Tag Archives: featured

Liberty Stones

July 18, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

When I started THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT I had no intention of photographing the courthouses and the Freedom Rocks of each county. It was just something that evolved over time, because of a few small factors here and there that I don’t need to get into. However, since I have started seeking out courthouses and Freedom Rocks, it has been a real joy and often have been one of the highlights of my town sign harvesting trips.

Because of this, I have started to go back and get courthouse and Freedom Rock pictures of the counties where I ignored them or didn’t photograph them. Here is the first set of images I have captured to fill in some holes:

Boone County Freedom Rock

Greene County Courthouse

Greene County Freedom Rock

Hamilton County Freedom Rock

Hardin County Courthouse

Hardin County Freedom Rock

Webster County Courthouse

Webster County Freedom Rock

I’m always surprised by what counties have beautiful courthouses and which ones have monstrosities. It is also fascinating to see what different counties do with their Freedom Rock. Many just kind of dump it next to their courthouse. Some throw it in a park. Others build a cool veterans’ memorial around it and others incorporate it into an existing veterans’ memorial.

I’ve created an album for all the courthouses and Freedom Rocks to date. You can check it out by clicking on the link below:

Courthouses and Freedom Rocks

It still have several courthouses and Freedom Rocks to backfill in. But this is a start.

Angie, Black & White, Formal Portrait, Photoshop

2010-10-17

July 17, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

The pictures in the folder 2010-10-17 are from a photo shoot with Alice DeWaard from when she was 3 months old.

By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entry to their original glory:

3 Months

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve the Howards.

Art, Candid Portrait, Event, Jen, Layla, Sara, Shawn Lockner, WPC - Reminder

Ain’t No Party Like A Carousel Party!

July 16, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

I was recently invited to Maven’s Birthday Party. It took place at a carousel! Yeah, all other parties are now ruined for me. You are going to have to step it up if you want this guy to make an appearance. Not entirely true. I will show up to any particular place where I could potentially get free food.

Here are some pictures from the festivities:

There was some talk of touring area carousels, but I think that has fizzled out now that Tenderloin Trail 2.0 seems to be on the horizon.

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

MUSIC

MUSIC! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a MUSIC photo? A MUSIC photo is any picture that’s composition includes anything related to MUSIC. A person playing MUSIC. Sheet MUSIC. A MUSICal instrument. Anything involved in the creation of MUSIC.

While thinking on your MUSIC photo, consider this quote:

Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing.
-John Erskine

Happy photo harvesting!

Flowers, Macro, Mom

All I Have to Offer You is Me

July 15, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Here is another collection of pictures of flowers I took in my Mom’s yard. These pictures were taken on April 20, 2021. Mostly tulips, but a few other flowers in there as well.

Still, so many flower pictures to share.

Art, Christianity, Contests, Pufferbilly Days, Railroad, Road Trip, Ruins

Marion County Auxiliary Images

July 14, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

This is a reminder that if you are interested in entering the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest, the deadline is next Wednesday:

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Flyer - 2021

To download the entry form and the rules, click on the link below:

Entry Form

A special thanks to Michelle for modifying the form so you don’t have to print it 6 times.

Also, while I am running the contest, I am not judging it. So don’t worry about me recognizing your images. Doesn’t matter if I do, cause I’m not a judge!

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Back in May I cruised around Marion County to harvest their town signs. This was a solo trip and I didn’t take a ton of auxiliary images as I was on somewhat of a time crunch. I had to get to a birthday party at a carousel. Also, I have been to the two biggest towns in Marion County (Pella and Knoxville) a few times, so I didn’t really do much exploring in those towns. Still, I managed to take a few auxiliary images:

Pella

Harvey

Bussey

Hamilton

Attica

Melcher-Dallas

Knoxville

It was a good trip and an even better birthday party.

Art, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Humboldt County

July 13, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

A few Saturdays back I took a solo trip around Humboldt County to harvest their town sign collection. Humboldt is one of the smaller counties when it comes to square miles, but it still manages to pack 13 incorporated towns in. It really should be a bigger county but the people of Webster County are jerks. Probably the people of Kossuth County too.

Here are some facts about Humboldt County:

+ Current population is 9,554 (2019 Estimate), making it the 77th most populous county. Below Calhoun County and above Emmet County.
+ The county seat is Dakota City.
+ The largest town is Humboldt.
+ Was formed in 1857.
+ Named for Alexander von Humboldt, a German polymath, geographer, naturalist, and explorer.
+ Major highways are: US-69, IA-3, IA-15, and IA-17.
+ Adjacent counties are Kossuth, Wright, Webster, and Pocahontas.
+ Peak population was 13,459 in 1940.

Humboldt County has a pretty nondescript courthouse, that is hidden behind trees:

The Humboldt County Courthouse in Dakota City, Iowa.

The Humboldt County Freedom Rock is located in Livermore, Iowa:

With Humboldt County conquered, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

27 counties completed. 27.3% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Humboldt County:

Humboldt, Iowa
Welcome to Humboldt – Established 1863
Population: 4,690

Dakota City, Iowa
Welcome to Dakota City – est. 1858
Population: 843

Gilmore City, Iowa
Iowa’s Limestone Capital – Gilmore City Welcomes You
Population: 504

Livermore, Iowa
Welcome to Livermore – EST. 1879
Population: 504

Bode, Iowa
Welcome to Bode – Since 1881
Population: 302

Lu Verne, Iowa
Welcome to Lu Verne – Come Again
Population: 261

Renwick, Iowa
There’s Only One Renwick – It’s In Iowa
Population: 242

Thor, Iowa
Welcome to Thor
Population: 186

Rutland, Iowa
Rutland
Population: 126

Bradgate, Ioa
Bradgate – Est. 1882 – “The Town That Wouldn’t Die”
Population: 86

Ottosen, Iowa
Welcome to Ottosen – Est. 1896
Population: 55

Hardy, Iowa
Welcome to Hardy – Est. 1881 – Please Drive Carefully – A Small Town With A Big Heart
Population: 47

Pioneer, Iowa
Pioneer
Population: 23

Humboldt County has a pretty solid collection of signs. None of them might not be that spectacular, but it is definitely solid. The worst one is obviously Pioneer. Pioneer is one of those towns that just gives you a really creepy vibe while you are there. Like Beaver and Thayer and Patterson and Shannon City. It is more than just their size. I’ve been in plenty of towns just as small and unincorporated towns that are even smaller that don’t give a Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibe off. Pioneer definitely does. I don’t know how it is incorporated. There is no town hall or community buildings at all, as near as I could find. It is over 50 percent junkyard and the rest is mostly grain elevators. I’m sure it didn’t help that I was listening to a THIS AMERICAN LIFE episode on Diana, Hunter of Bus Drivers that was fairly disturbing. Diana was never caught woman that murdered a couple of bus drivers in Juarez. Apparently bus drivers in that part of the world are notorious for “disappearing” young women.

Diana sent the following email to a news organization:

You think that because we are women we are weak, and that may be true but only up to a point, because even though we have nobody to defend us and we have to work long hours until late into the night to earn a living for our families we can no longer be silent in the face of these acts that enrage us. We were victims of sexual violence from bus drivers working the maquila night shifts here in Juárez, and although a lot of people know about the things we’ve suffered, nobody defends us nor does anything to protect us. That’s why I am an instrument that will take revenge for many women. For we are seen as weak, but in reality we are not. We are brave. And if we don’t get respect, we will earn that respect with our own hands. We the women of Juárez are strong.

Any ways, Diana, Hunter of Bus Drivers is now linked in my brain with the town of Pioneer. Perhaps not fairly, but that is the way it goes. (NPR is one of the rituals that goes with Saturday Town Sign Harvesting.)

But who has the best town sign in Humboldt County. There are some solid contenders. Gilmore city has a great sign. So does Bode. So does Thor, although I was hoping for a little more. I also really like Renwick’s sign. But I’m going to give it to Bradgate (even though my picture of it is pretty lousy) because for some reason, there is a tank on it.

Bradgate – Best in Show – Humboldt County

A few towns had alternate signs. Here are the alternate town signs of Humboldt County:

Renwick – Alternate

Ottosen

Lu Verne – Alternate

Livermore – Alternate

Gilmore City – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Grundy County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next we check in on THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Calhoun County.

Andy, Becky, Bill, Carla, Dad, History, Joe Duff, Kim, Michelle, Micky, Music, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 304 – HISTORY

July 12, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

Lots of people decided to make HISTORY by taking a HISTORY image this week. I understand that it can be a bit difficult for people that aren’t like me. You see, it is easy for me cause I’m making HISTORY every day.

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

Teresa Kahler

Joe Duff

Tamara Peterson

Becky Parmelee

Bill Wentworth

Christopher D. Bennett

Kim Barker

Andy Sharp

Michelle Haupt

Carla Stensland

Micky Augustin

Kio Dettman

Mike Vest

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:

MUSIC

BY THE WAY: WEDNESDAY IS THE LAST CITY BAND CONCERT OF THE YEAR IN BOONE.

MUSIC! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

While thinking on your MUSIC photo, consider this quote:

Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing.
-John Erskine

Think on that quote, and you will no doubt create a stunning MUSIC image for next MONDAY.

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 MUSIC in this place that like to think it is a metaphorical melody next Monday.

Flowers, Lensbaby, Macro

Orange City’s Little Cousin

July 11, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

I usually like to make it to Pella about a week before their annual Tulip Festival. It is a perfect combination of nobody is around and most of the flowers are blooming. This year I bungled my calendar and didn’t end up there until a week after the Tulip Festival. It wasn’t exactly the Sahara for Tulips but the majority were gone. However, I found a enough to take a few photos and with some creative composition (that sounds stupid all composition should be creative) it hopefully isn’t too obvious that most of the tulips are gone.

My title is slightly facetious and maybe designed to get under the skin of an email subscriber that went to Central. However, I do want to try to hit both Orange City and Pella for tulips next year. Orange City is much farther north so their tulip festival is a few weeks later than Pella’s. After that I will deem which town is the true tulip monarch.

Automobiles, Black & White, Evie, Flowers, Formal Portrait, Jill, Macro

2010-10-04, 2010-10-11, 2010-10-12, 2010-10-15, and 2010-10-16

July 10, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

So many of the folders 2010-10-04, 2010-10-11, 2010-10-12, 2010-10-15, and 2010-10-16 had so few images, that I decided to make a mega conglomeration. There are pictures here that were used for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE (back then known as the RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT) and pictures used for the program for the 2010 Philanthropy Day and finally pictures from a photo shoot with the Gorshes shortly after Evie was born.

By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory:

RWPE #39 – FAST

RWPE #40 – ODD CAMERA ANGLE

Commendable

PERSONAL PHOTO PROJECT OF THE WEEK #41

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve another baby.

Art, Black & White, Christianity, History, Road Trip, Ruins

Adair County Auxiliary Images

July 9, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Back in early May I drove around Adair County to harvest their town signs. I also harvested some town signs in Clarke County. This was a solo trip.

Here are some of the non-town sign pictures I took while cruising around:

Greenfield

Fontanelle

It is sad that this is being painted over.

Bridgewater

Creston

Osceola

Woodburn

Osceola, again

One thing I missed in Adair County that I need to hit at some point is the Jesse James Historical Site.

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

HISTORY

HISTORY! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a HISTORY photo? A HISTORY photo is any picture that records something that happened in the past. For example, in the theme reveal picture is the break room (building) for the employees of a Cracker Jack factory that has been gone for 50 years. A HISTORY picture could be a picture of a museum or an old building or a mural that depicts a HISTOR(Y)IC event. Or it could be a picture of a HISTOR(Y)ICAL artifact. It doesn’t need to be a piece of HISTORY that is as significant as Cracker Jack. It could be personal HISTORY.

Happy photo harvesting!