James Brosher Photography

Portfolio website for James Brosher, a Bloomington, Indiana based editorial and wedding photographer specializing in action, documentary, and portrait images.

WWII on the shores of Lake Michigan

Had the opportunity to spend the day on the beach Saturday photographing a WWII re-enactment in nearby St. Joseph, Mich. As a history buff, I’ve been looking forward to this assignment since I moved back to South Bend in January. I photographed this re-enactment in 2009 as a Tribune intern, and it was one of the most fun assignments I had that summer. Such was also the case on Saturday. I got sand all over me along with my cameras and lenses (don’t tell my boss), but it was worth it.

A U.S. re-enactor gives a thumbs up to the crowd after taking out a German artillery position during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A U.S. re-enactor gives a thumbs up to the crowd after taking out a German artillery position during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
German re-enactors catch a lift from the beach after a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
German re-enactors catch a lift from the beach after a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Crowd members watch as WWII-era planes fly over the beach during a re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Crowd members watch as WWII-era planes fly over the beach during a re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A Boeing B-17 flying fortress bomber flies over the beach during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A Boeing B-17 flying fortress bomber flies over the beach during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A re-enactor portraying U.S. General George S. Patton talks to the crowd before a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A re-enactor portraying U.S. General George S. Patton talks to the crowd before a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A re-enactor portraying German dictator Adolf Hilter, center, makes his way along the beach before a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A re-enactor portraying a German officer, center, makes his way along the beach before a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Shell casings eject from a MP 40 Schmeisser submachine gun as a German re-enactor fires at Allied invaders during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Shell casings eject from a MP 40 Schmeisser submachine gun as a German re-enactor fires at Allied invaders during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A Japanese re-enactor shows the crowd his Type 99 light machine gun before a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A Japanese re-enactor shows the crowd his Type 99 light machine gun before a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
German troops prepare for an Allied invasion during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
German troops prepare for an Allied invasion during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Allied landing crafts circle in the water before invading the beach during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Allied landing crafts circle in the water before invading the beach during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A German re-enactor helps a volunteer get a gator off the beach during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A German re-enactor helps a volunteer get a gator off the beach during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
The crowd watches as Allied re-enactors make their assault on Axis positions along the beach during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
The crowd watches as Allied re-enactors make their assault on Axis positions along the beach during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A U.S. re-enactor talks with the crowd after a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A U.S. re-enactor talks with the crowd after a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A German re-enactor fires on Allied troops with a bolt-action rifle during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A German re-enactor fires on Allied troops with a bolt-action rifle during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A German re-enactor goes down during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A German re-enactor goes down during a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Allied re-enactors wait for a bus after a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Allied re-enactors wait for a bus after a WWII re-enactment on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ally says

    I am the woman in the HBT jumpsuit who helped run the beach for this event (pictured with the gator, #11). The man in the first photograph is a WWII veteran who also reenacts.

  2. Dave says

    The German officer is not portraying Adolf Hitler, he’s portraying a Wehrmacht General. Hitler’s Uniform was less military in appearance than the traditional Prussian style uniforms worn by the Wehrmacht. Hitler also only evert wore three awards (EK1, WB and Gold Nazi party membership badge.) It would be a little strange to reenact Hitler.