Category Archives: Panorama

Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Drone, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Nature, Panorama, Railroad, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 374 – STRONG

November 14, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Thanks to the three people that left ideas for themes for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. I am very grateful for your suggestions. I will consider all of them, except for Andy’s last one, which was ridiculous.

So was STRONG a strong theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 1, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
3-Tamara Peterson – 1 week
4-Mike Vest – 1 week
5-Mary Green – 3 weeks (7)
6-Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks
7-Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks
8-Jesse Howard – 5 weeks
9-Sara Lockner – 7 weeks
10-Suzie Brannen – 11 weeks
11-Brandon Kahler – 12 weeks
12-Linda Bennett – 15 weeks (2)
13-Sarah Toot – 16 weeks (2)
14-Monica Jennings – 16 weeks (2)
15-Angie DeWaard – 20 weeks (2)
16-Dawn Krause – 24 weeks (2)
17-Kim Barker – 30 weeks
18-Joe Duff – 32 weeks
19-Logan Kahler – 33 weeks (3)
20-Teresa Kahler – 42 weeks (4)
21-Carla Stensland – 42 weeks
22-Michelle Haupt – 43 weeks
23-Micky Augustin – 44 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 44 weeks (2)
25-Bill Wentworth – 46 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 50 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 51 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 53 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 55 weeks (2)

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:

Kio Dettman – 56 Weeks

Kio Dettman

Mary Green – 4 weeks

Mary Green

Tamara Peterson – 2 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 54 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 47 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Linda Bennett – 16 weeks

Linda Bennett

Brandon Kahler – 13 weeks

Sara Lockner – 8 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 43 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 21 weeks

Kim Barker – 31 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks

Myriah Sharp – 1 week

Andy Sharp – 45 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 52 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 12 weeks

Monica Jennings – 18 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 4 weeks

Micky Augustin – 45 weeks

Carla Stensland – 43 weeks

Carla Stensland

Sarah Toot – 17 weeks

Cathie Morton – 51 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 44 weeks

Joe Duff – 33 weeks

Joe Duff

Dawn Krause – 25 weeks

Dawn Krause

Logan Kahler – 34 weeks

Logan Kahler

26 participants! That is a good week! But a big fall from the 30 from the previous week.

There were submissions this week from (assumptions here) Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Puerto Rico. My picture was taken about 5 miles from my front door.

There was the first ever submission from Myriah Sharp. Her picture was the one from Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico to be exact.

Elizabeth reached a huge milestone. She is the third person to join the 1 Year Streak Club. WooHoo! Nice work Elizabeth!

But it wasn’t all good times, with good friends, and strong drinks in tropical locations. There was a streak bloodbath. Evie couldn’t extend her streak to 2 weeks. Willy couldn’t either. Vest also, a one week man. Jesse’s streak was snapped at 5 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:

COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a COMMUNICATION photo? A COMMUNICATION photo is simply a photo where the subject or a major compositional element shows a form of COMMUNICATION. The theme reveal picture is of a sign that is COMMUNICATIONing that there are rules to using this parking lot. It is for church parking and no overnight parking is allowed. While signs are great at COMMUNICATIONing, there are all sorts of COMMUNICATION. The phone. A letter. A postcard. Talking. Just talking to somebody.

While considering possible subjects for your COMMUNICATION image, meditate on the following quote:

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
-Epicetus

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.

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

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 STRONG in this place that is filled with my every day strength next Monday.

*This is not to be seen as any kind of endorsement of astrology, which is complete and utter nonsense.

Andy, Bill, Carla, Drone, Elizabeth, Jesse, Kim, Kio, Panorama, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 312 – ‘SCAPE

September 6, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Despite it being Labor Day, there was still a decent, but not overwhelming number of submissions for ‘SCAPE.

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

Andy Sharp

Teresa Kahler

Kim Barker

Elizabeth Nordeen

Jesse Howard

Carla Stensland

Jesse Howard

Bill Wentworth

Kio Dettman

Christopher D. Bennett

Kio Dettman

Lori Backous

Tamara Peterson

Lori Backous

Micky Augustin

JUNK

JUNK! What a great theme for Week 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a JUNK photo. JUNK isn’t necessarily garbage, but it could be. JUNK is defined as things that are useless or of little value. But that doesn’t mean JUNK has no value. Just like the theme reveal image, I bet everybody reading these words has a JUNK drawer. Off the top of my head, I have at least 9 of them and several JUNK bins. So go out and find something that has been set aside because it has little value and give it some value by turning it into art.

And don’t forget that some food is considered JUNK as well. And of course, there are other definitions for the word JUNK. Some more safe for work than others.

When you thinking about creating your JUNK image, think about this quote:

Buy, buy says the sign in the show window;
Why why, says the junk in the yard.
– Paul McCartney

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.

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

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of JUNK in this place that is little more than the place I leave much of my psychological junk next Monday.

Derrick, Elainie, Evie, Football, Iowa State, Jason, Jen, Music, Panorama, Photoshop

2010-09-20, 2010-09-21, and 2010-09-27

June 26, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

There were large collections of images in the folders 2010-09-20, 2010-09-21, or 2010-09-27 so I combined them into one post. These include pictures of an Iowa State-Kansas State football game, pictures taken shortly after Evie was born, and pictures of Elainie playing football.

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

RWPE #37 – HOPE

RWPE #38 – FACE

Next Saturday’s post will involve a picture I really wish I remember why I took it. Plus pictures of Foster Q. Bunny.

Basketball, Black & White, Christianity, History, Panorama, Photoshop, Postcard

Postcard Recreation Project – More Churches

March 18, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

This is a reminder that at this point you have 24 hours to get your picks in for my NCAA Tournament Pool. Click on the link below to get started:

Roundball Oracles – Year 16

Good luck!

Note: As of this writing, Iowa State hasn’t made it official that T.J. Otzelberger is Iowa State’s head coach. I will write about that when they make it official.

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Today’s collection of old-timey postcard recreations are of churches in Boone. Featured in here is the Central Christian Church, the First Baptist Church, the Augustana Lutheran Church and the Open Bible Church. I’ve already covered some of the history of the Augustana Lutheran Church and the First Baptist Church, so I won’t rehash that, so here is some history of the Central Christian Church. A church that will always have a special place in my heart, because it was the church of my Grandma and Grandpa Paris. I’ve been to many a family function at that church, but now I don’t think I have a single family member that goes there. Here is a brief history:

For well over 100 years, Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has served the community of Boone, Iowa and surrounding areas. Our first church building was dedicated in 1876, the same year the church was founded. A second church structure was erected and dedicated to replace the first building in 1893; that building was destroyed by fire was replaced in 1903. An education building with classrooms and office space was added to the north of the 1903 sanctuary, and was dedicated on Mary 23, 1954. The Fellowship Hall, Fireside Room and kitchen were dedicated in 1970. A modern Sanctuary, Library and Choir Room were dedicated in 1979.

Twenty-nine ministers have served the church as “settled” or permanent pastors since 1884, including one associate minister who served alongside a senior minister from 1993 to 1998. The Rev. G. H. Sutton served the longest pastorate of approximately twelve years from 1930 to 1942. The average pastorate length is four and a half years.

The Open Bible Church has a very weak history section on their website, but here it is:

Open Bible Church has a long history in Boone. The church has been affiliated with Open Bible Churches of Des Moines, Iowa, for over 70 years. It has been at its current location since 1986 and was expanded in 2008.

At least there is something I guess.

Now, I mentioned in the past that the Augustan Lutheran Church and Central Christian Churches swapped buildings in 1895. From the Augustana Lutheran website:

A new church was built in 1879 and a parsonage in 1885. Because passing trains often disturbed the services, in 1895 the property was traded, along with $3000 to the Christian Church for the property at 7th and Carroll Streets. In 1901, a new parsonage was built next to the church. In 1910, a basement was put under the church and extensive repairs were made.

This always confused me because the site of the Central Christian Church is a mere 1 block closer to the railroad tracks than the Augustana Lutheran Church. But there is two things I didn’t understand. That the building that Lutherans traded to the Central Christian Church wasn’t on the corner of 8th and Greene AND the railroad tracks weren’t in the same location as they currently are. Now it makes sense.

Look at this chunk of a map of Boone from 1896:

You can see in that map that in 1896, the year after the trade, the Central Christian Church was on Crawford Street, between 7th and 8th. Not on the corner of 7th and Carroll. And right against the railroad tracks. Also, you will notice that back then Augustana Lutheran was called Swedish Lutheran AND the Open Bible Church had not been built yet.

We’ll also consult this map again in a couple of weeks, but for now, here are some old-timey recreations:

Central Christian Church, Boone, Iowa – Original

Central Christian Church, Boone, Iowa – Redux

Seventh and Carroll Streets, Boone, Iowa – Original

Seventh and Carroll Streets, Boone, Iowa – Redux

First Baptist Church – Boone – Iowa – 2203 – Original

First Baptist Church – Boone – Iowa – 2203 – Redux

This might be the end of church related postcards. I haven’t really come across any others, but the search continues. The next time we check-in with THE POSTCARD RECREATION PROJECT will involve schools.

Drone, Nature, Panorama

Rodan139: Des Moines River Valley

January 12, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

A few weeks back, I took Rodan139 for a little flight around the Des Moines River Valley. Just off the boat ramp that is next to US30. It was a little late in the day, so it was a short flight before it got dark, but still got plenty of good pictures.

This might be it for drone pictures for a bit. I don’t have any more in the hopper. It kind of depends on the weather and lighting on whether or not Rodan139 will take to the skies again before spring. I am hopeful though!

Christianity, Drone, Nature, Panorama, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

TOWN SIGN PROJECT: POLK COUNTY

December 30, 2020 Christopher D. Bennett 12 Comments

The November image of the 2021 Photography 139 Calendar is actually a combination of 3 panoramic images taken with Rodan139. Something that was rekindled in 2020 was a love for panoramic photos. However, it is hard to include such an image in a calendar, so I combined 3 of them to fill up a page. I don’t know if it works, but at least one person told me that this was their favorite month in the calendar. So, that is something at least.

The top image is of Horseshoe Bluff in Mines of Spain. The middle image is of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in northeast Boone County. The bottom image is of the Loess Hills, taken in Monona County.

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When I looked the map for the TOWN SIGN PROJECT and knew that getting the town signs in Polk County was going to be next, I wasn’t overly excited. My excursion to West Des Moines to complete Dallas County was less than enjoyable and I anticipated finding town signs in places like Windsor Heights and and Pleasant Hill was going to be equally horrible. And it was. Only, I actually found decent signs for Windsor Heights and actually like the sign for Pleasant Hill. Now it took some time with Google Maps Street View before I even left on the trip to find those signs. Strike that, before I left on my second trip. I ran out of time and couldn’t find signs for Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Des Moines, and Windsor Heights on my first trip. I had to research it at home before I made a second trip, that doubled as a calendar delivery trip for Baier, Russell, Dre, and Sara. I don’t like doing that much research ahead of time. I like being surprised by what I find, but there is no way around it in Suburbia. Besides, this really is more of a small town project.

I will concede, I never really found a Des Moines “sign”. So I’m throwing in a downtown Des Moines Mural. I’m not going to consider it for Best in Show for Polk County though. Even though it is a pretty sweet mural. Think there is a fair chance that this spring I’m going to spend sometime photographing the murals in downtown Des Moines, cause there are some pretty cool ones.

If you don’t know Polk County, here is a look at it on the TOWN SIGNS PROJECT PHOTO MAP:

POLK COUNTY

Polk County is the 7th County I have completed:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

Here is a look at the town signs of Polk County. Population Data is from 2010, so it is probably not remotely correct for Polk County:

Des Moines, Iowa
Greater Des Moines – Better Together – Better Forever
Population: 203.433

West Des Moines, Iowa
The City of West Des Moines
Population: 56,609

Ankeny, Iowa
Ankeny
Population: 45,582

Urbandale, Iowa
Welcome to… Urbandale – Uniquely Urbandale

Johnston, Iowa
Johnston
Population: 17,278

Clive, Iowa
Clive – District by Nature
Population: 15,447

Altoona, Iowa
Altoona
Population: 14,541

Norwalk, Iowa
Norwalk Welcomes You
Population: 8,945

Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Welcome to Pleasant Hill
Population: 8,785

Grimes, Iowa
Grimes
Population: 8,246

Windsor Heights, Iowa
Welcome to Windsor Heights – the heart of it all
Population: 4,860

Carlisle, Iowa
Carlisle – The Natural Choice – Established 1851
Population: 3,876

Bondurant, Iowa
Bondurant
Population: 3,860

Polk City, Iowa
Welcome to Polk City – A City for All Season
Population: 3,418

Mitchellville, Iowa
Welcome to Mitchellville
Population: 2,254

Granger, Iowa
Welcome to Granger
Population: 1,244

Elkhart, Iowa
Welcome to Elkhart – Est. 1902
Population: 683

Runnells, Iowa
Runnells Welcomes You
Population: 507

Alleman, Iowa
Welcome to Alleman
Population: 432

Sheldahl, Iowa
The People of Sheldahl Welcome You – Biggest Little Town in Three Counties
Population: 319

So what is Best in Show for Polk County. Normally the no-brainer would be Sheldahl or Granger. There are 21 town in Polk County or partially in Polk County. It is amazing that most of them are below average. My biggest disappointment is Mitchellville. There is a prison in Mitchellville! How does a town that has a prison not have a cool sign?

However, since Granger is really almost entirely in Dallas County, I’m going to put it aside. Sheldahl is fairly evenly split amongst Polk County, Story County, and Boone County. However, while I was driving home from Polk County, I made the most alarming discovery cruising through Sheldahl. They took down their town sign! It doesn’t exist any more. I’m going to assume that it was a victim of the derecho and the good people of Sheldahl will make amends for this and get it back up in the very near future.

Putting those aside, I’m going to give Best in Show to Bondurant:

Best in Show – Polk County

I know it definitely isn’t my style of Best in Show, but while it has no art or a snappy town slogan, it is original and cool looking. I give the highest marks for originality and I have never seen a sign like it.

The worst signs in Polk County? Take your pick from Urbandale or West Des Moines or Norwalk. Although Grimes and Johnston are literally on the opposites sides of the same brick wall, so maybe they should share last place.

Time for the BENNETT TOWN SIGN POWER RANKINGS.

#10. Collins

#9. Sheldahl

#8. Badger

#7. Granger

#6. Scranton

#5. Boone

#4. Dexter

#3. Farnhamville

#2. Pilot Mound

#1. Moingona

Nothing has changed. However, I’m putting Sheldahl on notice. If the sign doesn’t return, I’m going to have to drop them from the power rankings. They’ll still make a book, but with several demerits.

The next time we visit THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Marshall County, the site of the deadliest train crash in Iowa history.

Christianity, Drone, Panorama

Rodan139: Swede Valley Lutheran Church

December 17, 2020 Christopher D. Bennett 20 Comments

A few weeks back I took Rodan139 out to Swede Valley Lutheran Church and took a few pictures. A very pretty country church, that unfortunately doesn’t have the pretties setting. The farm fields in the background are okay. It is just unfortunate that what I’m sure was a parsonage at one time, is so close to the church to the north. I also, didn’t wish it was on a fairly major highway. All that being said, it is very photogenic.

I’m sure I’ll be back here to photograph this church some more, but probably a couple other country churches I will have to photograph first.

Black & White, Drone, Nature, Panorama

Rodan139: Jay Carlson Wildlife Area

December 1, 2020 Christopher D. Bennett

A few weeks back I took Rodan139 out to the Jay Carlson Wildlife Are for a quick flight around before the sun went down. It is a great place for flying the drone. I should really go out there more. At least before weather shuts drone season down for a few months:

I’m hope I still have a few flights left in the bird before 2020 is over. But it has been getting crazy windy lately. At least crazy windy on weekends. stupid short winter weekdays.

Drone, Nature, Panorama

Rodan139: Peas Creek

November 24, 2020 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

A few weeks back I went out to Ledges late in a Sunday evening and flew Rodan139 around and where Peas Creek empties into the Des Moines River.

Here are a few pictures:

On Sunday nights I send out a “Cool” Drone Video of the Week to a couple of friends that have requested it. It has been a blessing because it provides me with motivation to get out there with the drone on several weekends where I would’ve left Rodan139 in the hangar. This set of pictures is a set of pictures that exists for that reason.

Christianity, Drone, Panorama

Rodan139: Mackey United Methodist Church

November 18, 2020 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A few weeks ago I took Rodan139 on a flight around the Mackey United Methodist Church. The church recent closed its doors after 134 years. It will still be used for weddings, funerals and other gatherings.

Here is a few bits about the closing of the church from a recent “Boone News Republican” article:

Mackey United Methodist Church of rural Boone closed its doors at a ceremony ending its 134 years in formal ministry. Members, family and friends, numbering about 60, gathered outside the church on Sunday, Oct. 4 to remember, to pray, and to turn the page on a new chapter of serving the farming community of Mackey nestled in the corn and bean fields of northeast Boone County.

Keith Carlson, a lay leader of the church and a long time member, acknowledged, “Because of our aging congregation, we knew that the doors would be closing soon, and then along came the coronavirus that made it clear the time had come.”

But this little building is not finished yet. Jaime Beyer and Laura Loots, trustees for the Harrison Township, announced the establishment of a newly formed charity with the mission to ensure the continuation of the building for community weddings, funerals and other gatherings that would honor the history of this church. And just recently a generous family contributed $20,000 of support.

Here are some pictures I took on the flight:

Rodan139: Mackey United Methodist Church

There are a handful of countries churches in Boone County. This is the second one I took Rodan139 to photograph. I hope to hit up all of them at some point. Some point…