In the beginning stages of developing a portfolio, I wanted to capture how I viewed my favorite sport, Brazilian jiu jitsu. Brazilian jiu jitsu is a game that involves submissions and techniques that are similar to wrestling in addition to using a gi, or the kimono that is worn. Brazilian jiu jitsu takes a lifetime to achieve the highest caliber, but for every year that goes by, I gain so much more knowledge and insight about it that can be easily translated into some of life’s hard-earned lessons.
As an artist navigating through photography to find her artistic voice, I saw the gentleness of jiu jitsu in slow motion. By taking pictures of my teammates sparring live, I felt like being able to capture the moments in time could really capture the beauty of BJJ that I want others to see. This essence translated well with other sports that are also included in the portfolio. Over the course of several photoshoots, the portfolio evolved with the addition of CrossFit and boxing. I felt that both of the latter captured the same intensity, grit and vigor that I find in jiu jitsu.
It is my hope that the viewer can see how these athletes are pushing past their breaking points, pursuing the mundane and taking small victories in stride. In doing what they love most, the CrossFitters, grapplers and boxers have become artists in their own right by manipulating their sports in ways that are stylistic and unique to themselves.
