James Brosher Photography

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

Indiana University

IU dedicates newly-constructed Mies van der Rohe building

Earlier this month, Indiana University formally dedicated a building based on designs by legendary modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Mies originally designed the structure in 1952 to be a fraternity house for the Alpha Theta chapter of Pi Lambda Phi. The fraternity abandoned the project and the little-known designs were largely forgotten. In 2013, Sidney Eskenazi, a former member of the fraternity, related the story to IU President Michael A. McRobbie, kicking off a search for the designs. The search uncovered the designs and eventually led to the building’s construction thanks in large part to a $20 million gift to the school from Sidney and Lois Eskenazi. Once completed this fall, the approximately 10,000-square-foot building will be a shared facility for the IU Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design.

Architect Dirk Lohan, second from right, gestures as he tours the courtyard of a building designed originally by his grandfather, architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, before its dedication at Indiana University Bloomington on Thursday, June 17, 2021. (James Brosher/Indiana University)
A student walks past the site of a new Architecture building originally designed by Mies van der Rohe at Indiana University Bloomington on Monday, April 12, 2021. (James Brosher/Indiana University)
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Indiana University commencements

When we started planning our team’s coverage of Indiana University’s commencement ceremonies back in March, I challenged my colleagues to “photograph the weird”. Things are weird. Document it. Document the history. My unit’s primary focus is marketing, but I have felt a big, self-assigned responsibility since the beginning of the pandemic to make sure our 200-year-old university’s history is captured. After all, I don’t anticipate much of a shelf life for marketing photos featuring masks and social distancing if the pandemic ends.

I photographed five commencement ceremonies this year. After two ceremonies here in Bloomington, I traveled to IU regional campuses in Kokomo, South Bend and Gary. The ceremonies were held without audience members in attendance making for a striking visual component to each ceremony. Commencement is arguably a university’s most important ritual – and typically one of the most photographed. By documenting it this year I hope my photos will stand in contrast to those taken in “normal times”.

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2021 Little 500

What a strange yet somewhat normal day. It was strange because the Little 500 was in May instead of April. It was strange because both races were on the same day. It was strange because the stadium was devoid of fans and eerily quiet – so much so that I could hear riders talking to each other on the track over a constant hum of cicadas. Yet it was kind of normal. It felt normal to go somewhere in real life. It felt normal to make pictures. It felt normal to work with my colleagues as a team. I would imagine this sentiment is common as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, but it struck me how profoundly odd the day was.

The Little 500 is arguably my favorite thing to photograph at Indiana University. I’m always drawn to the action, the moments and especially the vibrant colors of the event. As a student, I photographed the race (poorly) a few times and always wanted another crack at it after college. This year marked my fifth year photographing the race for IU – the first one I had captured since 2018.

Delta Gamma riders celebrate after winning the Women’s Little 500 at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (James Brosher/Indiana University)
JETBLACH senior Robert Krahulik reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the Men’s Little 500 at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (James Brosher/Indiana University)
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Pamela S. Whitten introduced as Indiana University’s 19th president

Indiana University President-Elect Pamela S. Whitten speaks during a press conference at IU Bloomington on Friday, April 16, 2021. (James Brosher/Indiana University)
Indiana University President-Elect Pamela S. Whitten, left, and IU Director of Media Relations Chuck Carney walk across the IU Bloomington campus to Bryan House on Friday, April 16, 2021. (James Brosher/Indiana University)
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Winter Wonderland at Indiana University Bloomington

Now that winter has finally subsided (fingers crossed), I wanted to take a look back at what was a picturesque winter on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. As a native Hoosier, February has always been my least favorite month of the year. This isn’t even taking into account the once-in-a-century global pandemic. One thing that did brighten my spirits this year, however, was the snow. It gave me an excuse to get outdoors, chase some squirrels and make a few pictures. In Bloomington we don’t normally get this much snow so it was a real treat to capture the campus in a different weather perspective.

A squirrel plays in the snow on a winter day near the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies Building at Indiana University Bloomington on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021.
A squirrel plays in the snow on a winter day near the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies Building at Indiana University Bloomington on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (James Brosher/Indiana University)
Snow covers the ground in Dunn's Woods as pictured from the air at Indiana University Bloomington on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.
Snow covers the ground in Dunn’s Woods as pictured from the air at Indiana University Bloomington on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (James Brosher/Indiana University)
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