PURPLE AND GREEN

     It was a NFC North Division rivalry game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sunday as the Green Bay Packers hosted the Minnesota Vikings.
    The Packers were coming into the contest after suffering a 38-10 loss at the hands of the New York Giants the week prior and came out Sunday moving quickly against the Vikings -- with a lot of short, dump off passes to move down the field.
     There was plenty of action on the field with big plays from receivers James Jones, Greg Jennings and Randall Cobb and tight end Jermichael Finley and also on the other side of the ball with running back Adrian Peterson.
     Unfortunately, it was an off day for me. I usually have one of those a season where it seems like everything happens on the opposite side as me or I just didn't happen to get the big play. Don't get me wrong, I got some nice images, but I didn't get that one, key to the whole game, type of photo today.
     My favorite photograph from the game came in the first quarter when WR Jones dove for a touchdown and reached across the goal line hitting the pylon for the score. Bad part was the touchdown was called back on a holding call against the Packers.
    I've gotten quite a few nice images of Jones making big-time catches this year and have two more games to go yet. Should be fun to see what else that talented athlete can do.
    The other favorite photo for me came in the second quarter when a pass intended for Greg Jennings was intercepted by the Vikings. I love Jennings' reaction as the ball is getting intercepted.
     The Packers have just two home games left -- against the Detroit Lions and the Tennessee Titans. Lets home this slump of mine is just for one game.
      Enjoy!

Packers receiver James Jones reaches for a touchdown in the first quarter. The TD was called back because of a holding call against the Packers.

Packers safety Morgan Burnett celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Vikings.

A pass intended for Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings is intercepted in the second quarter.

SOUNDS OF STRING

"I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." -- Billy Joel     
    
     While my favorite music to listen to is country music -- the modern stuff, not the oldies -- I still enjoy breaking away from that and hearing different forms of music -- pop/rock, jazz, rap and even orchestra music.
     This past weekend I got the chance to take in some great sounds by a very talented Shawano Community High School orchestra band as they hosted the annual Golden Strings concert at the high school on Friday and Saturday evenings.
     The Golden Strings concert is the first concert of the school year for the high school's orchestra and Shawano's orchestra -- in my opinion -- is one of the best I've ever heard. The different sounds each instrument makes is just awesome and the students are very talented at what they do, you can tell that they've been working at it for a number of years. Actually, students can join orchestra in sixth-grade in Shawano.
     The theme for this year was "music from around the world" and began with the different national anthems for each country and then went into some popular music from around the globe. It's amazing how different the sounds are in different parts of the world.
     I also enjoy covering the event because of the different view points I can take while photographing the concert -- from the floor with the audience, from the stage and behind the scenes. The concert also allows me to be a little more creative than other assignments I usually get. You have all the shapes of the instruments, the shadows they cast with the stage lighting, student's reactions as they play and the crowd reactions too.
     This time I wanted to try shooting it and editing in black and white. Here are the results.

10-SEATER

     There are some weeks where you have awesome events or subjects to write about and to photograph. This week has been one of those and it all began on Monday.
     The week started off with me heading to Doc's Harley-Davidson, located along Highway 29 just outside of Bonduel, to do a story on Steve "Doc" Hopkins bringing his motorcycle to Germany for an auto show.
     Now, this isn't any normal motorcycle. This is one he built in 2009 in seven months. The motorcycle in 24-1/2 feet long, has 10 seats and seven different engines, dating back all the way to 1909.
     Hopkins built the bike as a way to show the rolling history of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. From front to back it has historical images of Harley-Davidson founders and motorcycles they have used.
     Hopkins explained to me how he made the bike, finding the materials for the frame, finding the aircraft tires that help him get the bike going, starting all engines at once and hearing them all going. How the far the motorcycle has gone for shows — to Boston, Indianapolis, Ohio, Iowa and several trips to the Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee.
     Hopkins is a great individual to talk to, he knows everything Harley. Following the interview about his upcoming trip to Germany, Hopkins was kind enough to show me around in his store — showing me his new 1908 Indian Twin he just purchased, showing me the racing bike he is working on, showing everything in his "Timeline Saloon" that is made to look like an old-time motorcycle shop.
     After the tour, Hopkins and I made our way to the Timeline Saloon & BBQ restaurant, which is located right next to his motorcycle shop. This is where the 10-seat, 7-engine Timeline motorcycle sits.
    He got a group of his employees together and as they loaded the motorcycle into its trailer for the start of its voyage, I snapped photos.
    It's a pretty neat bike to see, I would encourage anyone — motorcycle lover or not — to check out Doc's motorcycle shop, restaurant and his car museum that is located on the grounds as well.
    Later this week it's a trip to Wisconsin Rapids for the state cross-country meet and then some trick-or-treat photos to wrap up the fun week.
    To read more about the bike and it's upcoming voyage, go to the story by clicking HERE.

Steve "Doc" Hopkins, right, and some of his employees push the Timeline motorcycle into the waiting trailer.

The front of the Timeline Motorcycle starting the the early history of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles.

The F-Head IOE engine is the first on Doc's Timeline Motorcycle. The engine was used from 1909 to 1929 on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Steve "Doc" Hopkins dusts off the headlines to the Timeline Motorcycle before moving it into a trailer.

Several employees of Doc's Harley-Davidson load up the 10-seat, 7-engine Timeline Motorcycle into a trailer for its voyage to Essen, Germany.

EXCITING RECEIVER

     It's Sunday night and I'm just unwinding from today's 28-27 Green Bay Packers win over the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. It was a close game, but the Packers defense held off Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
     It's my second Packers game of the season, but you know what? Second year pro Randall Cobb is fun to take photos of. He's a high-energy, high-emotion player. I have several photos of this young man flying through the air for extra yards, getting his head pulled back around with a face-mask call and more.
     Cobb, who also serves as the team's kickoff and punt returner, always gets the crowd loud when the Packers give him the ball. It seems like the young receiver is also becoming one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite go-to guys.
     It was a much-needed win for the Packers on Sunday, giving them a 2-2 record heading into a 3-game road trip, starting with Indianapolis next week, followed by the Houston Texans. The Saints, however, continue to struggle, falling to 0-4 on the season.
     The Packers had their ups and down, but it looks as though the running game with Cedric Benson is really starting to gain steam.
     Enjoy some photos from the action

HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES

     It's homecoming time in Shawano! Time for the teenagers to pull out the toilet paper, break out those red and black colored clothing and cheer for your team.
     The entire week was filled with student activities -- car smashing, crazy dress-up days, a pep rally, powder puff football game, parade and the big football game.
     The events I covered were the parade, football game and the powder puff football game — all favorites of mine because of the action in each of them.
     Shawano won it's homecoming game, 48-0, defeating Oconto Falls -- the school I graduated from way back in 1999. It was a fun game to be at with the crowd loud in support of its team and with all the vibrant colors around with the red and orange and black, made for some nice images.
     Football game action was pretty good -- Shawano likes to pass a little more than other high school teams, so it's exciting to see that.
     Here are some images from the past few days.
     Tomorrow it's the Packers vs Saints with the UW Marching Band on hand for pregame and halftime.