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Elmwood continues cleanup as Fall Festival begins

Posted by James Brosher at 12:04 am on September 10, 2010 | Share | Comments (0)

Months after a tornado ripped through Elmwood, Ill., the city continues its cleanup as its Fall Festival begins. The June tornado destroyed several historic buildings in the downtown area of the town, many of which had to be torn down completely. Downtown construction and vacant lots serve as a reminder of the tornado as fair goers take to the city’s park for the festival this weekend.

Doug Whitney loads debris in the back of his truck as he cleans out a vacant lot before the start of the Fall Festival, pictured in background, on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, at the corner of Main and Magnolia streets in Elmwood, Ill. Whitney's building was one of several destroyed by a June tornado that ripped through the town.

Doug Whitney loads debris in the back of his truck as he cleans out a vacant lot before the start of the Fall Festival, pictured in background, on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, at the corner of Main and Magnolia streets in Elmwood, Ill. Whitney's building was one of several destroyed by a June tornado that ripped through the town.

Brothers Matthew Williams, left, age 5, and Keaton Williams, age 3, share a few laughs as they ride motorcycles and honk the horns on a ride on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, at the Fall Festival in Elmwood, Ill.

Brothers Matthew Williams, left, age 5, and Keaton Williams, age 3, share a few laughs as they ride motorcycles and honk the horns on a ride on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, at the Fall Festival in Elmwood, Ill.

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Preparing for Rosh Hashanah

Posted by James Brosher at 7:28 pm on September 8, 2010 | Share | Comments (0)

Alena Fishkin, right, age 9, dips apples slices into a bowl of honey with her brother, Grant, age 12, as their mother prepares a Rosh Hashanah meal on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, at their Peoria home. Many Jews eat apples and honey together to ensure a sweet new year. The Fishkins will serve a buffet-style Rosh Hashanah meal at their home on Thursday evening for about 30 people, Ladona Fishkin said.

Alena Fishkin, right, age 9, dips apples slices into a bowl of honey with her brother, Grant, age 12, as their mother prepares a Rosh Hashanah meal on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, at their Peoria home. Many Jews eat apples and honey together to ensure a sweet new year. The Fishkins will serve a buffet-style Rosh Hashanah meal at their home on Thursday evening for about 30 people, Ladona Fishkin said.

Ladona Fishkin stirs a pot of homemade apple sauce as she cooks foods to be served at a Thursday evening Rosh Hashanah dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, at her Peoria home. Apples are a common symbolic food served at Rosh Hashanah because its sweetness is thought to help usher in a sweet new year.

Ladona Fishkin stirs a pot of homemade apple sauce as she cooks foods to be served at a Thursday evening Rosh Hashanah dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, at her Peoria home. Apples are a common symbolic food served at Rosh Hashanah because its sweetness is thought to help usher in a sweet new year.

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Holga in the heartland

Posted by James Brosher at 3:07 pm on September 8, 2010 | Share | Comments (0)

Here’s the latest installment in my occasional toy camera musings. These are a few frames I took while I was home in Indiana between my internships in Austin and Peoria, Ill. I haven’t had a chance to shoot any film yet in Peoria, but with the harvest season approaching, I’ll have to make an effort to do so.

Redkey, Indiana Albany, Indiana Albany, Indiana Albany, Indiana

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Adam Lambert brings Glam Nation Tour to Peoria

Posted by James Brosher at 12:34 am on September 6, 2010 | Share | Comments (64)

Adam Lambert performs for a packed house on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at the Peoria Civic Center.

Adam Lambert performs for a packed house on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at the Peoria Civic Center.

Adam Lambert performs for a packed house on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at the Peoria Civic Center.

Adam Lambert performs for a packed house on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at the Peoria Civic Center.

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Illinois-Missouri Arch Rivalry football

Posted by James Brosher at 10:52 pm on September 4, 2010 | Share | Comments (0)

My editors sent me down to St. Louis to cover the Illinois-Missouri rivalry game at the Edward Jones Dome. I hadn’t shot an actual football game since November (although I did shoot the Indiana spring game in April). I figured my timing would be off, but I felt good about my reaction time to plays on the field. Neither team had many big plays so I was only able to shoot what they gave me. This was the first time using a 400 mm f/2.8 lens to cover football. I’m very accustomed to using a 300 f/2.8 during my days in college. It’s noticeable because my shots are much tighter than most of my work from last season.

Missouri linebacker Andrew Gachkar (6) knocks a pass away from Illinois wide receiver A.J. Jenkins (8) as Jenkins crosses the middle on a slant route during a game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Missouri linebacker Andrew Gachkar (6) knocks a pass away from Illinois wide receiver A.J. Jenkins (8) as Jenkins crosses the middle on a slant route during a game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Missouri tight end Michael Egnew catches a wide open touchdown during a game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Missouri tight end Michael Egnew catches a wide open touchdown during a game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

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Illinois Blues Festival

Posted by James Brosher at 10:10 pm on September 3, 2010 | Share | Comments (0)

My primary assignment this evening was to photograph the opening night of the Illinois Blues Festival down on the Peoria Riverfront. I couldn’t photograph all the bands because of deadline restraints so I tried to mix things up visually given I only shot three of the evening’s bands.

Levee Town guitarist Brandon Hudspeth talks to the crowd after his band finished their set on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at the Illinois Blues Festival on the Riverfront.

Levee Town guitarist Brandon Hudspeth talks to the crowd after his band finished their set on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at the Illinois Blues Festival on the Riverfront.

Easy Riders guitarist Mike Miller performs on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at the Illinois Blues Festival on the Riverfront.

Easy Riders guitarist Mike Miller performs on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at the Illinois Blues Festival on the Riverfront.

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“It’s bleeping golden”

Posted by James Brosher at 4:45 pm on September 3, 2010 | Share | Comments (0)

My first assignment today was feature hunting at a local tropical fish show inside a mall. There was a lot of colorful fish, but this was by far the most interesting (and humorous) shot:

A aquarium, entitled "It's bleeping golden," depicts the Rod Blagojevich scandal with gold fish during the 42nd Annual Tropical Fish Show on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at Northwoods Mall. The show, presented by the Tri-County Fish Society, runs through Sunday.

A aquarium, entitled "It's bleeping golden," depicts the Rod Blagojevich scandal with gold fish during the 42nd Annual Tropical Fish Show on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at Northwoods Mall. The show, presented by the Tri-County Fish Society, runs through Sunday.

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Splish splash

Posted by James Brosher at 7:56 pm on September 2, 2010 | Share | Comments (0)

Some days you just get lucky. My editors sent me to the village of Manito, Ill. today to photograph a traveling Vietnam Wall for front of the local section of the paper. When I arrived in Manito (it’s about 35 minutes away from Peoria), I ran into a severe thunderstorm that dumped sheets of rain for about 30 minutes. In the midst of the rain, I couldn’t find the wall so I had to wait until the heavy rain ended to get out of the car to ask directions. When I found the wall, it was deserted. There wasn’t a sole in sight. Just my luck right? I backtracked my way towards town and happened to catch a couple kids riding their bikes through a ginormous puddle in a high school parking lot.

Jared Oest, age 6, navigates his bicycle through a large puddle of deep water with his brother, not pictured, on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, in a parking lot at Midwest Central High School in Manito, Ill. Several streets and parking lots in the village were flooded following a severe thunderstorm that pounded the area with high winds and heavy rain on Thursday afternoon.

Jared Oest, age 6, navigates his bicycle through a large puddle of deep water with his brother, not pictured, on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, in a parking lot at Midwest Central High School in Manito, Ill. Several streets and parking lots in the village were flooded following a severe thunderstorm that pounded the area with high winds and heavy rain on Thursday afternoon.

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Texas through a plastic lens

Posted by James Brosher at 9:50 pm on August 28, 2010 | Share | Comments (2)

During my summer internship in Austin, I carried a loaded Holga with me in my car to most of my assignments. Whenever I saw something weird or interesting, I shot a few frames with the plastic camera. I also used it whenever I had the urge to take touristy photos while I was in Texas. Today I picked up the last roll from my trip after having it processed here in Peoria. I know the Holga is thought of as a trendy hipster camera, but I like to use it to get back to basics. You can’t chimp on a Holga, and you have to understand exposures to use the thing. It’s the photographic equivalent of recording an album on a 4-track.

Austin, Texas Austin, Texas Dripping Springs, Texas Dripping Springs, Texas Austin, Texas Austin, Texas Austin, Texas Austin, Texas Austin, Texas Austin, Texas Austin, Texas Lockhart, Texas

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Peoria-Clinton minor league baseball

Posted by James Brosher at 9:08 pm on August 28, 2010 | Share | Comments (0)

LumberKings shortstop Nick Franklin (3) prepares to throw to first after forcing Chiefs right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha out at second base during a game on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at O'Brien Field.

LumberKings shortstop Nick Franklin (3) prepares to throw to first after forcing Chiefs right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha out at second base during a game on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at O'Brien Field.

Chiefs third baseman George Matheus tightens up his gloves as he walks to the plate for an at-bat against the Clinton LumberKings on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at O'Brien Field.

Chiefs third baseman George Matheus tightens up his gloves as he walks to the plate for an at-bat against the Clinton LumberKings on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at O'Brien Field.

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