Year in Review

2014 Pictures of the Year

December 31, 2014

Editing this post each year is usually a very humbling experience, but this year it was also bittersweet. In July, I left my newspaper staff photographer job to move to Bloomington with my fiancée. As I looked through hundreds of images from South Bend, I was reminded of all the special people and places I experienced and had the opportunity to photograph over the past couple years. It took me a while to adjust during the transition from a staff position, but I was ultimately able to refresh my personal vision. I now feel as though I’m shooting and seeing in a more careful and deliberate way. I’m looking forward to carrying this momentum into 2015. Below are my 15 favorite moments of 2014. Thanks for looking, and I wish everyone a great New Year.

James Brosher 2014 Year in Pictures — Taylor Lizzi, a 10-year 4-H member from Bremen, reacts as a bucket of cold water is dumped over his head during a water fight in the dairy beef club’s wash stalls during the St. Joseph County 4-H Fair on Friday, July 4, 2014, in South Bend. Several club members took part in the water fight, marking an unofficial end to 4-H competition at this year’s fair. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

2013 Pictures of the Year

December 31, 2013

It’s always nice to look through my work at the end of any given year. It gives perspective to the journey I’ve taken professionally as a shooter. Sometimes it’s hard to take a step back during the year to see the big picture of my body of work. Selecting my favorite images for the inevitable “pictures of the year” features in the paper and online are always a humbling yet satisfying experience. It is humbling to see my weaknesses and areas of improvement and satisfying to see where I started and where I ended in my growth (hopefully) as a photojournalist. Below are my 15 favorite moments of 2013. Thanks for looking, and I wish everyone a great New Year.

Lily Strang, 6, listens as Bethel volleyball coach Kevin Ulmer talks to his players before a volleyball match against Grace College on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, at Bethel College in Mishawaka. Strang, who suffers from Fanconi Anemia, signed a letter-of-intent to become a Bethel Pilot and was issued jersey No. 14 thanks to Team IMPACT, an organization that pairs children with serious chronic illnesses with college teams. On this night, the college collected donations in place of admission fees for Strang as part of a send-off. Strang is set to undergo a bone marrow transplant followed by a long isolation period. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Airport Travelers — A woman and child make their way past airline check in counters on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at the South Bend Regional Airport. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

2012 Pictures of the Year

January 1, 2013

It’s already 2013, but here’s one final parting glance with 12 of my favorite frames of 2012. It was an eventful year as I moved back to my home state of Indiana after a year working in Wyoming. The biggest story I covered was Notre Dame’s undefeated season. I had the opportunity to photograph all but two of their 12 wins this season. On Friday, I will be heading down to Miami to photograph the BCS National Championship Game between Notre Dame and Alabama. The first two years of my professional career have been rewarding, and I’m looking forward to what 2013 has to offer.

Notre Dame Michigan Football — Notre Dame cornerback Josh Atkinson celebrates with the Irish student section after a win against Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at Notre Dame. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

April Boughton attempts to blow a bubble as she competes in a game styled after NBC’s “Minute to Win It” on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at Hannah and Friends in South Bend. Boughton, 22, comes to the facility a few times a week to play games and to groom horses at the stables. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Personal Work in 2012

December 24, 2012

One of my goals for 2012 was to push myself to think visually in non-work environments. I wanted to do this to keep my vision sharp and fresh. The daily grind at a newspaper can sometimes become a wall that is hard to break through, leaving you feeling as though you work at some sort of building-mug-producing picture factory. I experienced this before and was determined to increase my personal and self-assigned work in 2012 to stay creative and continue to find a sense of fulfillment in my work. My subjects ranged from lighthearted things such as family, friends, vacations and my girlfriend to more serious assignments such as the NATO Summit protests in Chicago. The results of this goal turned out to be some of, if not my best pictures of the year.

2011 Pictures of the Year

December 23, 2011

For the most part, 2011 was a pretty good year for me. I got my first staff photographer gig, survived a Wyoming winter, shot a rodeo, dressed like a cowboy for two weeks straight and got the opportunity to work on a long-term picture story. Can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for me. I put together a complete “2011 Year in Pictures” gallery that includes 100 shots in chronological order. But if you don’t feel like spending 30 minutes looking at photos, here are my 10 favorite frames from this year: