James Brosher Photography
Portfolio website for James Brosher, a Bloomington, Indiana based editorial and wedding photographer specializing in action, documentary, and portrait images.
Here are a few frames from a story I did recently about Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic disorder that stems from an abnormality of the 15th chromosome. The disorder has several symptoms, but the most prevalent is a constant sense of hunger. This really changes how people with the disorder fundamentally live. For April, it means she relies heavily on her parents, who are forced to lock away and tightly control their daughter’s food.
Last month, I spent part of a day photographing Greg Gaver for a series of stories in the South Bend Tribune. Greg suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic disorder that stems from an abnormality of the 15th chromosome. The disorder has several symptoms, but the most prevalent is a constant sense of hunger. If unchecked, this can lead to binge eating and disorders associated with it such as diabetes and extreme obesity. Caregivers – oftentimes parents – must keep ever-present control of food for people with PWS, meaning that food pantries and refrigerators are often kept locked. To illustrate the story, I photographed Greg along with another family in Michiana (which I will post soon as well). I appreciated Greg and his family’s openness to allow me to photograph him for the story, and I hope our series helped to shine a light on the disorder.
For the past few months, I have been working on a picture story about Isaac Salas. As Isaac practiced a forward roll before a high school wrestling practice on Nov. 17, 2010, he broke his C1 and C2 vertebrae leaving him paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a ventilator to breathe. In the months that followed, Isaac made progress in his recovery eventually regaining limited movement in his arms and legs and the ability to breathe without a ventilator. As he underwent physical therapy and several operations at Craig Hospital south of Denver, Isaac became a celebrity of sorts in Cheyenne. People around the community organized several fundraisers to help Isaac’s family as he recovered. Isaac returned home on Aug. 4. Less than a month later, he died after a procedure to pulverize urinary tract stones blocking his catheter. He was 16.
In my short career, this was the most difficult picture story to photograph. As I got to know him, I was amazed by Isaac’s perseverance and determination despite the physical and emotional adversity he faced on a daily basis after his accident. He would always say “when I walk again” instead of “if I walk again.”
My favorite memory of Salas was on June 3 when I photographed him on a hospital field trip to Bear Creek Lake Park near Denver. As Salas rolled down a beach area near one of the park’s lakes, he teased Jenniy Peltier, his favorite therapist from the hospital, and tried to get her to help him cruise for chicks. Despite his situation, he was in incredibly high spirits. It’s something his mother, Melissa Plumley, called “Isaac being Isaac.” It was inspiring to see and to photograph.
For a few months, I’ve been working on a picture story about Isaac Salas, a Cheyenne South High School wrestler who broke his C1 and C2 vertebrae in a practice on Nov. 17, 2010. In the months that followed his accident, the Cheyenne community came together to raise money for Isaac as he recovered in Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo. Isaac continued to make steady progress in his recovery and returned home from the hospital on Aug. 4. Less than a month later on Sept. 3, Isaac died following a procedure to pulverize urinary tract stones blocking his catheter. Here is an audio slideshow I put together with some of the pictures I took of Isaac and his family.
A few weeks ago I got to spend some time with Nathalia Rap as she participated in Jewish youth group activities at the Mount Sinai Congregation in Cheyenne. Here are a few frames that are part of a story I worked on with reporter Josh Rhoten exploring what it means to be young and Jewish in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
