James Brosher Photography

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

Peoria Journal Star

Civil War winter encampment

I only had one assignment today so my co-worker suggested I look for some wild art (photos that run without a story in the paper). I noticed an event listing in the paper about a Civil War winter encampment at one of the local parks. After finishing my first assignment, I took a drive out to check it out. I ended up staying for a couple hours, shooting about 50 frames (not to mention a full roll of 120 film on my Holga) and talking to a half dozen re-enactors from the Central Illinois Living Historians. I was a history minor in college so I naturally found the encampment and the re-enactors very interesting. If you’re into Civil War history, I suggest checking out a project my good friend Jay Seawell worked on a few summers ago documenting American Civil War re-enactments in England.

Tim Varvil, the president of the Central Illinois Living Historians, rests his rifle over his shoulder after a demonstration of Civil War military exercises for a group of bystanders on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at Sommer Park. The re-enactors created a Civil War winter encampment to show how soldiers lived through the winter months when fighting generally stopped in the war.
Tim Varvil, the president of the Central Illinois Living Historians, rests his rifle over his shoulder after a demonstration of Civil War military exercises for a group of bystanders on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at Sommer Park. The re-enactors created a Civil War winter encampment to show how soldiers lived through the winter months when fighting generally stopped in the war.
Civil War re-enactors prepare to march in formation during a drill on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at Sommer Park. The re-enactors, from the Central Illinois Living Historians, created a Civil War winter encampment to show visitors how soldiers lived during the winter months in the war.
Civil War re-enactors prepare to march in formation during a drill on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at Sommer Park. The re-enactors, from the Central Illinois Living Historians, created a Civil War winter encampment to show visitors how soldiers lived during the winter months in the war.

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Behind the scenes at Goodwill

I was recently assigned to photograph a “behind the scenes” type of story looking at Goodwill of Central Illinois. The story is for the Journal Star’s Heartland section. The section is a weekly feature page that runs in Sunday’s paper. As those who have photographed inside stores and businesses know, making pictures while being showed around by a public relations person or executive can be difficult. That was the case here to an extent although our guides were very nice and didn’t tell me what I could and couldn’t photograph.

A customer browses the selection on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, at the Pekin Goodwill. The store, housed in a former Kroger, is gearing up for the holiday season.
A customer browses the selection on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, at the Pekin Goodwill. The store, housed in a former Kroger, is gearing up for the holiday season.
Donnell Lewis loads clothes into a compactor on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, at the Goodwill Logistics Center in East Peoria. Not all items donated to the store can be resold due to quality. Clothes that cannot be sold are compacted and disposed of.
Donnell Lewis loads clothes into a compactor on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, at the Goodwill Logistics Center in East Peoria. Not all items donated to the store can be resold due to quality. Clothes that cannot be sold are compacted and disposed of.

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Bradley wins Missouri Valley Conference title

Bradley keeper Brian Billings reacts after making a save during penalty kicks in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game against SIU Edwardsville on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, at Shea Stadium. Bradley won 4-3 in penalty kicks after playing two overtime periods.
Bradley keeper Brian Billings reacts after making a save during penalty kicks in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game against SIU Edwardsville on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, at Shea Stadium. Bradley won 4-3 in penalty kicks after playing two overtime periods.
Bradley keeper Brian Billings dives to make a save in penalty kicks overtime in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game against SIU-Edwardsville on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, at Shea Stadium.
Bradley keeper Brian Billings dives to make a save in penalty kicks overtime in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game against SIU-Edwardsville on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, at Shea Stadium.

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