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I've taken other photos this summer, but most of the month of June was consumed by the story of missing IU student Lauren Spierer. Sadly, the search continues, despite all the people trying to get more information. In continuation of the last entry, here are a few more photos of a case that regrettably seems to have slowed down.

(I was at a high school friend's wedding in Indianapolis yesterday, so I wasn't able to cover Laps for Lauren in Bloomington. Sam Park took my place.)

Lauren Spierer's father, Robert, pauses while his wife, Charlene, rests her head on his shoulders during a statement to the media July 1 at Bloomington Police Department headquarters. "It's our worst nightmare," Robert said. "It's an experience that you don't want anyone to ever have to go through."

I've been taking more than just photos of the Lauren Spierer story in the past month. J. Edward Calabro (known to coworkers as Jimmy) worked on two stories about different monastic traditions: the Benedictine at St. Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana, and the Buddhist at the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington. I was lucky enough to be the photographer on the story. Although the St. Meinrad trip meant that I missed a BPD briefing on Lauren Spierer, the mini-series resulted in the kinds of photos I rarely get: those of timeless religious traditions.

(Plus, I got to flex some headline-writing muscle. I reached back into my Catholic upbringing (and into Wikipedia) to think of the print headline for the St. Meinrad story: Regula Benedicti.)

Geshe-la Lobsang Dhandup and Father Simeon Daly

Before going to a friend's place to celebrate the birth of our nation (not The Birth of a Nation, because that's nothing to celebrate), I stopped by the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Amvets Post 2000 was host to a Fourth of July event, complete with live music, fireworks and the parents of Lauren Spierer. I didn't stay long enough for the fireworks; instead, my main focus was taking photos of Charlene and Robert, who were handing out fliers with their daughter's information to people entering the fairgrounds. In the meantime, I snapped some shots of Larry Morley and Friends and stayed for the 21-gun salute.

An updated Lauren Spierer post is far past due. That will come soon, hopefully within the week.

Larry Morley of Larry Morley and Friends sings a Marshall Tucker song during Fourth of July festivities at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Amvets Post 2000 organized the event, which included free music and fireworks.