Val - Portrait of a Bulgarian National Team Climber
This week I headed over to The Font Wandsworth to photograph Valissya May - no relation, as far as I'm aware - a competitive climber and member of the Bulgarian national climbing team.
As someone who climbs myself, I've always had a huge amount of respect for athletes competing at this level. Climbing has a way of making the impossible look effortless, and as a semi-decent boulderer I can tell you that even attempting a single move on a competition-grade problem is humbling in the best possible way.
Val is sponsored by La Sportiva and Shoe Chalk, two names that anyone serious about climbing will recognise immediately - so it felt right to photograph her somewhere that reflects how she actually trains, rather than a sterile studio environment. The Font Wandsworth, with its textured walls and colourful holds, gave us exactly the kind of backdrop that puts the climbing context front and centre.
She was a brilliant subject - calm, patient, and completely at ease in front of the camera, which makes a real difference when you're trying to capture something that feels authentic rather than posed.
This shoot is the beginning of a portrait series I'm developing focused on climbers - from competition athletes to dedicated enthusiasts. If you're a climber based in London and would be interested in being involved, or if you're a brand or publication looking for this kind of athlete portrait work, feel free to get in touch.
Val’s Insta - https://www.instagram.com/valissya.m/
The Font - https://www.instagram.com/thefontwandsworth/
