Mmmmmm ... it smells like fall! Every year, I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and gutting out my Jack-O'-Lantern. Last year, I used my pumpkin's stem as a nose and totally beat my boyfriend in a pumpkin-carving contest (shhhh, it's never a "contest" unless I win) ...

This year, I have a different plan. You see, there are these new pumpkins out called Knuckle Heads. Basically, they have warts. Through my observations, adults love them, kids are scared of them and senior citizens think they're diseased. Not true, to say the least. Knuckle Heads have taken about 10 years to engineer. They are grown from specialized pumpkin seeds. The discolored bumps on their skin makes your Jack-O'-Lanterns all the more scarier. Scroll down to the last three photos and decide for yourself ... personally, I think they're pretty darn cool — not something I'd use to make a pumpkin pie (if I even knew how to), but definitely something I'll bring to the pumpkin-carving table.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/200, Manual
Emma Ross, a first-grader at Country Meadows Elementary School, Muskego, reacts to the slimy insides of her pumpkin Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, during a pumpkin-carving party, held in the school's cafeteria. Although the students drew their own pumpkin faces, parent volunteers took care of the carving. The pumpkins were carved in support of the Muskego Historical Society Arts and Crafts Fair.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/200, Manual
Cassidy Nicholson, a first-grader at Country Meadows Elementary School, Muskego, guts her pumpkin Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, during a pumpkin-carving party, held in the school's cafeteria. Although the students drew their own pumpkin faces, parent volunteers took care of the carving. The pumpkins were carved in support of the Muskego Historical Society Arts and Crafts Fair.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/2500, Manual
Bria Wright, 3, runs through a pumpkin patch, right past a brand new pumpkin species, the Knuckle Head (bottom center), Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at Awe's Orchard, located on Highway 100, Franklin. This year is the first year Awe's is selling Knuckle Heads, which are part of the Super Freak pumpkin series. The pumpkins, which are grown from special seeds and develop bumps or "warts," took approximately 10 years to engineer. Paula Awe, who owns and operates the orchard and pumpkin patch with her husband, says the pumpkins are quite popular because their textures allow for scary and goofy faces.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/2000, Manual
Rahab Shirk, 2, checks out a brand new pumpkin species, the Knuckle Head, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at Awe's Orchard, located on Highway 100, Franklin. This year is the first year Awe's is selling Knuckle Heads, which are part of the Super Freak pumpkin series. The pumpkins, which are grown from special seeds and develop bumps or "warts," took approximately 10 years to engineer. Paula Awe, who owns and operates the orchard and pumpkin patch with her husband, says the pumpkins are quite popular because their textures allow for scary and goofy faces.

Nikon D2H, 22 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/2000, Manual
Awe's Orchard, located on Highway 100, Franklin, has a new kind of pumpkin this year: The Knuckle Head. The pumpkins, which are grown from special seeds and develop bumps or "warts," took approximately 10 years to engineer. Paula Awe, who owns and operates the orchard and pumpkin patch with her husband, says the pumpkins are quite popular because their textures allow for scary and goofy faces.

Last night, I spent a little time looking through archives of old pictures I've taken. I do this maybe once or twice a year — for me, it's a good way to keep myself in check and see firsthand ways I can improve. But every time I do this, memories come rushing back.

I'm not the type of photographer to hang my own photos on my walls or clutter my apartment with picture frames. My professional archives are in binders underneath my couch and my personal archives are in dusty photo albums packed away in my closet. But with every photo is a memory — whether the photo is of a complete stranger or someone I love, my archives document my life, whether I'd like to remember those moments or not. With each photo, I remember how I felt the moment the camera clicked.

I shot the photo below last week. When I was taking it, memories of my years down in Florida flooded my mind. I spent two years working in a city which consisted of approximately 70,000 retirees. Although I wouldn't trade this experience in for the world, I felt as though I had retired before my life ever began. But these people were lovin' life. They had been there, they had done that, and now, they were ready to soak up some sun and hide from their grandchildren. It is a mystical, magical, frightening place. I learned to appreciate and be thankful for every stage of life. They were no longer worried about the numbers on their paychecks or how they looked in the swimming pool. If they liked basket weaving, they basket weaved seven days a week. If they liked softball, they hit the diamonds 365 days per year. If they liked to belly dance, they shook it until the sun went down. And I photographed it all.

I learned a few life lessons down in Florida, but more importantly (for this moment, at least), I learned how to make photos of senior citizens doing nothing but ... walking.

Nikon D2H, 125 mm, 400 ISO, f2.8, 1/4000, Manual
Dan and Marge Shadd, of the Franklin Seniors Walking Club, get some exercise Thursday, July 31, 2008, right outside the Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Franklin. The club, which meets from 9 to 11 a.m. every Thursday, is open to all Milwaukee County residents. 

A year ago today, I started at CNI. Twenty-six years ago today, I was born. Since birthdays are a million times more exciting if you're still in the single digits, this morning I told one of my 5-year-old subjects that it's my birthday. I figured it'd be a great distraction. He guessed I just turned 10 years old. God bless him.

Anyways, if I'm lucky, I may be doing a little of this tonight ...

Nikon D2H, 170 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, Manual
Brooke Bollis, 4, licks her fingers during a cake icing art project Friday, June 20, 2008, held at the Franklin Public Library. Children and their parents played with safe and edible craft materials.

There's been graduations. There's been floods. There's been more graduations. And there's been more floods.

Let's start with the graduations. I had five of them to shoot this month. When you photograph the same event five times within three weeks, you really start to work. This year, I struggled a bit. Hundreds of graduation photos taken by other news photographers kept flashing through my mind. "Look for something different. Avoid the typical getting-ready-in-the-bathroom-mirror shot." As close-knit as photographers are, we NEVER want to get the same photo. It's like, The Battle of the Photographer Ego, Times 100.

Week after week, I looked for different moments. Different details. Different expressions. A different type of centerpiece photo for each community. Sometimes, the events most catered to be perfect photo opportunities are the hardest assignments for photojournalists to put behind them.

Here is a sampling of what I found.

Nikon D2H, 200 mm, 800 ISO, f2.8, 1/100, Manual
Graduating seniors at Franklin High School receive their flowers and diplomas Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at the FHS Commencement Ceremony, held at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. This year's ceremony — originally scheduled for Sunday, June 8, 2008 — was delayed two days, due to flooding in the Sports Complex. The FHS valedictorian for the Class of 2008 is Ryan Spott.

Nikon D2H, 200 mm, 400 ISO, f2.8, 1/1000, Manual
Josh Hintz, a graduating senior at Franklin High School, stands in a ray of sunlight Tuesday, June 10, 2008, shortly before the FHS Commencement Ceremony, held at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. This year's ceremony — originally scheduled for Sunday, June 8, 2008 — was delayed two days, due to flooding in the Sports Complex. The FHS valedictorian for the Class of 2008 is Ryan Spott.

Nikon D2H, 185 mm, 800 ISO, f2.8, 1/100, Manual
Graduating seniors at Franklin High School face their friends and family members Tuesday, June 10, 2008, during the processional the FHS Commencement Ceremony, held at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. This year's ceremony — originally scheduled for Sunday, June 8, 2008 — was delayed two days, due to flooding in the Sports Complex. The FHS valedictorian for the Class of 2008 is Ryan Spott.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/125, Manual
A graduating senior at Whitnall High School gets a drink of water Sunday, June 1, 2008, shortly before the start of the Whitnall High School Commencement Ceremony, held in the school's gymnasium. The WHS Class of 2008 valedictorian is Amy Strasburg.

Nikon D2H, 200 mm, 800 ISO, f2.8, 1/400, Manual
Julie Voelkel, a graduating senior at Whitnall High School, enters the gymnasium Sunday, June 1, 2008, during the processional shortly before the Whitnall High School Commencement Ceremony, held in the school's gymnasium. The WHS Class of 2008 valedictorian is Amy Strasburg.

Nikon D2H, 200 mm, 800 ISO, f2.8, 1/125, Manual
Some personalities could be seen through the shoes hidden underneath the gowns of graduating seniors at New Berlin West High School Saturday, June 14, 2008, during the school's Commencement Ceremony, held in the school's field house. The valedictorian for the New Berlin West Class of 2008 is Hilary Monaco.

Nikon D2H, 200 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/200, Manual
Tyler Valkoun, the salutatorian for the New Berlin West Class of 2008, addresses his peers Saturday, June 14, 2008, in the school's field house. The valedictorian for the New Berlin West Class of 2008 is Hilary Monaco.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 800 ISO, f2.8, 1/400, Manual
Graduating seniors at New Berlin West High School line up to accept their diplomas Saturday, June 14, 2008, in the school's field house. The valedictorian for the New Berlin West Class of 2008 is Hilary Monaco.

If you give 10 rolls of duct tape to a room full of feisty middle school students, they're probably going to ... tape you to a wall. And then throw pies at your face.

God bless Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School. He actually let them do it. I can't say I was surprised — every time I step into the school, Matt seems to be bouncing around the hallways with a big smile on his face. I never doubted he'd be up for a laugh or two, even at his own expense.

"This isn't as fun as I thought it was going to be," Lesar said Friday morning as whip cream pies were being flung at his face. But it's all for a good cause, he reminded himself. The students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Heart, an organization that helps fight heart disease and stroke.

"Leave him up there for the rest of the day!" one of the seventh-grade girls jokingly said to a friend. The students succeeded in securing Lesar to the wall, using nearly every inch of the 1,200 feet of tape they were given.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, WITH FLASH, Manual
Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School, Franklin, gets taped to the wall Friday, May 23, 2008, by top fundraisers for the Hoops for Heart challenge. Forest Park students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Hearts, which helps fight heart disease and strokes. Using 10 rolls of duct tape, the students succeeded in securing Lesar. As he hung from the wall, the students then threw numerous pies in Lesar's face.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, WITH FLASH, Manual
Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School, Franklin, gets taped to the wall Friday, May 23, 2008, by top fundraisers for the Hoops for Heart challenge. Forest Park students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Hearts, which helps fight heart disease and strokes. Using 10 rolls of duct tape, the students succeeded in securing Lesar. As he hung from the wall, the students then threw numerous pies in Lesar's face.

Nikon D2H, 20 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, WITH FLASH, Manual
Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School, Franklin, gets taped to the wall Friday, May 23, 2008, by top fundraisers for the Hoops for Heart challenge. Forest Park students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Hearts, which helps fight heart disease and strokes. Using 10 rolls of duct tape, the students succeeded in securing Lesar. As he hung from the wall, the students then threw numerous pies in Lesar's face.

Nikon D2H, 145 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, WITH FLASH, Manual
After he was taped to the wall, Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School, Franklin, gets slammed with whip cream pies Friday, May 23, 2008, by top fundraisers for the Hoops for Heart challenge. Forest Park students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Hearts, which helps fight heart disease and strokes. Using 10 rolls of duct tape, the students succeeded in securing Lesar.

As some of you may recall, we ran a story several months ago on the homecoming of Cpt. Tim Patterson. Patterson, a New Berlin resident and Franklin police officer, had just returned home after serving a year with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

As a follow-up to the initial story, I spent a little more time with Tim and his family as he readjusted to life back at home.

Please click on the photo below, which will direct you to an audio slideshow I produced. Be sure to check today's paper for John Schultz's complete story. Working with the Pattersons for the past couple of months has been a photographer's dream. Thank you, Tim, Margie and Abby, for sharing your story.

CLICK ...

I've always prided myself on a fairly strong stomach. I've never met a rollercoaster I didn't love. And not even an upside down flight in an open-cockpit WWII Stearman could make me nauseous.

But that was back in the day. My younger years (umm, 2006). Something mysterious happens when you hit the age of 25 ...

A balloon sent me over the edge. But trust me ... it was a BIG one. As I stepped inside a 20-foot inflatable Earth Balloon this afternoon, I grounded myself on Antarctica quicker than the 5-year-olds surrounding me could ask where Santa lived on the North Pole. There's something about a huge balloon inflating around you that's a bit unsettling to an empty stomach.

But what an incredible learning experience for the kids. Entire classes at Southwood Glen Elementary School, Franklin, entered the balloon through a zipped doorway and looked at the world from the inside out. The kids then learned an invaluable lesson on conserving our planet's natural resources. Here are a few quick photos ...

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, Manual, WITH BOUNCE FLASH
Andrew Smith (right), a second-grader at Southwood Glen Elementary School, Franklin, looks up inside a giant Earth Balloon Tuesday, April 1, 2008, in the school's gymnasium. Students had the chance to sit inside the 20-foot hand-painted inflatable globe. Entire classes entered the balloon through a zipped doorway and looked at the world from the inside out. The experience, presented by WhereAbouts Inc., taught the students about the world's water resources and various cultures.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/80, Manual
Students at Southwood Glen Elementary School, Franklin, raise their hands with questions while inside a giant Earth Balloon Tuesday, April 1, 2008, in the school's gymnasium. Students had the chance to sit inside the 20-foot hand-painted inflatable globe. Entire classes entered the balloon through a zipped doorway and looked at the world from the inside out. The experience, presented by WhereAbouts Inc., taught the students about the world's water resources and various cultures.

We hated each other at first sight.

The gymnasium at Franklin’s Forest Park Middle School and I, that is.

Make no mistake — the school’s students and staff are incredibly helpful and polite, but the light in the gymnasium … ummm … leaves a bit to be desired.

As I walked down the middle school’s hallway, coming closer to the glowing “non-light,” the blue and green colors emitting from the double doorway seemed to be laughing at the poor Nikon strapped over my shoulder. I took a seat on one of the folding chairs and watched members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater wheelchair basketball team warm up. No windows. Flickering fluorescent bulbs. Fast action. Siiiiiigh.

“Yeeeaahhh … I’m sorry about the lights in our gym,” were the first words out of the principal’s mouth as he walked up to me with an apologetic smile on his face. That’s when you know it’s bad.

No worries, though. The event was definitely worth its photographic challenges. Members of the college team spoke to students about their disabilities and then challenged them to a full-court game.

I snapped this photo when one of the players leaned back into a beam of light. He took his shot, and I took mine.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 400 ISO, f2.8, 1/60, Manual

When I tell people I'm a photojournalist, visions of car wrecks and courthouse photos come to the forefronts of their minds. Most people don't realize the bread and butter of community journalism is everyday happenings, such as high school sports and ... babies and books.

I was smiling to myself during this assignment at the Franklin Public Library, mostly because of the name of the book, "The Incredible Ned." My younger brother's name is Ned — my father named him after Milwaukee Brewers Manager Ned Yost — and without any knowledge of the existence of this book, we've always called him, The Incredible Ned. I showed these photos to Ned's fiancé and told her, "It seems as though you aren't the only girl enamored by The Incredible Ned." She replied, "I am going to be waiting for her at the bike racks ... "

 
Nikon D2H, 28 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/200, Manual

Nikon D2H, 120 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/200, Manual

As a way of enforcing my curfew during the high school and college years, my dad once said to me, “Nothing good ever happens past midnight.”

I wish he could have been by my side Wednesday night.

It was shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday when Cpt. Tim Patterson, a Franklin police officer from New Berlin, arrived at General Mitchell International Airport. Patterson had just finished a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan. While 90 percent of those reading this were sleeping, a military husband and father reunited with his wife and 8-year-old daughter. I would give up a week’s sleep to witness this moment again.

All technical aspects of photography set aside, there’s nothing better than capturing a true decisive moment. Backgrounds can’t always be perfect. The lighting can’t always be ideal. But if a photo encourages the reader to react, we’ve done our job.

You’ll be seeing more of Tim and his family in the months to come, as this is just the beginning of his journey back home.

Considering the camera body I use (a Nikon D2H), some gymnasiums allow me to shoot available light, while others do not. If I enter a high school gymnasium with adequate available light and a high place for me to stand, it's a good night. I shot a couple basketball assignments in Franklin a few nights back. The first was a free throw competition and the second was a girls' varsity basketball game. I shot the varsity game at f2.8, 1/250 of a second, ISO 500. The free throw competition was mostly the same lighting conditions, excepting I slowed the shutter speed down to 1/200 of a second.

I spend a lot of time watching other people's kids. And I don't mean babysitting. I mean, staring.

Kids are great. When I tell them to ignore me, they actually do. Children accept the presence of a "really big camera" far better than adults. I sat in on a Geography Bee this afternoon at Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin. An incredibly easy assignment ... something I'd consider, free smiles.

Some cold-winter-day assignments are worth losing the ability to feel your fingers.

Crystal Kids, a Saturday ski-camp designed to teach kids how to ski, is held weekly at Crystal Ridge Ski Area, Franklin.