Something I’ve wanted to do for awhile on my old blog was to post about images or artists that resonated with me. The format at BHN wasn’t conducive to that, but now it seems appropriate.
This image by Chris Steele-Perkins came across my feed reader this morning and the more I look at it and digest, the more I love it. The colors are wonderful, almost as if the subject is standing in a fire. And the brow wipe further contributes to the idea of heat. I’m not sure if any of my alternate interpretation was intended by the photographer, but that’s the beauty of art, isn’t it? It’s a mirrored lens through which we view ourselves.
Sumo has always fascinated me. I’ve always loved individual combat sports. I wrestled in high school, and in recent years have developed a strong affinity for MMA. But Sumo is another class altogether. There’s a purity in the sport that doesn’t exist in other places. The ritual, the dedication of the athletes, the whole drama and spectacle of a basho… it must be an incredible thing to witness giant men slamming into each other with the force of steam locomotives.
See more of Chris Steele-Perkins work at Magnum or visit his own site here.