Josh: Growing Up with Down

I've spent the majority of the last month working on a documentary project about a 16 year old young man with Down syndrome. Josh is a pretty cool kid and I really enjoyed working with him over the past few weeks.

Shooting this much with one person really let me see my strengths and weaknesses as a documentary photographer. It's a skillset I'd really like to continue working on, and that I hope to keep doing in the future even if I am lucky enough to get semi-regular work.

Here are some of the highlights.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (22/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, jokes around with fellow student Cassie Perry while playing a math counting game in their special needs class at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (08/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, and fellow student Nicholas Wannamaker laugh as Josh measures ingredients and educational assistant Nancy Burtt looks on in a baking class at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. The special needs students were making jars of cookie ingredients to sell as a fundraiser for the school. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (08/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, exchanges music playlists with fellow student Kevin McEwen (right) as student helper Brody Loft waits patiently on an outing from Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Brody comes by to Josh's special needs classroom on a daily basis to help Josh concentrate on his work and have a reading partner. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (08/11/11) - Teacher Adam Speight forces Josh Daley, 16, to wear his glasses as fellow student Brody Loft looks on in a silent reading period at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Brody comes by to Josh's special needs classroom on a daily basis to help Josh concentrate on his work and have a reading partner. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (14/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, examines a knife at his co-op work placement with a catering company at William R. Kirk School in Belleville, Ont. on Monday, Nov. 14, 2011. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (22/11/11) - Physical education class is a favourite of Josh Daley, 16. A student at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont., Josh takes a break from a basketball game after being frustrated from not getting the ball enough on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (03/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, attends an after school program for children with special needs at Eastminster United Church in Belleville, Ont. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. The group was hosting a Halloween-themed party, but Josh decided he was too old to dress up and instead chose to be the DJ for the party. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (01/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, spends his Tuesday evenings at the Belleville YMCA free swim. Seen here on November 1, 2011, Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (19/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, gets some help from his mother Janice while baking peanut butter cups for a fundraising bakesale at home in Belleville, Ont. on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. Josh spends most of his time with his mother, the most constant force in his upbringing, despite having an older brother and stepfather. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood, yet still relies on his mother for much. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (30/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, searches for some snacks to pack in his lunch with his mother Janice before school at home in Belleville, Ont. on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. Josh spends most of his time with his mother, the most constant force in his upbringing, despite having an older brother and stepfather. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood, yet still relies on his mother for much. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (19/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, gets a reassuring hug from his mother Janice at home in Belleville, Ont. on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. Josh spends most of his time with his mother, the most constant force in his upbringing, despite having an older brother and stepfather. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood, yet still relies on his mother for much. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (30/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, heads out from home to walk to Centennial Secondary School on a rainy Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. Josh walks the three blocks to school on his own, a skill his mother is adamant that sets him on the path to independence. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood, yet still relies on his mother for much. Photo by Rachel Psutka.