Category Archives: Black & White

Automobiles, Black & White, Logan, Mom, Photoshop, Road Trip, Still Life, Street Photography, Teresa

All the Fleas!

July 27, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A couple months back Mom, Teresa, Logan, and I hopped into a vehicle of some kind and headed due east for famous What Cheer, Iowa and it’s even more famous flea market.

It didn’t disappoint. I think a person could spend all day there and still not see all the vendors.

Here are some pictures from that trip. You’re welcome Kio!

My favorite part of the What Cheer Flea Market is that they (seemingly) allow you to climb up onto the roof of their rickety grandstand. The roof is made out of sheet metal and their doesn’t seem to be any reinforcements as you walk across it. Hoping you don’t plummet to your death. It was awesome!

Black & White, Music, Still Life, Street Photography, WPC - Alternate

Now I’ll Relate this a Little Bit

July 25, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

These pictures didn’t have what it takes to be included in this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme… THE STREETS:

If only these pictures believed in themselves, there is no telling what they could accomplish!

Black & White, Photo Journal, Photoshop, Road Trip

A Photo Journal – Henry Carroll – Page 9

July 23, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

On the last day of my vacation I took a quick sprint up to Dolliver Memorial State Park. On my way there I passed through Dayton. I stopped in Dayton to look for something to fulfill Page 9 of THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT.

I found this picture just waiting to be harvested:

Page 9 – Take a beautiful photo of something ugly.

I found a lot of ugly in Dayton and I think I managed to turn some of it into beauty. Here are a few the other contenders that didn’t get printed and taped into the photo journal:

Next time we visit the THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT, we will hit up Page 8.

Animals, Baby Got Rack, Black & White, Contests, Dad, Nature, Photoshop, Railroad, Vest

You CAN Call it a Comeback

July 17, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett 15 Comments

I can officially announce now that I have unretired from “competing” in photography contests.

For the first time in a couple years I entered photos in the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. I will have one photo displayed at the Iowa State Fair. Don’t ask me which one, because I don’t know and I’m not even sure I remember what I entered at this point. Seems like a long time ago.

However, I was inspired by Baby Got Rack competing in the barbecue contest at the Boone County Fair, I decided to enter some photos in the Open Class at that same fair. Here is what I entered:

Ionized Gas

Peas Creek

Capra

Ledges Reflection

Cole School

Each image got a Blue Ribbon. It had been approximately 15 years since the last time I entered the Boone County Fair. Seemed like it was about time and I owe a debt of gratitude to Mike Vest for getting the pictures mounted so I had something to enter.

However, that isn’t all. Here is where it gets exciting! I’ve decided to keep all this participation momentum going and enter the Pufferbilly Days Contest for the first time in maybe at least 7 or 8 years.

I’m also going to bring back the way I used to pick my Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Photos. That means I’m not going to pick at all. I’m going to let 6 lucky Photography 139 fans pick the images.

At some point later this week, I’m going to publish the following photo on Instagram:

Picture of the 1385 taken by my Dad

When that photo gets posted, the first 6 people that leave a comment on that photo stating that they want to be a Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Selector, will get there wish and be just that. They will have access to about 50 images and the picture they pick, I will enter.

If I can’t find 6 people that want to be selectors, well we will fall through that bridge when we get to it.

Animals, Black & White, Flowers, Macro, Naima, Nature, Photoshop, WPC - Alternate

But I Really Think It’s Better this Way

July 14, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

These pictured didn’t have what it takes to be included for the theme WATER in the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

If only these pictures believed in themselves, there is no telling what they might accomplish.

Basketball, Black & White, Nature, Photoshop, Ruins, WPC - Alternate

Well I Guess I Should Stick Up for Myself

July 13, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

These are the pictures that didn’t have what it takes to be included in the theme TIME for the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

Perhaps, if only these pictures had some confidence, who knows how much they could accomplish!

Black & White, History, Linda, Ruins

09-22-07/Gallery

July 1, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

The images in the folder 09-22-07/gallery are from a barn on my Aunt Linda’s rental property.

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve trains.

Black & White, Formal Portrait, Logan

9 Emotions Project – Logan

June 30, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

A couple weeks back Logan became the latest person to sit for the 9 Emotions Project:

In case, you’ve forgot the emotions:

Joy

Sadness

Anger

Amusement

Fear

Jealousy

Surprise

Sympathy

Boredom

I still have my eye on several of you posing for this project… Andy, Scottie D., Nader, Baier, Alisa, Shawn, Russell, Alexis, Elainie, Johnathan, Brandon… the list goes on. Maybe this would be a good activity if I bring back the birthday party in 2018. Hmmmmm…

Animals, Black & White, Dad, Flat Earth Joe, Flowers, Micky, Mom, Nature, Underwater, WPC - Alternate

Then I Wonder How Much I Can Spend

June 27, 2017 Christopher D. Bennett

The final NATURE stop I made was to Lake Augstin. Here are those pictures:

Our run in with a snapping turtle reminds me of a story from my childhood.

One day a snapping turtle showed up in the driveway of my first boyhood home. In my mind it was tied down, but I’m not sure how you would do that. I apparently got very close to the turtle because, well turtles, despite being cowards, are awesome. This lead to a generalized freakout by my Mom.

But where did the turtle come from?

My Dad was riding home from work with a co-worker named Buzz Lee when they saw a snapping turtle crossing the road. They stopped. Picked it up and threw it in the trunk of Buzz Lee’s car. Eventually the turtle went to my Great Uncle Harold who cooked him up and we ate him for supper one night. While that turtle ended up as food, he did get his revenge. While in the trunk of Buzz’s car he at a bunch of the wiring to the car’s taillights. Everything had to be replaced.

I salute that turtle for not going down without a fight!