Portfolio
a condensed look at the work of gabi broekema
Graduating cadets gain their first bar and rise to second lieutenant during the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2023 Graduation at Falcon Stadium on the U.S. Air Force Academy campus in Colorado Springs, Co., on Thursday, June 1, 2023. The graduation featured President Joe Biden giving the graduation address and a flyover by the Thunderbirds alongside the special day for 921 graduating cadets.
Captured while on assignment for the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Kelly Gottschall, older cousin of Bailey Broderick, hugs one of Broderick's close friends Melissa Powers in front of the Kalamazoo Courthouse in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan on Friday, April 1, 2022. Broderick died in a drunk driving accident at Western Michigan University in November 2021. Friends and family of Bailey Broderick stand with signs in the cold and snow demanding justice and no charges had been issued.
Captured while on assignment for MLive: Kalamazoo Gazette.
Rob Linnenberger of Louisville, Colo., examines handholds on Hawk-Eagle Ridge as he fits in one last climb of the day at Eldorado Canyon State Park on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Captured while on assignment for the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Cheyenne Mountain freshman tennis player and Peak Performer Saffron Heroldt may be only three years into her tennis career but looks up to an older name in the game: Rodger Federer. "I think he's one of the best tennis players in the world," Heroldt said. "He's also really funny and cool."
Portrait was conceptualized and created for the 2023 Peak Performers Portrait series with the Colorado Springs Gazette.
A mourner prepares to board the London Underground Jubilee Line at Baker Street Station on Friday, September 16. About a quarter of a million people came to Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as she lay in state for four days at Westminster Hall before her funeral on Monday, September 19.
Part of my larger project, Carry On. Here is a link to the full project.
Guardian siren MermADA, also known as Breanne Tarasevicius, coaches a child on how to be a mermaid in the water tank at the MerFest International Festival at Lake Arvesta located on the edge of South Haven, Michigan on Saturday, June 25, 2022. Vendors sold jewelry, bodices and books as mermaids took turns swimming in the large tank in the center of the island that the event occurred on.
Captured while on assignment for MLive: Kalamazoo Gazette.
Whitehall High School's Aiden Weiler wrestles with Saint Joseph High School's Gavin Keller during the division 2 team wrestling quarterfinals at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.
Captured while on assignment for MLive: Kalamazoo Gazette.
Sarah Stokes, 12, and Isaac Stokes, 10, embrace their father Lt. Colo. Micheal Stokes as he returns home from an excursion to Europe alongside the 4th Infantry Division Headquarters at the William "Bill" Reed Special Events Center at Fort Carson, Colo., on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
Captured while on assignment for the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Rich Strike's jockey Sonny Leon reacts to their win as soon as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 148th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 7, 2022.
Captured while on freelance for the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Austin Jones, 30, sands the paint off car parts with his grandfather Clarence Jones in a garage at his grandfather's farm in Harrison County on November 2, 2019. Austin loves to deconstruct old cars and motorcycles. Clarence says he hears people talking about Austin every morning when he's getting coffee. "He's an inspiration to the community," Clarence says.
Part of my larger project, Cynthiana's Friend. Here is a link to the full project.
Paint By Number
Kalamazoo artist Keith Pitts uses a year-long project to start a conversation about mass shootings. Pitts created a painting for every mass shooting across the United States in 2022 using a uniform but meticulous process.

Published 2022 on MLive.com
Part of my quick-turn around project, Paint by Number, where I acted as photographer, videographer and writer.
Here is a link to the full project.
ROLE:
Cinematographer | Producer
DIXIE
Many Americans looked to Dixie Highway as their main method of transportation for decades. When Interstate 65 was built and 'Dixie' became better known as Highway 31W, most excitement for the beloved scenic route faded as more and more cars chose the quicker route.
This piece serves as a trailer for 'Dixie,' a three-chapter documentation project of the remaining communities that exist along the highway that once was.

Created 2023 at Western Kentucky University alongside Anna Leachman, who also collected visual content for the video.
Here is a link to the full project.
ROLE:
Cinematographer | Producer
For more examples of my work, please review my full website, glbvisuals.com.