At the end of 2011, Paris-based documentary and portrait photographer Max Riché approached the French National Sports Institute (INSEP), in hopes of working with their athletes on a photo project. Max had always been impressed by the intense discipline of athletes and wanted to create a series that exemplified the journey they take to become Olympians or World Champions.
Max explains the inspiration behind the project:
I created this concept that mixed beautiful imagery and movement, which was inspired by Eadweard Muybridge’s images—The Horse in Motion, Running Full Speed—and added a new and modern style to it. It would be coupled to a story that highlighted the evolution of the athlete, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. The athlete would change clothes as he/she performed the movement to gradually be wearing the competition outfit, thus becoming the Athlete he/she was. I dubbed the series, ‘Becoming an Athlete. You are not born an Athlete, you become one.’
Max used the pictures to enter the EISA Maestro Award Competition. He finished in 1st place, receiving the EISA Maestro Award Photographer of the Year for France (2012-2013) and 2nd place, receiving the EISA Maestro Silver Award for Europe (2012-2013).
Shortly after the awards, Max released an exciting behind the scenes video of the project, which went viral within hours. It soon found its way onto several prominent blogs including Petapixel and Fubiz, and hit 60k views within its first 10 days, receiving a Vimeo Staff Pick badge.
View the BTS film here.
Max says that since he started promoting the project, he’s received a huge influx of phone calls and attention from clients. Most recently, Red Bull approached him to apply his “Becoming An Athlete” concept to the extreme sports athletes they support, which has made Max beyond pleased.