Category Archives: Still Life

Andy, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Evie, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kio, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Naima, Shannon, Still Life, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 342 – FRAMED

April 4, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

FRAMED has proven to be a theme that is fair in popularity.

As of 10:59 AM on Monday, April 4, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Kim Barker – 1 week
+ Linda Bennett – 1 week
+ Suzie Brannen – 1 week
+ Evie Gorshe – 1 week
+ Layla Gorshe – 1 week
+ Jesse Howard – 1 week
+ Sara Lockner – 1 week
+ Monica Henning – 2 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 2 weeks
+ Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 10 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 10 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 10 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 11 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 12 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 13 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 14 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 18 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 19 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 21 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 24 weeks

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

Evie Gorshe – 2 weeks

Monica Henning – 3 weeks

Dawn Krause – 1 week

Andy Sharp – 14 weeks

Joe Duff – 1 week

Joe Duff

Kio Dettman – 25 weeks

Kio Dettman

Tamara Peterson – 11 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 22 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 15 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 12 weeks

Cathie Raley – 19 weeks

Linda Bennett – 2 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 11 weeks

Jesse Howard – 2 weeks

Logan Kahler – 3 weeks

Logan Kahler

Elizabeth Nordeen – 20 weeks

Micky Augustin – 13 weeks

Carla Stensland – 11 weeks

Mike Vest – 1 week

26 submissions from 21 participants! That is a solid week!

There were only 4 streaks snapped this week. Kim, Layla, and Sara could not build on their submissions from last week. Becky had her two week snapped.

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 25 weeks
2. Shannon – 22 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 20 weeks
4. Cathie – 19 weeks
5. Bill – 15 weeks

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:

GRATITUDE

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

But what exactly is a GRATITUDE picture? It is simply a picture of something or somebody that you are thankful for. It could also be somebody showing thanks as well.

While considering possible GRATITUDE subjects, meditate on the following quote:

“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: It must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.”
– William Faulkner

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 GRATITUDE in this place that I am thankful for next Monday.

Angie, Art, Baier, Basketball, Becky, Bill, Carla, Derrick, Iowa State, Jay, Jesse, Logan, Nader, Naima, Pastor Sarah, Road Trip, Self-Portrait, Self-Portrait Project, Still Life, Teresa, Toby, WPC - Reminder

Selfie Project – March 2022

April 1, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Tomorrow is the Final Four. Thought it would be a good time to check-in on the Roundball Oracles.

With 3 games left to go in the NCAA tournament this is the Top 3:

1. Becky Parmelee – 231 Points
2. Carla Stensland – 229 Points
3. Angie DeWaard – 224 points

This is the Bottom 3:

34. Joey Randazzo – 143 points
35. Olivia Baier – 141 points
36. Toby Sebring – 140 points

At this point, there are 4 people left that have a chance of taking home the Championship Trophy. 2 people still have a shot at The Sara.

Here are the scenarios for The Sara:

If Villanova beats Kansas then Toby “wins” The Sara.
If Kansas beats Villanova then Joey “wins” The Sara.

Note as Olivia Baier is a child, she is not eligible for The Sara.

Here are the scenarios for the Championship:

If Duke wins the National Championship then Sarah Karber wins the trophy.
If Kansas wins the National Championship then Ben Baier wins the trophy.
If Villanova beats Duke for the National Championship then Becky wins the trophy.
If North Carolina beats Villanova for the National Championship then Becky wins the trophy.
If North Carolina beats Kansas for the National Championship then Ben wins the trophy.
If Villanova beats North Carolina for the National Championship then Derrick Gorshe wins the trophy.

It is possible, that there is an error in my math, but I’m fairly certain this is correct.

Root accordingly.

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I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I think I actually did some stuff in March. I didn’t go to Pennsylvania and Illinois (briefly) and North Carolina (briefly), but I did stand in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota all at the same time. I ate the reigning Best Tenderloin in Iowa. I went to two Iowa State NCAA Tournament games. I stood on the highest point in Iowa and the second highest. I hosted Alligator Movie Night. I had some good times with friends and some poignant times with family. March wasn’t too bad. Raised the bar a bit for April.

Here are my favorite SELFIE PROJECT images from March:

March 1

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

March 19

March 20

March 21

March 23

March 25

March 26

March 29

March 30

March 31

Oh yeah! I also bought a new camera in March! I hope to continue to do good work in April!

Of course, there can only be one selfie for each day. Here are my favorite alternates I took for THE SELFIE PROJECT:

Jesse is a sleeper!

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

FRAMED

But what exactly is a FRAMED picture? It is simply a picture where the subject is FRAMED in by something else. In the theme reveal, the edge of the garbage can makes a frame for the subject of the refuse. A doorway makes a good frame. So does a hall way. A window Any thing that creates negative space makes a great frame for your subject. Or you could even do something as easy as taking a picture of something that is in a literal picture frame.

Happy photo harvesting!

Andy, Becky, Bill, Cathie, Christianity, Elizabeth, Evie, Jesse, Kim, Kio, Layla, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Sara, Shannon, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 341 – SHADOW

March 28, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

SHADOW seems to be a pretty popular theme.

As of 10:59 AM on Monday, March 28, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Harrison Gorshe – 1 week
+ Monica Henning – 1 week
+ Logan Kahler – 1 week
+ Stephanie Kim – 1 week
+ Becky Parmelee – 1 week
+ Mike Vest – 1 week
+ Dawn Krause – 5 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 9 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 9 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 9 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 9 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 10 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 11 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 12 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 13 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 17 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 18 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 20 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 23 weeks

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

Jesse Howard – 1 week

Micky Augustin – 12 weeks

Layla Gorshe – 1 week

Evie Gorshe – 1 week

Teresa Kahler – 10 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Michelle Haupt – 11 weeks

Kio Dettman – 24 weeks

Kio Dettman

Tamara Peterson – 10 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 21 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 14 weeks

Linda Bennett – 1 week

Christopher D. Bennett

Elizabeth Nordeen – 19 weeks

Carla Stensland – 10 weeks

Carla Stensland

Sara Lockner – 1 week

Cathie Raley – 18 weeks

Kim Barker – 1 week

Andy Sharp – 13 weeks

Monica Henning – 2 weeks

Monica Henning

Suzie Brannen – 1 week

Logan Kahler – 2 weeks

28 submissions from 22 participants. That is a great week.

Congratulations to Teresa, Tamara, and Carla for being the latest people to join the double digit club!

Unfortunately a few streaks were snapped. Harrison, Stephanie, and Vest could not build on their submission from last week. Dawn had a 5 week streak snapped. And Joe… a 9 week streak gone! Hopefully they can start building that streak back up starting next week!

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 24 weeks
2. Shannon – 21 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 19 weeks
4. Cathie – 18 weeks
5. Bill – 14 weeks

FRAMED

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

While thinking on possible subjects for your FRAMED image, meditate on the following quote:

You can frame a moment. But you can’t frame life.
-Armin Houman

I look forward to seeing your interpretations.

RULES

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 FRAMED in this place that tries to put a frame around my existence next Monday.

Art, Equipment, Naima, Self-Portrait, Still Life

New New

March 11, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

It has been a long time since I bought a new camera. Something like 3 years. I had circled early 2022 as the time to make the move as I am committed to Sony (as it is a family tradition by default)* and their mirrorless system (because it is the best camera system on the market) and the new Sony A7IV was due to come out then.

I ordered it and then waited. I got a tracking number from B&H Photo and saw that it was being shipped by FedEx, the worst of the worst when it comes to shipping companies. I now knew it was like a 50-50 chance I would ever see my camera. Yes, I’m still fuming over the fact that they delivered my bed to the people who live across the street and then east last year. It is not an easy task hauling a bed from all the way down there to my house.

I had the A7IV shipped to the computer mine because based on when it was due to arrive, that is where I would be and if FedEx was delivering to a business instead of a house, maybe there would be a greater chance they wouldn’t mess things up.

On Wednesday, I was mining away. Pick axe in one hand. A warning canary in the other. Then I felt a presence behind me. Kind of an overall aura of greatness. I turned around. Standing behind me was a beautiful woman presenting me with my beautiful new camera. It was the things dreams are made of. The new new had arrived! It was a great day!

Here are some pictures of the Sony A7IV:

Here are some of the specs for the Sony A7IV:

Imaging
Lens Mount Sony E
Sensor Resolution Actual: 34.1 Megapixel
Effective: 33 Megapixel
Sensor Type 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full-Frame) CMOS
Image Stabilization Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis

Exposure Control
Shutter Type Mechanical Focal Plane Shutter, Electronic Shutter
Shutter Speed 1/8000 to 30 Seconds
Bulb/Time Mode Bulb Mode
ISO Sensitivity Photo
100 to 51,200 (Extended: 50 to 204,800)
Video
100 to 51,200 (Extended: 100 to 102,400)
Metering Method Center-Weighted Average, Highlight Weighted, Multiple, Spot
Exposure Modes Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority
Exposure Compensation -5 to +5 EV (1/3 EV Steps)
Metering Range -3 to 20 EV
White Balance Presets: Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Color Temperature Filter, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade, Underwater
Continuous Shooting Up to 10 fps at 33 MP for up to 828 Frames (Raw) / Unlimited Frames (JPEG)
Interval Recording Yes
Self-Timer 2/5/10-Second Delay

Still Image Capture
Image Sizes 3:2 Raw
7008 x 4672
3:2 JPEG
7008 x 4672
4608 x 3072
3504 x 2336
1:1 JPEG
4672 x 4672
3072 x 3072
2336 x 2336
4:3 JPEG
6224 x 4672
4096 x 3072
3120 x 2336
16:9 JPEG
7008 x 3944
4608 x 2592
3504 x 1968
Aspect Ratio 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Image File Format JPEG, Raw, HEIF
Bit Depth 14-Bit

Interface
Media/Memory Card Slot Slot 1: CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II)
Slot 2: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
Video I/O 1 x HDMI Output
Audio I/O 1 x 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Headphone Output
1 x 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Microphone Input
Other I/O 1 x Sony Multi/USB Micro-B Input/Output (Shared with Remote Input)
1 x USB Type-C (USB 3.2 / 3.1 Gen 2) Input/Output (Shared with Power Input)
Power I/O 1 x USB Type-C Input/Output
Wireless Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Monitor
Size 3.0″
Resolution 1,036,800 Dot
Display Type Free-Angle Tilting Touchscreen LCD

Viewfinder
Type Built-In Electronic (OLED)
Size 0.5″
Resolution 3,680,000 Dot
Eye Point 23 mm
Coverage 100%
Magnification Approx. 0.78x
Diopter Adjustment -4 to +3

Focus
Focus Type Auto and Manual Focus
Focus Mode Continuous-Servo AF, Direct Manual Focus, Manual Focus, Single-Servo AF
Autofocus Points Phase Detection: 759
Contrast Detection: 425
Autofocus Sensitivity -4 to +20 EV

Here are some of the first pictures I took with the new new:

THE first picture.

I look forward to the many adventures I will have with the Sony A7IV. But first I need to master all of its settings!

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

GOVERNMENT

I’ve already had some great images sent to me from people on vacation in Arizona and Louisiana. And an image sent to me from an employee of Iowa State University.

If you haven’t taken your GOVERNMENT image, here is a refresher on what a GOVERNMENT image might look like…

But what exactly is a GOVERNMENT image? A GOVERNMENT image is anything that involves a GOVERNMENT. There are all types of GOVERNMENT. There is the federal GOVERNMENT. A state GOVERNMENT. A county GOVERNMENT. A local GOVERNMENT. Churches have GOVERNMENT bodies. Every business has some kind of GOVERNMENT. A GOVERNMENT image could be anything that deals with a GOVERNMENT. A public park. GOVERNMENT. The road you drove on to get to that public park. GOVERNMENT. Public school. GOVERNMENT. If you work for the GOVERNMENT, you are the GOVERNMENT. The military, the police, fire department. All GOVERNMENT. Public library. GOVERNMENT. There are so many possibilities!

Happy photo harvesting!

* Technically a Minolta family tradition, but when Sony bought out Minolta they got the Bennetts too!

Andy, Becky, Bill, Blogging, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Evie, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Layla, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Shannon, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 338 – HOBBIES

March 7, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

As many of you know, I was having difficulties with the email subscription service last week. In particular, it wasn’t working with Gmail email accounts. That should be fixed, but another question I get, is how do I prevent the emails from going to “Promotions” instead of my primary Inbox in Gmail. Here are the instructions for preventing that from happening:

One of the simplest ways to move an email is to left-click and hold on the email and drag it from the promotions tab over to the Primary tab. Releasing the mouse will drop the email into the primary tab. After it is dropped, Gmail will ask if you wish to make the change permanent.

Hope that helps some of you!

+++++++

HOBBIES has proven to be a very popular theme.

As of 10:59 AM on Monday, March 7, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Lori Backous – 1 week
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
+ Evie Gorshe – 1 week
+ Layla Gorshe – 1 week
+ Jesse Howard – 1 week
+ Linda Bennett – 2 weeks
+ Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 2 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 2 weeks
+ Mike Vest – 2 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 6 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 6 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 6 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 6 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 7 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 8 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 9 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 10 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 14 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 15 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 17 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 20 weeks

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

Kim Barker – 1 week

Monica Henning – 1 week

Becky Parmelee – 1 week

Becky Parmelee

Evie Gorshe – 2 weeks

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Layla Gorshe – 2 weeks

Jesse Howard – 2 weeks

Linda Bennett – 3 weeks

Linda Bennett

Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks

Logan Kahler – 3 weeks

Logan Kahler

Dawn Krause – 3 weeks

Mike Vest – 3 weeks

Joe Duff – 7 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 7 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Tamara Peterson – 7 weeks

Carla Stensland – 7 weeks

Carla Stensland

Michelle Haupt – 8 weeks

Micky Augustin – 9 weeks

Andy Sharp – 10 weeks

Andy Sharp

Bill Wentworth – 11 weeks

Cathie Raley – 15 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 16 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 18 weeks

Kio Dettman – 21 weeks

Kio Dettman

Christopher D. Bennett – 440 weeks

38 submissions from 24 participants! The 38 is a new record for this year and 24 participants is also a new high for the year! Both are certainly all-time records as well.

Only 2 streaks were snapped. Lori and Jen both couldn’t extend their streaks to two. Maybe next week?

Congrats to Andy for extending his streak to double digits! WooHoo!

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 21 weeks
2. Shannon – 18 weeks
3. Elizabeth – 16 weeks
4. Cathie – 15 weeks
5. Bill – 11 weeks

GOVERNMENT

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

When considering subjects for your GOVERNMENT image, meditate on the following quote:

“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
-Winston Churchill

RULES

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 GOVERNMENT in this place that is ruled with an iron fist by me next Monday.

Art, Basketball, Christianity, Elizabeth, Iowa State, Music, Naima, Photo of the Day, Railroad, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Travel

Fat Mum Slim – February 2022

March 4, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Back on Monday I completed another month of the Fat Mum Slim Photo A Day Challenge. I once again should thank Elizabeth as she assisted on a few of the photos this month.

Here are the pictures from February:

February 1 – A is For…

February 2 – B is 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

This month I did manage to take pictures in 3 different states. Iowa, of course. Pennsylvania and North Carolina. I was also in Illinois for a bit, but didn’t take any pictures there. At least not for the Photo A Day Challenge.

These are the Photo A Day Challenge Prompts for March

March 1 – Weather
March 2 – Something in Your Kitchen
March 3 – Skyline
March 4 – Makes You Feel Nostalgic
March 5 – Books
March 6 – A Corner
March 7 – A Bus Stop
March 8 – Sunset
March 9 – From Inside the Car
March 10 – A Meal You Made
March 11 – Somewhere with a Good View
March 12 – An Insect
March 13 – A Close-up
March 14 – Something You’ve Never Photographed
March 15 – A Playground
March 16 – A Local Cafe
March 17 – Something You Think is Boring
March 18 – Flowers
March 19 – A Grocery Store
March 20 – Something Weird
March 21 – A Colorful Place
March 22 – A Garden
March 23 – A Leaf
March 24 – A Sunbeam
March 25 – Graffiti
March 26 – An Empty Road
March 27 – A Tree
March 28 – A Shop Window
March 29 – Old Building
March 30 – A Stranger
March 31 – Under a Tree

Of course, you can follow the daily posting on The Gram by following @fmsbennett.

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!

Andy, Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Shannon, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 336 – STILL LIFE

February 21, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

STILL LIFE has proven to be a moderately successful theme.

As of 10:59 AM on Monday, February 21, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

+ Evie Gorshe – 1 week
+ Joe Duff – 4 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 4 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 4 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 4 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 5 weeks
+ Monica Henning – 6 weeks
+ Jesse Howard – 6 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 6 weeks
+ Becky Parmelee – 7 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 7 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 8 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 12 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 13 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 15 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 15 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 18 weeks

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

Linda Bennett – 1 week

Linda Bennett

Kio Dettman – 19 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 6 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 16 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 5 weeks

Joe Duff – 5 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Andy Sharp – 8 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 14 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 9 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 8 weeks

Becky Parmelee

Teresa Kahler – 5 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Kim Barker – 16 weeks

Dawn Krause – 1 week

Suzie Brannen – 1 week

Micky Augustin – 7 weeks

Carla Stensland – 5 weeks

Carla Stensland

Logan Kahler – 1 week

Logan Kahler

Cathie Raley – 13 weeks

Monica Henning – 7 weeks

Mike Vest – 1 week

29 submissions from 20 participants! That is a great week! 5 people hopefully started new streaks this week and only Evie and Jesse had their steaks stopped. Evie’s streak stopped at 1 week and Jesse’s streak stopped at 6 weeks. Linda and Suzie were first time participants in this year’s set of 52 themes.

Here are the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 19 weeks
2. Shannon – 16 weeks
2. Kim – 16 weeks
4. Elizabeth – 14 weeks
5. Cathie – 13 weeks

HARMONY

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

When considering possible HARMONY subjects, think on the following quote:

Be in harmony, yet be different.
-Confucius

I look forward to seeing the interpretations!

RULES

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 HARMONY in this place that is little more than where my differences try to align on Monday.

Andy, Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Elizabeth, Evie, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Shannon, Still Life, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 335 – BELIEVE

February 19, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

I’m back in the Cyclone State from a whirlwind Computer Mine trip to Pittsburgh. I mostly sat on my couch on Friday night petting Naima, not wanting to move, and catching up on THE PEACEMAKER and THE GILDED AGE. I also watched the new TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. That is an experience that I do not recommend.

Now it is Saturday morning and it is time to share the submissions for BELIEVE. I thought that BELIEVE would be a streak busting abstract concept, but while it wasn’t super popular, many stalwarts had quite a few photographic examples of BELIEVE. I can’t say that I’m pleasantly surprised at how many submissions I got for such an abstract concept. Maybe BELIEVE made me BELIEVE in the rogue group of misfits just a little bit more.

As of 10:59 AM on Monday, February 14, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks: (IF they did not submit a picture by one more tick of the minute hand, then their streak went poof, like my belief in southern hospitality did in a North Carolina airport on Friday. POOF!)

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
+ Dawn Krause – 2 weeks
+ Mike Vest – 2 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 3 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 3 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 3 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 3 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 3 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 4 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 5 weeks
+ Monica Henning – 5 weeks
+ Jesse Howard – 5 weeks
+ Becky Parmelee – 6 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 6 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 7 weeks
+ Cathie Raley – 11 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 12 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 14 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 14 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 17 weeks

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

Evie Gorshe – 1 Week

Andy Sharp – 7 weeks

Joe Duff – 4 weeks

Micky Augustin – 6 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 4 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Jesse Howard – 6 weeks

Carla Stensland – 4 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 13 weeks

Kim Barker – 15 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 7 weeks

Becky Parmelee

Becky Paremelee

Bill Wentworth – 8 weeks

Cathie Raley – 12 weeks

Kio Dettman – 18 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 5 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 15 weeks

Tamara Peterson – 4 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Monica Henning – 6 weeks

21 submissions from 17 participants, that is a solid week. Only 4 streaks went poof. Jen could build her streak to two. Dawn and Vest both saw 2 week streaks snapped. Logan had a 3 week streak go the way of the dodo bird.

Here is the current top streaks:

1. Kio – 18 weeks
2. Shannon – 15 weeks
2. Kim – 15 weeks
4. Elizabeth – 13 weeks
5. Cathie – 12 weeks.

Also, if you can’t tell from Cathie’s image, she got engaged last weekend. So CONGRATULATIONS CATHIE!!!

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

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 on Monday.

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.

+++++++

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!