Category Archives: Music

Art, Black & White, Contests, Formal Portrait, History, Jesse, Monica, Music, Pufferbilly Days, Still Life, Street Photography, Travel

Home of the Blues – Day 2 – Sun Records II

September 20, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

A reminder that this weekend is Pufferbilly Days and with that comes the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Here is a map of where to find all the entries:

Here is the flyer on how to vote for the People’s Choice Award:

Or you can click on this link:

People’s Choice Award Voting

To see all the submissions, click on this link:

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Entries

Big thanks to Monica for designing the flyers!

There were 162 entries this year! And this contest couldn’t have happened without so many wonder volunteers, but I’ll get into all that stuff in a future post.

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Now I proudly present the rest of the pictures from Jesse and I’s trip to Sun Records:

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2 - Sun Records

Still one more collection of images from Day 2 of the Memphis Trip left to share!

Art, Christianity, Music, Street Photography

Highland Park

September 18, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Back in March, when I went to a sketchy mall to get my TSA Pre-Check, I stopped in the Highland Park neighborhood in Des Moines to do a small bit of street photography.

Check it out:

A pretty cool little neighborhood!

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

WPC – WEEK 470 – MUSIC

September 16, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

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

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

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 9, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

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

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

36 states!

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

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:

Micky Augustin (Iowa)- 141 weeks

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

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Outside of Jane, Missouri)

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 127 weeks

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

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks suzi

Nathanial Brown (Albert Lea, Minnesota) – 68 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Pierce, Nebraska)

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 117 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 56 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 128 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 66 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 27 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

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

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 67 weeks

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

Dawn Krause (Fraser, Iowa) – 121 weeks

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

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 14 weeks

Cathie Morton (Des Moines, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 148 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Debb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

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

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

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

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

Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 113 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 83 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 17 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 143 weeks

37 participants! That is a pretty solid week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

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

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

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

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

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN) – 11
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

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

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

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

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:

PARK

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

I look forward to your interpretation.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of PARK in this place that that is a bit of a respite from the world next Monday.

Art, Birthdays, History, Jesse, Jonah Kahler, Music, Street Photography, Travel

Home of the Blues – Day 2 – Sun Records I

September 13, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Today is Jonah’s birthday, so I have to wish him a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Jonah!

I hope your birthday is filled with getting to run around as much as you want!

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Since the game ended up being a bit of a dud, I think the trip to Sun Records was the highlight of the trip. Just to stand in a place where so many of the greatest songs in history were recorded was humbling!

If you don’t know, here is a very abbreviated synopsis of the history from their website:

The Sun Sound began when Sam Phillips launched his record company in February of 1952. He named it Sun Records as a sign of his perpetual optimism: a new day and a new beginning. Sam rented a small space at 706 Union Avenue for his own all-purpose studio. The label was launched amid a growing number of independent labels. In a short while Sun gained the reputation throughout Memphis as a label that treated local artists with respect and honesty. Sam provided a non-critical, spontaneous environment that invited creativity and vision.

As a businessman, Phillips was patient and willing to listen to almost anyone who came in off the street to record. Memphis was a happy home to a diverse musical scene: gospel, blues, hillbilly, country, boogie, and western swing. Taking advantage of this range of talent, there were no style limitations at the label. In one form or another Sun recorded them all.

Then in 1954 Sam found Elvis Presley, an artist who could perform with the excitement, unpredictability and energy of a blues artist but could reach across regional, musical and racial barriers.

He helped form the beginnings of the Sun Sound by infusing Country music with R&B. Elvis’s bright star attracted even more ground-breaking talent to the Sun galaxy. Listed among his contemporaries and lab mates were Johnny Cash, the inimitable Jerry Lee Lewis, and the “Rockin’ Guitar Man”, Carl Perkins. These four soon became known as the Million Dollar Quartet. Right behind them came Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Bill Justis, Harold Jenkins (a.k.a. Conway Twitty) and other equally memorable musical talents. All eventually sold on Pop, R&B and Country charts and grew to international fame.

Rockabilly became the major evolution in the Sun Sound. Lyrically it was bold; musically it was sparse; but it moved. In the 1950’s Country music rarely used drums that were so vital to jazz, blues, and jump bands. In fact, drums were prohibited on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. However, Rockabilly drums played an essential role in driving teens across the nation to become enamored with the Rockabilly movement and the revolutionary Sun Sound. Once again, Sun was able to break new ground recording music of unparalleled diversity in an incubator of creativity.

Inherent in the music of Sun is a vibrancy that survives to this day. Sincere, passionate music. Music that has stood the test of time. It is music that has reached across race, age and gender boundaries. It reflects the diversity and vision of the talent that recorded on the Sun label, and indeed, American popular culture itself.

Here is the first collection of images I took at Sun Studio:

Still, plenty more pictures from Jesse and I’s trip to Sun Records to share!

Alexis, Art, Automobiles, Brandon, Carla, Christianity, Dahlia, Elainie, History, Holidays, Jason, Jesse, Johnathan, Jonah Kahler, K.J., Logan, Music, Olympic Sports, Russ, Sabas, Street Photography, Teresa

Forever A Cyclone State!

September 11, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I need to start today’s post by remembering the victims of the terrorist acts on our country that happened on September 11, 2001. Hard to believe it was 23 years ago. I can still vividly remember almost everything about that morning. I’m sure almost everyone that was alive on that day can do the same thing. I won’t recount my experience. It was much different than most people on that day. Instead I will share this photo of a mural on the wall of the VFW in Valley Junction:

The victims of the day should never be forgotten. The heroes of that day should also never be forgotten.

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On Saturday, a redshirt-freshman-walk-on-kicker that has only been playing football for a few years, stepped up on the field in Kinnick Stadium and boomed a 54 yard field goal right through the middle of the uprights. A kick that would have been good from 64 yards. That kicks gave the Cyclones a 20-19 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Cyclones second straight win in Kinnick. Their 4th win in the last 6 trips to Kinnick. And in some ways, it provided a little bit of healing for my family. Not a ton, but some.

As many of you know, it was a terrible week last week for my family. That is an understatement. My brother-in-law Russ, the father of Brandon and Logan passed away on Saturday, August 31. Russ’ health was failing, but it still came as a shock and much quicker than I expected. Teresa called me early Saturday morning and gave me the news. God I wish that was the only one of those phone calls I got those few days.

On Monday, September 2, Jesse and I went to Perry to take part in the RVTV festivities that accompany Cy-Hawk Week. I have never went to a town that was hosting RVTV besides when Boone hosted them a few years back. I don’t think I’m saying anything that isn’t common knowledge, but Boone did a pretty poor job as a host.

On the other hand, Perry knocked it out of the park. There were several blocks of activities and vendors.

Jesse and I had stopped and were talking to a painter. She was telling her story about how she had found God and become sober 5 years ago. Then God called her to be a painter. As she was telling us that story my phone rang. It was Jason. I might have normally not answered my phone because of the conversation I was engaged in, but Jason doesn’t call often, so I figured it was important. So I excused myself from the conversation and took the call.

On the other end was Carla not Jason. Which worried me a little bit, but not completely uncommon. Carla sometimes loses her phone. But this wasn’t one of those times. Carla proceeded to tell me that Jason’s only brother Justin had been killed in a car accident.

Damn it! When it rains it damn well pours!

I gave Carla my condolences, I think. Poorly tried to explain how terrible all of this was. Thinking about Jason. And Johnathan. And Elainie. And Alexis. And Jason’s parents. And Justin’s wife. They had just been married a few months back. Then I hung up and inserted myself back into the discussion with the Christian artist and the colors she used reflected how much light was in her life compared to when she was abusing.

I went though the rest of the night taking pictures of the events. Eating at The Tin Pig.

The rest of the week kinda flew by. Jason and Carla went to Colorado for Justin’s ceremony. Russ’ visitation was on Friday night. His funeral was on Saturday, before the Cy-Hawk game.

For the funeral, the boys picked 3 different Rush songs to be played. “Tom Sawyer”, “Fly By Night”, and “Spirit of the Radio”. Since Adam is out the church brought in a Pastor from Bagley to do the ceremony. He did a good job and I was most impressed with how he incorporated the lyrics to “Fly By Night” into the service.

Start a new chapter
I find what I’m after
Is changing every day
The change of a season
Is enough of a reason
To want to get away

Quiet and pensive
My thoughts apprehensive
The hours drift away
Leaving my homeland
Playing a lonehand
My life begins today

After the funeral I hosted Brandon, K.J., Logan, Dahlia, Jonah, Johnathan, Elainie, Sabas, Jesse (briefly), and Teresa.

Once Scott, after losing one of his parents, asked me “when is it normal again?”

I told him what I think is as honest as I can be, “It never is normal again. You just have to adjust to what is now the new normal”.

I hope just watching the game and rooting on the Cyclones… All of us screaming at the television as the field goal was in the air… Freaking both Dahlia and Bokeh out… brought a small sense of normal to their worlds. And maybe just a touch of healing.

Here are pictures I took at RVTV in Perry on Labor Day:

After the game was over the family slowly dispersed. Before Brandon left, he stood up and looked at Bokeh and said, “You’ve got big shoes to fill. But you’ll get there.”

Then he said he was going to the cemetery on his way home to tell his Dad that the Cyclones had won.

Adam, Amy, Andy, Angie, Bill, Black & White, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elainie, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Music, Nathanial, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Self-Portrait, Shannon, Sheri, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 469 – SELF-PORTRAIT

September 9, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

You may recall last week that I gave Micky an extension because he was in a place where he could only communicate via satellite phone. Here is his SQUARE photo:

WPC - WEEK 468 - SQUARE - MICKY AUGUSTIN

Micky Augustin (Chicago, Illinois) – 139 weeks

On the other news from last week’s streaks, Adam’s trending in the right direction. I don’t know if he is back taking photos, but if you keep scrolling, you will find out.

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SELF-PORTRAIT! A great theme! But were enough people in touch with themselves to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 9, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

*1-Deb Powers – 1 week (MT, IA)
2-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
3-Jesse Howard – 2 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
4-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks (IA, MD)
*5-Amy Peterson – 2 weeks (IA)
6-Monica Jennings – 4 weeks (IA)
7-Sara Lockner – 5 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
8-Willy McAlpine – 8 weeks (IA)
9-Deanna McClain – 12 weeks (IA, MN)
10-Mike Vest – 16 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
11-Sabas Hernandez – 21 weeks (IA, OH)
12-Lowell Davis – 35 weeks (IA, MO)
13-Michelle Haupt – 35 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
14-Brandon Kahler – 36 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Scott Degeneffe – 54 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
16-Sheri Fakhouri – 64 weeks (IA, NE)
*17-Logan Kahler – 65 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
18-Nathanial Brown – 66 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
19-Tamara Peterson – 77 weeks (IA, MN)
20-Mindi Terrell – 81 weeks (IA)
21-Linda Bennett – 110 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
22-Sarah Toot – 111 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
23-Angie DeWaard – 115 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
24-Dawn Krause – 119 weeks (IA, IL)
25-Kim Barker – 125 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*26-Joe Duff – 126 weeks (TX, NY)
*27-Teresa Kahler – 137 weeks (IA, NE)
28-Carla Stensland – 137 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
29-Micky Augustin – 139 weeks (IA, IL, FL)
30-Andy Sharp – 140 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
31-Bill Wentworth – 141 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
32-Cathie Morton – 145 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
33-Elizabeth Nordeen – 146 weeks (IA, OH)
34-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 148 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
*35-Kio Dettman – 150 weeks (IA)

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

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

WPC - WEEK 469 - SELF-PORTRAIT - ADAM GORDON

Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 26 weeks

Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Amy Peterson (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa)

Andy Sharp (Iowa City, Iowa) – 141 weeks

Andy Sharp (Iowa City, Iowa)

Angie DeWaard (Neurology Dept, McFarland Clinic – Ames, Iowa) – 116 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 142 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Salida, Colorado) – 138 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 146 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 120 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 13 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Elainie Hernandez (Boone, Iowa)- 1 week

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 147 weeks

Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 127 weeks

Kim Barker (Cambridge, Iowa) – 126 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) -151 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 111 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 66 weeks

Lowell Davis (Muscatine, Iowa) – 36 weeks

Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 1 week

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 36 weeks

Micky Augustin (Above the Arctic Circle, Alaska) – 140 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 82 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 17 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 6 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 112 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)- 55 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Deal’s Orchard – Jefferson, Iowa) – 149 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 65 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 78 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 138 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Willy McAlpine (Goeppinger Field – Boone, Iowa) – 9 weeks

37 participants! That is a pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Alaska (1)
+ Colorado (1)
+ Iowa (37)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)

Thanks to Micky’s travels, we have added Alaska to this year’s submission map!

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

+ Arkansas (19.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1343)
+ Kansas (51)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (9)
+ Minnesota (12)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (43)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (28)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (53)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

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

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Jen has claimed the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy, Scott, and Nathanial are in striking distance. Jesse has fallen out of contention.

There were some big milestones this week. Adam’s streak returned from medical leave and he is now in the Half Year Streak Club! WooHoo! Tamara joined the Year and Half Streak Club! WooHoo! Woo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Alexis couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak was over before it began. Worst of all, Sabas’ streak comes to a crashing halt at 21 weeks. The humanity!

MUSIC

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

I look forward to your interpretation.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of MUSIC in this place that that thinks of itself as a visual symphony next Monday.

Andree, Art, Black & White, History, Iowa State, Jesse, Music, Street Photography, Travel

Home of the Blues – Day 2 – Pep Rally

September 6, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I’m leery of posting pictures from the Liberty Bowl Pep Rally and the events around it the day before the Cy-Hawk game considering how terrible the Liberty Bowl went for the Cyclones. However, if the Cy-Hawk game goes poorly for the good guys, it will have more to do with the complete lack of healthy linebackers the Cyclones will be able to put on the field and not with any kind of bad luck. At least I hope.

Here are some pictures from the Pep Rally and other such events:

Still more pictures from Day 2 to come. Next stop… Sun Records!

Art, Music, Road Trip, Still Life, Street Photography, Teresa, WPC - Alternate

Your Skin Makes Me Cry

August 28, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

To continue off yesterday’s post, this post is the beginning of the STREET PHOTOGRAPHY images I took in Oskaloosa. An underrated town.

One more collection of images of this road trip with Teresa left to share. I didn’t reach my goal of being almost done with 2023 images by the end of August, but I’m almost… almost done.

Derrick, Football, Iowa State, Music, Night

Don’t Let the Door Hit You…

July 30, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

As fall camps are starting around college football in the coming weeks, seems like a good time to share my pictures from the last time the Texas Longhorns will ever play at Jack Trice Stadium. Texas and Oklahoma are leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah are joining the Big 12 in the musical chairs that is conference realignment in college athletics. In what is possibly the stupidest thing in all of sports. The end of regional conferences in exchange for goliath national conferences. That has lead to the end of historic conferences like the Pac 12.

The Big 12 now has 16 teams that span from Orlando, Florida to Provo, Utah. The Big Ten has 18 schools that span from New Jersey to California. It is all stupid. Historic rivalries, gone. Being in the same conference with a team you might not play for years in now the norm.

Until last year the Big 12 had ten schools. It is the perfect number for a conference. You get to play everybody in football. You get to play home and home against everybody in basketball. I am sad to see that is gone. I will miss playing Kansas and Kansas State every year. Like I miss playing former Big 8/12 conference members Missouri and Nebraska. I will miss playing Oklahoma. However, I will not miss Texas. Not one bit. Not at all.

Horns down forever!

If you don’t follow the history of Conference Realignment. It goes like this.

Until the mid 1990s Iowa State was in the Big 8. Which consisted of:

+ Iowa State
+ Colorado
+ Kansas
+ Kansas State
+ Missouri
+ Nebraska
+ Oklahoma
+ Oklahoma State

Then the Big 8 merged with part of the Southwest Conference and added 4 schools to become the Big 12. They added:

+ Baylor
+ Texas
+ Texas A&M
+ Texas Tech

Letting Texas in was the worst thing that ever happened. They think they are more important than everybody else and demand perks that other schools don’t get. Which lead to schools leaving to not deal with them (and more recently money became a big motivator).

In 2011, Nebraska left for the Big 10. Colorado left for the Pac-12.

In 2012, Missouri and Texas A&M left for the SEC. No loss losing Texas A&M. That is a cult more than a school and I don’t miss them in the slightest.

To replace the 4 schools that left, they added TCU from the Mountain West and West Virginia from the Big East.

Then in preparation for Texas and Oklahoma leaving this year, the Big 12 added 4 more schools. BYU from the West Coast Conference. Cincinnati, Houston, and Central Florida from The American Conference.

Then last year the Pac-12 blew up when USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon left to join the Big 10. Leaving the other 8 schools scrambling to find a conference. Stanford and California joined the Atlantic Coast Conference. Yes, 2 schools joined a conference named after the Atlantic Ocean.

The Big 12 added Colorado back. Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah followed.

Poor Washington State and Oregon State have been left without a conference. Frankly I’d rather have them instead of Arizona State and Utah, but I didn’t get a vote.

So Iowa State was in a conference that made sense with tons of regional rivalries and drivable road games for the fans and now we are in a conference that consists of:

+ Iowa State
+ Arizona
+ Arizona State
+ Baylor
+ Brigham Young
+ Central Florida
+ Cincinnati
+ Colorado
+ Houston
+ Kansas
+ Kansas State
+ Oklahoma State
+ Texas Christian
+ Texas Tech
+ Utah
+ West Virginia

It makes zero sense. I just hope we can stay in a conference with Kansas and Kansas State and Oklahoma State. I do look forward to seeing old rivals Colorado again. I am looking forward to football season. Could potentially be a good one for the Cyclones!

Black & White, Christianity, Derrick, Holidays, Jen, Music, Olympic Sports, Politics, Still Life, Street Photography, WPC - Alternate

When You Said it First to Me?

July 16, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time to share more of the alternate BLACK & WHITE images I took on the 4th of July. This collection concludes the tiem I spent in Ames on that day. Mostly watching a parade with the Gorshes.

Still one more collection of glorious BLACK & WHITE pictures from this day left to share!