Recently I had the opportunity to photograph artist Nathaniel Russell in his home studio. His work is often humorous, sometimes political and always thoughtful. Nature and animals are frequent themes, along with humans in their odd beauty and beautiful oddness. It’s great to see a native Hoosier making cool art around the world and still…
A Study in Contrasts Contrasts always catch my eye. Whether it’s contrasts in tone, color or subject matter, I like to find ways to document them with my camera. This post examines the contrasts at a new Carmel, Indiana pool. Pool Open During Construction Our neighborhood has a new pool this year and the area…
Today while standing in line to buy donuts at Titus Bakery, I found out it is National Donut Day. It’s not just another Hallmark holiday; it’s a reason to indulge in our unofficial national breakfast treat (as if you need one other than “deliciousness”). So sit back and let me paint (photograph) a picture for…
What do you do with those old electronics you have around the house? Recycle them? Sure, but first, use them for a take-apart project. Kids love to see what’s inside things. The opportunity to crack open an old computer is something they can’t turn down. And whether they’re using a tiny screwdriver to remove intricate…
Today we present a photo story of a young artist discovering a delicious medium. One of the many benefits of working from home when you have four (and soon five) kids who homeschool is witnessing, and subsequently documenting, their shenanigans. This is what happens when you leave a tempting item on the kitchen counter within…
A documentary photographer never rests, even on Memorial Day weekend. Indy 500 race day in Indianapolis means family get-togethers and visits with celebrity cousins. Here’s what comedian Jim Gaffigan has to say about these special family members… “…the ultimate reason for attending family gatherings is for your children to have the time of their lives…
Bottleworks District is a massive development underway in downtown Indianapolis. This past weekend I took a tour of the property with Hendricks and their marketing partner Pivot. In 1931 Coca-Cola built a state-of-the-art bottling facility in Indy. It’s an amazing example of Art Deco architecture. Unfortunately, the property was used primarily as bus storage for…
Richard Lugar served as United States Senator from Indiana from 1977-2013. He passed away on April 28 at the age of 87. Lugar is known for his international diplomacy, working to greatly reduce the world’s supply of nuclear weapons and helping to pressure the end of apartheid in South Africa. After his Senate career ended,…
This time last year I worked on a project documenting Indianapolis Public Schools. I went to 10 different schools over the course of four days in April & May to photograph students in classes and activities. The images highlight the special programs and opportunities each school has to offer. Here are some of my favorites….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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:…
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,…
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.
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…
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…
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…
Kirby Melick, Kirby Custom, Inc. Kirby Melick makes furniture and cabinetry on his 13-acre property in Bloomington, Indiana. His business Kirby Custom, Inc features custom fine cabinetry and furniture including kitchens, vanities, bars, doors and more. He begins his workday at 4 a.m. I sauntered in at the leisurely time of 6:30 to start shooting…
Annie Eakin, Annie’s Clothesline Annie and her mother Dede founded Annie’s Clothesline in 2008, working together to design and produce children’s clothing. I caught up with them in Bloomington, IN as they prepared for their biggest event yet, the Country Living Fair in Nashville, Tennessee, April 22-24. The following set of six questions will be answered…
Tatum Perez, Training By Tatum Two of my sisters-in-law train with Tatum and always talk about how much they love working with her. After taking these photos, I could see why. She’s easy going and positive, helping people reach their goals without being that drill sergeant stereotype often portrayed on TV. If you or someone…
Rachael Heger, Support the Girls, Indianapolis Rachael Heger began collecting bras at the beginning of this year to donate to local women’s charities. The goal was to give 3500 bras by her 35th birthday in December. That only took about 90 days, so she kept going. To date she’s donated 4500 bras, and the scope of the…
Alexandra Jackiw, President, Milhaus Management Alex was referred for this project by GK Rowe, calling her a “national Icon in the Multifamily Mixed Use Property Management industry.” Alex was also named as a 2015 Woman of Influence by the Indianapolis Business Journal. I followed Alex as she did a walkthrough of the new Mentor and Muse…
PERSONAL LEGEND PROJECT Malkah Bird, Cooperative kindergarten teacher Entering this project, I knew that Malkah would have to be a part of it. Malkah Bird teaches in a Cooperative Kindergarten in Indianapolis. Her progressive approach to education earns her much respect and adoration around the city. She subscribes to an emergent curriculum philosophy and it produces some…
Kevin Morse, Chemistry Teacher, Westfield High School A couple weeks before the idea for this project came up, I was talking with some friends from high school about the work we were doing. Kevin said how much he loved the entire process of teaching, from reading every new chemistry book he could get a hold of to…
Tim Ayers, Grace Church When my wife Courtney and I started discussing people for this project, one of the first that came up was Tim Ayers. She grew up swimming with his children and knew him as someone who embraced his calling to the church. Over the years, she continued to hear his name mentioned by friends…
Andy Hassler, Blue Mind Roasting Andy Hassler and his wife Sarah own Blue Mind Roasting in Indianapolis. Together they run the business while seeking a path of purpose in life. Andy performs the roasting duties, which I’m featuring in this post. I’m by no means a coffee expert, but I can tell you the cup Andy brewed for me was damn good….
Adam Germany, Fu5ion Personal Chef & Catering Services I first met Adam over the holidays and immediately realized we share similar perspectives on entrepreneurship and following a true calling. It was inspiring to hear how his business has taken off since moving to Indy in 2014 and starting Fu5ion that fall. Adam doesn’t like to drop names,…
Sarah Moshe, Immigration Law, Lewis & Kappes My wife has been close friends with Sarah for over 25 years. In the time I have known her, her passion for immigration law has always been apparent. Immigration is an issue that is frequently politicized and spoken about in sweeping generalizations. But the reality is that behind the…
Eric Holcomb, Lieutenant Governor of Indiana I’ve had the pleasure of working with Indiana Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb a number of times over the past few years. I respect his enthusiasm for government and his tireless dedication to improving our state, which is why I immediately thought of him for this project. I’ve photographed him in…
Deacon Bill Reid, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Deacon Bill spent 31 years working at Eli Lilly. As retirement approached, he began to consider his next chapter. His sister mentioned that she thought he’d make a great deacon, and he admitted that he didn’t know exactly what a deacon’s role was. As he learned about the…
GK Rowe, Business Design Principal, Q7 Associates GK has a uniquely creative mind, and I’ve regularly called him up over the years to discuss ideas over drinks or lunch. It’s nice to talk with someone who gets it. He’s also one of the best connectors I know, hosting regular gatherings for creatives of all types. Logically,…
Fritz Albright, Wright Road Stables I first met Fritz about 10 years ago when I moved to Carmel and began frequenting Joe’s Butcher Shop, where he was our main butcher man (unofficial title, of course). Always friendly and quick to start a conversation, often times we would talk about his horses. Recently he retired, but I think…
Tommy Baldwin, Musician I met Tommy in a very serendipitous manner. I stopped by my office on Saturday after another shoot and noticed my office neighbors, Kingston’s Music Showcase, were in. For me, music is as big of a passion as photography, and I hadn’t yet found a musician to participate in the project. I thought…