Category Archives: Self-Portrait

Adam, Andree, Art, Jesse, Music, Road Trip, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Tenderloining

Liberty Bowl Road Trip Grub

February 4, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

When Jesse and I went down to Memphis to watch the embarrassing debacle that was the Liberty Bowl we made sure to eat a bunch of delicious food. Fortunately the Pastor at my church lived in Memphis for several years and he gave us several solid recommendations on places to eat.

Here are the pictures from my Memphis food adventure with Jesse:

On the road trip down, we stopped at an Imo’s pizza for a meal.

St. Louis–style pizza is a type of pizza popular in St. Louis, Missouri, and surrounding areas.[1] The style has a thin cracker-like crust made without yeast, generally uses Provel cheese, and is cut into squares or rectangles instead of wedges.

For supper that night we ate at Central Barbecue.

The cole slaw was maybe the worst thing I’ve tasted in my life, but the rest was amazing!

Breakfast the next morning in the hotel.

B.B. King’s Blues Club with Andree and his brother.

It was so dark in there, there aren’t many pictures.

But the entertainment was hard to beat.

Breakfast again the next morning. We really didn’t eat supper the night before.

More breakfast at Gibson’s Donuts.

We got a free donut cause it was our first time.

Before the game we had brunch at Railgarten with some awesome people! Cyclone fans!

Food was nothing special but it got the job done.

Also we met up with Jon and his friend.

Corky’s after the game!

Give me a pile of everything that is delicious and bad for you!

Way better coleslaw!

It was a great trip and so much great food! I would say that Corky’s was my favorite. But I don’t think we had a bad meal. That includes the lunch at A&W in Mount Pleasant, Iowa on the trip back.

That is the last food adventure I have to share right now. Maybe I will come up with one in the next few days. So I will have one to share next Sunday. Time will tell!

Art, Christianity, Road Trip, Self-Portrait, Street Photography, Tenderloining

I Scream: Winterset Field Work

January 28, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

I am definitely starting to run low on food adventures, but I think that there are a few on my horizon. This food adventure took place in November. I cruised down to a state park near Winterset cause it was on my list of places I wanted to see in 2023. On my way home I stopped at a Mom and Pop ice cream shop called Frostee’s. It was the second to last day it was open in 2023. Here are some pictures:

This year I should go back and buy a Frostee’s shirt!

Even a gross Coke cup can’t ruin ice cream.

Got a raspberry malt as I’m trying to take more risks.

How was it? You know I have the Ted Lasso policy on ice cream:

Ice cream is the best. It’s kinda like seeing Billy Joel perform live. Never disappoints.
-Ted Lasso

Last year May 7 was the first day Frostee’s was open. I imagine it will open about the same date again this year.

Frostee’s is located:

101 East Green Street
Winterset, Iowa

There is one other picture to share from this trip. It wasn’t taken at Frostee’s but on one of the famous Bridges of Madison County. It made me laugh, maybe it will make you smile too:

Next Sunday’s food adventure. Will cover the food I ate on my recent trip to Memphis.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Bill, Birthdays, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elainie, Elizabeth, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Johnathan, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Self-Portrait, Shannon, Sheri, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 436 – BREAKFAST

January 22, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Toda is Sheri’s birthday so I need to wish her a happy birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I hope it is as good of a birthday as is possible!

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BREAKFAST! Some say that is it the most important meal of the day! I don’t know that it is, but was it important enough to enough people to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, January 8, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
2-Monica Jennings – 1 week
3-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks
4-Lowell Davis – 2 weeks
5-Susanna Funk – 2 weeks
6-Michelle Haupt – 2 weeks
7-Alexis Stensland – 2 weeks
8-Brandon Kahler – 3 weeks
9-Mary Green – 4 weeks (2)
10-Scott Degeneffe – 21 weeks
11-Sabas Hernandez – 22 weeks
12-Mike Vest – 27 weeks
13-Sheri Fakhouri – 31 weeks (2)
14-Logan Kahler – 32 weeks
15-Nathanial Brown – 33 weeks (2)
16-Jesse Howard – 33 weeks
17-Tamara Peterson – 36 weeks
18-Mindi Terrell – 48 weeks (2)
19-Linda Bennett – 77 weeks (2)
20-Sarah Toot – 78 weeks
21-Angie DeWaard – 82 weeks (2)
22-Dawn Krause – 86 weeks
23-Kim Barker – 92 weeks
24-Joe Duff – 93 weeks (2)
25-Teresa Kahler – 104 weeks (2)
26-Carla Stensland – 104 weeks (2)
27-Micky Augustin – 106 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 107 weeks
29-Bill Wentworth – 108 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 112 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 113 weeks
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 115 weeks
33-Kio Dettman – 117 weeks (2)

Reminder. Here is the updated list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. The picture must 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 and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

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

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 1 week

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa)

Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 108 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 83 weeks

Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 107 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 33 weeks

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 87 weeks

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 34 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 49 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 22 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 23 weeks

Johnathan Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 32 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 105 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 34 weeks

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 93 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 118 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 113 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 78 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 105 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 116 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 28 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 79 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania)

Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 94 weeks

Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 109 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 114 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

37 participants this week! That is definitely the high for this year! WooHoo!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

No new states added this week.

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Michigan
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

The big milestone this week is Linda hitting the Year and a Half Club! WooHoo!!

But it wasn’t all rainbows and puppies. Funk’s streak came to a screeching halt at 2 weeks. Hopefully she gets back on the mountain this week!

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:

RULE OF THIRDS (SUGGESTED BY SARAH TOOT)

RULE OF THIRDS! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I’m not explaining the themes this year, unless it is something technical.

Here is the definition of the RULE OF THIRDS from the SLR Lounge:

“In photography, the rule of thirds is a type of composition in which an image is divided evenly into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and the subject of the image is placed at the intersection of those dividing lines, or along one of the lines itself.”

You will notice on the theme reveal image I have left the RULE OF THIRDS lines there so you can get an idea of where they are. Every camera gives you the ability to put these lines on the display screen before you take the picture.

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

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 RULE OF THIRDS in this place that doesn’t follow many rules next Monday.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Bill, Black & White, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Funk, History, Holidays, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Photoshop, Sabas, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Self-Portrait, Shannon, Sheri, Suzie, Tamara, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 435 – UGLY

January 15, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day! I forgot to mention this last Monday cause it had slipped my RADAR. The Computer Mine doesn’t care about civil rights all that much, so while government employees, schools, and bankers get the day off, I’ll be working it to the bone all day.

I don’t know if it the type of holiday where you say “Happy (insert holiday here)!” While it is definitely good to honor the man and all of the civil rights accomplishments this country has made over the years, there are large swaths of this country where basic human rights are not only being threatened, they are being walked backwards by regressionist political policies.

I mean, they are banning books! You want to know who the bad people are. Every single time in history, the bad people were the ones banning books! Always!

As always, I like to share a photo when celebrating a holiday. Here is a picture of the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Civil Rights Museum was built on the same property where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. One of those rare times where a place that was the scene of tragedy was turned into a place of veneration and education.

As you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. today don’t act like the battle for basic human rights is over. The fight is as alive today as it was in King’s day.

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UGLY! This was a theme I thought I might struggle with. After all, I’m a person that doesn’t find much to be UGLY. I mean, more than a few of you have had me text you pictures of public bathrooms. I love old. I love rusty. I love the unusual. I love the weird. It is hard for me to find something that is UGLY. Besides racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, antisemitism, xenophobia, jingoism, misogyny… you know… the basic tenets of hatred. But to find out if other people took camera in hand to photography something UGLY, you will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, January 8, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week
2-Lowell Davis – 1 week
3-Susanna Funk – 1 week
4-Michelle Haupt – 1 week
5-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
6-Alexis Stensland – 1 week
7-Brandon Kahler – 2 weeks
8-Mary Green – 3 weeks (2)
9-Scott Degeneffe – 20 weeks
10-Sabas Hernandez – 21 weeks
11-Mike Vest – 26 weeks
12-Sheri Fakhouri – 30 weeks (2)
13-Logan Kahler – 31 weeks
14-Nathanial Brown – 32 weeks
15-Jesse Howard – 32 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 35 weeks (2)
17-Mindi Terrell – 47 weeks (2)
18-Linda Bennett – 76 weeks (2)
19-Sarah Toot – 77 weeks
20-Angie DeWaard – 81 weeks
21-Dawn Krause – 85 weeks (2)
22-Kim Barker – 91 weeks
23-Joe Duff – 92 weeks
24-Teresa Kahler – 103 weeks (2)
25-Carla Stensland – 103 weeks (2)
26-Micky Augustin – 105 weeks
27-Andy Sharp – 106 weeks (2)
28-Bill Wentworth – 107 weeks
29-Cathie Morton – 111 weeks
30-Elizabeth Nordeen – 112 weeks (2)
31-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 114 weeks
32-Kio Dettman – 116 weeks

Heading into this week, this is the 2024 THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE SUBMISSION MAP:

Maybe the map will get more filled in today!

Reminder. Here is the updated list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 5.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 106 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Sommerset, Iowa) – 115 weeks

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 92 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 77 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa) – 33 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa)

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Rural Boone County, Iowa) – 21 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 82 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa)

Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 93 weeks

Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 117 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Rieman Music – Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Sheri Fakhouri (Mercy Hospital – Des Moines, Iowa) – 31 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Mercy Hospital – Des Moines, Iowa)

Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 22 weeks

Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 33 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 32 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 104 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 86 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 112 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 113 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 36 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 107 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Carla Stensland (Boone County, IA – 216th Dr. Near Ogden) 104 weeks

Carla Stensland (Boone County, Iowa)

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 48 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 78 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 27 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 108 weeks

34 participants! That is a pretty great week!

There were submissions this week were taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

No new states added this week.

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Michigan
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

There were some big milestones this week. Sarah joined the Year and Half Streak Club! WooHoo! Both Carla and Teresa both joined the 2 Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all happiness and rainbows. Willy couldn’t build on last week’s submission. His streak is over before it even began.

BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

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 BREAKFAST in this place that like a little #wafflelife next Monday.

Animals, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Tenderloining

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Boone Field Work

December 17, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

A few months back I stopped at an interesting breakfast joint that is only a few short blocks from my house. Weather or Naut is breakfast (and catering) business that serves breakfast from their driveway.

Here are some pictures from my breakfast burrito meal:

My breakfast burrito was delicious!

To cut to the chase of my review, I would definitely go back. In fact I have already been back!

They are currently closed for the winter and to do some remodeling, but I look forward to their opening again next year!

Weather or Naut is located:

1639 3rd Street
Boone, Iowa

Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve the Tenderloin Trail 2.0. For real this time.

Anders, Animals, Art, Candid Portrait, Christianity, Jay, Jesse, Movies, Naima, Road Trip, Self-Portrait, WPC - Alternate

‘Cause Someday I’ll Be Everything to Somebody Else

December 16, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Time to clean out the April backlog. Lots of pictures that didn’t quite make their way into previous “An Artist’s Notebook” entries. Including some that were alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE and some that were taken in Jester Park and some at the end of a flowertography road trip. And some that include Naima.

It always feels good when the backlog gets a little more cleaned out!

Birthdays, Fran, Jesse, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Tenderloining, Teresa

Sandwiched: Stratford Field Work

December 10, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Today is Jesse’s birthday, so I need to wish him a happy birthday!

Happy birthday Jesse!

I hope your birthday was filled with new experiences like watching foreign language movies with subtitles!

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A couple months back Teresa and I went to the Copperhead Saloon & Grill in Stratford for lunch after church. Even though Stratford is close to Boone I had never really considered eating there before. I have to give Fran the finder’s fee credit for the suggestion.

The first thing to know about the Copperhead is that it has AMAZING Halloween decorations.

Here are some pictures from the trip:

Fried Mushrooms

The food was excellent! Even though Fran had hyped it, I was still impressed with it. For starters, it is well-documented that I am a mushroom nut! And I love a good fried mushroom. These were amongst the best fried mushrooms I’ve ever had!

For the main course I ordered the Club Grill (on Texas Toast). Described by the menu as Ham, Turkey, Cheddar, Swiss, Tomato, Bacon, Mayo, and honey mustard.

It was also fantastic.

The verdict on the Copperhead is that I will definitely eat there again. And due to its proximity, probably again and again.

The Copperhead is located at:

802 IA-175
Stratford, Iowa

Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve hitting the Tenderloin Trail 2.0 again.

Birthdays, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Tenderloining, Willy

I Scream: Guthrie Center Field Work

November 26, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Today is Willy’s birthday, so I need to wish him a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Willy!

I hope your birthday is as amazing as you want it to be!!

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A few months back when I went to help Logan and Nathanial’s barbecue team at a barbecue contest I got to finally experience an ice cream shop that I’ve wanted to try for quite some time. The Casey Creamery. They had a food truck set up and I cashed in on my chance to try them. Even it wasn’t their actual store in Casey.

Here are some pictures:

I got the Peachy Keen. Was it any good?

You know I have the Ted Lasso philosophy on ice cream:

Ice cream is the best. It’s kinda like seeing Billy Joel perform live. Never disappoints.

If you want to visit the Casey Creamery brick and mortar it is located here:

103 East Logan Street
Casey, Iowa

The next food adventure will involve a small town festival tenderloin.

Art, Baseball/Softball, Iowa State, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Street Photography, WPC - Alternate

Feel Sorry for Yourself

November 18, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to finish off the March backlog. All of these images were alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE in one way or another. Some were for BLUE. Others were for COMPETITION.

It feels good to have the March backlog cleared out. I don’t think April is ready for a backlog clean out yet. Looks like there are some photos in there that deserves their own posts.

Anela, Birthdays, Road Trip, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Tenderloining

Tenderloining: Prairieburg Field Work

November 12, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Today is Anela’s birthday, so I have to wish her a happy birthday!

Happy birthday Anela!

I hope you have an amazing birthday!

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Back in August I took an opportunity while I was on vacation to get another stamp on my Tenderloin Trail 2.0 Passport. I went to Prairieburg (Population of 160) to try the tenderloin at PrairieMoon on Main. The winner of the Best Tenderloin in 2020.

Here are some pictures:

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: PrairieMoon on Main

I went with the “fresh portabella fries”.

Coke. Sigh.

It was a very good tenderloin! I would definitely eat it again if I was in the area, but let’s face it, Prairieburg is a bit out there. The reason to go to Prairieburg is for this tenderloin or this restaurant. Prairieburg is about 45 minutes north and east of Cedar Rapids. It is about 2 and half hours from Boone.

I also loved the portabella mushroom fries. I am a well-documented mushroom freak. I probably eat mushrooms 3-4 times a week. If anything, I wish it was less breading and more mushroom, but they were still excellent.

You can find PrairieMoon on Main here:

103 East Main Street
Prairieburg, Iowa

But if you find Prairieburg it is about the only business in the town, so you can’t miss it!

It isn’t open that much. The current hours are:

Thursday: 11:30 – 9 PM
Friday: 11:30 – 2 & 4-9 PM
Saturday: 11:30 – 9 PM
Sunday: 11:30 – 5:30 PM

The next time I share a food adventure, it will involve ice cream at a barbecue contest.