On a warm day in January, we stop by 100 Acres at Newfields with the kids. If you’re not from the Indy area, Newfields is the campus that contains the Indianapolis Museum of Art. 100 Acres is part nature preserve, part modern art gallery. The best part of visiting 100 Acres at Newfields (to a…
I first learned about the store in Moonshine, Illinois from some random magazine about living in and/or visiting the Midwest that was lying on the coffee table of my in-law’s house about 3 or 4 years ago. Word had it that this tiny place (population 2) had one of the best burgers in the country….
Enter your name and email below to download our PDF guide “Low Light Photography: Using Available Light”. It’s well worth your time to learn how to photograph in dimly lit or dark situations because so many awesome moments happen in the dark – and using a flash can really kill the mood! In the guide,…
Welcome to my third and final post on my practices for shooting in low light using only available light. This post addresses the low light post-production practices I use to get great shots in extremely low light without using flash or strobes. Get the whole series here in a cool PDF download. All the kids…
Thanks for checking out my second post on my practices for shooting in low light using only available light. For an introduction to the benefits of available light photography and a review of the type of gear I use to get great shots in low light, be sure to read the first post. This post…
One of the most difficult aspects of photography is shooting in low light. However, with my documentary approach, it’s a skill I need in order to maintain the integrity of the subject material and avoid affecting the end result with my presence. Therefore over the past 15 years I’ve developed a series of practices that allow…
You see model trains a lot during the holiday season, but nobody does model trains like the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis. Jingle Rails is their annual train display. Models travel through famous local scenes and national landmarks from the American West. You’ll find downtown Indy, complete with a scale model of the Soldier and Sailor’s…
Next up for our holiday events is Christmas at the Zoo in Indianapolis. This is always a great event at the Indianapolis Zoo because in addition to Santa’s Village and lights throughout the zoo, a lot of the animals are out and about and available for visits. Santa’s Village The Bicentennial Pavilion houses Santa’s Village…
Reindeer Ride: Bright Night is part of Nickel Plate Express, a train in central Indiana that runs between Atlanta and Noblesville. Throughout the year they offer a variety of themed rides. For Reindeer Ride: Bright Night, Gaylor Electric fitted the entire length of the train with LED lights. The ride is very comfortable and each…
This week we visit Newfields Winterlights in Indianapolis, now in its second year. With over 1.5 million lights, this is THE light display to see. Newfields is the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the surrounding grounds. In this post I talk about photographing in the difficult lighting conditions we encounter at this time of year….
In October I was commissioned to document the Indiana Pacers premium experiences. They want to give fans looking to purchase tickets a sense of the available spaces during a game. It was fun to get a first-hand view of all the awesome areas throughout Banker’s Life Fieldhouse. In this post, I’ll talk about how I find good…
Our third featured partner for our Chicago weekend is the Museum of Science & Industry. This giant museum on Chicago’s south side features more hands-on exhibits than you could possibly do in one day. This is a favorite spot for families because of all the interactive exhibits for kids. MSI is currently featuring a special…
Last week we were in Chicago for a three-day visit. While there, we partnered with SkyDeck Chicago for some unparalleled views of the city from the top of Willis Tower (originally Sears Tower). SkyDeck is located on the 103rd floor of the tower at a height of 1353 ft. Glass boxes known as “The Ledge”…
Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin’ town. I can’t say what that means, but if Frank Sinatra sang it, then it must mean it’s a groovy place. Recently I spent a few days touring the city and documenting the sights. This post features the sights on the streets. You can also check out posts on SkyDeck (the…
Hats, boots (buy one get two free) and neon signs. This was my initial impression walking through downtown Nashville, Tennessee, known by locals as “Nashvegas” (thanks for the insider info, Val). The images in this post offer a QUICK glance of Nashville. We spent one night and approximately 20 hours in town. With four young…
2024 UPDATE: Kuwohi (also Kuwahi) is the Cherokee name of the highest peak in along the Appalachian Trail. Beginning in 1859, it was renamed Clingmans Dome by geographer Arnold Guyot, and kept that name until September 18, 2024, when the original name was restored. According to the resolution to restore the original name drafted by…
UPDATE: As of February 15, 2019, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is now Indiana Dunes National Park! This post feature photos of our trip to the Indiana Dunes State Park, which remains as-is, but will now be surrounded by a national park. With sandy beaches and cool, clear water, Indiana Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan is…
One of the things I enjoy most about shooting this time of year is the diversity of people that come out to celebrate America’s independence. It’s a great reminder that we all love this country and we all are welcome here. Here’s a slideshow of some of our favorite images celebrating America… A handful of…
We took a quick road trip with the family to Oklahoma City to shoot some work for a client. While we were there, we did some exploring of the downtown area and the Midtown neighborhood. Both areas had a lot to see and do. Here are a few favorite images from a couple days in…
I often receive emails from student photographers seeking advice about pursuing a career in photography. I decided to compile the answers to the most frequently asked questions in a blog post. FIND YOUR VOICE The most important advice I have for student photographers is to find your own unique point of view. This is the…
“We seceded where others failed.” That’s the motto of The Conch Republic, the nickname taken on by Key West when they declared independence from, then war on, the United States in 1982. Key West does not disappoint! It has an amazing mix of scenery, history, food, drinks, entertainment and more. Our four kids traveled with…
The Florida Keys State Parks are some of the most fantastic in the country. Here are some of our favorite shots from the following parks: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Key Largo), Bahia Honda State Park (Big Pine Key), Curry Hammock State Park (Marathon) and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park (Key West). An…
We spent about ten days driving from the mainland to Key West and back and spent a couple of days each in Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon. The upper, middle, and lower keys’ communities offer coral and rock beaches and blue green waters popular for fishing. The Florida Keys are made up of around 1700…
Morales Group is a leading staffing agency in Indianapolis. The Morales Group attributes their growth to their commitment to serve: their clients, associates, staff and the community at large. Recently I had the opportunity to collaborate with them on a new photography catalog to be used on their new website and marketing materials. I photographed…
Bloomington, Indiana Fall 2017 for Visit Bloomington. Street scenes, restaurants, bars, walking trails, and public art.
Another stop we made on our holiday tour of Indianapolis was Jingle Rails, presented by The Indiana Rail Road Company, at the Eiteljorg Museum. Eight model trains travel through miniature scenes including downtown Indianapolis, Hollywood, Las Vegas and western landmarks such as the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore. After the Jingle Rails photos, you’ll see…
This week we headed to the Indianapolis Zoo for their annual Christmas at the Zoo. 2017 saw the addition of a new Santa’s Village under the Bicentennial Pavilion. With Santa in his study, Mrs. Claus in her kitchen and reindeer in the barn, there was plenty to see and do. The kids enjoyed multiple trips…
I had a co-op day recently at my kids’ preschool and thought I’d take a few photos. It’s a kind and loving environment where kids can explore their own interests in their own ways. They spend time outside every day, including in the rain and snow. Scroll through the gallery below to see what it’s like…
CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER We need an intelligent and motivated individual to manage client services and day-to-day operations of our commercial photography business. This job is a great fit for someone who is detail oriented, likes to organize, and wants to help a business implement and manage practices and systems. Some of the required tasks will…
Winterlights is the newest of the major holiday attractions in the Indianapolis area. A part of the 152-acre Indianapolis Museum of Art campus, recently rebranded as Newfields, the event features more than a million lights, winter treats and displays set to holiday music. The family and I decided to check it out this week and…
This past weekend was the grand opening of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt. I stopped by on Sunday evening to check out the scene. It’s a beautiful setup with the Palladium in the background. The iceskating is affordable, and there are special deals on Wednesday and Thursday, so be sure to check out the website for details:…
In 1948, Nat Fein shot this photo of Babe Ruth shortly before his death. Photographers were gathering together to get a shot of Ruth’s face, but Nat “got a feeling” and headed behind Ruth and captured this image, which was the first sports photograph to win a Pulitzer Prize. I’ve been greatly influenced by this…
Driving though northern and central Indiana, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the entire state is flat farmland or forests. Turkey Run State Park is not something you’d expect to encounter. The sandstone gorges created by Sugar Creek make for great climbing and exploring. The park was on our summer bucket list, so when the…
I try to get out every year to check out Carmel Artomobilia. The crowd was huge this year! I always take my kids with me, so navigating four little-ones through a crowd and making sure they’re not climbing into cars tends to limit the number of shots that I take. I’m happy with the selects,…
Photographing a solar eclipse was an incredible adventure! It was only a 4 hour drive to Hopkinsville, KY to get the longest duration of totality in the country. Never mind that it took over 7 hours to get home. Still worth it! Amazing Shadows One of my favorite parts of the eclipse was the crescent-shaped…
Here are some photos from a recent trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. Even though it was a rainy day, there was a lot to see and the animals were out and about.
Here’s some documentary photography of a youth baseball team from Carmel, Indiana. These photos are taking at Grand Park, a massive 400-acre sports complex in Westfield. Baseball usually requires a really long lens to get any decent action, but with youth baseball, I can usually stand close enough to get some cool shots with my…
Like many people, the images I’ve seen in the news lately of refugees fleeing violence and war have affected me deeply. Parents are going through extraordinary lengths to protect their children, risking their lives seeking safety and stability. America is a country founded and built by refugees and immigrants with these same basic goals. That’s why…
To start this month, I documented the Monumental Mile in downtown Indianapolis. This was a fun community event with a straight-shot run along Meridian Street from 12th Street to the finish line at Monument Circle where participants and guests could partake in some local beer and food from sponsors like Quaff ON! Brewing and Chipotle. Below…
All-Star Veterinary Clinic in Westfield, Indiana is owned by Dr. Emily King and her husband Richard King. With nearly 15 years in business, they’re known throughout the community for superior service and client care. This spring they completed an expansion and renovation to the clinic and had me come in to update their photo library.
Holladay Properties is a full-scale land development, design/build and fully-integrated real estate company. They contacted me to document a sampling of the type of spaces they build and lease. This gallery shows warehouse, office, education/research and sports facilities in Indianapolis and Westfield.
Trafic Design, is a Quebec company specializing in corporate design and branded environments for business. Trafic contacted me to document their promotional exhibit design at the 2017 NTEA Work Truck Show, the largest event in association history. It featured more than 500 vendors with nearly 12,000 attendees, occupying all 566,000 square feet of exhibit space in the Indiana Convention Center. Trafic’s client, Ranger Design, is a…
Photos of conferences could easily become monotonous if they’re primarily focused on people talking on a stage. As a business, you can create more interest and engagement with your brand by following this advice on the type of photography you can create from your events and conferences. To illustrate my points, images center around one day of…
Basketball in March. It’s crazy. Insanity. Lunacy. Delirium, even. There should be a term that applies specifically to this phenomenon. Any ideas? With all of your basketball viewing options this time of year, IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals is among the best. A few of these players will go on to the NCAA to have the bragging…
Time for high school boys basketball playoffs in Indiana. Here are some photos from Carmel’s 53-36 win over Westfield last night to get you hooked. There will be more in the coming weeks from regionals and state finals, so follow our blog, Twitter and Instagram so you don’t miss anything.
When a game is packed with fans, there’s an energy that undeniably affects how the players play, especially when a close game gets down to the final minutes. Indiana High School Athletic Association State Finals always provide this type of electric atmosphere. Seeing small-town schools play is another great component to these championships because, in some cases, you…
You know wrestling is a popular sport in Indiana when the Indiana High School Athletic Association State Finals are held at an NBA arena. This was something to behold. Watching, it was easy to forget that these are teenagers. A clash of two titans in the 285-lb weight class, evenly matched, brought the entire arena to its feet in…
To call the new Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall at Indiana University a renovation is to greatly understate its transformative effect. Designed by CSO Architects and built by Shiel Sexton, the new south lobby features a soaring glass entry with modern design and technology, while retaining some key touches from the past to honor the program’s legacy. These photos…
When a client needs enough photos for a two-day shoot, but day 1 gets rained out completely, it means a 15-hour, sunrise to sunset shoot. Add to that carrying 20 pounds of gear over miles of trails, up and down hills and rocky terrain, and you have one hard-core day of shooting. I was up for the challenge,…
Kurt Braunohler, Comedian The first time I photographed comedian Kurt Braunohler was at RIOT Comedy Festival in Los Angeles in 2014. At that RIOT show, his joy and enthusiasm for performing was immediately evident and there was a great connection with the crowd. That’s exactly the sort of thing I’m looking to document with this series. So when I…
As a born and bred Midwesterner, I love documenting Indiana fairs & festivals. I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana attending the 3 Rivers Festival. Each year, my family would travel to my father’s boyhood home in Wayne County, Ohio to attend the fair. The animals, funnel cakes, disorienting carnival rides and tractor pulls were…
Recently I had the opportunity to work with The Plaid Agency on a spot for Pork Chomps, a raw-hide free dog chew, with everyone’s favorite animal expert Jack Hanna. Taking stills on a video shoot is always an interesting endeavor. First off, the crew is always much larger than on a still shoot. There’s a lot…
“GO BIG!!!” was at the top of my to-do list in March. I was determined to make something happen. I started off with a goal of photographing 30 subjects in April. I doubt anyone went back and counted, but I ended up with 26. In the past, I definitely fell prey to the adage, “Perfect is…
Daniel Elsener, President, Marian University My in-laws, Jan & Steve McCracken, are Marian alumni. As a part of their efforts fundraising for the school, they’ve invited my wife and I to the university’s annual gala a few times over the years. At these events, I’ve always enjoyed hearing President Elsener speak. He mentions here the importance of family…
Bill Browne, Principal/President, Ratio Architects Bill founded Ratio in 1982 and the firm has gone on to create many iconic Indianapolis buildings such as Bankers Life Fieldhouse and the Indiana State Museum. In reading Bill’s answers to the questions below, it’s no wonder he and his company have been so successful. Photographing during a design meeting was…
Lobyn Hamilton, Vinyl Artist Lobyn is a local artist whose primary medium at the moment is vinyl. He smashes and cuts vinyl albums and their sleeves into music-inspired art. A couple of his pieces were recently featured on the set of the hit Fox drama Empire. It turns out that Lobyn was already very familiar…
Tiffany Benedict Browne, Author & Historian On the day I photographed Tiffany, I had the opportunity to witness her enthusiasm for history first-hand. For part of our time together, I followed her on a tour of the Heslar Naval Armory, which is slated to become a second campus for Herron High School in 2017. There…
Broxton Bird Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Earth Sciences, IUPUI Many people dream of traveling to remote mountains of Tibet or Peru. Broxton Bird is living this dream, except his version involves bringing back dozens of meter-long cylinders of sediment from lake beds. These cylinders contain about 2,000 years of climate records. Broxton’s work is teaching us about the world’s…
Sareh Azizi, 15, Violinist & Student Sareh lived her first 13 years in Iran. She began to play violin at age 10, but her family had to keep it a secret, as “western” music is strongly discouraged. Later that year, she and her sister were attacked by police when they saw her carrying her violin,…
Chris Elam, Mosaic Artist Chris Elam, a Bloomington artist, was introduced to me by Kirby Melick when I was in town photographing on Tuesday. Watching Chris at work, and seeing the nature of his chosen medium, I was not surprised to learn that he had attended Seminary. There’s something meditative and spiritual about the process of…