Since its inception 25 years ago, the Indy has been committed to publishing memorable images. A prevailing “give ’em hell” attitude fueled a desire to push the boundaries of traditional newspaper photography, to champion images that seemed more personal and timeless. “That kind of freedom to put photos in that get talked about and do not have easy answers was incredibly powerful,” said former staff photographer Wendy Walsh. “It made me who I am as a photographer.” This portfolio of photographs represents the best of the early years, the beginning of a long tradition that continues today.

In a future issue, there will be a second portfolio representing the 1990-2004 era of Indy photography as part of our 25th anniversary.