Category Archives: Black & White

WPC – WEEK 442 – ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP! One of my favorite ways to spend a day. Also one of my favorite themes! But did it inspire enough people to leave their house to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out?

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, February 26, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 2 weeks (2)
2-Stehanie Kim – 2 weeks
3-Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
4-Willy McAlpine – 4 weeks
5-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks
6-Monica Jennings – 6 weeks
7-Suzie Brannen – 8 weeks (2)
8-Lowell Davis – 8 weeks
9-Michelle Haupt – 8 weeks
10-Alexis Stensland – 8 weeks (2)
11-Brandon Kahler – 9 weeks
12-Scott Degeneffe – 27 weeks (2)
13-Sabas Hernandez – 28 weeks
14-Mike Vest – 33 weeks
15-Sheri Fakhouri – 37 weeks (2)
16-Logan Kahler – 38 weeks (2)
17-Nathanial Brown – 39 weeks
18-Jesse Howard – 39 weeks
19-Tamara Peterson – 42 weeks
20-Mindi Terrell – 54 weeks (2)
21-Linda Bennett – 83 weeks
22-Sarah Toot – 84 weeks
23-Angie DeWaard – 88 weeks
24-Dawn Krause – 92 weeks (2)
25-Kim Barker – 98 weeks
26-Joe Duff – 99 weeks
27-Teresa Kahler – 110 weeks
28-Carla Stensland – 110 weeks (2)
29-Micky Augustin – 112 weeks
30-Andy Sharp – 113 weeks
31-Bill Wentworth – 114 weeks
32-Cathie Morton – 118 weeks
33-Elizabeth Nordeen – 119 weeks
34-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 121 weeks
35-Kio Dettman – 123 weeks

Reminder. 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.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

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 442 - ROAD TRIP - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Central BBQ – Southaven, Mississippi) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - DEANNA MCCLAIN
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 1 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Indiana) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Indiana)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, New York) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Woodward, Iowa)- 7 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Boone County, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Des Moines, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Saint Paul, Minnesota) – 10 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 28 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (35 South Near Ames, Iowa) – 29 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP -
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 34 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SHERI FKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Red Lobster – West Des Moines, Iowa) – 38 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 39 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Ames, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Des Moines, Iowa) – 40 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa) – 40 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 43 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa) – 55 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 84 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 85 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 89 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 93 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Estes Park, Colorado) – 99 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Dacono, Colorado)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 100 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 111 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP -
Carla Stensland (Polk City, Iowa) – 111 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP -
Carla Stensland (Polk City, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Huxley, Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Alleman, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Omaha, Nebraska) – 114 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 115 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 119 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 120 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Norwalk, Iowa) – 122 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 124 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Ames, Iowa) – 546 weeks

37 participants! That is a great week! Up one from last week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Colorado (2)
+ Indiana (2)
+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Mississippi (1)
+ Nebraska (2)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (1)

Thanks to the travels of Mary, we added Indiana to the list! Thanks to Adam’s travels, we’ve added Mississippi!

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

+ Arkansas (3)
+ California (1)
+ Colorado (4)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Iowa (343)
+ Indiana (2)
+ Kansas (16)
+ Michigan (4)
+ Minnesota (2)
+ Mississippi (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (12)
+ New York (6)
+ Pennsylvania (8)
+ South Dakota (2)
+ Texas (16)
+ Vermont (1)

17 states so far! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple states:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX)
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT)
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN)
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO)
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN)
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD)
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE)
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS)

Mary has joined the list of people that have submitted from 3 states. Jen maintains her 1 state lead to be crowned the Queen of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Travel! I’ll keep workshopping that name. But I might buy a crown for the winner. Just another idea I’m spitballing.

There were a couple of big milestones reached this week. Brandon hit the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! But Joe Duff 10 upped him and reached the Triple Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo!

It wasn’t all fun and games though. Not all rainbows and unicorns. Monica’s streak ended at 6 weeks. Suzie’s is no more after 8 weeks!

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 443 - SENTIMENTAL
SENTIMENTAL (SUGGESTED BY JOE DUFF)

SENTIMENTAL! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! It will be interesting to see what people find gets them all filled up with sentiment!

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 all be sharing your idea of SENTIMENTAL in this place in this place that is mostly purple because I am sentimental next Monday.

Your Friends are Mine, You Know, I Know

I took a few pictures for the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES. In fact, I even took a road trip along the old Lincoln Way backroads to Marshalltown to take a few photos.

Here is the collection of images that didn’t make the cut:


Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

It was decent little road trip. With only one weird experience. But we’ll tackle that at another time.

We Broke Up a Month Ago

I took a few pictures for the THE WEEKLY CHALLENGE theme CIRCLE a week or so back. Thought I would share with you all the ones that were good enough to make the cut. Most of these were taken in McHose Park, but a few were taken in other locations. But all in Boone.

Here are the alternates:


Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

I do love a good shape theme! It is a theme that makes you look at the world in a slightly different way (SPOILER: that is what all the themes should do) as you see how shapes fit together to make the entire picture you see. It is a great exercise to help you improve your compositional skills. Maybe next year I should do some combined shape themes. Like SQUARE AND TRIANGLE. A submission would have to include both of them. I’m starting to fall in love with my own idea. I’m sure that is the first time that has ever happened.

WPC – WEEK 438 – CIRCLE

EDITOR’S NOTE: It is possible that this will publish late this week. I am getting my taxes done at 11 this morning and when this publishes is dependent on how long that takes. BIG BUCKS! NO WHAMMIES!*

CIRCLE! 360 degrees of fury! But is there enough fury in a CIRCLE to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, January 22, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Myriah Sharp – 1 (2)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks
3-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
4-Monica Jennings – 3 weeks
5-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks
6-Lowell Davis – 4 weeks (2)
7-Michelle Haupt – 4 weeks
8-Alexis Stensland – 4 weeks (2)
9-Brandon Kahler – 5 weeks
10-Mary Green – 6 weeks (2)
11-Scott Degeneffe – 23 weeks (2)
12-Sabas Hernandez – 24 weeks
13-Mike Vest – 29 weeks
14-Sheri Fakhouri – 33 weeks (2)
15-Logan Kahler – 34 weeks (2)
16-Nathanial Brown – 35 weeks
17-Jesse Howard – 35 weeks (2)
18-Tamara Peterson – 38 weeks
19-Mindi Terrell – 50 weeks (2)
20-Linda Bennett – 79 weeks (2)
21-Sarah Toot – 80 weeks
22-Angie DeWaard – 84 weeks
23-Dawn Krause – 88 weeks
24-Kim Barker – 94 weeks
25-Joe Duff – 95 weeks (2)
26-Teresa Kahler – 106 weeks
27-Carla Stensland – 106 weeks (2)
28-Micky Augustin – 108 weeks
29-Andy Sharp – 109 weeks
30-Bill Wentworth – 110 weeks
31-Cathie Morton – 114 weeks
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 115 weeks
33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 117 weeks
34-Kio Dettman – 119 weeks (2)

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.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

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 438 - CIRCLE - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - JASON STENSLAND
Jason Stensland (Lake Waubay, South Dakota) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - JASON STENSLAND
Jason Stensland (Lake Waubay, South Dakota)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -
Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -  SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Johnston, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa)- 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Ames, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 7 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 24 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 25 weeks

WPC - WEEK 438 - CIRCLE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 30 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 34 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 35 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Jefferson, Iowa) – 36 weeks

WPC - WEEK 438 - CIRCLE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 36 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 39 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 51 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 80 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (New York City, New York) – 81 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Des Moines, Iowa) – 85 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 89 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 95 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -  JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 96 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -  JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Ankeny, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 109 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Mason City, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska)- 111 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 115 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 116 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 118 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) 120 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 542 weeks

38 participants! That is a new high for this year!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ New York
+ South Dakota
+ Texas

Thanks to Jason’s trip to South Dakota and Sarah’s trip to New York, we can add those to this year’s list!

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

+ Hawaii (2)
+ Iowa (195)
+ Kansas (8)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Nebraska (6)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (5)
+ South Dakota (2)
+ Texas (9)

The big milestone this week was the first ever submission from Jason! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Myriah couldn’t build on last week’s submission and her streak was over before it even began!

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 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES
TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES – POTENTIAL PUFFERBILLY DAYS CLASS

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES! 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 all be sharing your idea of TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES in this place in this place that was heavily influenced by a book on trains next Monday.

*There were no BIG BUCKS! But there were also NO WHAMMIES! But at least I didn’t owe any money.

Jagged Little Road Trip II

Here is the balance of images from the quick road trip I took with Jesse up to see Bethany, Nora, and the musical JAGGED LITTLE PILL.

Some of these are at that art park. The others are from around the Orpheum.


Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip
Do you think this was left by Cindee and Randi or somebody that is doubling it up in their love life?

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

So how was “Jagged Little Pill” you might be asking?

It was okay. There isn’t much there-there as far as the story goes. Although that is a generic criticism that could be made of most musicals. It definitely feels like a stretch to make the songs fit the storyline. It is definitely worth seeing, but I don’t know I would go see it again. Once seems enough.

The Orpheum Theater is beautiful, but if you are of the female persuasion, the bathroom situation is a bit of a disaster. Go before you get to the theater. That is a Photography 139 Orpheum Theater Pro Tip! If you are a dude, it ain’t great shakes, but you are a dude, so it is still quite a bit better.

All in all, it was a fantastic trip! Go to see Rancho Deluxe. Got to hang with Bethany and Nora. Got to eat a great breakfast. Got to see a cool art park. Got to see a good musical. Got to hang with Jesse. 10 stars. Would recommend!

WPC – WEEK 435 – UGLY

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day! I forgot to mention this last Monday cause it had slipped my RADAR. The Computer Mine doesn’t care about civil rights all that much, so while government employees, schools, and bankers get the day off, I’ll be working it to the bone all day.

I don’t know if it the type of holiday where you say “Happy (insert holiday here)!” While it is definitely good to honor the man and all of the civil rights accomplishments this country has made over the years, there are large swaths of this country where basic human rights are not only being threatened, they are being walked backwards by regressionist political policies.

I mean, they are banning books! You want to know who the bad people are. Every single time in history, the bad people were the ones banning books! Always!

As always, I like to share a photo when celebrating a holiday. Here is a picture of the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.


MLK Jr. Day

The Civil Rights Museum was built on the same property where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. One of those rare times where a place that was the scene of tragedy was turned into a place of veneration and education.

As you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. today don’t act like the battle for basic human rights is over. The fight is as alive today as it was in King’s day.

+++++++

UGLY! This was a theme I thought I might struggle with. After all, I’m a person that doesn’t find much to be UGLY. I mean, more than a few of you have had me text you pictures of public bathrooms. I love old. I love rusty. I love the unusual. I love the weird. It is hard for me to find something that is UGLY. Besides racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, antisemitism, xenophobia, jingoism, misogyny… you know… the basic tenets of hatred. But to find out if other people took camera in hand to photography something UGLY, you will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, January 8, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week
2-Lowell Davis – 1 week
3-Susanna Funk – 1 week
4-Michelle Haupt – 1 week
5-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
6-Alexis Stensland – 1 week
7-Brandon Kahler – 2 weeks
8-Mary Green – 3 weeks (2)
9-Scott Degeneffe – 20 weeks
10-Sabas Hernandez – 21 weeks
11-Mike Vest – 26 weeks
12-Sheri Fakhouri – 30 weeks (2)
13-Logan Kahler – 31 weeks
14-Nathanial Brown – 32 weeks
15-Jesse Howard – 32 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 35 weeks (2)
17-Mindi Terrell – 47 weeks (2)
18-Linda Bennett – 76 weeks (2)
19-Sarah Toot – 77 weeks
20-Angie DeWaard – 81 weeks
21-Dawn Krause – 85 weeks (2)
22-Kim Barker – 91 weeks
23-Joe Duff – 92 weeks
24-Teresa Kahler – 103 weeks (2)
25-Carla Stensland – 103 weeks (2)
26-Micky Augustin – 105 weeks
27-Andy Sharp – 106 weeks (2)
28-Bill Wentworth – 107 weeks
29-Cathie Morton – 111 weeks
30-Elizabeth Nordeen – 112 weeks (2)
31-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 114 weeks
32-Kio Dettman – 116 weeks

Heading into this week, this is the 2024 THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE SUBMISSION MAP:



Maybe the map will get more filled in today!

Reminder. Here is the updated 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 5.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

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 435 - UGLY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 106 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Sommerset, Iowa) – 115 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 92 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 77 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY -  LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WPC 435 - UGLY - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa) – 33 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Rural Boone County, Iowa) – 21 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 82 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 93 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

WPC 435 - UGLY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 117 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Rieman Music – Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 435 - UGLY - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Mercy Hospital – Des Moines, Iowa) – 31 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Mercy Hospital – Des Moines, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 22 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 33 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 435 - UGLY - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 32 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 104 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 86 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 112 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 36 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Boone County, IA – 216th Dr. Near Ogden) 104 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Boone County, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 48 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 78 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 27 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 108 weeks

34 participants! That is a pretty great week!

There were submissions this week were taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

No new states added this week.

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Michigan
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

There were some big milestones this week. Sarah joined the Year and Half Streak Club! WooHoo! Both Carla and Teresa both joined the 2 Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all happiness and rainbows. Willy couldn’t build on last week’s submission. His streak is over before it even began.

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 436 - BREAKFAST
BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEEKLY 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 all be sharing your idea of BREAKFAST in this place that like a little #wafflelife next Monday.

2024 Photography 139 Calendar Rejects: The Ending

Time to share the rest of the images that were rejected for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. Some of these are similar to ones included in the calendar. They come from a wide range of projects. From auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT to alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE to some just good old flowertography


2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

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2024 Calendar Reject

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2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

There is still one more post about the 2024 calendar left. Then we can put it to bed or up on some walls.

2024 Photography 139 Calendar Rejects: The Beginning

Time to share the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. The December image. It is an image of an abandoned (methinks) church I found in northeast Iowa on a THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trip:


2024 Calendar - December
DECEMBER

I chose this image for December because I usually like to either use a cold picture or some religious imagery for the December image. This picture might not scream “Christ is born!” but it is of a church. Not a lines are straight.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: August 20, 2022 – 12:34 PM
LENS: 28-75 f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
EXPOSURE TIME: 1/5000
ISO: 100

It was converted to black & white in Photoshop.

That is it, that is the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. But while those 13 images were selected for the calendar, they weren’t the only ones considered. Not by a long shot. There were 73 other images considered and not included. But I would like to give them some love.

Here is the first collection of reject images:


2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

There still another 36 images that didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t mean that won’t make the cut next year. The cover image for the 2024 Calendar was rejected for the 2023 calendar. Share the rest on Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday.

And They’ll Think that I am So Exciting

It is time to share the November image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar image. It is a picture of the redbud trees in Red Haw State Park.


2024 Calendar - November
NOVEMBER

I chose this picture for November because it had purple in it.

TECHINICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: April 29, 2023 – 12:23 PM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm
APERTURE: f/6.3
EXPOSURE: 1/160
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will show the last image from the 2024 calendar.

+++++++

Now is the time to clean up the May backlog. These images were taken in May, but never really fit into a previous “An Artist’s Notebook” post. Some of are Naima. Some were alternate images for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Hopefully all are of interest.

Naima

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

Wolf, Iowa

Incline, Iowa

It definitely feels good to get some of the backlog cleared out!

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!

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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.