Alex Farris Photo Blog

Last weekend was the most photo-intensive weekend I've had since the J&C. Danese Kenon called me on Wednesday to see if I could take the Kendrick Lamar concert on Thursday, she texted me on Thursday to cover Peewinkle Puppet Studio's annual adult show Friday, and she texted again Friday about a gig for Saturday. That gig turned out to be VentureCamp, an entrepreneurial competition in which the participants hone their pitches while living in Kessler Mansion, formerly owned by one Jerry Hostetler. I've been to his other, more run-down house for an assignment, and knowing what I knew about his "flagship" estate, my expectations were high that I would meet with opulence and, for the first time in a while at the house, beautiful people. I got both in large quantities.

I also got centerpiece on the IndyStar website and ::trumpets sounding:: a photo on the front page above the fold. Not bad for one weekend's work.

For more on the whole weekend, click on the story links: Kessler Mansion, Peewinkle's adult show, and Kendrick Lamar.

Heidi Shackleford twirls a glow-in-the-dark ghost puppet during Peewinkle Puppet Studio's annual adult show in Indianapolis, Friday, June 7, 2013.

For my second Star photo assignment this weekend, I shot lacrosse, something I hadn't covered in over four years. Culver Academies played Carmel High School in the Indiana Girls Lacrosse Association state championship on the Northside, and the game was pretty exciting. Culver got two or three goals ahead, then Carmel pulled back, at least twice, but the game ended with a narrow 9-8 win for Culver. Not only was it a good game, but it was played under pretty consistent cloud cover, creating a giant softbox in the sky and evenly lighting everybody almost all game. That, plus the skills I've gained in the last four years, made for much better photos than the last lacrosse pictures I took, made in harsh sunlight with a slow camera and a slow lens. Check out all the photos and the story by Jason Haddix here.

Big announcement time: I've moved back to Bloomington. I moved into my subleased room today, and starting tomorrow, I'm taking an eight-week chemistry class, the one every pre-med student takes first on their trek to medical school. I describe the class (C117 for all you IU readers) that way because medical school may be in my future. I haven't made a final decision, but it's between that and a master's in science journalism. I know, it's a far cry from photojournalism, but I still want to do some of that on the side. I need to supplement my income any way I can in defense against the gloom and doom of student loans, and I can't deny that there is a large part of me, cultivated by wandering eyes and the IDS, Journal & Courier and Star, that really likes making pictures. Another large part of me, though, really likes science, and I want to be more able to show people how flippin' sweet science is.

So, there you go. Don't be surprised if a rant, positive or negative, about chemistry creeps into the blog over the next eight weeks. Also, if I can find a way to make a photo in a chemistry lab like those in Simon Hall, then that for sure is going up here.

Carmel defender Graylynn Oatess defends against Culver midfielder Annie Morsches during Culver's 9-8 victory over Carmel in the Indiana Girls Lacrosse Association state championship at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, Saturday, June 1, 2013. (Alex Farris / For The Star)

Oh, hey. Just another party crasher photo gallery for the Star last night, this time at a place I went in January, Saddle Up Saloon & Dancehall. From the looks of it, it's the most successful of the new bars that popped up in Castleton recently, so it seems this time it earned a photo gallery of its own, which you can see here.

Depending on how fast things go, and they should go fast, I could have another entry up today (I know! Whoa!). I got a call from the Star yesterday to shoot the girls' state lacrosse championship today at 4:30 at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School. I shot lacrosse one time at IU, before I got any good at taking photos, so I can't wait to see what I can get. Assuming it doesn't get rained out.

People enjoy a night at Saddle Up Saloon & Dancehall in Castleton, Friday, May 31, 2013.