Category Archives: Iowa State

End of an Era

December 1, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett

I’ve finally swallowed enough pain to post a few pictures from the last Iowa State-Nebraska football game.

There were only two day home games for the Cyclones this year, so I only took my camera to two games. I didn’t take many pictures because the games were exciting enough to cheer.

So here are a few pictures of the pictures I did take:

Initially I thought “Avoid the Stork” was a ridiculous sponsor for the Nebraska game, but then I remembered that most Nebraska fans probably think that babies come from storks. Then they duct tape them to the wall.

He wasn’t the best or most consistent QB in Cyclone history, but I’m going to miss the heck out of Arnaud. His letter to Iowa State fans after the season was over is up there with the locker room celebration in Lincoln last year as greatest Cyclone moments in the last few years.

I’m going to miss the heck out of Alexander Robinson as well.

Hoping for big things from Darks next year!

I’m going to miss the heck out of Jake Williams as well!

Not going to miss Bo Pellini and his childish outbursts. At least his brother didn’t punch a cameraman after this game.

Flat out one of the best traditions in all of college athletics AND it is uniquely CYCLONE!

I’m not going to rehash anything that happened in the game. I’m just going to conclude with saying that I’ll miss this game, but I won’t miss sharing The Jack with the inbred hillbillies that comprise the Nebraska fanbase. I only wish that Cooter Ray Cornholer was parody.

Angie, Football, Iowa State, Julie, Shannon, Vest, WPC - Submissions

RWPE #44 – Hands

November 8, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett

There were a fair amount of submissions for last week’s theme HANDS. Here are the submissions:

Christopher D. Bennett

Angie DeWaard

Julie Johnson

Mike Vest

Shannon Bardole

The Random Generator has been fired up and it has spit out an interesting theme for this week.

Diagonal Rule

This is a somewhat technical theme, so let me quote from Picture-Thoughts:

The Diagonal Rule states that a photograph looks more dynamic if the objects fall or follow a diagonal line. The diagonal line doesn’t have to be an actual line and it doesn’t have to be a straight one. It could be the edges of a river, the top of a forest, or even an imaginary line connecting the different objects in the scene.

There is more of a technical definition that involves math, but for our purposes, I think just have the subject follow a diagonal line is more than enough to think about.

It is a good theme, so I hope that there are plenty of submissions for next week.

Derrick, Football, Iowa State, Music

Cyclones vs. Jayhawks

October 30, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Here are a few pictures from Iowa State’s victory over Kansas that I watched with Derrick.

Warmups

The pre-game cheer thing was a disaster. Jeff Johnson showed up late and then didn’t seem to know what he was doing.

Cy in the Tunnel.

Sandvig on the Coverage

Benton and Knott with the Tackle

Lenz’s Punt Return for a Touchdown

Cy’s Halloween Costume

Baton Twirling

ISUCFVMB (If you have to ask what that stands for, you aren’t a real Cyclone fan.)

1st and Goal

Robinson Touchdown

Reynolds Comes Close to a Touchdown Grab

Woody’s First Career Touchdown

The Beginning of Shontrelle’s 33 Yard Touchdown Dash

The Middle

The End

Van Der Kamp is only a Freshman, but he is already a stud.

“I”

Cyclone Defense

I’m hoping for a similar result against Nebraska this Saturday.

Dawn, Football, Geri, Iowa State, Photoshop, Shannon, Vest, WPC - Submissions

RWPE #37 – Hope

September 20, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

I’m very excited to announce that there were 3 brand new first time contributors. Shannon Bardole, Angie Dewaard and Geri Derner all contributed photos for the first time ever. Hopefully they will find it addictive and become regular contributors.

Here are this week’s submissions for HOPE:

Mike Vest

IMAGE LOST
Geri Derner A

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Geri Derner B

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Dawn Krause

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Shannon Bardole

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Angie DeWaard

Christopher D. Bennett

Looks like Dawn has gotten back on the writing horse! Here is her poetry contribution:

Walls Against Hope

Hope is a diabolical trade
it sets the heart and soul to be played
a chance for broken dreams to be filled
compromising the soul to be killed

If I told you how I felt today
would you take those thoughts and run away
or would you stay to comfort my heart
and give me reason to trust our start

The music sounds different to my soul
there’s part of you that makes me whole
If my heart trusts to reveal that thought
would the fulfillment be all I’ve sought

Walls against hope are in our nature
keep us from rising up in stature
Secret desires, wishes to fill
to let them out is a bitter pill

I’ve been down to the cave where the Random Theme Generator is housed. I answered its riddle and it gave me the theme for this week:

FACE

This is another great and easy theme. After all, everybody has a face or at least they know somebody that has a face. I hope to see many contributions next week. Hopefully some new faces as well. (Terrible pun intended.)

Flowers, Iowa State, Macro, Personal Photo Project

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 23 Beta

June 27, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett

The rest of the “Well-Shaped Girl” photos.

Personal Photo Project #23 Alternate - Well-Shaped Girl

Flowers, Iowa State, Macro, Personal Photo Project

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 23 Alpha

June 25, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

This week’s Personal Photo Project was to take some photos of the flowers at Reiman Gardens. I’m going to split these pictures into two separate posts to maximize the appreciation of these pictures. At least that is my goal.

Well-Shaped Girl

Here are a few other pictures from the Well-Shaped Girl Sessions.

More Reiman Gardens pictures on the morrow.

Animals, Art, Black & White, Formal Portrait, Grandma, Iowa State, Logan, Mom, Teresa

Reiman Gardens

May 27, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett 5 Comments

I spent a good portion of Sunday wandering Reiman Garens with Mom, Grandma, Teresa and Logan.

Don’t believe me?

Here is photographic evidence:

I learned plenty about gnomes. I might just have to invest in a gnome someday, but the gigantic toad in the Reiman Gardens gift shop might be calling my name first.

Football, Iowa State, Personal Photo Project

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 17

May 14, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett

The Personal Photo Project of the Week for this week is a little bit different than previous projects because it isn’t necessarily a designed photo, but more like an event that I wanted to photograph. This is the type of event that I have photographed many times in the past, but this one is different because it might be the last one.

I downgraded my “donation” this year and thus I have no clue where my season tickets for Iowa State’s football season will be. Therefore, I highly have my doubts that I will be taking my camera to any of Iowa State’s football games this season.

When I was taking pictures of the Spring Game, my goal was to get pictures of the players on the sideline.

I only identify 1 player by name because if you don’t know the Cyclones by their number are we really friends?

#38 is my new favorite Cyclone. Even with his helmet he is as short as the girl next to him. According to Iowa State’s roster, his name is Trenton Bledsoe. He is 5-5 and weighs 146 pounds! This guy has some testicular fortitude to walk out on the field. He actually got in the game and caught a pass and wasn’t killed! I’ll definitely be rooting for him as his Cyclone career advances!

There are a few other images in the Iowa State Cyclones Football – 2010 Gallery:

Iowa State Cyclones Football – 2010

I don’t have any analysis to provide. I don’t think you really learn anything watching the Spring Game, but the weather was very nice.

Carla, History, Iowa State, Mom, Work

Happy Mother’s Day, Slacker

May 9, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Thursday was my Mom’s last day showing up on the job. She isn’t “officially” retired yet, because she has to file some paperwork, but she doesn’t have to get up and go to work ever again.

Yesterday, I took a tour around my Mom’s work history. Here is the photographic results.

Where Heritage Park lies now used to be a small restaurant called Bon Apetite. This was her first job.

Where the Boone and Scenic Railroad’s Downtown Depot sits now, used to be The Hamburger Inn. It had 7 seats and hamburgers were 15 cents. This was her second job.

In the building that currently houses the wretched Taco John’s used to be Arctic Circle. I only have vague memories of Arctic Circle. I remember that there were seats that were shaped like animals. I miss those almost as much as I miss the train shaped booths in the North Grand Mall Hardee’s and the airplane shaped booth in the Duff Hardee’s. My Mom briefly worked at the Arctic Circle after the owners of The Hamburger Inn bought the Arctic Circle. Then Carla was born and she didn’t really work for over a decade.

This garage and the lean-to that is attached to the back is all that remains of our old residence on West 15th Street. The garage used to be the Bennett Antique Store where Mom sort of “worked” along with various flea markets with Dad.

Mom started at Iowa State when we moved to Greene Street. She started at Wallace-Wilson.

Then she moved to Oak-Elm.

Her final stop was Linden.

So now Mom is officially-unofficially retired. A great way to celebrate Mother’s Day!

Animals, Art, Black & White, Candid Portrait, Flowers, Iowa State, Macro, Nader, Nature, Shannon, Vacation, Willy

Vacation Day 6 – Campus

May 8, 2010 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

I don’t recall if I woke up in my own bed or on my own couch on Thursday morning, but I definitely slept good and solid after getting home close to midnight the previous night. I think that I was able to fall asleep rather quickly after the 3.5 hour Funyun and Grape Faygo fueled drive.

I met Shannon for lunch at Battle’s. She explained to me her current sources of stress. I explained to her the Christopher D. Bennett Apathy Method of Stress Management. Although she possesses the intellect to grasp the basic tenets of the system, I have my doubts that she will give up her stress to the brilliance of my system.

After Shannon returned to work I picked Nader up from the west Ames location of the Evil Clown Empire. Since VEISHEA we had discussed spending part of a day on the beautiful Iowa State campus taking pictures. I had one spot in mind in particular to complete a Personal Photo Project, but those pictures will have to wait until it is their turn to be revealed to the world.

However, here is quite a sizable collection of other pictures that I took on that day:

Nader by one of his favorite trees.

Nader next to his favorite picture.

After the time on the ISU campus we hit a movie and had dinner. It was a perfectly acceptable way to conclude the month of the Lone Wolf Off. I have yet to submit the panel to the 3 judges, but I have no doubt that I won this baby with ease! I think Willy has even conceded and fully endorsed the fact that he is The Salmon!