Projects archive — Luca Giordano

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Photo stories, observational video, short films

Derby, Wrestling, Physics (2026)

Kelsey Mescher has taught physics at Battle since 2016, becoming a wrestling coach position when Girl’s Wrestling was introduced as a MSHSAA sanctioned sport in 2018. Since then, Mescher has become the head coach of Battle’s wrestling program,

Kelsey Mescher skids to a stop during the CoMo All Stars bout against Roughneck Tulsa Elite on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Bob Lemone Building in Hallsville. Once serving as the coach of the team, Mescher is now a co-captain of the CoMo All Stars. “My goals in derby have completely shifted over time as my skill level has changed, as the league has evolved, as now I am a wrestling coach,” Mescher said.
Kelsey Mescher looks through archived roller derby posters in her science classroom on Friday, April 18, 2026, at Battle High School in Columbia. “I’ve been very intentional with my posters,” Mescher said. “I want my students to realize that they belong here, but also that people that look like them can do science and can succeed in science.”
Kelsey Mescher explains a lab experiment to Battle freshmen Cameron Uhuru (left) and Jay’vion Minnis (right) on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Battle High School in Columbia. “I love when I am coaching derby and telling people the reason we do this is all about physics,” Mescher said.
Kelsey Mescher points to a force graph during a physics lab on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Battle High School in Columbia. Students were instructed to bump small cars together and measure equal force interactions using the force graph.
Kelsey Mescher (CQ) walks past Battle wrestling posters in the hallway outside of her classroom on Friday, April 18, 2026, at Battle High School in Columbia. Mescher has coached wrestling since 2018, the year that Girl’s Wrestling became a MSHSAA sanctioned sport. In 2024, Mescher became the head coach and oversees program logistics, uniforms, communication and organization.
Kelsey Mescher (CQ) calls out to Battle freshman Natalya Lakes (freshman) (CQ) during her bout against Jefferson City junior Jaiden Allen (CQ) at the CMAC wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at Hickman High School in Columbia. “As a female athlete that has had so few female coaches, it’s nice to know that someone will understand you a little bit in some capacity,” Mescher said.
A 2018 CoMo Roller Derby poster hangs in Mescher’s science classroom on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Battle High School in Columbia. In addition to roller derby, Mescher has also played soccer, taekwondo and basketball. “My confidence and my sports-mindedness and my long history of doing hard things in sport gave me the confidence to start stepping up a little bit more in derby,” Mescher said. “And then I did start taking on the coaching role and people were responsive.”
The CoMo All Stars line up ahead of their bout against Roughneck Tulsa Elite on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Bob Lemone Building in Hallsville. CoMo Roller Derby is made up of two teams: the CoMo All Stars and the CoMo B Rolls. “I really reject this idea that it doesn’t matter what you show up in,” Mescher said, “It matters what you show up in. You should show up in your uniform. Hopefully your uniform is dope and you feel good in it, and then you play awesome.”
Kelsey Mescher, known as Mesch’er Up (17) on the track, leads the defense with Q. T. Kilr (left) (187) and L on Wheels (right) (1969) against Roughneck Tulsa Elite on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Bob Lemone Building in Hallsville. Mescher’s striped helmet designates her as a pivot, the team’s defensive anchor.
Kelsey Mescher (CQ) smiles in conversation with with her mother Kelly Mescher (CQ) (right), Josh Gaskins (CQ) (left) and his partner Kelly Gaskins (center left) after CoMo All Stars’ 229-121 win against Tulsa Elite on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Bob Lemone Building in Hallsville. Josh Gaskins is an assistant wrestling coach at Battle High School and Kelly Mescher is a Women’s Flat Track Derby Association official.

Sharelife Farms (2025)

Jim and Rosemary (Rosie) Thomas have been growing certified organic vegetables in Marshall, Missouri since 2004. The Thomas family has cultivated the farm since 1929. Jim Thomas transitioned the land to only farm organic produce because of his wife Rosie’s autoimmune disorder. Rosie’s condition makes her sensitive to certain chemical products commonly found in fertilizers and pesticides.

Jim Thomas looks out to his house from his farm in Marshall, Missouri in front of his hoop houses where he grows vegetables. Jim Thomas has been farming vegetables on Share Life Farms since 1999 to accommodate for his wife’s autoimmune disorder. Before then, Thomas farmed corn, beans and wheat.

Rosie Thomas watches as Jim Thomas waters vegetables in the greenhouse. “Well, Jimmy's had to change. Jimmy would love to farm big machinery and stuff,” Rosie Thomas said. “And he quit because of me. And that's hard. That's hard on anybody that you love that wants to do something and they can't do it because of you, but Jimmy's been really good at that.”

Jim Thomas holds the organic fertilizer used on their farm. “A lot of times people don't think organic farmers use fertilizer, but this is our nitrogen source. It's made out of blood meal and feather meal, and it's granulated.” Thomas said.

Red Russian kale grows in a hoop house on Share Life Farms on March 18. At the farmers market that weekend, Jim and Rosie Thomas sold kale, arugula, potatoes, and spinach.

The family dog, Little Star, sits in the Club Car as Rosie Thomas pets her on the cheek. When the farm used to have chickens, Little Star would help herd them.

Rosie Thomas holds a tray of tomato seeds in the farm greenhouse. Rosie grows different types of tomatoes on her own to sell in the summer.

Rosie Thomas watches Little Star play in the farm greenhouse in Marshall, Missouri. “I feel better when I'm out with the plants, and I don't know if it’s because of the oxygen that the plants put off, you know?” Thomas said. “But I can really not feel real good at all and then go out and pick and stuff. I just, I feel better, you know. I love my plants.”

Jim Thomas sprays growing vegetables with water in his farm’s greenhouse. Because of his wife’s condition, Thomas started farming organically. “Of course I tell people I'm a row crop farmer at heart,” Thomas said. “When I couldn't do that, the Lord was good to me. He allowed me to keep farming and grow things, and it's been rewarding.”

Beijing (2025)

An observational diary compiled over three weeks in Beijing, exploring crowded urban spaces, architectural beauty and festivity.

Breakdown (2024)

Sarah drives home in the rain after work when her car breaks down. After reaching out to her boyfried Derek, it is clear he is not coming to help her. She walks herself home through the rough weather.

Ode To Apples (2024)

“Original sin is Eve biting the apple from the tree of knowledge, and villains are portrayed holding apples. Are we villains, or sinful for eating healthy fruit? I guess it doesn’t stimulate the pharmaceutical industry to eat apples in that case.”

minesweeper (2023)

Amateur gamer and minesweeper addict Jeremy Hutchinson allows his gaming obsession to eclipse his health, hygiene and personal relationships.

The Heart (2022)

Eugene Hunter is a Missourian newspaper boy in charge of distributing the papers to surrounding farms. While delivering, Eugene feels a pain.