Category Archives: Street Photography

Animals, Art, Birthdays, Black & White, Elizabeth, Flowers, Iowa State, Macro, Nature, Still Life, Street Photography, WPC - Alternate

I’d Say You Broke My Heart

September 29, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

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

I hope your birthday is as amazing as you can handle! Filled with breakfast burritos without hashbrowns and/or Happy Joe’s Pizza!

+++++++

Today I’m going to share a collection of images I took last Friday for last week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Because I got stuck at the Computer Mine a couple of nights earlier in the week I planned on leaving at 9 AM, but I hung on until 11 since there is a lot of sickly in my department.

I think I made lunch and then probably took a nap. The I took Naima to the vet for her shots. Then I went to Iowa State to maybe pick up some stuff for the game the next day. Then I went down to Ankeny to pickup a bunch of Iowa State stuff for future tailgates. I took pictures on a bunch of it.

Here is the collection of pictures from the day:

That is it for Friday, but there are two more days of black & white images left to share!

Animals, Art, Black & White, Candid Portrait, Flowers, Macro, Naima, Nature, Railroad, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Street Photography, Vest, Work

About Someone Who Loved You More

September 27, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

This collection of alternate images for last week’s theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE will include pictures I took on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Most of them I took on my lunch break from the computer mine on Wednesday. I went to downtown Ames to talk to Derrick about the upcoming football game on Saturday, but he was actually at the bank. So I did wander around a little bit and do some street photography.

I got stuck working late yet again on Wednesday night, so I didn’t take many pictures in the evening.

Here is the collection of images from Wednesday:

On Thursday I woke up to a foggy morning. I had to work at the Computer Mine worldwide headquarters. So I snapped some pictures on the way there. Then I snapped a few pictures at work and then did some shopping after work. Then took a few more when I got home.

Here are the Thursday pictures:

A lot of examples in this collection for why I love black & white photography so much. Or one of the reasons. There is just so much play in the exposure control that you get with black & white that you don’t get with color photography. Which isn’t to say that it is less demanding, because if anything, it can be more demanding. However, there is so much latitude in exposure and some of the things that can destroy a color photo like grain (or digital noise) can actually enhance a black & white image.

4 days down, but believe you me… we are just starting to get warmed up.

Black & White, Christianity, Fisheye, Flowers, Naima, Nature, Railroad, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Street Photography, WPC - Alternate

But God, You Couldn’t Have Cared Less

September 26, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I told you that BLACK & WHITE was my favorite theme and I wasn’t joking. I took a ton of BLACK & WHITE pictures for last week’s theme and every day (well almost every day) this week I’m going to share another collection of alternates. This first collection consists of the pictures that I took on Monday and Tuesday.

There is a rule in digital photography that you should never take pictures in black & white. You should take them in color and convert the images to black & white with editing software. The reason for this is because you can always take color away from a digital image, but you can’t add color back to it, if it was never there. (I mean, that is close enough to the truth. If you really wanted to you could make an attempt to add color to a black & white image, but it would probably come out looking like an outtake from THE INFENRAL CAULDRON.

Any Georges Méliès fans in the house? No? I’ll move on.

But I decided to ignore the rules and took all my pictures in “High Contrast Monochrome”. Cause you know how I feel about rules.

Rules are for fools.
Rules are for tools.
Rules are for ghouls.
Rules are for pools.

But rules for photography? Well, mostly they are guidelines that can and should be broken. From time to time.

I had big plans to get out there everyday and take plenty of beautiful, dare I say, tasty High Contrast Monochrome images. But right out of the bat, my Monday went south on me. There was a virtual mine collapse at the Computer Mine and I ended up working from 7 AM to nearly 11 PM. I only got a few pictures taken here and there while I was able to take a few breaks.

So most of the Monday images are just testing camera settings, playing with my old friend the fisheye and testing a point and shoot that I would need to use later in the week.

Here are the Monday images:

I swear that when I saw this image on the small screen I thought there was a reflection of Naima staring back at me from the lid of my grill. I mean it is an uncanny likeness.

This is actually “Rich Monochrome”. Basically a HDR black & white image. A setting, that has its uses, but I don’t love it.

My desk. Been thinking about building my own desk lately.

Test shot with the point & shoot

Tuesday I also wasn’t as active as I originally thought I might be. I actually got out of work on time, but I think Monday sucked my will to live out of me. I had a pretty lazy Tuesday. But I did get out of the house for a little bit to take Naima on a car ride and to take my neighbor’s cans to the can redemption center. I took a bit of street photography while I was out and about.

Here are Tuesday’s images:

Still so very, very, very, many black & white pictures to share with you guys!

Art, Carla, Music, Road Trip, Still Life, Street Photography, Teresa

What Cheer Flea Market – 2023

September 22, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Back in early May Teresa, Carla, and I loaded up in the car and trucked to What Cheer for one of their flea markets. It is one of (maybe the) the largest flea markets in Iowa. I’ve never been to a bigger one. They hold it 3 times a year and it takes up the entirety of the Keokuk County Fairgrounds.

We got there on Sunday, so some of the vendors were tearing down or had already left, so we didn’t get to see the flea market in all of its majesty, but that is okay. There still is one more this year from October 6 through October 7.

Here are some pictures from the day:

Do you call it Walking Taco or Taco in a Bag? Think carefully. There is only one right answer.

I want this in my yard so bad!

The only thing I came home with, besides a bunch of memories and photos is and Iowa State squirrel feeder. Unfortunately I’m currently out of corn because the ground squirrels (I assume) found my bag of corn and broke into it and ate all the corn. Leaving me nothing but a bag of cobs.

If you are interested in more information of the What Cheer Flea Market, you can visit their website here:

What Cheer Flea Market

5 stars. Would recommend.

Next Friday I will share pictures from a trip to the Orange City Tulip Festival I made with Nader and Jesse.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Art, Becky, Bill, Black & White, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Ernie, Funk, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Mary, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Road Trip, Sabas, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Street Photography, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 418 – SKY

September 18, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

SKY! A great theme, but was it the limit for the amount of people that would participate this week? You will have to keep scrolling to find out:

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 4, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week
2-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
3-Susanna Funk – 2 weeks
4-Scott Degeneffe – 3 weeks
5-Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks
6-Willy McAlpine – 4 weeks
7-Mary Green – 6 weeks (2)
8-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks
9-Mike Vest – 10 weeks
10-Sheri Fakhouri – 13 weeks
11-Monica Jennings – 14 weeks (2)
12-Logan Kahler – 14 weeks
13-Nathanial Brown – 15 weeks
14-Jesse Howard – 15 weeks
15-Tamara Peterson – 18 weeks
16-Alexis Stensland – 23 weeks
17-Mindi Terrell – 30 weeks (3)
18-Brandon Kahler – 54 weeks
19-Linda Bennett – 59 weeks
20-Sarah Toot – 60 weeks
21-Angie DeWaard – 64 weeks
22-Dawn Krause – 68 weeks
23-Kim Barker – 74 weeks
24-Joe Duff – 75 weeks
25-Teresa Kahler – 86 weeks (2)
26-Carla Stensland – 86 weeks
27-Micky Augustin – 88 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 89 weeks
29-Bill Wentworth – 90 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 94 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 95 weeks
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 97 weeks (2)
33-Kio Dettman – 99 weeks (2)

Heading into this week, this is the current map of states where submissions have come from:

Getting pretty full!

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:

Joe Duff (Texas) – 76 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 91 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone County, Iowa) – 100 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone County, Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Boone County, Iowa) – 60 weeks

Linda Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

Mary Green (Cleveland, Ohio) – 7 weeks

Mary Green (Cleveland, Ohio)

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 19 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 24 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Vienna, Austria) – 69 weeks

Dawn Krause (Munich, Germany)

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 65 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa)

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) 14 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Oskaloosa, Iowa) – 15 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa) – 31 weeks

Mindi Terrell (West Des Moines, Iowa)

Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 96 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

Nathanial Brown (Britt, Iowa) – 16 weeks

Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 89 weeks

Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Susanna Funk (Iowa)

Ernie Redd (Kentucky) – 1 week

Kim Barker (Estes Park, Colorado) – 75 weeks

Kim Barker (Estes Park, Colorado)

Willy McAlpine (Sahagun, Spain) – 5 weeks

Amy Peterson (Washington D.C.) – 1 week

Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 87 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

Christopher D. Bennett (Spencer, Iowa)

Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 16 weeks

Logan Kahler (Stratford, Iowa) – 15 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 90 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 95 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 55 weeks

Carla Stensland (Lake Okoboji, Iowa) – 87 weeks

Carla Stensland (Clay County Fair – Spencer, Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Arnold’s Park, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Des Moines, Iowa) – 98 weeks

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 61 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania)

Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 5 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 11 weeks

35 participants! That is a great week! Thanks to Ernie’s first ever submission, we get to add Kentucky to the submission map!!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ Austria
+ Colorado
+ Germany
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ Ohio
+ Pennsylvania
+ Spain
+ Texas
+ Washington D.C.

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Vermont
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

37 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 70% of the way there!

The current states missing are:

+ Alabama
+ Alaska
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Hawaii
+ Indiana
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Mississippi
+ New Mexico
+ Rhode Island
+ Virginia
+ West Virginia

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Alto del Perdon – Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Ontario, Canada
+ Vallunareju Norte – Peru
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
+ Puenta de la Reina, Spain
+ St. John pied de port, France
+ Vienna, Austria
+ Munich, Germany

I took my picture about 140 miles from my front door, but still in Iowa. I continue not to contribute.

The big… huge… gargantuan milestone reached this week is Kio is the first person to ever hit the Triple Digit Club! WooHoo!!

But it wasn’t all good news. Sara’s streak ends at 6 and Suzie couldn’t build her streak to 2.

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:

BLACK & WHITE

BLACK & WHITE! If you know me at all, you know that this is my absolutely favorite theme!

What is a BLACK & WHTIE image? Bro! It is a BLACK & WHITE picture. Period. End of story.

But just a reminder. BLACK & WHITE photography is all about tones and textures. Remember that and you will do great.

While thinking on possible subjects for your BLACK & WHITE submission, meditate on the following quote and I no doubt you will take a great picture:

To see in color is a delight for the eye but to see in black and white is a delight for the soul.
-Andri Cauldwell

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

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. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of BLACK & WHITE in this place that behind the scenes is all monochrome I should next Monday.

Animals, Black & White, Nature, Street Photography

Even More of a Foggy Morn on the Trail

September 16, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett 5 Comments

Time for the final collection of images I took on a foggy January morning out walking the High Trestle Trail. What is different about many of the pictures from this collection from the ones in the previous collections is that many of these are taken with a telephoto lens. The reason for this is, that the longer a lens, the more compressed the background and foreground become. I wanted the effect of the bars across the bridge to be practically on top of one another. I don’t want to break my arm slapping myself on the back, but I was pretty pleased with the results.

As you know, I don’t do a very good job planning for the Iowa State Fair Photo Salon, but next year’s special theme class is “Leading Lines” and I would consider one of these pictures for an entry, if I remember they exist around the time the State Fair comes along. I’d also consider the Boone High Parking lot from Tuesday’s post as well. Although I have this believe that the photo judges don’t like drone pictures. But with all opinions on judges, they are just beliefs.

Here is the final collection:

This wasn’t the last time I went to the High Trestle Trail Bridge this year. And I’m sure there are at least a couple more trips before this year is over. It is truly one of the most magical places in Iowa to visit.

Art, Road Trip, Street Photography, Teresa

Color the Wind – Four

September 15, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

This is the final collection of images from the trip I took to Clear Lake to Teresa to see the Color the Wind Festival. I can only reiterate that is pretty sweet and definitely worth checking out if you ever get the chance. A good chance that I’ll go check it out again next year.

That is it for the Color the Sky Festival. Next Friday I will share some pictures from a trip to the What Cheer Flea Market.

Art, Baseball/Softball, Christianity, History, Railroad, Road Trip, Street Photography

Scott County Aux. – Vol. 1

September 13, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time to start sharing the auxiliary images from my trip to Scott County to harvest their town signs. Scott County was the second to last county I went to for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT. It was a county I knew would be challenging cause of the Quad Cities, but it didn’t turn out to be so rough.

Here is the first collection, the first few pictures were taken on the way to Scott County:

Tipton

New Liberty

Dixon

Donahue

Princeton

Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead

Still so many picture left to share from this trip!

Baby Got Rack, Logan, Melissa, Scottie D., State Fair, Street Photography

Baby Got Rack Jr. Goes to the State Fair

September 10, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

This Sundays food adventure is a little different. Finally getting around to sharing pictures of Scott’s progeny Austin competing at the Iowa State Fair barbecue contest. I’ve went for a free trip to the State Fair and to photo-document Austin’s day. It is always interesting watching a Youth competition to see how much the parents do and how much the youth do. It was definitely all over the spectrum. A The booth to our west was the Story City FFA that were competing as a project. There was 4 or so of them and they did everything themselves. The booth next to them was a dad and his two kids. Both of his kids competed. I’m not sure I saw either of those kids lift a single finger the entire time. It showed when the judges showed up and they couldn’t answer any of their questions. Straight to the north of us was a young lady that did everything herself. Even (I found out later watching the Iowa State Fair Show on Iowa Public Television) raising the pig that the pork chops came from. To her east was a dad who entered the adult Turkey category and his kid. Another kid that I didn’t see do a whole lot. Then to their south and our east was a mother-son combination. I think he did a good portion of the work himself, but his mom was always present.

How much did Scottie D. do? He did some coaching and some meat cutting. But that was about it. When the judges were in the booth, Austin was completely on his own.

Here are some pictures from a great day:

Baby Got Rack Jr. 2023 - Iowa State Fair

Austin had a good time, but he did not place. The young lady that grew her own pig and also had people dressed in an inflatable pig got 2nd place. The young man to the east of us that worked with his mom won Youth and Showmanship. I didn’t get any pictures of them because they did a half Iowa State and half Iowa booth for a family divided theme and you know my camera can’t take pictures of Iowa Hawkeye stuff.

Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve another barbecue contest. This one in Guthrie Center.

Art, Road Trip, Street Photography, Teresa

Color the Wind – Three

September 8, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Time for another collection of pictures I took when I went to the Color the Wind Festival in Clear Lake, Iowa back in February. I’ve never been much of a kite guy, but seeing some of these kites make me wish I was a kite guy. But I don’t want to start spending thousands on a hobby. At least not this hobby.

There is one final collection of images from this sweet festival left to share!