Category Archives: WPC – Reminder

Art, Contests, Logan, Pufferbilly Days, Road Trip, WPC - Reminder

Plymouth and Sioux County Aux – Vol. 5

August 12, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Here is the final collection of pictures I took on my road trip to harvest the town signs of Plymouth and Sioux County.

Lots more great art:

Next time we hit the dusty trail for auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Woodbury County.

+++++++

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

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

But what exactly is a FAMILY photo? It is simply a picture of a FAMILY or something that comes from a FAMILY. An example might be a keepsake from a relative that has passed on. But don’t be hampered by the strict DNA definition of FAMILY. In the theme reveal image, none of the 3 people share any DNA. They were the judges for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. They are a photography FAMILY. They are in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest FAMILY. The people that come here and submit pictures are a FAMILY of sorts as well. Even though I am the only one that has met every single one of you.

I should note that I am on vacation next Monday. I don’t necessarily have plans for that day yet, but it is quite possible that there will be no reminders going out that day. Also possible the submission post might be later in the day than usual.

Happy photo harvesting!

Amanda, Andy, Baby Got Rack, Brandon, Dahlia, Football, Iowa State, Jay, K.J., Logan, Nader, Naima, Pufferbilly Days, Russ, Scottie D., Self-Portrait, Self-Portrait Project, Shannon, Teresa, Willy, WPC - Reminder

Selfie Project – July 2022

August 5, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

This is a reminder that tomorrow there is a dog and exotic animal pet show for Pufferbilly Days. A person could also enter a cat, but people don’t, cause… cat. I mean, it explains itself.

However, I give this reminder with the caveat that it is possible that the Dog and Exotic Animal Pet Show could possibly be cancelled due to heat.

Here is the information you need if you are interested:

If it goes down, I will be there to photograph it. If it doesn’t go down, I’ll probably be eating ice cream, in the air conditioning.

+++++++

It is time once again to check in with THE SELFIE PROJECT. One of the things I like about THE SELFIE PROJECT I get to take a quick look back at everything I did last month and be like, “that was last month? I thought that was forever ago!”

I think I had a pretty busy July, but you can be the judge of that.

Here are some of my favorite images:

July 1

July 2

July 3

July 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

July 9

July 10

July 12

July 13

July 14

July 15

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

July 20

July 21

July 23

July 27

July 28

July 29

July 30

July 31

Obviously there were lots of selfies that couldn’t make the cut for this month’s THE SELFIE PROJECT. Here are some of my favorite alternates:

My August calendar is pretty loaded up with Pufferbilly Days, the Iowa State Fair, and numerous TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trips all planned for the month. I’m even going to take some time off work. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just not going to work for a few days. I’m looking forward to it. I hope when we reconvene to look at my August pictures that there are some great new memories in there as well.

+++++++

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

PEOPLE

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

But what is a PEOPLE picture? Well, it is simply a picture that has a PEOPLE or multiple PEOPLE in it. (Somewhere an English teacher is hanging their head so low right now.) I know. PEOPLE are vile and disgusting subjects. They are a failed species that are responsible for 99.999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the evil on this planet. Completely susceptible to propaganda. Responsible for the complete and utter raping of our planet. Avarice. Greed. War. Genocide. Racism. Homophobia. Transphobia. Misogyny. All unique products of PEOPLE. What I’m trying to say is that in the coming war between monkeys and humans, I am hard core #TeamMonkey*. I’d like to say we’ve had a good run, but all the evidence is to the contrary.

I have to admit that after some of the events of the past week, I’m still 100% #TeamMonkey in the coming Human vs. Monkey War (where do you think Monkey Pox comes from), but I think slightly better of our doomed and failed species than I did on Monday.

While thinking on possible subjects for your PEOPLE picture think on the words of the Law Giver:

“Beware the beast man, for he is the devil’s pawn.”
“Alone among God’s primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. ”
“Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother’s land. ”
“Let him not breed in great numbers for he will make a desert of his home and yours. ”
“Shun him. ”
“Drive him back into his jungle lair. ”
“For he is the harbinger of death. “

Happy photo harvesting!

Baby Got Rack, Boone County Fair, Contests, Greyson, Jay, Scottie D., WPC - Reminder

Baby Got Rack – Boone County Fair

July 29, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Today is the last day to enter the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.

I will be picking up the entries from the Chamber about 5 PM today. I’m excited to see how many entries we got this year. I know of at least 4 people that have told me they are entering. I’m hoping there are plenty more out there. At the very least, there should be more submissions than there were last year. And that, my friends, is called improvement.

+++++++

A couple Saturdays back, Baby Got Rack put on our Hawai’ian shirts, our cargo shorts, and our fedoras and took to the field of battle in the rough and tumble world of competitive barbecue at the Boone County Fair.

Not everything went our way and we definitely dropped the ball in more than one way. But we did enough to win the combo category and we will be competing at the State Fair on Tuesday, August 16. In the morning. If you are at the State Fair on that day, stop by. We will be somewhere on the Grand Concourse.

Here are some pictures from the Boone County Fair:

Baby Got Rack - 2022 - Boone County Fair

Thanks to Jay for taking the Baby Got Rack team photo.

On to State!

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is ODD CAMERA ANGLE:

ODD CAMERA ANGLE

ODD CAMERA ANGLE! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

But what exactly is an ODD CAMERA ANGLE photo? It is pretty simple. 99.9% of the pictures in the world are taken from the eye level of the photographer. This theme asks you to move the camera. It can be from an extremely low camera angle. Or it can be from an extremely high camera angle. Move your body and your camera to a perspective of your subject that isn’t normally seen.

Happy photo harvesting!

Art, Black & White, Contests, Ruins, State Fair, WPC - Reminder

Osceola County Aux – Vol. 2

July 15, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

It is that time of year where a card comes in the mail that tells you how you did in the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. My card came last Saturday and I did manage to sneak one picture past the judges to be displayed.

Here is what the card looks like:

I don’t know which of the four got in and no, I’m not sharing what four pictures I entered at this time. That will happen when the Fair is over. I will find out which one got in when I go to the Fair on the first day of the Fair.

I say this every year, but I really procrastinated this year on the Fair. Next year I will start this process earlier and have better thought through entries. Or not. It seems to go better when I don’t think about it so much. If you do go to the Iowa State Fair and look for my picture, you can ask the volunteer to tell you where it is, so you don’t have to look around for hours and never find it.

+++++++

Time for another collection of auxiliary images from my trip to Osceola County to harvest their town signs.

Sibley

Hawkeye Point

Little Rock

There is still one more collection of images to share from this road trip.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is WORK:

WORK

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

But what is a WORK image? A WORK picture is simply a picture of somebody doing WORK or tools that are used to do WORK or a place where WORK is done. Remember not everybody has to WORK as hard as I do. Some people have slacker jobs where they get to frolic on a mezzanine or play with trains all day. Try not to think how hard I have it at the Computer Mine and maybe think on the physics definition of WORK. The measure of energy transfer that occurs when an object is moved over a distance by an external force.

WARNING: If you are taking a picture at your place of employment, consider what things in your picture your employer would not want the rest of the world to see. You won’t get in trouble with me, but you might with one of your eight bosses.

Happy photo harvesting!

Art, Black & White, Flowers, History, Road Trip, Street Photography, Travel, WPC - Reminder

Miami Beach – Day 5 – A7II – Dos

July 8, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

This is the final collection of images I’m going to share from my work trip to Miami Beach. It begins with more pictures of the Holocaust Memorial and ends with pictures taken around my hotel. The first image shared here is probably my favorite picture I took on this trip. Probably my last work trip for a bit. One of the most enjoyable work trips I’ve been on to date.

Miami Beach Work Trip - Day 5 - May 2022

Currently my next work trip is to Las Vegas in February. Now I don’t write that in stone, but hopefully it comes off. My one trip to Vegas was a terrible experience that ended in the one and only bad performance review I’ve ever had in my life. But I’ve told that story too many times. Never trust a woman named Nancy. If you learn nothing else from me, learn that. Take that little nugget and tuck it away.

Vegas should have plenty of photographic opportunities. I want to visit the Hoover Dam while I’m there, but the amount of interest I’ve managed to garner from other parties go on this trip hasn’t been promising. Might have to take that trip solo.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is ROAD TRIP:

ROAD TRIP

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

But what is a ROAD TRIP photo? It is simply any picture that is taken during or in preparation for a ROAD TRIP. Or even as the result of a ROAD TRIP. What is the difference between a ROAD TRIP and just running to the store or to work? Doesn’t have to be. A ROAD TRIP is generally thought to be a long-distance journey. But who am I define what you consider to be “long-distance”.

Happy photo harvesting!

Carla, Jason, Jesse, Kio, Linda, Nader, Naima, Self-Portrait, Self-Portrait Project, Teresa, WPC - Reminder

Selfie Project – June 2022

July 1, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

I hope you are prepared for lots of pictures of me over the next couple of days. Today I’m sharing the pictures from the June Selfie Project. Tomorrow I’m sharing the photos from June’s FatMumSlim Photo Challenge. Those pictures are also all selfies. With the exception of one day, I took separate pictures for each challenge. The one day I didn’t wasn’t on purpose. I just forgot to get my second selfie.

Here are some of my favorites June of THE SELFIE PROJECT:

June 2

June 4

June 6

June 7

June 8

June 10

June 11

June 12

June 13

June 14

June 15

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

June 20

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

June 26

June 27

June 29

June 30

Sometimes I think I need to get more creative with my selfies for THE SELFIE PROJECT, but sometimes I don’t. If July images look different, you will know which angel on my shoulder won.

I might also wear too many gray shirts. I could claim it is my homage to the gray card, but truth is I probably need to get more color back into my wardrobe. I also need to wear the alligator shirt more. It is a fan favorite, since its debut on Alligator Movie Night.

Of course, there can only be one selfie to represent each day and while June might not have been a super active month for me, there are plenty of alternates to share that didn’t make the cut.

Hopefully I leave my house more in the month of July. I do badly need to take a vacation from the Computer Mine. I’m just not quite sure when that will be. A week in July or a week in August. Maybe a week in July and a week in August. I do have the PTO to burn.

+++++++

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

ENTERTAINMENT

WARNING: NEXT MONDAY IS THE 4TH OF JULY. SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS INDEPENDENCE DAY (EVEN THOUGH NOTHING HAPPENED ON THE 4TH OF JULY). I DON’T KNOW WHAT MY PLANS INCLUDE YET, BUT IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT I WON’T BE IN A POSITION TO SEND OUT ANY REMINDERS. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT YOU WILL GET SUPER BUSY NEXT MONDAY AND FORGET TO SUBMIT. PLAN ACCORDINGLY. CAUSE WHILE THE BANKS AND THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE TAKING NEXT MONDAY OFF. THERE ARE NO DAYS OFF AT PHOTOGRAPHY 139. NO REST FOR THE WICKED(LY AWESOME!).

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

But what is an ENTERTAINMENT image? It is simply a picture of something that is used for ENTERAINMENT or something that ENTERTAINMENTs you. Examples would include things like theaters (like in the theme reveal) or concerts or plays or anything you would do to pass the time in an enjoyable way.

Happy photo harvesting!

Animals, Art, Black & White, Flowers, History, Self-Portrait, Street Photography, Travel, WPC - Reminder

Miami Beach – Day 5 – A7II – Uno

June 24, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Trending back to Day 5 of my Computer Mine trip to Miami Beach. This was the only day I got to do much photography. We actually left the convention center at a decent time. We had an appetizer party hosted by the sales team that I attended, but then I snuck out early cause I wanted to go to the botanical garden. Unfortunately, when I got there it was closed for the day. However, I did go visit the Holocaust Memorial that was right next to the botanical garden. Here are some pictures from that walkabout:

One more collection of photos from this trip still left to share.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is SELF-PORTRAIT:

SELF-PORTRAIT

But what is a SELF-PORTRAIT? Please don’t play coy. It is simply a portrait of one’s self. Now a SELF-PORTRAIT doesn’t necessarily have to be a picture of your face. It could be of your hands or feet or whatever body part. It doesn’t even have to include you at all. It can be a picture of something that is uniquely you. For example Wily keeps pretty much every pair of running shoes he has ever had. He has maybe an excess of 100. A picture of his running shoes with or without his feet in them would be a SELF-PORTRAIT. OR you could even take a picture of somebody taking a SELF-PORTRAIT.

Happy photo harvesting!

Art, Kim, Lowell, Street Photography, Travel, Work, WPC - Reminder

Miami Beach – Day 3 and Day 6 – A7II

June 17, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

In this post I am going to share pictures I took with the A7II on Days 3 and 6 of my work trip to Miami Beach. I did not crack out the camera at all on Day 4. On Day 5, I actually got away for a bit and took several pictures, so I’m going to dedicate an entire post to those pictures. I didn’t take many pictures on Day 3 or Day 6, so I’m combining them here.

Day 3 was supposed to be kind of a half day of training, but those of us on Team Setup ended up spending quite a bit of hours tinkering with the computers at the Convention Center. I only took a handful of pictures walking back from the Convention Center with Tony after he went to 7/11 for some smokes.

Miami Beach Work Trip - Day 3 - May 2022

Maybe I’m immature, but you can’t tell me if this sign was in Ames, it would be right up there for college freshman to steal with highway 69 signs.

I would love to see this hotel when it is done being renovated.

A tree growing outside of the Plymouth.

Day 6 was the last day of the convention. It was a long day for me because I left the hotel about 7:30 for the Convention Center. I got back to the hotel at about 8:30. From 4:30 until about 8:00 I sat around with Kim, Tony, and Lowell waiting for one crate to arrive. All the pictures I took that day are from that wait.

Miami Beach Work Trip - Day 6 - May 2022

The Computer Mine Booth

That reddish crate isn’t the one we were waiting for, but Kim packed up all our snacks and then wrapped it. So we starved for 2 hours. Please feel sorry for me.

A Computer Mine competitor’s booth.

It was a good trip, but the highlights, photographically speaking are from Day 5. Which I will share soon.

+++++++

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

SERVICE

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

This is a theme that was suggested by Andy. If you don’t like it, well remember that I crowdsource the themes once a year about November, so watch for that post and conduct your actions accordingly.

That isn’t to infer that I don’t love this theme. If I didn’t love the suggestion, I would have filed it in the trash next to Shannon’s suggestion of CATS. Maybe not next to that suggestion. Cause that one I threw in the trash and then stomped the trash down. Then took it to the incinerator. I didn’t even own an incinerator. I went to the store and bought one, just so I could incinerate that suggestion.

That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t make suggestions for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE when that time is nigh. Just don’t suggest CATS.

But what is a SERVICE picture? A SERVICE is simply the action of helping someone else. A SERVICE picture is simply a picture of one person helping another person. Or the results of one person helping another person. Now there are many different types of SERVICE. For example the theme reveal is a picture of a worship SERVICE. I get very questionable internet SERVICE from Mediacom. A couple days last week I ate at restaurant where I received SERVICE from many fine servers.

Happy photo harvesting!

Art, Black & White, Night, Street Photography, Travel, Work, WPC - Reminder

Miami Beach – Day 2 – A7II

June 10, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

On Day 2 of my trip to Miami Beach for the Computer Mine I had a little bit of free time in the evening to do a little street photography in the blocks around our hotel.

One of the first things I learned was it would take 10 minutes (at least) for my camera to acclimate to the change in humidity between the air conditioned hotel room and the hot humid nights of South Beach.

Here are a few pictures from this short walkabout:

Miami Beach Work Trip - Day 2 - May 2022

I didn’t actually take my camera out at all on Day 3 and barely on Day 4. I’ll probably combine Day 4 and Day 5 into one post at some point in the future.

+++++++

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

CHILDREN

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

But what is a CHILDREN picture? Simply put, a CHILDREN picture is any picture that includes a CHILDren or CHILDREN or anything that deals with CHILDREN. This could be a very easy theme for some people. Some people can’t throw a rock in their house with out hitting a CHILD(REN). Which isn’t to say that I endorse throwing rocks at CHILDREN. It is just a saying. Some people might not have such easy access to a CHILD(REN) or even know a CHILD(REN). No worries! That is where the “anything that deals with CHILDREN comes into play. Notice how the theme reveal image doesn’t have any CHILDREN in it, but instead is a picture of a playground, which CHILD(REN) of all ages use.

Happy photo harvesting!

Flowers, Macro, WPC - Reminder

WPC – WEEK 351 – THEME REVEAL

May 30, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

If you are reading this, I’ve chosen to go on a road trip this morning and don’t have access to a computer to publish all the submissions I received for HISTORY. I will publish those submissions when I get home later tonight.

But just because I’m not around doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a start on this week’s theme. Which is…

FLOWER

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

But what is a FLOWER picture? Simply put, a FLOWER picture is any picture where a FLOWER is a major compositional element of the picture. The FLOWER can be real. The FLOWER can be fake. The FLOWER can be a artistic rendering. There are so many options!

When thinking on possible subjects for your submission, meditate on the following quote:

Take time to smell the roses.
-Proverb

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

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 FLOWER in this place that some people already think has too many flowers next Monday.