn Krause – 10 weeks

Sara Lockner – 4 weeks

Micky Augustin – 29 weeks

Micky Augustin

Christopher D. Bennett

Cathie Morton – 35 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 27 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Joe Duff – 17 weeks

Carla Stensland – 27 weeks

Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks

Brandon Kahler – 1 week

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 38 weeks

Logan Kahler – 19 weeks

Logan Kahler

Kim Barker – 16 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 36 weeks

Monica Jennings – 3 weeks

Monica Jennings

Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks

Andy Sharp – 30 weeks

26 participants! A great week!

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the current top streaks:

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

ODD CAMERA ANGLE

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

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

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

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

I look forward to seeing the interpretations.

RULES

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of ODD CAMERA ANGLE in this place that is my crooked look at the world next Monday.