Traces
- a parkour photographic series -
"Parkour is going from where we are to the goal we set ourselves,
and I brought my camera along to capture the journey there."
In the same way as Parkour, Photography taught me to see differently.
What is a parkour photo?
I’d like to think that it is a mixture of styles, which are very different, but very complimentary.
The first style is sports photography. We are entering a fast world, all gestures are calculated, anticipated, and settled. Once launched, the athlete adapts to his environment.
It is here that we arrive in an approach of the animal photo since the athlete becomes animal. He seeks neither to be beautiful, nor our subject, but to be effective, to execute his movement. The photographic aesthetic that emerges is the result of the success of his movement.
The whole joins another photographic genre: architectural. The traceur is not the only subject, the obstacles he plays with are just as important as him, and they too, become an essential part of the photo.
However, I usually have a very “reportage” approach to photographing parkour: I remain silent, respect when they decide to make a jump, and whether they decide to repeat it or not. As a traceur myself, I know how important physical and mental preparation is, so I really try to play a minimal role within their present moment.
For many, Parkour boils down to going from point A to point B.
Personally, I think we can push the definition further, by saying that Parkour is to go from where we are,
to the goal we set ourselves, whatever it may be.
to the goal we set ourselves, whatever it may be.
Full article on julienblanc.fr/portfolio/traces-en/
Version française sur julienblanc.fr/portfolio/traces-fr/
Publié sur muvmag.com/traces/
