Category Archives: Portrait

Boone FUMC, Formal Portrait, WPC - Reminder

Boone FUMC Church Directory: Chapter 2

January 4, 2019 Christopher D. Bennett

Back on December 27, 2018 I began publishing pictures I took for the Boone FUMC Church Directory back in April and May.

One of the things that I do for the Church Directory is going to the local nursing homes and take pictures of church members that can’t make it to the church for the actual church directory photographers, but still wish to be included in the church directory.

Here are pictures from those photo shoots:

There are still at least one, possibly two or three collections of photos I took for the Church Directory still to publish.

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

ABSTRACT

An Abstract image is a picture of something where it isn’t readily evident what the subject is. It is a representation of an object that isn’t meant to be an exact facsimile of the object. Wildly out of focus pictures qualify for ABSTRACT. Long exposures can be ABSTRACT photos. Or, you could even take a picture of ABSTRACT art.

Happy photo harvesting!

Andy, Carla, Jesse, Kim, Michelle, Road Trip, Self-Portrait, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 172 – FRIENDS

December 31, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

I have to confess that this is one of the saddest blog posts I’ve ever had the solemn duty to post. It seems that next to nobody out there has any FRIENDS. At least not any FRIENDS that they would be willing photography.

Or perhaps the fault lies in me and I have very few FRIENDS. I do have many failings. Sorry Clarence.

Due to the extreme simplicity of this theme, I refuse to accept the “holidays” as an excuse. Perhaps I should throw a birthday party (for myself) in 2019 just to establish that I do in fact have FRIENDS and to help out the many people out there that apparently don’t have any FRIENDS.

Despite the general lack of camaraderie that is out in the world today, “An Artist’s Notebook” will break new ground today. Today marks the first ever joint submission, at least that I can recall.

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

Kim Barker/Michelle Haupt

Christopher D. Bennett

Andy Sharp

Carla Stensland

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:

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT! What a great theme! This is one of the easiest things on the big board. Not as easy as FRIENDS, but pretty darn tooting easy! An ABSTRACT image is an image where there isn’t a clearly defined subject. Taking pictures of things like lights out of focus or that are moving are excellent ways to make an ABSTRACT image.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

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. 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 abstract Monday.

Andy, Animals, Boone FUMC, Candid Portrait, Jaxon, Music

Boone FUMC Church Directory: Chapter 1

December 27, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

One of the photo projects I worked on in early 2018 was grabbing miscellaneous pictures for the Boone First United Methodist Church Directory.

The person in charge of putting the directory together wanted some pictures of the Bell Choir and some pictures of Doug sermonizing. That is why these pictures below exist:

After church I went to the Sharp farm. I believe to take a picture of an unpictured outhouse.

Boone FUMC, Formal Portrait, Jaxon, Jesse, Jodie Cue, Kim, Kio, Michelle, Work, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 171 – PHOTOJOURNALISM

December 24, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

The holiday season definitely hurt the amount of PHOTOJOURNALISM submissions for this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

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

Kim Barker

Michelle Haupt

Christopher D. Bennett

FRIENDS

FRIENDS! What a great theme! I hope everybody has at least a few FRIENDS. If you don’t, I’m willing to be your FRIEND(S). For a small sitting fee. I don’t think it will be necessary though, because I believe what Clarence the Angel said about FRIENDS. I don’t know any failures.

Now that has been established, what is a FRIENDS photo? A FRIENDS photo is a photo that is a picture of FRIENDS. They can be your FRIENDS or it can be people that are FRIENDS that aren’t necessarily your FRIENDS. It could be a photo of a product of having FRIENDS. For example, all the Christmas cards I get, I tape to my entrance window. Now I don’t get as many as I used to get, I could take a picture of that display and it would be a FRIENDS photo.

Remember that next Monday is New Year’s Eve. While many businesses and government offices will be closed (even if the Trump shutdown is still going on), Photography 139 doesn’t take holidays. Plan accordingly!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

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 friendly Monday.

Basketball, Formal Portrait, Iowa State, Photo Journal, WPC - Reminder, Youth Group

A Photo Journal – Henry Carroll – Page 88

December 21, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

My favorite church service of the year is undeniably the Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve.

The last 4 weeks at Youth Group we have been having our own Advent Candle series.

It culminated on Wednesday when we lit the Love Candle and then the Christ Candle and then had our own Candlelight Service.

It was the perfect time to take Page 88 of THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT:

Page 88 – Take a picture inspired by your favorite poem

I took this picture in the worst way possible. I put the DSLR on a little tripod in the front of the room and controlled it with my smart phone, while running the ceremony. The results were less than spectacular, but they are what they are. I’ll set up for success next time.

Here are a few of the other photos:

The poem that is my inspiration for these photos is “Our Deepest Fear” by Marianne Williamson.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us;
It’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

I first came across the poem in the movie AKEELAH AND THE BEE. If you haven’t seen that movie, I highly recommend it!

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Here is your weekly reminder that the theme for this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is PHOTOJOURNALISM:

PHOTOJOURNALISM

A PHOTOJOURNALISM photo is any photo that can be used to tell the story. It doesn’t have to be the kind of story that the “New York Times” would report. A small company newsletter would still count as PHOTOJOURNALISM.

The editor of the “Boone News Republican” is a subscriber to this blog. You never know, you could catch his eye and you could be launched on a PHOTOJOURNALISM career.

Reminder that Monday is Christmas Eve. Plan your submitting accordingly.

Happy photo harvesting!

Animals, Black & White, Candid Portrait, Nader, Naima, Self-Portrait

Naima and Nader

December 18, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett

I took Naima to Dickcissel back in May. Nader joined us on that day.

Nader joined Willy as the only person to join Naima on our trips to Dickcissel Park. Most people are afraid of the snakes and the mud.

Most people are soft:

The last time I published pictures of Naima that I took while I was driving, I was told that I was brave. That is all the encouragement I need to keep doing it!

I’m sure you are wondering if I’m every going to publish pictures that aren’t of Naima again. Don’t worry, I’ll feed you baby birds.

For those that can’t get enough pictures of Naima. Don’t worry. I’ll feed you baby birds.

Andy, Angie, Basketball, Becky, Candid Portrait, Cathie, Holidays, Jonah, Kim, Michelle, Micky, Nora, Tamara, WPC - Submissions

Weekly Photo Challenge – Week 169 – Family

December 10, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett

There was somewhat of a rebound for FAMILY and this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. There is still hope!

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

SPORTS/GAMES! What a great theme! But what is a SPORTS/GAMES picture? A SPORTS/GAMES picture is any picture that that involves people that are engaged in SPORTS/GAMES. Or a picture of anything used in SPORTS/GAMES.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

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. 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 sporty Monday.

Derrick, Football, Iowa State, Portrait

Iowa State 27 Drake 24

December 6, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett

Iowa State’s 12th game was quite the doozie. The had to reschedule their South Dakota State game that go called due to lightning for December 1.

Originally Iowa State schedule perennial FCS doormat Incarnate Word for the game. But a funny thing happened to December 1. Incarnate Word got good and made the FCS Playoffs. Iowa State needed a new opponent and found Drake.

Drake. A FCS (nonscholarship) program.

Drake. A team that last played Iowa State in 1985. Beat Iowa State 20-17 in that game. Then promptly dropped football the next year.

The game should have been a complete mismatch. Iowa State should have been able to name their score. But a funny thing happened on the way to the blowout.

First, Drake played their asses off. Any analysis of the game that doesn’t start with the fact that Drake came to play is not an accurate analysis. Drake players played like their hair was on fire. Their coaches had a brilliant game plan. All credit must be given to Drake.
Second, the field was a disaster. It rained. When it wasn’t raining, it snowed. Then it rain again. The field was a muddy mess.
Third, the wind howled. When I opened my front door on Saturday morning, I thought a freight train was rolling by. The wind was that loud.

All in all, it was a miserable day for football. I can never remember taking less joy from an Iowa State victory. When the final tick of the clock ticked off, I breathed a sigh of relief. A win is a win. A bowl game was still in sight. I could begin the countdown to when Iowa State’s bowl destination would be released.

Here are some pictures from a miserable day (which is still a great day) in Jack Trice Stadium:

I ordered up my tickets to the Alamo Bowl yesterday. I need to do some research to figure out what the camera policy is in the next few weeks.

I’m pumped to see this team play one more time. Especially if they can get all the injured defensive players back: Datrone, Greg, Enyi, D’Andre, and Marcel. It would be nice if Peavy would be able to play that game at 100% as well.

Basketball, Iowa State, Johnathan, Kim, Mom, Self-Portrait, Shannon, Tamara, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 168 – COMMUNICATION

December 3, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett

Looks like another rough week for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Only a few people were able to communicate the theme COMMUNICATION. Might be time to look into retiring THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

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

Tamara Peterson

Kim Barker

Tamara Peterson

Christopher D. Bennett

Shannon Bardole-Foley

FAMILY!

FAMILY! What a great theme! Unless your FAMILY sucks, then you have more problems that dealing with THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

So what is a FAMILY picture? A FAMILY picture is any picture that involves a FAMILY. Now some people have a really strict DNA based definition of a family because they weren’t hugged enough as a child. Don’t feel constrained by somebody else’s definition of a FAMILY.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

1. 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.

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

+++++++

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 familial Monday.

Black & White, Micky, Photo Journal, Self-Portrait, WPC - Reminder

A Photo Journal – Henry Carroll – Page 23

November 30, 2018 Christopher D. Bennett

Last night was the lighted parade in Boone. While I was walking around the mean streets of urban Boone, it dawned on me that it was a perfect opportunity to knock out Page 23 of THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT:

Page 23 – Photograph a shadow

To make image more unique, I really leaned into the contrast and clarity of the image to make it somewhat film noir. I like to think THE OUTER LIMITS.

While I was up at the lighted parade I got a somewhat indecent proposal from Santa Claus, but I’ll share that at a later date.

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Reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is COMMUNICATION:

COMMUNICATION

A COMMUNICATION photo is any photo of creatures engaging in COMMUNICATION. A dog’s tail wagging. COMMUNICATION. Sign language. COMMUNICATION. Smoke signals. COMMUNICATION. Bumper stickers. COMMUNICATION. They are saying, I’m not worth getting to know.

Happy photo harvesting!