Category Archives: WPC – Reminder

Flowers, WPC - Reminder

Happy

March 18, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Here is a collection of flower pictures I took in my yard back in June:

I have plenty more flower pictures from last year to share.

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

ABSTRACT

But what exactly is an ABSTRACT image?

Here is a definition from the Wiki:

Abstract photography, sometimes called non-objective, experimental or conceptual photography, is a means of depicting a visual image that does not have an immediate association with the object world and that has been created through the use of photographic equipment, processes or materials. An abstract photograph may isolate a fragment of a natural scene in order to remove its inherent context from the viewer, it may be purposely staged to create a seemingly unreal appearance from real objects, or it may involve the use of color, light, shadow, texture, shape and/or form to convey a feeling, sensation or impression.

In a nutshell, an ABSTRACT image would be an image that doesn’t necessarily look like the object that is being photographed. Or at least it concentrates on shapes and forms. It isn’t a picture of a flower that looks like a flower. There are several ways to do this:

+ Move the camera while taking the picture.
+ If you are using a camera with a zoom lens. Zoom the lens while taking the picture.
+ Move a light in a dark room.
+ Take a picture of smoke or steam.
+ Take a picture that is out of focus. Lights work as great subjects here.
+ Reflections in water.

The theme reveal image is a picture of the sun, taken in my alley. With a wide open aperture and completely out of focus.

Another option is to find a piece of ABSTRACT art and take a picture of that.

Happy photo harvesting!

Still Life, Travel, Work, WPC - Reminder

Computer Mine Pittsburgh Trip Eats

February 25, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 6 Comments

Last week I was in Pittsburgh with Lowell and New Chris on a work trip to install computers in a customer’s office. The office’s office manager just completely spoiled us with constantly hosting us for dinner, bringing us food, and taking us to fantastic restaurants.

While this isn’t a foodie blog by any stretch of the animation, despite all the tenderloin posts, it is in the Bennett DNA to photograph pictures of our food. So I thought I would share some cruddy cell phone pictures of most of the foods I ate last week:

Chicago Airport

Monday Dinner

My favorite dish on the trip.

Peanut butter and chocolate equals perfect harmony.

#wafflelife

Tuesday Lunch

Tuesday Supper

Wednesday Lunch

Wednesday Supper

#wafflelife

Thursday Lunch

Thursday Supper

Wednesday Lunch – Charlotte Airport

A Valentine’s gift from the Computer Mine when I got home.

Sorry to those who already endured my food pictures and sorry to those that haven’t and are now jealous.

I hadn’t travelled for work in at least 5 years. Don’t know that I’ll travel again for another 5 years, but I guess we’ll see.

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This is your reminder that this week’s theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is HARMONY.

HARMONY

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

But what exactly is a HARMONY image? A HARMONY image is simply a picture of at least two things that team up together perfectly. Like peanut butter and jelly. Cardinal and gold. Laurel and Hardy. Colors can also harmonize. I’m not going to go deep into color theory, but here are a few examples of colors that HARMONYze: Orange-Blue, Pink-Green, Orange-Green, Red-Green, Yellow-Purple, Blue-Yellow, Green-Magenta, Red-Cyan. Also, a HARMONY image could also relate to music as HARMONY is a very important part of music.

Happy photo harvesting!

Scottie D., Still Life, Tenderloining, WPC - Reminder

Tenderloin Appreciation Society – Ames Field Work

February 18, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A couple Saturdays back Scottie D. and I and his family hit up one of my favorite restaurants in Ames to try their tenderloin. That restaurant is Time To Roll. It is located in North Grand Mall and the reason I love them so much is they have a knock-off of the Crisp Meat Burrito that Taco Time used to serve before going the way of the dodo. Being a Boonie through and through, I have a very deep, nearly primal love for Taco Time and the Crisp Meat Burrito. I dare say that my favorite time, well it is Taco Time. Time To Roll has pretty much nailed the unadulterated greatness that is the Crisp Meat Burrito.

Perhaps, you never experienced Taco Time? Well if you are from Fort Dodge, imagine Taco Tico, but it doesn’t suck and instead is amazing. Dare I say, imagine it is amazeballs. If you are not from Fort Dodge, imagine whatever your local fast foot taco joint was amazeballs.

Recently, Time to Roll adding a tenderloin to their menu. However, it isn’t just any tenderloin. It is the Suburban Tenderloin. The Suburban was a restaurant in Gilbert, that back in the day served a tasty tenderloin. Or at least I am told, because I never experienced it. The one time that I tried to eat there with my #1 Tenderloin Buddy, Scottie D., it was closed. We ended up at BK’s and the rest is tenderloin history.

However, it certainly left a hole in the tenderloin resume. Which is cool, because now we were given the opportunity to plug that hole. Plug it with fried, greasy goodness.

Here are some cruddy cell phone pictures from this trip:

You’ve seen the pictures now, but how do I break down the experience. Well goes a little some like this… Hit it!

THE GOOD

+ Good bun.
+ Toasted bun.
+ Nailed the meat to bun ratio.
+ Good thickness on the cut of meat.
+ White onions.
+ Serve Pepsi products.

THE BAD

+ Standard has lettuce and onions.
+ Generally bland tasting.

THE UGULY

+ Breading has too much of a corn meal taste. It has a weird combination of being both very bland tasting and having a very strong taste of corn meal.

My final recommendation is to stick with the Crisp Meat Burrito. It doesn’t disappoint!

I don’t have any current tenderloin eating plans, but I do need to get another stamp on my Tenderloin Trail 2.0 Passport soon.

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This is your reminder that although I still haven’t published the submissions for Week 335 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, also known as the BELIEVE photos, this week’s theme this week’s theme is STILL LIFE. At the time of the publication of this post, I will be sitting in the Charlotte, North Carolina airport waiting to board a plane to come back to the Cyclone State. If things break just right, I’ll be publishing the BELIEF images at some point on Saturday.

STILL LIFE

STILL LIFE? Sounds like a great theme, but what exactly is a STILL LIFE image?

STILL LIFE photography is photography of inanimate subjects. Subjects are frequently commonplace object. Subjects can be either manmade or natural objects (food, plants, rocks, shells). One of the joys of STILL LIFE photography is that you can arrange your inanimate objects any way you want!

Happy photo harvesting!

Holidays, Still Life, WPC - Reminder

WEEK 336 THEME REVEAL

February 14, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

I haven’t been exactly celebrating holidays here on “An Artist’s Notebook” for awhile now, but I figure I better celebrate the one true holiday that hasn’t been tainted by crass commercialism. I’m talking of course, of Valentine’s Day.

This is my way of saying Happy Valentine’s Day world!

And since it is a Valentine’s Day, I do like to share one of my favorite scenes from my favorite boy-meets-girl movie. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER.

Tom, the boy of the movie, works for a greeting card company. He is sitting in a meeting where they are discussing designs for greeting cards. One of his co-workers is pitching a line of cat cards. Tom’s response:

Well this is, and Rhoda, no disrespect, but um, this is total shit. “Go for it?” “You can do it?” That’s not inspirational, that’s suicidal! If Pickles goes for it right there that’s a dead cat. Lies, we’re liars think about it, why do people buy these things? It’s not because they wanna say how they feel. People buy cards ’cause they can’t say how they feel or they’re afraid to. We provide the service that lets them off the hook. You know what? I say to hell with it. Let’s level with America. At least let them speak for themselves, right? I mean look, look. What is this, what does this say? “Congratulations on your new baby.” How ’bout “Congratulations on your new baby, guess that’s it for hanging out, nice knowing ya.” How ’bout this one? With all the pretty hearts on the front, I think I know where this one’s going. Yup. “Happy Valentine’s Day sweetheart, I love you.” Isn’t that sweet? Ain’t love grand? This is exactly what I’m talking about. What does that even mean, love? Do you know? Do you? Anybody? If somebody gave me this card Mr. Vance, I’d eat it. It’s these cards, and the movies and the pop songs, they’re to blame for all the lies and the heartache, everything. We’re responsible. I’M responsible. I think we do a bad thing here. People should be able to say how they feel, how they really feel, not ya know, some words that some stranger put in their mouth. Words like love, that don’t mean anything. Sorry, I’m sorry, I um, I quit. There’s enough bullshit in the world without my help.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Around the time this is publishing, the plane that I’m on will (hopefully) make its descent into Chicago’s airport. I’m spending the week in Pittsburgh for work, so I won’t be able publish the submissions I got for BELIEVE until I return. This will happen either late Friday or on Saturday. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get to work on this week’s theme:

STILL LIFE

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

But what exactly is a STILL LIFE image? A STILL LIFE image is simply a picture of an inanimate object or objects. The object can be manmade or it can be from nature. A flower or a plant is a subject for a STILL LIFE image. A dog or a human being is not a subject for a STILL LIFE image. Food is a popular STILL LIFE subject. The great thing about STILL LIFE photography is it allows the photographer to manipulate his subject.

Meditate on the following quote while considering your inanimate subject for you submission from one of the greatest photographers of all-time, Diane Arbus:

I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.”

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 our idea of STILL LIFE in this place that is little more than my life held still next Monday.

Anders, Elizabeth, Flowers, Naima, Nature, Photo of the Day, Road Trip, Self-Portrait, Still Life, WPC - Reminder

Fat Mum Slim – January 2022

February 4, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

This year, in addition to THE SELFIE PROJECT, I’ve decided to participate in the popular Instagram Photo of a Day Project run by Fat Mum lim. Each day there is a different photo prompt. I’ve created a separate Instagram account to post these pictures, so if you are Instagram, you can follow that account at @fmsbennett.

Here are the pictures from January:

January 1 – How I’m Starting 2022

January 2 – This is me

January 3 – Breakfast

January 4 – Something blue

January 5 – This year I’ll

January 6 – Begins with G

January 7 – Words to live by

January 8 – Get in the photo

January 9 – Play

January 10 – Makes me smile

January 11 – Lunch

January 12 – I am here!

January 13 – Happy

January 14 – Reflection

January 15 – Heck Yes!

January 16 – Self care

January 17 – In the sky

January 18 – Serenity

January 19 – Lucky number

January 20 – A path

January 21 – Happens every day

January 22 – I love this colour

January 23 – A place

January 24 – A shape

January 25 – Flowers

January 26 – Water

January 27 – Dinner

January 28 – Nature

January 29 – A book cover

January 30 – Mirror

January 31 – I need to do this…

I need to acknowledge Elizabeth for helping on two of the projects. She threw the basketball in the air for “Up in the sky” and she also provided and held the illustration for “Flowers”.

The February themes are all letter related:
February 1: A is For…
February 2: B if For…
February 3: C is For…
February 4: D is For…
February 5: E is For…
February 6: F is For…
February 7: G is For…
February 8: H is For…
February 9: I is For…
February 10: J is For…
February 11: K is For…
February 12: L is For…
February 13: M is For…
February 14: N is For…
February 15: O is For…
February 16: P is For…
February 17: Q is For…
February 18: R is For…
February 19: S is For…
February 20: T is For…
February 21: U is For…
February 22: V is For…
February 23: W is For…
February 24: X is For…
February 25: Y is For…
February 26: Z is For…
February 27: Letters
February 28: Your Fave Word

Hoping to collect some fun images in February.

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

JUNK

JUNK! What a great theme for Week 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a JUNK image? Simply put, it is any picture that involves JUNK in the composition. It can be as simple as opening up your JUNK drawer and taking a picture. I have at least 5 JUNK drawers in my house and one more in the office. You could got to a local salvage yard. You could go to a local “antique” store. It could be simply a picture of something you don’t like. There are numerous definitions of JUNK and feel free to explore any of those definitions. I think you know the definition I’m talking about.

Happy photo harvesting!

Animals, Black & White, Flowers, Macro, Naima, State Fair, WPC - Reminder

Throw It All Away

January 28, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

This is the final collection of flower pictures I took at the Iowa State Fair in 2021. There are also a few pictures of a monarch butterfly that I also captured, photographically.

I’m already looking forward to the 2022 Iowa State Fair. Hope to get there a couple times again. One of my favorite food, photography, and cultural experiences every year.

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is #LOVE.

#LOVE

But what is a #LOVE photo you may be asking? It is simply a picture that you would #LOVE on Instagram. It can be a picture that depicts #LOVE or it could simply be a picture of something you #LOVE. And the thing you love can be as simple as “Man, I really love these cheesy gordita crunch!” Snap. Post. #LOVE. Although in fairness, everything from Taco Bell is gross and if you love one of those, you might have serious psychological issues. But like I said, here at Photography 139 love is love and #LOVE IS #LOVE.

If you are person that has been through some stuff, and there is a burned out husk where your heart used to be, I got you. Think on these kinds of #LOVE:

+ Philia – affectionate love. A love that runs deep in true friendships.
+ Pragma – enduring love. Mature love that develops over time.
+ Storge – familiar love. Love between parents and children or childhood friends and siblings.
+ Eros – romantic love. Infatuation and physical pleasure.
+ Ludus – playful love. Flirting and beginning stages of intimate love.
+ Mania – obsessive love. Obsessiveness or madness over a love partner. This might be called stalking these days.
+ Philautia – self love. Having a healthy self-compassion love towards one’s self.
+ Agape – selfless love. An empathetic attitude of love for everyone and anyone. Also describes God’s infinite, unconditional love.

You find just one of these types of love, or a disgusting cheesy gordita crunch, and you’re photo harvesting will go just fine.

Flowers, Lensbaby, Macro, State Fair, WPC - Reminder

Closer to You

January 21, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

It is -9 degrees as I sit down to write this entry. I don’t mind the cold too much, but it still makes me long for warm August days and the Iowa State Fair. Standing in the Discovery Garden, photographing flowers.

One of my organizational projects of 2021 is to get my flower galleries better organized and get the naming conventions nailed down better. For example, I name any hibiscus picture I take “Unceasing Effort” for the Alan Key quote, “Some people worry that artificial intelligence will make us feel inferior, but then anybody in his right mind should have an inferiority complex every time he looks at a flower.”

It shouldn’t take anywhere near as long as fixing all my past broken blogs has taken and continues to take, but it is a larger project than I want it to be.

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

TRIANGLE

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

But what is a TRIANGLE image? It is simply a picture where the subject includes or is a TRIANGLE. Isosceles, equilateral, scalene, obtuse, acute, or right. Doesn’t matter. When you start to look for them, you will realize that TRIANGLE(s) are every where. Commonly used in construction and logos, for example. Heck, sometimes even love has a TRIANGLE.

Happy photo harvesting!

Animals, Flowers, Macro, State Fair, WPC - Reminder

What Can I Say

January 14, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Today felt like the right day to start sharing pictures I took of the flowers at the Iowa State Fair. As you know, the Discovery Garden is one of my favorite parts of the Iowa State Fair and I try to spend at least sometime there every year.

There are still more flowers from the Iowa State Fair left to share. But maybe not as many as usual.

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

ROCK

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

But what is a ROCK photo? Well, there are several types of rocks. Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. All you have to do is find a rock you like (I’m partial to igneous) and take a picture of it. And ROCKs have so many uses, they can hold historical markers, they are canvasses for artists, and people build things out of them. Just to name a few. Of course, ROCK can have multiple meanings. There is the type of ROCK that Twisted Sister wants to do. Which isn’t all that different from the kind of ROCK that AC/DC salutes those about to engage in or that Queen wants to do to you. Whatever definition of ROCK you use, it will be the right one for you.

I’d be remiss, if I didn’t point out that ROCK was a theme suggested by Angie. Thanks for the suggestion Angie.

If you don’t like ROCK as a theme, you can call her to complain. Her phone number is 555-2368.

Happy photo harvesting!

Black & White, Flowers, Macro, Naima, WPC - Reminder

Follow

January 7, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Here are some pictures of flowers from my yard that I took back in June.

I have more than a few flower pictures left to share from last year.

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is BLACK + WHITE:

BLACK + WHITE! What a great theme to kick off Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

To know me at all, is to know that my first love in photography is always been BLACK + WHITE. But what is BLACK + WHITE photo? Well, the obvious answer is that it simply a picture that is monochrome. Not color. But BLACK + WHITE. However, there are some things to know about taking a good BLACK + WHITE picture. Once you remove color from an image, you can’t rely on color to provide interest. Here are things to think about to make a good BLACK + WHITE image:

+ Shape and Form – The shapes of things will be more dominant.
+ Contrast – Without colors to separate your subjects, you will need the contrast between BLACK + WHITE to separate the objects in the picture.
+ Texture – A good subject in BLACK + WHITE photography will have texture. Texture really pops.

Happy photo harvesting!

Billy, Candid Portrait, Dory, Event, J.T., Laura, Nate, WPC - Reminder

Natuation

December 17, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Last Saturday I went down to Manhattan, Kansas to watch Nate graduate from Kansas State University with a degree in Food Science. He will be finding another job soon and hopefully moving closer.

Here are some pictures from the party:

I transported the cake from Boone. Don’t worry, I didn’t make it. Dutch Oven did. It will be fascinating to see where life takes Nate, Laura, and the kids next!

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

CANDID PORTRAIT

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

But what is a CANDID PORTRAIT image? A CANDID PORTRAIT image is simply an image where the person that is the subject of the photo isn’t posing for the picture. It doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t know their picture is getting taken, but they definitely aren’t posing for the picture. They are just being themselves. Which is why I prefer CANDID PORTRAITS a gazillion to one over formal portraits. But that is just me.

Happy photo harvesting!