Category Archives: Nature

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.

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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!

To Find You

Time to share the September image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture of grass taken at Ledges.


2024 Calendar - September
SEPTEMBER

I selected this picture for September because it suggests fall.

CAMERA DETALS
CAMERA: SONY ILCE-7M4
DATE: OCTOBER 15, 2023 – 5:08 PM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 20mm
APERTURE: f/8
EXPOSURE: 1/1000
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the October image!

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You were staring at your bedroom wall
With only ghosts beside you
Somewhere out where the wind was calling
I was on my way to find you
I was on my way to find you

And you were racing like a cannonball
And roller skates and sky blue
Or in the backseat watchin’ the slow rain falling
I was on my way to find you

Gotta find out who I’m meant to be
I don’t believe in destiny
But with every word you swear to me
All my beliefs start caving in
Then I feel something’s
About to change

So bring the lightning
Bring the fire, bring the fall
I know I’ll get my heart through
Got miles to go but from the day I started crawlin’

I was on my way to find you
I was on my way to find you
I was on my way every day
I was on my way to find you

-Written by Gary Clark
Performed by Sing Street

This is the 3rd song from a John Carney movie to be used as a journal entry title. It comes from the movie SING STREET. I think this is the weakest of the John Carney movies, but it is still pretty great.

The plot of the movie follows Conor who starts a band to impress Raphina, a girl he barely knows. A common theme. Dudes getting into art to impress chicks.

I won’t cover the rest of the movie. But I highly recommend it to anybody that loves music from the 80s.

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography session is dedicated to irises:


Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Next Thursday will involve more irises!

Sausage Fest

Time to share the January image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It was taken on a foggy morning on the High Trestle Trail Bridge:


2024 Calendar - January
JANUARY

Part of the reason I selected this image for January was it suggested the cold of January to me. Especially since it was taken in January.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: January 3, 2023 – 12:32 PM
LENS: E 70/180mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 180mm
APERTURE: f/4.5
EXPOSURE: 1/500
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the image from February.

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A few weeks ago I was invited by Michelle to attend one of her family traditions. Their annual making party. I took plenty of pictures. Here are a few of them:


Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

The sausage dried for 24 hours and was smoked the next day. I have some of it in my freezer just begging to be cooked up. Probably should do that soon!

But Don’t Tell Me You’re Sorry, Boy

Today is Veterans Day. A day that celebrates all those who served in the U.S. Military.


Buchanan County

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans I know! And to the ones I don’t know too.

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Time to hit up the backlog again. These pictures are from March and they just didn’t fit into any previous post. Some are sunset pictures. Some are from Gretchen’s birthday party. Some are pictures of gas stations.

Have a look:


But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures of Gretchen or Maven. I kinda suck.

There are still plenty more images in the March backlog to share.

Broken Horses

I have worn the jester’s bells and I have vanished with the fools
I have worshiped at the altar of the puppet master’s rules
I have held my tongue too many scenes before the final act
With my children in the cheap seats and a zipper on my back
Thanks to you
No thanks to you

I have ever so politely treaded softly for your grace
I have whispered through the tears and pleaded sweetly to your face
It is time to spit you out like lukewarm water from my mouth
I will always taste the apathy, but I won’t pass it down
It dies with you
You

I wear my father’s leather on the inside of my skin
I’m a tried and weathered woman, but I won’t be tried again
Don’t think that you can come for me without your Sunday best
You had better call your priest and hope the devil gets the rest
Before I do
Oh, and I will do

Tethered in wide open spaces
In fields that lead for miles
Right into the barrel of a gun
Mendin’ up your fences with my
Horses runnin’ wild
Only broken horses know to run
-Brandi Carlile

As much as I love a good Brandi Carlile romantic song, I also love a good Brandi Carlile angry song. A “I’m going to rip your face off and stomp on it” song. I think this is my favorite Brandi angry song!

But Thursdays are for flowers and this flowertography collection comes from my yard:


Unceasing Effort - 2023

Unceasing Effort - 2023

Unceasing Effort - 2023

Unceasing Effort - 2023

Broken Horses

Broken Horses

Broken Horses

Broken Horses

Broken Horses

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Broken Horses


I certainly love alliums and strawflowers. Our next flowertography session will also take place in my yard.

Rodan139: Fraser

A couple of weeks ago I took Rodan139 out for a flight around the Des Moines River valley near Fraser. My intent/hope was to maybe get some pictures of the Boone Scenic Valley steam engine back in action, but it turns out it doesn’t go as far into Fraser as it used to. But I still got some pictures of leaves turn and only had a mildly disconcerting run-in with an area pit bull.


Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

Rodan139: Fraser

The next collection of drone photos will also be of the Des Moines River valley.

150-600

Today is the birthday of the Miller Triplets. So I must wish them happy birthday!


Baby Tri-Force 1st Birthday Party
Happy birthday Doris, Jimmy, and Billy!

This picture was taken at their 1st birthday party in 2019 so that makes them… 5! They are 5 years old?!? How did this happen!

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Back in February I purchased a new lens. It was a Sigma 150-600mm DG DN OS Sports Lens. At one point, I was going to write a long post on it with a collection of the first images I took with it. But here it is. Halfway through October and the lens is old news now, so real need to go into too much details about the specifications of the lens. But I still want to share some of the first images I took with it. I went down to the Kate Shelley High Bridge and went to Lake LaVerne and took a few pictures of Logan.

Here are those pictures:


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150-600

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150-600

150-600

150-600

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150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

150-600

On the day I went to Lake LaVerne I also hit up the Ames Library. I took pictures there for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme BOOKS. I didn’t use any of those images. Here is a collection of those:


Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

I do love that lens. It is kind of a limited purpose lens, but I should find more of those limited purpose opportunities.

WPC- WEEK 422 – #INSTAGOOD

NOTE: – AT THE END OF THE MONTH I WILL BE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR’S THEMES. THE LAST MONDAY IN OCTOBER AND THE 1ST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER ARE WHEN SUGGESTIONS CAN BE MADE. THOSE SUGGESTIONS HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THOSE POSTS. NOT VIA EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGE, TEAMS, PHONE CONVERSATION, SNAPCHAT. ONLY IN THE COMMENTS SECTIONS OF THOSE 2 POSTS. START THINKING OF THEMES YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR NEXT YEAR.

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Today is Becky’s birthday, so I must wisher her a happy birthday.


May 6, 2019
Happy birthday Becky!

I hope your birthday is as amazing as you can handle!

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#INSTAGOOD! A simple theme. Only asking people to submit the best picture they took this week. But did a bunch of people pick a best picture to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out! It will be exciting to see the best picture that people took last week!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 2, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week
2-Myriah Sharp – 2 weeks
3-Elainie Stensland – 2 weeks
4-Scott Degeneffe – 7 weeks
5-Sabas Hernandez – 8 weeks
6-Willy McAlpine – 8 weeks
7-Mike Vest – 14 weeks
8-Sheri Fakhouri – 17 weeks (3)
9-Monica Jennings – 18 weeks
10-Logan Kahler – 18 weeks
11-Nathanial Brown – 19 weeks
12-Jesse Howard – 19 weeks (2)
13-Tamara Peterson – 22 weeks
14-Mindi Terrell – 34 weeks (3)
15-Brandon Kahler – 58 weeks
16-Linda Bennett – 63 weeks (3)
17-Sarah Toot – 64 weeks
18-Angie DeWaard – 68 weeks
19-Dawn Krause – 72 weeks
20-Kim Barker – 78 weeks
21-Joe Duff – 79 weeks
22-Teresa Kahler – 90 weeks (2)
23-Carla Stensland – 90 weeks
24-Micky Augustin – 92 weeks
25-Andy Sharp – 93 weeks
26-Bill Wentworth – 94 weeks
27-Cathie Morton – 98 weeks
28-Elizabeth Nordeen – 99 weeks (2)
29-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 101 weeks
30-Kio Dettman – 103 weeks (3)

The third week of each month I like to share a map of all the state that have had pictures taken in that were submitted for this calendar year. Well, I checked my calendar and this is the third Monday of the month. Here is the map, heading into this week:



That is a lot of states filled in. In fact, going into this week, there are only 12 states that haven’t been visited and photographed by somebody that submits here. I don’t think there is any chance we will fill in the entire map this year, but we sure have gotten a lot closer than I ever would have guessed!

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 93 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 102 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 79 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa)

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Boone, Iowa) – 64 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Texas) – 2 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Faribault County, Minnesota) – 20 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 8 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 104 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 69 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 80 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - PEPPER DUNCAN
Pepper Duncan (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Santa Fe, New Mexico) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 18 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe (New Mexico) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (New Mexico) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - EVIE GORSHE
Layla Gorshe (New Mexico) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Lake Christian Home – Holt, Michigan) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Eldon, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 20 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 19 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD -
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 59 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Ada Haydn Park – Ames, Iowa) – 19 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 91 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 73 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Nerja Beach – Spain) – 9 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Cumming, Iowa) – 99 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Kansas) – 100 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 23 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 94 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD -
Alexis Stensland (Des Moines, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Highway 330 – Iowa) – 91 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 35 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Kilmaine Saints band at Finola’s Bar – Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 65 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 15 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 95 weeks

41 participants! I think that is a new record!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Minnesota
+ New Mexico
+ Pennsylvania
+ Spain
+ Texas

Thanks to the Gorshe trip to New Mexico, we have added another state to our list.

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Hawaii
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New Mexico
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Vermont
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

39 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 75% of the way there! Every continental state west of the Mississippi is now accounted for.

This is the list of states currently missing:
+ Alabama
+ Alaska
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Indiana
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Mississippi
+ Rhode Island
+ Virginia
+ West Virginia

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Alto del Perdon – Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Ontario, Canada
+ Vallunareju Norte – Peru
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
+ Puenta de la Reina, Spain
+ St. John pied de port, France
+ Vienna, Austria
+ Munich, Germany
+ Rome, Italy
+ Cannes, France
+ Koper, Slovenia

The big, huge, monster milestone this week is Elizabeth joining the Triple Digit Club! WooHoo!

The other big milestone was the first ever submission from Pepper Duncan. I know it was a bit of a accidental Snapchat fluke that lead to the submission, but maybe it is the beginning of big things in the future.

But it wasn’t all sunshine and flowers. Myriah’s 2 week streak came to an end.

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 423 - VINTAGE
VINTAGE – Suggested by Sarah Toot

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

But what is a VINTAGE image? It is simply a picture where the subject of a major compositional element is something that is VINTAGE. So what is VINTAGE? Is it just a nice way to say old?

Yes and no.

Old but not that old. But not new. Generally speaking to be considered VINTAGE, it should be no older than 100 years old. But not newer than 20 years old. Older than 100 years is an antique. Newer than 20 years old and looks old… well that is just retro.

While considering possible subjects for your VINTAGE image, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with a great picture:

It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new.
-Tony Visconti

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

RULES

The picture has to 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 (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is it. Thems the rules!

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 VINTAGE in this place that is ran by somebody that is considered VINTAGE these days next Monday.