Category Archives: Candid Portrait

WPC – WEEK 198 – CANDID PORTRAIT

While BREAKFAST was a universally hated theme, CANDID PORTRAIT made a bit of a rebound.

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


WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

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 199 - ROAD TRIP
ROAD TRIP!

ROAD TRIP! What a great theme! But what is a ROAD TRIP photo? A ROAD TRIP photo is any photo that involves the act or preparation of going on a ROAD TRIP. It doesn’t have to be a huge ROAD TRIP. Some time just driving to work in the morning can feel like a ROAD TRIP to me.

I look forward to your interpretations!

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HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

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.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

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 open road Monday!

04-11-09

In the folder called 04-11-09 is a photographic record of one of the least favorite things my church has done. They used to do this every Good Friday for several years. They would have 3 youths dress up and smear them with fake blood and mud and have them pretend to be crucified.

As you walked out of the church, in silence, after Good Friday Service, you would walk past a bizarre, macabre scene. Frequently music from THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST played softly in the background.

Don’t get me wrong, it was very powerful experience for many people in the congregation. But I always hated it. It always smacked of cheap theatrics to me. A Living Nativity is one thing. A Living Crucifixion, not digging it.

However, that isn’t to say I don’t know a great photo opportunity when I see it. In 2009, Logan was cast as Jesus. Here are some pictures:


Good Friday - 2009

Good Friday - 2009

Good Friday - 2009

Good Friday - 2009

Good Friday - 2009

Good Friday - 2009

Good Friday - 2009

Good Friday - 2009

Good Friday - 2009

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

JESUS CHRIST POSE

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will probably involve the house, but it could also involve an electric car ride!

WEEK 198 REVEAL

If things went right for me yesterday, I’m currently in Rapid City, South Dakota on a mission trip with the Boone First United Methodist Church with 20 youths and 4 other chaperones. In fact, at 12:01 PM, I am most likely sitting down and taking a lunch break at the worksite. Eating, perhaps, and ham and cheese sandwich on a bagel. Delicious!

Since I’m nowhere near a computer (Thank God!) I won’t be posting the numerous delicious BREAKFAST photos that are no doubt waiting for me in my inbox. I will post those sometime after I return Friday night. Most likely sometime on Saturday or maybe even Sunday.

In case, you are interested in hearing about the Mission Trip, those that went on it will be talking about it during both church services on Sunday, June 30th. I’d love to see you there!

Even though I am unplugged, that doesn’t mean you can’t get started on this week’s theme:


WEEK 198 - CANDID PORTRAIT
CANDID PORTRAIT

CANDID PORTRAIT! What a great theme! But what is a CANDID PORTRAIT? A CANDID PORTRAIT is a portrait where the subject matter isn’t posing for the picture. That is it. Simple enough!

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

RAGBRAI – VOLUME 1

In 2018, RAGBRAI went through Boone on its way to its overnight destination of Ames.

If I remember correctly, I worked 7-9 in the morning, then hung up my pick axe and came to Boone to photograph the riders as they came through Boone or stopped in Boone to enjoy the festivities that we offered.

At the time, I remember being worried that I would miss most of the riders as I saw many of them already pouring into Ames on my way from the mine back to the Photography 139 Studio. As you’ll see, that was a fool’s worry.

I took 400 pictures, so as I pick out a few of my favorites, they will be broken into a few volumes.


RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

RAGBRAI - 2018

There are plenty more RAGBRAI pictures in the chute!

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This is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is BREAKFAST:


WEEK 197 - BREAKFAST
BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST. Easy enough.

Happy photo harvesting!

Rajon Rando

WARNING: THERE ARE BOTH LEGITIMATELY DISTURBING IMAGES AND DEPICTIONS OF THE FEMALE BODY IN THE NUDE. IF THAT ISN’T YOUR CUP OF TEA, FEEL FREE TO SKIP STRAIGHT PAST TODAY’S BLOG

NO SERIOUSLY. NORMALLY WHEN I PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS UP, THE DISTURBING IMAGE IS A PICTURE OF AN IOWA HAWKEYE FAN OR NEBRASKA BUGEATER FAN OR A KANSAS JAYHAWK FAN. THAT ISN’T THE CASE THIS TIME. USUALLY WHEN I WARN THAT THERE IS A DEPICTION OF NUDITY, IT A PICTURE OF A FLOWER CALL “THE NAKED LADY” OR A TASTEFUL DEPICTION OF THE FEMALE FORM IN ART. THIS ISN’T EITHER OF THOSE THINGS.

SO WHY AM I POSTED SUCH THINGS? WELL, I SAW THEM, SO I’M SHARING THE PAIN.

On Saturday I turned in my pictures for the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. Which means that the Boone County Fair is right around the corner. When I get back from the mission trip you can bet dollars to donuts that I will be putting out a poll where you guts get to select the pictures I enter into the Boone County Fair photography “contest”.

Since I got the Boone County Fair is on my mind, it is as good a time as any to publish some random Boone County Fair images from 2018. I think I took most of these pictures for different pages in THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT and then decided not to use them.


Boone County Fair - 2018

Boone County Fair - 2018

Boone County Fair - 2018

Boone County Fair - 2018

Boone County Fair - 2018

Boone County Fair - 2018

NOW IS YOUR TIME TO STOP IF DISTURBING IMAGES DISTURB YOU…


Boone County Fair - 2018

Boone County Fair - 2018

Although I don’t watch many any longer, many a high school night was spent with a bunch of friends in a now condemned house watching horror movies. To this day I can quote you chapter and verse from the books of Jason Voorhees to Michael Meyers. But I don’t think I would have ever desired a vehicle decorated in such a manner.

That being said, the artist is very skilled.

Bake the World a Better Place

Today’s post is actually a mixture of the backlog and new pictures.

I never got around to posting pictures from the 2018 Methodist Men Pie Auction. Last Sunday we had the 2019 Methodist Men Pie Auction. The proceeds for both go to support the Youth Group Mission Trip. Between the two pie auctions raised over $3000.

The Methodist Men Pie Auction has been a smashing success every year it has happened and every year I’m nervous it is going to be a big time failure. Hopefully I’m never right.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy:


Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

Methodist Men Pie Auction

The 2018 helpers from the Youth Group were MacKenzie Mosher and Anna Olson. The 2019 helpers were Megan Osborn and Hailey Bryant.

I think Teresa took the 2018 pictures. Chris Cromwell took the 2019 pictures.

President Quest 2020 – John Hickenlooper

Last Friday I saw my 6th of 23 Democrat Presidential hopefuls when John Hickenlooper came to the Livery Deli.

To be brutally honest, I don’t think I’ve seen the person that will be the Democrat nominee yet. Of the six I’ve seen, I’d give Bernie Sanders the best shot and Beto, Kloubchar, and Booker a puncher’s chance. I don’t think Hickenlooper has any chance. But everything can change after the debates start.

Here is a little bit of information Hickenlooper:

John Wright Hickenlooper Jr(/ˈhɪkənluːpər/; born February 7, 1952) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 42nd Governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2019. He is a member of the Democratic Party. In 2019, he announced that he is running for President of the United States in 2020.

Born in Narberth, Pennsylvania, Hickenlooper is a graduate of Wesleyan University. After his career as a geologist, Hickenlooper entered a career in business and cofounded the Wynkoop Brewing Company in Denver. Hickenlooper was elected the 43rd mayor of Denver in 2003, serving two terms, until 2011.

Hickenlooper worked as a geologist in Colorado for Buckhorn Petroleum in the early 1980s. When Buckhorn was sold, Hickenlooper was laid off in 1986. He and five business partners opened the Wynkoop Brewing Company brewpub in October 1988 after raising startup funds from dozens of friends and family along with a Denver economic development office loan. The Wynkoop was one of the first brewpubs in the United States. Denver currently boasts more brewpubs per capita than any other city.

Here are some more information from his website:

In 2010, Hickenlooper became the first Denver Mayor elected Governor in 120 years. He was re-elected in 2014, after running an entirely positive campaign — a trademark of his time in public service.

In the past eight years, Colorado jumped from 40th in job creation to the number one economy in the nation. As Governor, Hickenlooper established and built an expansive set of workforce development programs that promoted skills-based hiring, career coaching, apprenticeships, and more.

Hickenlooper brought industry and environmentalists together to reduce methane emissions — a major contributor to climate change. The regulations they developed became the model for California and Canada and are considered the gold standard across the United States.

Hickenlooper also led Colorado’s recovery effort through major fires and floods, re-opening roads, bridges, and communities in record time. He stood up to the NRA to pass landmark gun safety legislation, including limits on high capacity magazines and universal background checks

He expanded Medicaid and opened a high quality state health insurance exchange program called Connect for Health Colorado, establishing an insurer in every county in the state. Today, nearly 95 percent of Coloradans have healthcare coverage.

I will reiterate that the Livery Deli is a terrible place for these events if you are a photographer. However, there was way less people there than were there for Amy Klobuchar, but the pictures are what they are…


John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper


I don’t have any current plans to see anybody else right now. My weekend schedule gets busy, plus I leave for the mission trip. Hopefully somebody will fall into my lap, so to speak otherwise it could be a few weeks before President Quest marches on.

President Quest 2020 – Amy Klobuchar

This is the 5th installment on my quest to meet, see, photograph, and possibly get photographed with the person that will take the Oval Office in January of 2021. On Memorial Day Sunday at noon I filed into the Livery Deli to see Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar.

There are a couple things to know about this event. Number 1, the Livery Deli is a terrible venue to hold such events and an event worse event to do any photography. Number 2, I badly underestimated how many people would be there.

Klobuchar isn’t polling all that well. Also, I thought that not many people would be free at that time of day on a holiday weekend. I thought that if we showed up at roughly noon, we would still be able to get a good seat. I was wrong. From talking to a member of the Klobuchar staff, 3 times the number of people that they were hoping for showed up.

Klobuchar became a national name when she lit up rape enthusiast and unqualified partisan Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing.

Here is a little more about Amy Klobuchar from the Wiki:

Amy Jean Klobuchar (/ˈkloʊbəʃɑːr/; born May 25, 1960) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Minnesota. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, Minnesota’s affiliate of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the Hennepin County Attorney.

Born in Plymouth, Minnesota, Klobuchar is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. She was a partner at two Minneapolis law firms before being elected county attorney for Hennepin County in 1998, making her responsible for all criminal prosecution in Minnesota’s most populous county. Klobuchar was first elected to the Senate in 2006, becoming Minnesota’s first elected female United States Senator, and reelected in 2012 and 2018.

Here are examples of her positions from her campaign website:

Education: We also need to make sure all our children can get a great education. That means increasing teacher pay and funding for our public schools, with a focus on investment in areas that need it the most. And we need to make sure the rising costs of college aren’t a barrier to opportunity. Amy supports allowing borrowers to refinance student loans at lower rates, loan forgiveness for in-demand occupations, expanded Pell grants, and tuition-free one- and two-year community college degrees and technical certifications.

Agriculture and Rural Communities: America’s prosperity depends on supporting our family farmers and rural communities, but today farm income in America remains near historic lows. Amy has been an advocate for rural communities and our farmers, and she understands that this country has to do more to provide a strong safety net to help farmers, as well as invest in our rural communities, which includes hospitals, childcare, housing, connecting every household to high-speed internet by 2022, and a strong farm policy.

Economic Justice: We must beat back decades of systemic racism and inequality. Amy believes this begins with early-childcare and fixing our education system, addressing racism in health care such as disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates, ending housing discrimination so that everyone can afford to rent an apartment and own a home in a good neighborhood for their kids, and tackling disparities in wages and in retirement savings.

Labor: As the granddaughter of an iron ore miner and the daughter of a union teacher and a union newspaperman, Amy will bring one clear but simple guide to the White House: When unions are strong, our country is strong. As President, she’ll stand up against attempts to weaken our unions. That means achieving real labor law reform, ensuring free and fair union elections, protecting collective bargaining rights, rolling back Right to Work laws, and making it easier — and not harder — for workers to join unions.

Immigration: Comprehensive immigration reform is also crucial to moving our economy and our country forward. Amy supports a comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes the DREAM Act, border security and an accountable pathway to earned citizenship. She is committed to stopping the cruel and inhumane policy where the government is taking kids away from their parents.

Because I didn’t get a good seat and because of the terrible lighting, I didn’t get many pictures, but here are a few:


Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar


Klobuchar was the funniest and perhaps most relatable candidate that I’ve seen. I think that is the midwest part of her.

I believe the next candidate I am going to see is John Hickenlooper. Hey, they can’t all be rock stars.

2009-02-18 – Arizona Day 4

The pictures in the folder called 2009-02-18/Arizona Day 4 are from my work/vacation to Arizona.

Jesse and I spent the night at his brother’s house. We got up in the morning and ate at a local eatery. Then we visited a National Park called the Casa Grande Ruins. I think later that day we actually had to show up for work and the vacation became work.

Here are some pictures from that day:


Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

Arizona Day 4

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

Arizona Day 4

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve even more from my trip to Arizona.

A Photo Journal – Page 21

This week I knocked out Page 21 of THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT. I took one of the rubber dinosaurs I seem to have in every room of the house.


Photo Journal - Page 21
Page 21 – Make something small look big.

While only one picture can be adhered into the physical THE PHOTO JOURNAL, however I took a couple other rubber dinosaur pictures that I like:


Photo Journal - Page 21

Photo Journal - Page 21

There are 20 pages left in the Photo Journal Project left to photograph. Gonna keep hammering away!

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This is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is GROUP PORTRAIT:


WEEK 194 - GROUP PORTRAIT
GROUP PORTRAIT

Happy photo harvesting!