Category Archives: Black & White

Art, Black & White, Derrick, Flowers, Jay, Jen, Olympic Sports, Sara

09-28-08

January 5, 2019 Christopher D. Bennett

The pictures in the folder 09-28-08 are from the Des Moines Regatta.

Back in the day, Jen used to row and her team competed in the Des Moines Regatta. A rowing event on the Des Moines River that ends in Prospect Park.

On that day Derrick (duh), Sara, Jay, and I loaded into a convertible and went down to watch her.

I took a few pictures of the event.

Here are some of those pictures:

Looking at these pictures I’m reminded that I used to have friends that were foolish enough to smoke. I don’t know that I have any friends that smoke any longer.

I have friends that vape, which is kind of a trade-off. They don’t smell as bad as smokers smell, but they also constantly talk about vaping. Which is almost more annoying.

This day is also the day that will live in infamy as the Sara Film Camera Incident.

I handed Sara a film camera to hold onto while I prowled around the regatta grounds. When I came back, she told me that the camera had made a funny noise and wouldn’t take pictures.

She thought the camera was a digital camera and had shot completely through an entire role of film.

Ahhhh… memories!

By adding these images to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory:

My Saturday (Volume 1)

My Saturday (Volume 2)

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve senior pictures for Brandon.

Animals, Art, Black & White, Calendar, Christianity, Flowers, Macro, Nature, Night, Photoshop, Road Trip, Ruins, State Fair, Willy

2019 Photography 139 Calendar

January 2, 2019 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

Yes Virginia, there was a Photography 139 Calendar this year. However, I didn’t sell them this year. I just made a small run and gave them out to a very few small group of select people.

Here are the pictures from the 2019 Photography 139 Calendar:

The front cover is a picture of William McAlpine peering through the hole in a brick. It was taken in the backyard of the Photography 139 Studio. It was taken for the FRAMED theme of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

This photo was entered into the 2018 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. It was accepted for display.

Willy is the first person to appear in a Photography 139 Calendar since the 2012 Calendar featured a final rendition of THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT that included images of AmyJunck-Wallendal, William McAlpine, Derrick Gorshe, Shannon Bardole, Jesse Howard, Jennifer Gorshe, Sara Junck, Jill Gorshe, and Jay Janson.

The January image was taken on a very foggy Christmas Eve morning. It was taken facing northeast from the road in upper Ledges State Park.

This image was entered in the 2018 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. It was selected for display.

The February image of a red hibiscus was taken in the Photography 139 Flower Garden in 2017.

Unfortunately, the hibiscus did not survive the winter and did not return to the Photography 139 Flower Garden in 2018.

The March image is of a lily is located in the Photography 139 Flower Garden. It is located in a designated lily patch near the birdbath.

While this macro photo might appear to be one image, it is actually the product of a technique called focus stacking. This image is actually 7 images with different focus ranges stacked one on top of the other.

This photo was nominated for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest, but it lost the popular vote and was not entered.

The April image was taken at The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa. It was taken on a road trip with my Office Buddy Joe Lynch. It was taken with the in-camera black & white HDR setting.

This image was taken for THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT. The theme of the image was to go some place “touristy” and take a “non-touristy” picture.

The picture of Mary holding a crucified Jesus was selected for April to coincide with the celebration of Easter.

This image was entered in the Photoshop category of the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. It won 1st Place.

The May image is of the sculputre Skallagrim by Peter Lundberg. Skallagrim is located in the Franconia Sculpture Park near Shafer, Minnesota.

I took this photo on a trip there with Bethany, Dae Hee, and Nora.

The image is HDR toned and is used as the base image for a Small World image.

The June image was taken on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. It was taken on the Liberty Bowl Road Trip I took with Russell Kennerly and Jesse Howard to watch the Iowa State Cyclones defeat the Memphis Tigers.

The image was originally taken in color and was transformed into black and white in post production.

The July image is of a hollyhock from the Photography 139 Studio Flowerbed. This pink hollyhock grew in the dedicated hollyhock patch along the north fenceline.

This macro image was taken while experimenting with a new set of extension tubes.

This image was nominated for the flower category for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest, but was not entered.

The August image was taken in the midway of the Iowa State Fair. It was taken for THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT. The theme of the picture was to take a picture of something that is “nondescript during the day.”

The image was taken when I was able to sneak away during a break in the action of Baby Got Rack’s competitive barbecue competition.

The image was HDR toned in post-production.

The September image was taken of a grasshopper at Big Creek State Park near Polk City, Iowa. The image was taken for THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT. The theme for this image was to create a playlist and listen to it while taking pictures. The playlist I selected was the BABY DRIVER SOUNDTRACK. I was listening to the song “Bongolia” by Incredible Bongo Band when I took this image.

The October image of a ram lounging was taken in Badlands National Park in South Dakota. The image I was taken on the way home on a road trip I took with my Mom to Mount Rushmore.

This image was voted to be entered in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest in the Nature Category.

The November image was taken at the Iowa State Fair in the Discovery Garden. It was originally taken in color and converted to black and white in post-production.

It was nominated for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest in the Nature Category, but it was not entered.

The December image of an abandoned dump truck was taken in Boone, Iowa near the south terminus of Division Street.

The image was color processed through the Color Efex Pro 4 plugin during post production.

The image was nominated for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest in the Hidden Treasures of Boone County category, but was not entered.

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There are a few calendars to handout, but for the most part delivery has finished. Almost on time this year.

Alisa, Animals, Art, Baby Got Rack, Becky, Black & White, Blogging, Boone County Fair, Carla, Contests, Dae Hee, Dawn, Derrick, Flowers, Holidays, Jay, Jen, Jesse, Kim, Macro, Mom, Nader, Nature, Photoshop, Politics, Railroad, Road Trip, Sara, Scottie D., Self-Portrait Project, Shannon, State Fair, Teresa, Travel, Vest, Willy

Post #3252 – 2018 Year in Review

January 1, 2019 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Happy New Year to people who celebrate such things.

I like to look at some meaningless statistics every 250 posts and I also look at fairly meaningless year end statistics.

Just so happens that I get to combine them today!!

Here is both a year in review and a celebration that I have made it to 3252 blog posts. I was on the Alamo Bowl Road Trip visiting submarines, cults, and reality television stars when post #3250 came around, so I hope you can excuse the tardiness.

The first thing I want to look at are the most popular CATEGORIES in the history of “An Artist’s Notebook”.

Top 10 Journal Entry Categories

1. Portrait – 527
2. Weekly Photo Challenge – 504
3. Flowers – 497
4. Animals – 405
5. Jesse – 361
6. Photography – 355
7. Shannon – 320
8. Teresa – 296
9. Black & White – 291
10. Carla – 280

Top 10 People Categories

1. Jesse – 361
2. Shannon – 320
3. Teresa – 296
4. Carla – 280
5. Jay – 279
6. Mom – 277
7. Derrick – 256
8. Willy – 227
9. Vest – 221
10. Jen – 209

Top 10 Not-People Categories

1. Portrait – 527
2. Weekly Photo Challenge – 504
3. Flowers – 497
4. Animals – 405
5. Photography – 355
6. Black & White – 291
7. Road Trip – 262
8. Personal Photo Project – 261
9. Life – 234
10. Nature – 215

“Photography” and “Life” are general categories that I have been working on eliminating as I go back and restore historical “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory. Hopefully they will have both dropped off the Top 10 Lists by journal entry #3500.

If you are wondering how to become a Top 10 person on this list. The easiest way is to submit to the Weekly Photo Challenge. After that, the best way is to volunteer to model and photo assist for photography projects. Then after that, I would suggest going on road trips with me or attending Iowa State athletic events with me or going on road trips to Iowa State athletic events with me.

The people that are right outside of the Top 10 are:: Sara, Kim, Dawn, Becky, and Nader.

If you are looking for a goal for 2019, you could do worse than trying to crack the Photography 139 Top Ten People Category List. You obviously could do way, way, way, way, way, way, way better too.

Now we will turn out eye towards 2018.

Top 10 Most Popular Photography 139 Galleries of 2018 by Views

1. 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT – 48,722
2. WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE YEAR 5 – 37,614
3. WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE YEAR 5 – ALTERNATES – 33,622
4. 2008 – JANUARY – JUNE – 26,032
5. SELFIE PROJECT – 2017 – 23,141
6. HOUSTON MISSION TRIP – 2018 – 22,046
7. SOUTH DAKOTA TRIP – 2017 – 21,868
8. BOONE COUNTY FAIR CONTEST NOMINEES – 2018 – 17,211
9. SAYDIE HOWARD – CLASS OF 2017 – 14,808
10. IOWA STATE CYCLONES FOOTBALL – 2018

The 10 Most Popular Photography 139 Images by Views

1. 2524

2. 2386

3. 2327

4. 1958

5. 1621

6. 1456

7. 1445

8. 1321

9. 1293

10. 1241

On the Instagram, these were my 9 Most Popular Photos based on Likes:

My theme for my 2018 Instagram posts was Black & White. My theme for 2019 will be HDR Toning. Also, I will be bringing back THE SELFIE PROJECT to Instagram in 2019.

You can follow me on Instagram here:

@christopherdbennett

I entered 3 photo contests with the following results:

Red Ribbon – Boone County Fair

Purple Ribbon – Boone County Fair

Blue Ribbon – Boone County Fair

Selected for Display – Iowa State Fair

Not Selected for Display – Iowa State Fair

Selected for Display – Iowa State Fair

Not Selected for Display – Iowa State Fair

1st Place Photoshop – Pufferbilly Days

1st Place Photojournalism – Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

3rd Place Hidden Treasures of Boone County – Pufferbilly Days

Pufferbilly Days

Last note:

My goal for 2019 is the same as it was in 2018:

I’m gonna step my game up and get what is coming to me.

Good luck in 2019 everybody!

Animals, Black & White, Candid Portrait, Nader, Naima, Self-Portrait

Naima and Nader

December 18, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett

I took Naima to Dickcissel back in May. Nader joined us on that day.

Nader joined Willy as the only person to join Naima on our trips to Dickcissel Park. Most people are afraid of the snakes and the mud.

Most people are soft:

The last time I published pictures of Naima that I took while I was driving, I was told that I was brave. That is all the encouragement I need to keep doing it!

I’m sure you are wondering if I’m every going to publish pictures that aren’t of Naima again. Don’t worry, I’ll feed you baby birds.

For those that can’t get enough pictures of Naima. Don’t worry. I’ll feed you baby birds.

Animals, Basketball, Black & White, Iowa State, Naima, Photoshop, WPC - Reminder

Naima Car Ride

December 14, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

I still haven’t got back to THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT, so instead of that, enjoy these pictures of Naima riding in a car.

Yes, I was driving while I took these pictures. I’m pretty sure that is safe.

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Here is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is SPORTS/GAMES:

SPORTS/GAMES

A SPORTS/GAMES photo is any photo that involves creatures involved in SPORTS/GAMES. Or a pictures of SPORTS/GAMES equipment.

Happy photo harvesting!

Animals, Black & White, Flowers, Naima

Naima Cissel

December 13, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett

I was lying when I said I have a ton of pictures of Naima tromping all over Dickcissel Park.

Here is yet another collection of them:

Don’t worry, there are plenty more Naima pictures in the hopper!!

Black & White, Brog Frog, Derrick, Jay, Jen, Jesse, Jill, Kelly, Monica, Sara, Weddings

08-24-08

December 1, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett

The photos in the folder 08-24-08 are from Jen and Derrick’s wedding.

I didn’t intend to take any pictures at this wedding as I have always had a pretty strict anti-Uncle Bob policy. However, Jen insisted I take some pictures.

I took the pictures that are “behind the scenes”. Kelly took the pictures during the ceremony.

Here are some pictures:

By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory:

The Wedding of the Year (Part 1)

The Wedding of the Year (Part 2)

The Wedding of the Year (Part 3)

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve an Iowa State football game.

Black & White, Micky, Photo Journal, Self-Portrait, WPC - Reminder

A Photo Journal – Henry Carroll – Page 23

November 30, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett

Last night was the lighted parade in Boone. While I was walking around the mean streets of urban Boone, it dawned on me that it was a perfect opportunity to knock out Page 23 of THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT:

Page 23 – Photograph a shadow

To make image more unique, I really leaned into the contrast and clarity of the image to make it somewhat film noir. I like to think THE OUTER LIMITS.

While I was up at the lighted parade I got a somewhat indecent proposal from Santa Claus, but I’ll share that at a later date.

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Reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is COMMUNICATION:

COMMUNICATION

A COMMUNICATION photo is any photo of creatures engaging in COMMUNICATION. A dog’s tail wagging. COMMUNICATION. Sign language. COMMUNICATION. Smoke signals. COMMUNICATION. Bumper stickers. COMMUNICATION. They are saying, I’m not worth getting to know.

Happy photo harvesting!

9 Emotions Project, Alexis, Anders, Andy, Animals, Baby Got Rack, Baier, Bethany, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Brandon, Carla, Colleen, Derrick, Elainie, Flat Earth Joe, Iowa State, Jay, Jesse, Johnathan, Jorge, Laura, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Mom, Nader, Naima, Nate, Nora, Russell, Sara, Shannon, State Fair, Tenderloining, Teresa, Tim, Willy

Blessings – 2018

November 22, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving! It is the time of year where we are supposed to count our blessings.

I thought I would share a few of my current blessings:

I am blessed with a great family!

I have plenty of friends that share my love for the Cyclones!

I have a job I don’t hate going to, where I work with several people I don’t want to punch in the face.

I have an amazing church family!

I have an amazing friends family!

I’m blessed to share my life with Naima!

This is really just a handful of the blessings in my life! But I’m already getting this out late, so I’ll cut if off here. I’ll just end with a passage from a Rob Bell NOOMA video that really spoke to me:

“So the verse in First Timothy, it says command those that are rich to not put their hope in wealth… and then it goes on and it continues… and it says, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

That phrase, a God that richly provides us with everything. All that we have is a gift.

Food. It is a gift.

Clothes. Gift.

Roof. Gift.

That breath you just took. It’s a gift.

Now there are some that will say: No, you don’t understand. I’ve worked for what I have. I deserve it. It is mine. But like it says in the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 8: You may say to yourself, my power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the Lord your God, because it is God that gives you the ability to produce wealth.”

I thank God for the embarrassment of riches in my life!

Animals, Becky, Black & White, Cathie, Micky, Naima, Railroad, Shannon, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 166 – PETS

November 20, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

Heads up that next week we will be back on our normal schedule of Monday WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE drops into the foreseeable future.

PETS did get a few people revved up and taking pictures. Although not as many as I would’ve thought. Some of you people don’t love your PETS nearly enough. You need to get on that.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about loving PETS. You came here to see the submissions:

Cathie Raley

Shannon Bardole-Foley

Teresa Kahler

Tamara Peterson

Christopher D. Bennett

Becky Parmelee

Micky Augustin

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:

? PLACE

? PLACE! What a great theme! But what is a ? PLACE theme. Take the question mark out and replace it with where you are from or where you are at. So it could be a BOONE PLACE or an IOWA PLACE for me, since I’m not planning on traveling anywhere this week. The idea is basically taken from the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon that has categories like Iowa Place, US Place, or International Place. The idea for this category is to take a picture of a PLACE in you area. A PLACE that is well known or famous. At least to the people in your area.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

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That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very well placed Monday.