James Brosher Photography

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

Editorial

At the speedway with Todd Bennett

I spent part of my Saturday evening out at Peoria Speedway photographing Todd Bennett, a local racer who is doing well in the points and has a growing local fan base. The photos are for a profile story that’s running about him sometime soon. I love shooting out at local race tracks because it’s a very unique slice of American culture. The drivers and fans are a blue collar, roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-stuff-done type of folks who are incredibly friendly and nice. For anyone looking for a good story, I would recommending heading out to the local speedway on a Saturday night. I guarantee you’ll find some interesting people with interesting stories.

Todd Bennett reaches inside his race car before hopping in to take a few laps around the track on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at Peoria Speedway.
Todd Bennett reaches inside his race car before hopping in to take a few laps around the track on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at Peoria Speedway.
Todd Bennett leans against the front fender of his Super Late Model class race car before taking the car out onto the track for a few laps on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at Peoria Speedway.
Todd Bennett leans against the front fender of his Super Late Model class race car before taking the car out onto the track for a few laps on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at Peoria Speedway.

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First month in the books

It’s hard to believe I’ve already been here in Peoria one month. Time has flied because it only feels like my first or second week since I’m still figuring out the newspaper’s work flow. When it comes to my work, I’m my own worst critic. I’m brutal and harsh because I badly want to improve in a highly competitive industry. I’m ticked if I hit a single since I’m forever swinging for the fences. Sometimes I have to step back and take a look at a group of work as a whole as a sort of self reality check. Here are a few of my favorite frames from my first month interning in Peoria:

Ongina reacts as a man stuffs money down her bra during a drag performance of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, at the Peoria Pride Festival on the Riverfront.
Ongina reacts as a man stuffs money down her bra during a drag performance of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, at the Peoria Pride Festival on the Riverfront.
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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Illustrating the story

One of the fun – and by fun I mean challenging – aspects of daily newspaper photojournalism is illustrating a story that by nature isn’t very visual. While photojournalists shouldn’t be considered a service department for the rest of the newsroom, there are times when you have to illustrate something for a writer. It’s just part of the job. Such was the case today when I got sent out to find a photo to go with a story about coffee prices increasing. My editor sent me to the Sterling Family Restaurant to find people drinking coffee. The restaurant was very folksy and reminded me of a similar place in Albany, Ind. (Osborn’s Restaurant) where I would go with my grandparents to eat when I was a child. The head waitress on duty was very helpful and started pouring coffee for patrons more or less so I could take photos of her in the act. I obliged her by snapping a few frames of this, but continued to look for a more genuine, candid moment. I found one, and this was far and above my favorite frame from the take:

Martha Beaird, right, a waitress at Sterling Family Restaurant, talks with a patron after serving coffee for Rick Motsinger on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010, at the restaurant. Recent storms in South America has driven coffee prices up about 10 percent nationwide as producers' supplies have dwindled.
Martha Beaird, right, a waitress at Sterling Family Restaurant, talks with a patron after serving coffee for Rick Motsinger on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010, at the restaurant. Recent storms in South America has driven coffee prices up about 10 percent nationwide as producers' supplies have dwindled.

Bradley-SMU soccer

Bradley's Christian Meza (22) plays the ball into the box as SMU keeper Craig Hill, left, tries to stop the advance during a game on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2010, at Shea Stadium in Peoria. Meza advanced the ball past the keeper and scored Bradley's only goal on the play as the Braves lost 3-1.
Bradley's Christian Meza (22) plays the ball into the box as SMU keeper Craig Hill, left, tries to stop the advance during a game on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2010, at Shea Stadium in Peoria. Meza advanced the ball past the keeper and scored Bradley's only goal on the play as the Braves lost 3-1.
Bradley's Jochen Graf (8) locks arms with SMU's Leone Cruz (4) as they play the ball off of a header during a game on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2010, at Shea Stadium in Peoria. SMU won 3-1.
Bradley's Jochen Graf (8) locks arms with SMU's Leone Cruz (4) as they play the ball off of a header during a game on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2010, at Shea Stadium in Peoria. SMU won 3-1.

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