South Bend Tribune

Senior PGA Championship opening round

May 24, 2012

Spent the day on Thursday photographing the opening round of the 73rd Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores, a Jack Nicklaus-designed course in nearby Benton Harbor, Mich. This was my first experience shooting a PGA-sanctioned event. I arrived at the course around 7:45 a.m. and spent most of the morning following the group that featured Fred Couples, who was thought to be a favorite to win the tournament. That wasn’t the case as Couples shot a five-over-par 76, eight strokes out of the lead. I doubled back to the media center after following Couples for the front nine and caught leader Roger Chapman on the back nine. To finish the day, I walked about half the back nine with a 1:40 p.m. featured group that included Fred Funk. In all, I walked about 7.5 miles with three camera bodies. After I was done editing and submitting, I spent the rest of the afternoon laying on Silver Beach in nearby St. Joseph, Mich.

Roger Chapman watches his second shot sail towards the 16th green during the opening round of the Senior PGA Championship on Thursday, May 24, 2012, at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich. Chapman shot a three-under-par 68. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Penn downs Mishawaka in softball semifinal

May 23, 2012

I haven’t shot softball in almost ages. Last time I photographed it was as an intern at the Austin American-Statesman two years ago.

Penn players celebrate with teammate Monica Smith after the final out in a win against Mishawaka in a softball sectional game on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Penn High School in Mishawaka. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Penn's Alyssa Davis (3) high fives teammate Claryce Gedde after Davis scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Penn a 6-3 advantage over Mishawaka in a softball sectional game on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Penn High School in Mishawaka. Penn would hold off Mishawaka for the win. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Democrats stump during Workhorse Tour stop

May 19, 2012

South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg, left, U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and the Rev. Rickardo Taylor Sr. from Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist, listen to a speaker on stage during a "Workhorse Tour" stop on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at UAW Local 9 in South Bend. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Bremen girl’s track sectional

May 16, 2012

I rarely cover track and field. Tuesday might have been only my third or fourth high school track meet ever. I’m usually not a fan because the meets often lack numbers that correspond to a roster, making it hard to tell who is who. However, this one – a sectional – didn’t, freeing me up to shoot a larger variety of events than I normally would. Since I haven’t shot it much, I’m not the greatest at it, but it was nice to get out of the big city to go play with some good evening light.

Mishawaka's Francesca Spalding reacts as she takes down the bar in the pole vault during the Bremen girl's track and field sectionals on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Bremen High School. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Penn's Melanie Nellis winds up for the shot put during the Bremen girl's track and field sectionals on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Bremen High School. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Greg Gaver

May 13, 2012

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.

Greg Gaver leans in as he watches a country music video on YouTube on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at his Granger home. Gaver, 21, suffers from Prader-Willi Syndrome, a debilitating condition that makes him have an intense craving for food. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

Greg Gaver walks on a treadmill in his family's basement on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, in Granger. Gaver, 21, usually exercises everyday for 30 minutes to help with his Prader-Willi Syndrome, which makes him have an intense craving for food. If not kept in check, the syndrome can lead to extreme binge eating and obesity related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)

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