Embodied Fighting is a collaborative project with photographer Carlos Saavedra. It explores amateur mixed martial arts cage fights in the United Kingdom. Many fighters come from abusive pasts, and use the sport to process their history and achieve glory. Athletes and spectators converge in an evening of uninhibited abandon. The nights are a microcosm of English culture, providing a unique space where it is acceptable for spectators and athletes both to put forth their rawest and most violent selves. Often the fights end with torn skin, and a towel is used to clean up the bloodied octagon. The portraits in this project are taken seconds after an athlete's fight, regardless of the outcome. We capture the raw adrenaline and energy after the physical, volatile, and embodied experience of combat.
- Category
- documentary
- Year
- 2019