Category Archives: Self-Portrait Project

An Artist’s Notebook Post #4757

It has been 6,052 days since August 9, 2006. 16 years. 6 months. 24 days. Since I first posted something in this little experiment known as “An Artist’s Notebook”. 145,2485 hours. 8,714,800 minutes. 522,892,800 seconds. Which is to say, it has been a minute.

There are some very important people in my life that I didn’t even know 16 years, 6 months, 24 days ago. There are people that I thought were important in my life that have come and gone in that 864 weeks and 4 days. It has been a journey. Some good. Some bad. Some of it ugly, I’m sure.

6,052 days ago I started this journal with the following words:

So here is the first journal entry. I felt like having as pretentious sounding name as possible for my journal. I have a few goals about this journal. My main goal is just to actually write in it. My second goal is to be as truthful as possible towards my true thoughts and feelings. I have another journal on another website, but it is really just a collection of sarcastic statements and cheap jabs at open faced sandwiches. This journal is meant to be about what my achievements and failures are in the world of art. What projects I am working on and what I have accomplished and what I have failed to accomplish. What I am photographing and what I am thinking about entering in photo contests. What I am thinking about. It might not always make sense. It might just be things I need to write down because they strike me as poignant or inspirational. This is in a small way an online “idea box”.

Since those words, I have posted 4,756 journal entries. (Normally I would do this little exercise on post #4,750, but I was in Vegas at that time.) This website is still something of an “idea box”. Sometimes I’m just working stuff out here. I don’t know why, sometimes I need to work stuff out in public. But this website is definitely more than just an “idea box”. It is a place where I post a few thoughts and a ton of pictures. I’ve gone through a few photo projects on these pages. From THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT to the 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT to THE SELFIE PROJECT to the POSTCARD RECREATION PROJECT to name just a few. This website has also created a community with THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Which is one of my proudest achievements. Even if it sputtered and spit and barely survived in its first few years.

4,757 posts. We’ve been through some stuff. I hope to keep going through some stuff for many, many, many more posts. 4,757 posts and I feel like I’m just getting warmed up.

On these reflective posts, I like to publish a bunch of statistics that me and Joe Duff find interesting. So I might as well get to it.

Every post in “An Artist’s Notebook” is tagged with at least one Category. It is one of the easiest ways to navigate around the website. They are listed at the top of each post. Here are some statistics about Categories:

THE TOP 10 MOST USED CATEGORIES (RANK IN POST #4500 & INCREASE SINCE THEN)
10. Macro – 495 (NR)
9. Teresa – 525 (#9 – +70)
8. Carla – 530 (#8 – +54)
7. Shannon – 539 (#6 – +39)
6. Road Trip – 569 (#7 – +92)
5. Art – 622 (#5 – +116)
4. Jesse – 630 (#4 – +51)
3. Animals – 735 (#3 – +37)
2. Flowers – 881 (#2 – +62)
1. Black and White – 992 (#1 – +74)

Dropped from the rankings was WPC – Submissions

THE TOP 10 NON-HUMAN CATEGORIES
10. Photoshop – 389 (NR)
9. Nature – 437 (#9 – +41)
8. Formal Portrait – 447 (#10 – +66)
7. WPC – Submissions – 493 (#6 – +38)
6. Macro – 495 (#7 – +54)
5. Road Trip – 569 (#5 – +92)
4. Art – 622 (#4 – +116)
3. Animals – 735 (#3 – +37)
2. Flowers – 881 (#2 – +62)
1. Black & White – 992 (#1 – +74)

Dropped from the rankings is PORTRAIT. I’m trying to eliminate it as a category, so it should eventually drop to zero.

NAIMA and CANDID PORTRAIT have a shot at cracking the Top 10 in Post #5,000.

THE TOP 10 HUMAN CATEGORIES
10. Willy – 318 (NR)
9. Logan – 329 (NR)
8. Derrick – 330 (#7 – +10)
7. Kim – 342 (#8 – +45)
6. Jay – 348 (#6 – +11)
5. Mom – 458 – (#5 – +5)
4. Teresa – 525 (#4 – +70)
3. Carla – 530 (#3 – +54)
2. Shannon – 539 (#2 – +39)
1. Jesse – 630 (#1 – +51)

Dropping from the rankings was Jen and Vest.

Micky, Vest, and Jen have the best shot at cracking the Top 10 in Post #5,000.

If you are wondering what is your best way to improve your Photography 139 Score and crack the Top 10, it is simply to be active in THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE or go on trips with me or participate in various other photo projects or be related to me. Now these aren’t necessarily the 10 people that have influenced my photography the most, but these are the 10 people that have made the largest imprint on this website.

I can tell you the people that have influenced my photography the most, but that is a tale for another time. But I’m pretty sure you can guess who.

If you have spent any time on the Photography 139 website, you know that on the left sidebar, the “Top 100 Categories” are listed. I thought I would give a little bit of coverage to the Bottom 10 of the Top 100. There are currently 200 categories used on the website. I could cover the Bottom 10, but they are mostly people that either very recently came into the life of this website by birth (Jonah Kahler) or another way (Nathanial, Mindi, Fran). Or people that I thought would be a bigger part of my life and then weren’t. No need to cover those people. The Category that is #200 probably needs to be purged.

THE BOTTOM 10 OF THE TOP 100

#100. Kelly – 71 (NR)
#99. Commercial – 72 (#97 – +1)
#98. Self-Portrait Project – 73 (NR)
#97. Andree – 75 (#94 – 0)
#96. Flat Earth Joe – 75 (NR)
#95. Lowell – 79 (#93 – +2)
#94. Photo Journal – 79 (#92 – 0)
#93. Suzie – 80 (NR)
#92. Pastor Sarah – 86 (#95 – +12)
#91. Becca – 87 (NR)

The following categories have either fallen out of the Bottom 10 of the Top 100 or climbed out of it:

Jaycees, Vacation, Mark, Life, and Birthdays.

Now something I should explain is that I used to put Flat Earth Joe and Joe Duff under the same Category of simply “Joe” out of laziness, but in the last 250 posts, I split them.

Of these categories, I think Pastor Sarah and Suzie have the best chance to climb out of this list. Since I’m not doing the Self-Portrait Project his year, it could fall out of the Top 100. And I’m not sure what part of my life Flat Earth Joe will have in the future. He has taken a hard turn down the path of terrible decision making and has been in jail for over a month now. I hope he gets sorted at some point in the future. But quite frankly, I can’t make a prediction on his future. I can barely make a prediction on my future. So it is hard to say what will happen to that category. As for the category of Andree, I talk to Andree regularly, but he rarely makes an appearance on this website.

The categories that are closest to falling into the Bottom 10 of the Top 100 are Faust, Birthdays, and Joe Duff. But I think at least Birthdays and Joe Duff are pretty safe. I talk to Faust now and again, but he rarely makes an appearance on the website. I still someday need to go visit the Godzilla statue in his town. But I also need to visit Nate and Bethany and Becca and Bill and Sarah and well it is quite a list. When I think about it, I have to sit down on the couch and watch another episode of THE LAST OF US.

That categories that are closest to cracking into the Top 100 are Mark, Layla, and Vacation. But since Mark isn’t really part of my life anymore, I don’t see that busting through. I also can’t see a vacation on my horizon any time soon. But I like Layla’s odds. A lot of spunk in that one.

“An Artist’s Notebook” is part of Photography 139. The 139 comes from Psalm 139:1-12. The Photography part comes from the fact this website is supposed to be filled with photography. So, what are the most popular photo galleries on the Photography 139 website? Glad you asked:

TOP 10 PHOTOGRAPHY 139 PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERIES (LAST 365 DAYS)

To View the Gallery, Click on its Representative Image
Computer Mine Convention - 2023
10. Las Vegas – 2023 – 42,941 Views

Alexis Pregnant with Anela
9. Alexis Pregnancy Photo Shoot – 2020 – 47,269 Views

Jayton Poole
8. Jayton Poole – 2022 – 47,464 Views

9  Emotions Project - Bethany
7. 9 Emotions Project – 51,763 Views

Miami Beach Work Trip - Day 5 - May 2022
6. Miami Beach – 2022 – 53,087

Party - Alternate
5. Christopher D. Bennett – 112,907 Views

Day 240 - August 28, 2022
4. Selfie Project -2022 – 162,595 Views

Kossuth County - Lone Rock
3. Town Sign Project Auxiliary Images – 184,949 Views

Ackley, Iowa
2. Town Sign Project – 201,352 Views

WEEK 357 - WORK - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
1. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 9 – 223,723 Views

At post 4,500 these were the 10 Most Popular Galleries:

10. Iowa
9. 9 Emotions Project
8. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 8
7. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 9
6. Selfie Project – 2022
5. Alexis Pregnancy Photo Shoot – 2020
4. Christopher D. Bennett
3. Town Sign Project Auxiliary Images
2. Selfie Project – 2021
1. Town Sign Project

The galleries that are right outside the Top 10 that have a shot at cracking the Top 10 in Post 5,000 are:
+ Drone
+ Daisies
+ FatMumSlim 2022

But considering I’m done with the FatMumSlim project, I don’t know that its gallery will maintain any popularity. I only know one person that definitely loves my daisy pictures, but I don’t think they poke around my website much these days. However, perhaps the Era of Rodan139 is nearly upon us. I could live with that.

But what are the most popular single images of the last 365 days? Don’t worry, I’m gonna feed you baby birds.

Top 10 Photography 139 Images

Dexter, Iowa
10. Dexter, Iowa – 1,964 views

Badger, Iowa
9. Badger, Iowa – 1,967 views

Day 73 - March 13, 2021
8. Selfie with Mom – 1,993 views

Coon Rapids, Iowa
7. Coon Rapids, Iowa – 2,146 views

Moingona, Iowa
6. Moingona, Iowa – 2,190 views

Alexis Pregnant with Anela
5. Prego Alexis – 2,415

Howards - 2022
4. Saydie and Kyle – 3,231 views

Baby Got Rack - 2022 - Boone County Fair
3. Baby Got Rack at Boone County Fair – 4,423 views

Miami Beach Work Trip - May 2022
2. Miami – 6,039 views

Day 30 - January 30, 2022
1. Selfie at Bellevue – 6,864 views

That selfie at Bellevue was the most popular picture on my website at Post 4,500 as well.

The final statistic I want to share with everybody before riding off into the sunset and not boring you with these statistics for another 250 posts is the 5 people with the highest Photography Subscriber Loyalty Scores.

1. Kio Dettman – 100%
2. Aaron Barnett – 99.7%
2. Angie DeWaard – 99.7%
2. Mary Green – 99.7%
5. Joe Duff – 99.5%

There are a lot of people in the 90% range that could break into this list next time. Jeanette, Jesse, Sarah, Logan, Tamara, Frank, Michelle, and Andy.

To be honest, I don’t know how this number is figured. I believe it is the percentage of emails from the subscriber list that you open within the first 24 hours of getting an email from me, but I really don’t know if we are being honest. But thanks for doing what it is you are doing!

If you are interested in checking out some of the milestone posts of the past, I got you. Click on any of the links below to check them out:

Post 1
Post 750
Post 850
Post 1,000
Post 1,101
Post 1,200
Post 1,447
Post 1,718
Post 2,500
Post 3,000
Post 3,252
Post 3,751
Post 4,000
Post 4,250
Post 4,500

I think that is enough for now. We’ll check in again in another 243 posts.

Selfie Project – December 2022

Time to share the December images from THE SELFIE PROJECT. I don’t know I did a tremendous lot in December, but I think there are a few good pictures in there.

Here are my favorite December images:


Day 335 - December 1, 2022
December 1

Day 337 - December 3, 2022
December 3

Day 339 - December 5, 2022
December 5

Day 340 - December 6, 2022
December 6

Day 342 - December 8, 2022
December 8

Day 344 - December 10, 2022
December 10

Day 346 - December 12, 2022
December 12

Day 347 - December 13, 2022
December 13

Day 348 - December 14, 2022
December 14

Day 349 - December 15, 2022
December 15

Day 350 - December 16, 2022
December 16

Day 351 - December 17, 2022
December 17

Day 352 - December 18, 2022
December 18

Day 353 - December 19, 2022
December 19

Day 354 - December 20, 2022
December 20

Day 355 - December  21, 2022
December 21

Day 356 - December 22, 2022
December 22

Day 357 - December 23, 2022
December 23

Day 358 - December 24, 2022
December 24

Day 359 - December 25, 2022
December 25

Day 360 - December 26, 2022
December 26

Day 361 - December 27, 2022
December 27

Day 363 - December 29, 2022
December 29

Day 364 - December 30, 2022
December 30

Day 365 - December 31, 2022
December 31

Day 366 - January 1, 2023
January 1

Then I had to make a photomosaic out of the 365 THE SELFIE PROJECT images of what I looked like on January 1:


The Photomosaic from the 2022 SELFIE PROJECT.

I’m not doing THE SELFIE PROJECT in 2023. Maybe I’ll bring it back in 2024. But it isn’t happening in 2023. Sorry to all this disappoints.

Selfie Project – November 2022

I don’t know that November was a particularly active month for me. It is getting to the hardest part of the year to do this project. The sun isn’t up when I go to work. It is barely up when I get off work. That being said, I think I took a few decent picture in November for THE SELFIE PROJECT:


Day 305 - November 1, 2022
November 1

Day 307 - November 3, 2022
November 3

Day 308 - November 4, 2022
November 4

Day 309 - November 5, 2022
November 5

Day 310 - November 6, 2022
November 6

Day 312 - November 8, 2022
November 8

Day 313 - November 9, 2022
November 9

Day 314 - November 10, 2022
November 10

Day 315 - November 11, 2022
November 11

Day 316 - November 12, 2022
November 12

Day 317 - November 13, 2022
November 13

Day 319 - November 15, 2022
November 15

Day 321 - November 17, 2022
November 17

Day 323 - November 19, 2022
November 19

Day 324 - November 20, 2022
November 20

Day 325 - November 21, 2022
November 21

Day 326 - November 22, 2022
November 22

Day 327 - November 23, 2022
November 23

Day 328 - November 24, 2022
November 24

Day 329 - November 25, 2022
November 25

Day 331 - November 27, 2022
November 27

Day 332 - November 28, 2022
November 28

Day 333 - November 29, 2022
November 29

I don’t know that I’ll be that active in December either. But I’ll try.

+++++++

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


WEEK 377 - ANIMAL
ANIMAL

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

But what is an ANIMAL picture? Simply put it is a picture of an ANIMAL. It can be a wild ANIMAL or it can be a pet or it can be a stuffed ANIMAL or it can be a statue of an ANIMAL. It can be a dog or a bird or a squirrel or a fish or a lizard or a dog or a deer or a possum or a dog or a hamster or a rat or a dog or a bear or an alligator or a dog.

Happy photo harvesting!

Selfie Project – October 2022

Looking at my SELFIE PROJECT pictures from the month of October, I’m not sure I had a very active October. Seems like I barely left my house. I’ll try to be more active in November.

Here are some of my favorite selfies from THE SELFIE PROJECT in October:


Day 274 - October 1, 2022
October 1

Day 275 - October 2, 2022
October 2

Day 277 - October 4, 2022
October 4

Day 278 - October 5, 2022
October 5

Day 279 - October 6, 2022
October 6

Day 280 - October 7, 2022
October 7

Day 281 - October 8, 2022
October 8

Day 283 - October 10, 2022
October 10

Day 284 - October 11, 2022
October 11

Day 285 - October 12, 2022
October 12

Day 287 - October 14, 2022
October 14

Day 288 - October 15, 2022
October 15

Day 289 - October 16, 2022
October 16

Day 290 - October 17, 2022
October 17

Day 292 - October 19, 2022
October 19

Day 293 - October 20, 2022
October 20

Day 294 - October 21, 2022
October 21

Day 295 - October 22, 2022
October 22

Day 296 - October 23, 2022
October 23

Day 298 - October 25, 2022
October 25

Day 300 - October 27, 2022
October 27

Day 302 - October 29, 2022
October 29

Day 303 - October 30, 2022
October 30

I didn’t take any extra selfies this much. I might do better in November. There are no promises.

Selfie Project – September 2022

I knew September was not going to be as busy as August, but looking at these pictures it is hard not to wonder if I ever left my house. Being sick for about 4 or 5 days didn’t help, but really… I’ll try to do better in October.

Here are some of my favorite selfies from THE SELFIE PROJECT in October:


Day 244 - September 1, 2022
September 1

Day 245 - September 2, 2022
September 2

Day 246 - September 3, 2022
September 3

Day 247 - September 4, 2022
September 4

Day 248 - September 5, 2022
September 5

Day 250 - September 7, 2022
September 7

Day 251 - September 8, 2022
September 8

Day 252 - September 9, 2022
September 9

Day 253 - September 10, 2022
September 10

Day 254 - September 11, 2022
September 11

Day 256 - September 13, 2022
September 13

Day 257 - September 14, 2022
September 14

Day 258 - September 15, 2022
September 15

Day 260 - September 17, 2022
September 17

Day 261 - September 18, 2022
September 18

Day 262 - September 19, 2022
September 19

Day 266 - September 23, 2022
September 23

Day 267 - September 24, 2022
September 24

Day 268 - September 25, 2022
September 25

Day 271 - September 28, 2022
September 28

Day 272 - September 29, 2022
September 29

While there can only be one picture to represent every day, thought I would share some of my favorite alternates from September.


SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

I will try to be more active again in October, but I make no promises. Maybe the slacker lifestyle agrees with me?

Selfie Project – August 2022

Another month down and another month of THE SELFIE PROEJCT in the books. I think I had a pretty active August. At least in spurts. With Pufferbilly Days and the State Fair and some much needed vacation all in August, I did some things man.

I don’t anticipate September being anywhere as busy, but hopefully I’ll do some cool stuff this month.

Here are some of my favorites from August for THE SELFIE PROJECT:


Day 213 - August 1, 2022
August 1

Day 214 - August 2, 2022
August 2

Day 215 - August 3, 2022
August 3

Day 216 - August 4, 2022
August 4

Day 217 - August 5, 2022
August 5

Day 218 - August 6, 2022
August 6

Day 220 - August 8, 2022
August 8

Day 221 - August 9, 2022
August 9

Day 223 - August 11, 2022
August 11

Day 224 - August 12, 2022
August 12

Day 225 - August 13, 2022
August 13

Day 226 - August 14, 2022
August 14

Day 228 - August 16, 2022
August 16

Day 229 - August 17, 2022
August 17

Day 230 - August 18, 2022
August 18

Day 231 - August 19, 2022
August 19

Day 232 - August 20, 2022
August 20

Day 233 - August 21, 2022
August 21

Day 236 - August 24, 2022
August 24

Day 237 - August 25, 2022
August 25

Day 238 - August 26, 2022
August 26

Day 239 - August 27, 2022
August 27

Day 240 - August 28, 2022
August 28

Day 241 - August 29, 2022
August 29

Day 243 - August 31, 2022
August 31

Of course there can only be one selfie that represents THE SELFIE PROJECT every day, but I did have a busy August, so here are the many alternates:


SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - AUGUST 2022

You might be thinking, “That is a lot of pictures with ice cream!” There is a reason for that. The reason isn’t because I love ice cream, but that is probably the base level reason. I’ll explain the real reason in a future post. Or I won’t. What is important for you to know is that your humble narrator is a champion. A ice cream champion. Also, Willy and Jesse owe me dinner.

You also might be thinking, “How many gray t-shirts do you own?” The answer is, plenty.

Finally you might be thinking, “You need to retire that green t-shirt.” Yeah, that is true enough.

Selfie Project – July 2022

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:


Pufferbilly Days Pet Show Flyer - 2022

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:


Day 182 - July 1, 2022
July 1

Day 183 - July 2, 2022
July 2

Day 184 - July 3, 2022
July 3

Day 186 - July 5, 2022
July 5

Day 187 - July 6, 2022
July 6

Day 188 - July 7, 2022
July 7

Day 189 - July 8, 2022
July 8
Day 190 - July 9, 2022
July 9

Day 191 - July 10, 2022
July 10

Day 193 - July 12, 2022
July 12

Day 194 - July 13, 2022
July 13

Day 195 - July 14, 2022
July 14

Day 196 - July 15, 2022
July 15

Day 197 - July 16, 2022
July 16

Day 198 - July 17, 2022
July 17

Day 199 - July 18, 2022
July 18

Day 200 - July 19, 2022
July 19

Day 201 - July 20, 2022
July 20

Day 202 - July 21, 2022
July 21

Day 204 - July 23, 2022
July 23

Day 208 - July 27, 2022
July 27

Day 209 - July 28, 2022
July 28

Day 210 - July 29, 2022
July 29

Day 211 - July 30, 2022
July 30

Day 212 - July 31, 2022
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:


SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JULY 2022

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:


WEEK 360 - 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!

Selfie Project – June 2022

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:


Day 152 - June 2, 2022
June 2

Day 155 - June 4, 2022
June 4

Day 157 - June 6, 2022
June 6

Day 158 - June 7, 2022
June 7

Day 159 - June 8, 2022
June 8

Day 161 - June 10, 2022
June 10

Day 162 - June 11, 2022
June 11

Day 163 - June 12, 2022
June 12

Day 164 - June 13, 2022
June 13

Day 165 - June 14, 2022
June 14

Day 166 - June 15, 2022
June 15

Day 167 - June 15, 2022
June 16

Day 168 - June 17, 2022
June 17

Day 169 - June 18, 2022
June 18

Day 170 - June 19, 2022
June 19

Day 171 - June 20, 2022
June 20

Day 173 - June 22, 2022
June 22

Day 174 - June 23, 2022
June 23

Day 175 - June 24, 2022
June 24

Day 176 - June 25, 2022
June 25

Day 177 - June 26, 2022
June 26

Day 178 - June 27, 2022
June 27

Day 180 - June 29, 2022
June 29

Day 181 - June 30, 2022
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.


SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - JUNE 2022

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:


WEEK 355 - 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!

Four Thousand Five Hundred

It has been 5,795 days since August 9, 2006. 5,795 days since I first took keyboard in hand and started the blog portion of the Photography 139 website. The portion I pompously named “An Artist’s Notebook”. The part I started with the words:

So here is the first journal entry. I felt like having as pretentious sounding name as possible for my journal. I have a few goals about this journal. My main goal is just to actually write in it. My second goal is to be as truthful as possible towards my true thoughts and feelings. I have another journal on another website, but it is really just a collection of sarcastic statements and cheap jabs at open faced sandwiches. This journal is meant to be about what my achievements and failures are in the world of art. What projects I am working on and what I have accomplished and what I have failed to accomplish. What I am photographing and what I am thinking about entering in photo contests. What I am thinking about. It might not always make sense. It might just be things I need to write down because they strike me as poignant or inspirational. This is in a small way an online “idea box”.

Over the years this website has transitioned less from an “idea box” and more into a “show and tell”. I keep my idea box more private these days. I didn’t even publish a picture on “An Artist’s Notebook” for months.

In fact, it wouldn’t be until October 20, 2006 that a blog post included an image. This image to be exact:


Groundhog Steve

It is a picture of “Steve” the Groundhog that lived behind the Computer Mine for years.

While the format and what has posted on An Artist’s Notebook has changed several times over the years, its main goals of “actually writing in it”, “being truthful as possible”, and of course the goal of having produced something worthy as being as “pretentious sounding as An Artist’s Notebook” have remained intact.

On these periodic check-ins I like to overwhelm those that stick around this long with a ton of meaningless statistics. Today’s post should be no different. Every post in “An Artist’s Notebook” is tagged with at least one Category. It is one of the easiest ways to navigate around the website. They are listed at the top of each post. Here are some statistics about Categories:

The Top 10 (Most Used) Categories (Rank in Post #4250 & Increase since then):
9. WPC-Submissions – 455 (#9 – +38)
9. Teresa – 455 (NR)
8. Carla – 476 (#7 – +41)
7. Road Trip – 477 (NR)
6. Shannon – 500 (#5 – +42)
5. Art – 506 (#10 – +92)
4. Jesse – 579 (#4 – +50)
3. Animals – 698 (#3 – +33)
2. Flowers – 819 (#2 – +65)
1. Black and White – 918 (#1 – +99)

Top 10 Non Human Categories:
10. Formal Portrait – 381 (NR)
9. Nature – 396 (#9 – +17)
8. Portrait – 435 (#4 – -15)
7. Macro – 441 (#8 – +51)
6. WPC – Submissions – 455 (#5 – +38)
5. Road Trip – 477 (#7 – +83)
4. Art – 506 (#6 – +92)
3. Animals – 698 (#3 – +33)
2. Flowers – 819 (#2 – +65)
1. Black and White – 918 (#1 – +99)

Top 10 Human Categories:
10. Jen – 286 (#9 – +9)
9. Vest – 294 (#10 – +20
8. Kim – 297 (NR)
7. Derrick – 320 (#7 – +9)
6. Jay – 337 (#6 – +8)
5. Mom – 453 (#4 – +31)
4. Teresa – 455 (#5 – +50)
3. Carla – 476 (#3 – +41)
2. Shannon – 500 (#2 – +42)
1. Jesse – 579 (#1 – +50)

If you have spent any time on the Photography 139 website, you know that on the left sidebar, the “Top 100 Categories” are listed. I thought I would give a little bit of coverage to the Bottom 10 of the Top 100. There are currently 194 categories used on the website. I could cover the Bottom 10, but they are mostly people that either very recently came into my life by birth (Dahlia, Anela) or another way. Or people that I thought would be a bigger part of my life and then weren’t. No need to cover those people. The Category that is #194 probably needs to be purged.

The Bottom 10 of the Top 100:

#100. Jaycees – 65
#99. Vacation – 67
#98. Mark – 69
#97. Commercial – 72
#95. Pastor Sarah – 74
#95. Life – 74
#94. Andree – 75
#93. Lowell – 77
#92. Photo Journal – 79
#91. Birthdays – 80

Some of these are bound to slip out of the Top 100. For example, there will never be another Jaycees post. Ever. I also apparently don’t take many vacations. Mark, not really part of my life any more. Life, is a broad category that I’ve tried to eliminate over the years. Photo Journal, a project I have completed, so there will never be another post on that. Birthdays, I currently don’t wish people “happy birthday”, but maybe I will again someday.

So what has a shot at cracking the Top 100? These are the 5 that are the closest.

+ Self-Portrait Project
+ Dae Hee
+ Kelly
+ Layla
+ FNSC

So, you might be wondering, how do you improve your Photography 139 score?

The easiest way is simple. Participate in THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. You don’t even have to be around me and most people will tell you that being around me isn’t all that great. I mean look at Shannon. She is still #2 on the Big Board and I haven’t seen her in person since October 22, 2021. It can be done!

Other ways to increase your score:
+ Act as a Photo Assistant
+ Show up in THE SELFIE PROJECT
+ Go on TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trips with me… that one to Scott County is going to be epic!
+ An underated way is to assist with the FatMumSlim Photo a Day Project.
+ Doesn’t hurt to be related to me, but most of those slots are taken.
+ Doesn’t hurt to work with me, go to the same church as me, or otherwise engage me socially.

That is probably enough Category nonsense. I bet at least Joe is still here with me though.

“An Artist’s Notebook” is part of Photography 139. The 139 comes from Psalm 139:1-12. The Photography part comes from this website is supposed to be filled with photography. So, what are the most popular photo galleries on the Photography 139 website? Glad you asked:

TOP 10 PHOTOGRAPHY 139 PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERIES (LAST 365 DAYS)

To View the Gallery, Click on its Representative Image
Loess Hills Road Trip
10. Iowa – 35,595 Views

9 Emotions Project - Nader Parsaei
9. 9 Emotions Project – 69,259 Views

WEEK 311 - PEOPLE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
8. WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – YEAR 8 – 74,730 Views

WEEK 343 - GRATITUDE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
7. WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – YEAR 9 – 77,929 Views

Day 134 - May 14, 2022
6. SELFIE PROJECT – 2022 – 84,763 Views

Alexis Pregnant with Anela
5. Alexis Pregnancy Photo Shoot – 2020 – 95,358 Views

Abandoned Photomosaic
4. Christopher D. Bennett – 104,433 Views

Shelby County - Elk Horn
3. Town Sign Project – Auxiliary Images – 108,873 Views

Day 282 - October 9, 2021
2. Selfie Project – 2021 – 120,185 Views

Bradgate, Iowa
1. Town Sign Project – 176,664 Views

At post 4,250 these were the 5 most popular galleries:
5. Gorshe Family
4. Town Sign Project
3. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 8
2. Selfie Project – 2021
1. Alexis Pregnancy Photo Shoot – 2020

But what are the most popular single images of the last 365 days? Don’t worry, I’m gonna feed you baby birds.

Top 10 Photography 139 Images

Coon Rapids, Iowa
10. Coon Rapids, Iowa – 2,319 Views

Pufferbilly Days
9. Carla and Teresa – 2,379 Views

Dexter, Iowa
8. Dexter, Iowa – 2,426 Views

Scranton, Iowa
7. Scranton, Iowa – 2,484 Views

Moingona, Iowa
6. Moingona, Iowa – 2,770 Views

Howards - 2021
5. The Howards – 2,842 Views

Miami Beach Work Trip - May 2022
4. Miami – 2,920 Views

Alexis Pregnant with Anela
3. Alexis Pregnant – 3,458 Views

Day 73 - March 13, 2021
2. Me and Mom – 4,134 Views

Day 30 - January 30, 2022
1. Bellevue – 14,629 Views

The final statistic I want to share with everybody before riding off into the sunset and not boring you with these statistics for another 250 posts is the 5 people with the highest Photography Subscriber Loyalty Scores.

Top 5 Photography 139 Loyalty Scores
5. Frank Meiners – 97.0%
4. Michelle Haupt – 98.6%
3. Angie DeWaard – 99.5%
2. Joe Duff – 99.7%
1. Mary Green – 100.0%

People right outside the Top 5:
+ Linda Bennett
+ Tamara Peterson
+ Jeannette Duff

To be honest, I don’t know how this number is figured. I believe it is the percentage of emails from the subscriber list that you open within the first 24 hours of getting an email from me, but but I really don’t know if we are being honest. But thanks for doing what it is you are doing!

I think that is enough. Here is to the next 4,500 posts!

SELFIE PROJECT – MAY 2022

After what was a fairly inactive April, I seemed to be constantly on the move in May. That possibly resulted in an interesting collection of images for THE SELFIE PROJECT.

Here are some of my favorites from May:


Day 121 - May 1, 2022
May 1

Day 123 - May 3, 2022
May 3

Day 124 - May 4, 2022
May 4

Day 125 - May 5, 2022
May 5

Day 126 - May 6, 2022
May 6

Day 127 - May 7, 2022
May 7

Day 128 - May 8, 2022
May 8

Day 129 - May 9, 2022
May 9

Day 130 - May 10, 2022
May 10

Day 131 - May 11, 2022
May 11

Day 132 - May 12, 2022
May 12

Day 133 - May 13, 2022
May 13

Day 134 - May 14, 2022
May 14

Day 135 - May 15, 2022
May 15

Day 136 - May 16, 2022
May 16

Day 137 - May 17, 2022
May 17

Day 138 - May 18, 2022
May 18

Day 139 - May 19, 2022
May 19

Day 141 - May 21, 2022
May 21

Day 143 - May 23, 2022
May 23

Day 144 - May 24, 2022
May 24

Day 145 - May 25, 2022
May 25

Day 147 - May 27, 2022
May 27

Day 148 - May 28, 2022
May 28

Day 150 - May 30, 2022
May 30

Day 151 - May 31, 2022
May 31

Now there can only be one selfie per day, but I took a ton of other selfies in May. Here are some of my favorite alternates:


SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - MAY

I’m pretty sure June won’t be as active as May. For one thing, the Computer Mine won’t be sending me out of state for 7 days. However, I hope June is in the ballpark of good times that I had in May.