Shooting sports, I often think of myself as a creator and creative, but rarely think of my work as art. With this personal project, I wanted to focus on shooting something that felt like it fitted into that category.
I’ve photographed a lot of bodybuilding and strength sports over the years and, although I’ve always loved shooting it, a lot of that work never really felt like it could sit next to the rest of my work. I could just never quite make it fit.
Training is such an important part of my life and I look nothing like an athlete. I do, however, have a huge appreciation for the craft and effort that goes into bodybuilding.
I wanted to approach this project more like an artist. I spent a lot of time looking at statues that had been carved from stone and thinking about what makes them work. I wanted to shoot something that felt timeless and statuesque, looking at light, shape and form, and taking more inspiration from sculpture than traditional bodybuilding photography.
That became Carved.
