Paul Calver
x
Sport
“I took my first photograph riding a skateboard”
Hi, I’m Paul Calver, a London based photographer working globally on a diverse range of projects, from the more intimate moments of family life, to international sports campaigns.
This page is all about my approach to sports work. I took my first photograph riding a skateboard, and it’s still something I obsess over on a daily basis, both as photographer, and as an amateur runner myself.
What is it about
sports?
“For me, it's understanding a passion, getting under the hood of what makes people tick, the why’s, the how’s, the highs and the lows. Not just the elite mentally, but the everyday athletes. Those who do what they do to clear their mind, socialise or to push the envelope on their pb’s.
There’s always a story to tell, and very often a passion to share.”
Movement
&
Shape
There's such beauty in the movements and shapes created within sport, and how these go towards telling a rich and dynamic story.
Not only the unique actions of the sport in the hand, but the emotion and journey of the individuals involved.
Look & Feel
Raw authenticity and a documentary approach is at the core of my works aesthetic.
This same look and feel is something I transfer into my studio based work with technical lighting set-ups.
Personal
Projects
Personal projects are an essential part of my ongoing creative journey. A platform to experiment with conceptual and technical ideas outside of the pressures of a commercial time frame. Often starting from the smallest of seeds; someone you meet in a casting, a potential story that jumps out to you in a social feed or a conversation with friends during a run.
Below are a some of my favourites with a few words to add a little context to their inception and realisation.
I met LJ during a training session at the Brixton Street Gym which is next to my studio in London. His energy is infectious and I knew almost immediately that I wanted to shoot a project with him.
I first scouted Revée via her instagram page, an Olympic track hopeful and newly signed model looking to shoot tests. I'd seen the perfect location down the road from my studio, a running track which cuts right through the middle of a school, surrounded by concrete walls and graphic shapes.
“5000m, 12.5 laps around a track. The aim, finish with zero left in the tank and your heart rate maxing out. Any less and you’ve not reached your potential, any more and you’ll burn out before the end.
This personal project is inspired by the theme of dedication and a love of the cinematic aesthetic.
...the brief was super simple... Find some clear water, jump in and have some fun!
A collaborative project with Art Director Gemma Fletcher. Working with the immensely talented, dynamic and expressive force that is Maëva Berthelot.
A reportage project following the British Youth Speedway championships.
“Rarely has a bunch of kids ever been so important to the survival of their sport.”
I was introduced to Martin by his agent with perfect timing in a gap between projects. The project came together pretty fast...
Sometimes just a brief encounter and other times a more consider studio approach. The portrait is nearly always my favourite shot from any project.
The Projects
(In detail)
LJ & Laura
I met LJ during a training session at the Brixton Street Gym which is next to my studio in London. His energy is infectious and I knew almost immediatly that I wanted to shoot a project with him.
A few weeks later I meet with LJ and his training partner Laura back at the Street Gym as they practiced a syncronised kettlebell flow routine out in the yard.
The result of which make up this super simple personal project Kettlebell Flow with LJ & Laura.
Revée Walcott
Nolan
I first scouted Revée via her instagram page, an Olympic track hopeful* and newly signed model looking to shoot tests. I'd seen the perfect location down the road from my studio, a running track which cuts right through the middle of a school, surrounded by concrete walls and graphic shapes. These images are the result of the two hours we spent experimenting with graphic forms, a primary red piece of perspex and Revée.
*Revée achieved her goal and competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games in the 1500m.
5000m
A portrait lead personal project taken during at event called The Comeback 5000. One of the first races back after covid, set in Battersea Park's Millenium Stadium and organised in part by the running club I'm a member of, the Herne Hill Harriers.
“5000m, 12.5 laps around a track. The aim, finish with zero left in the tank and your heart rate maxing out. Any less and you’ve not reached your potential, any more and you’ll burn out before the end.
I waited patiently at the finish line to capture those post race emotions in all their exhausted and elated glory.”
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Adam Clarke / The Long Distance Runner
Shot in the dusk light along the coastal roads of the south coast of the UK.
The combination of vivid red set against softer tones are a repeating theme within my work, this time evoking thoughts of Blood from the projects title.
Kimani Smart / The Track Athlete
Set against the faded grandeur of the indoor track facility in Crystal Palace, London.
Sprint, sweat, ice, repeat...
Millie / The Swimmer
Diving into an aquatic world as a contrasting elements and colour palette.
Maëva
A collaborative project with Art Director Gemma Fletcher. Working with the immensely talanted, dynamic and expressive force that is Maëva Berthelot.
Credits - Dancer & Choreography - Maëva Berthelot Cinematography - Beatriz Sastra Styling - Daisy Deane @ Frank Agency Hair & Make Up - Anna Gibson Edit - Catrin Griffiths Grade - Nathaniel J Cooke
Crystal
This project was shot off the back of a commercial job in Antigua. I had a spare morning in my schedule and wanted to make the most of my time in this beautiful location.
I searched for inspiration and was lucky enough to come across Crystal, a local free-diver. After Crystal agreed to work together, the brief was super simple... Find some clear water, jump in and have some fun!
Youth Speedway
A reportage project following the British Youth Speedway championships.
“Rarely has a bunch of kids ever been so important to the survival of their sport. In fact, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to say motorcycle speedway’s very existence depends on these youngsters turning circles on shale. Just seven years short of its centenary, British speedway is in the doldrums. If seeing the 2020 league season wiped out by Coronavirus wasn’t enough, an exodus of talent has left Britain’s league teams in the lurch.”
“Rarely has a bunch of kids ever been so important to the survival of their sport. In fact, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to say motorcycle speedway’s very existence depends on these youngsters turning circles on shale.”
“It takes a pretty special breed of kid to do it. They’re all pretty tough, and they all bounce well.”
Martin Foru
I was introduced to Martin by his agent with perfect timing in a gap between projects.
The project came together pretty fast, I visited Martin during a training session and got to know him a little and recced the gym. I'd been working on an idea with Gemma Fletcher on a sports series and this was the perfect way to get it all started. I had two main shots in mind, a graphic overhead shot and a portrait. Those two are still my favourites from the series.
A few weeks later I returned to shoot a motion piece to sit alongside.
Portraits
Sometimes just a brief encounter and other times a more consider studio approach. The portrait is nearly always my favourite shot from any project.
A few of my all time favs in this section.
Selected Commercial
Work
A few of my all time sporting favs... In no particular order.
See more of my commercial and personal work across all genres on my website
Paul Calver
x
Sport
“I took my first photograph riding a skateboard”
Hi, I’m Paul Calver, a London based photographer working globally on a diverse range of projects, from the more intimate moments of family life, to international sports campaigns.
This page is all about my approach to sports work. I took my first photograph riding a skateboard, and it’s still something I obsess over on a daily basis, both as photographer, and as an amateur runner myself.
What is it about
sports?
“For me, it's understanding a passion, getting under the hood of what makes people tick, the why’s, the how’s, the highs and the lows. Not just the elite mentally, but the everyday athletes. Those who do what they do to clear their mind, socialise or to push the envelope on their pb’s.
There’s always a story to tell, and very often a passion to share.”
Movement
&
Shape
There's such beauty in the movements and shapes created within sport, and how these go towards telling a rich and dynamic story.
Not only the unique actions of the sport in the hand, but the emotion and journey of the individuals involved.
Look & Feel
Raw authenticity and a documentary approach is at the core of my works aesthetic.
This same look and feel is something I transfer into my studio based work with technical lighting set-ups.
Personal
Projects
Personal projects are an essential part of my ongoing creative journey. A platform to experiment with conceptual and technical ideas outside of the pressures of a commercial time frame. Often starting from the smallest of seeds; someone you meet in a casting, a potential story that jumps out to you in a social feed or a conversation with friends during a run.
Below are a some of my favourites with a few words to add a little context to their inception and realisation.
I met LJ during a training session at the Brixton Street Gym which is next to my studio in London. His energy is infectious and I knew almost immediately that I wanted to shoot a project with him.
I first scouted Revée via her instagram page, an Olympic track hopeful and newly signed model looking to shoot tests. I'd seen the perfect location down the road from my studio, a running track which cuts right through the middle of a school, surrounded by concrete walls and graphic shapes.
“5000m, 12.5 laps around a track. The aim, finish with zero left in the tank and your heart rate maxing out. Any less and you’ve not reached your potential, any more and you’ll burn out before the end.
This personal project is inspired by the theme of dedication and a love of the cinematic aesthetic.
...the brief was super simple... Find some clear water, jump in and have some fun!
A collaborative project with Art Director Gemma Fletcher. Working with the immensely talented, dynamic and expressive force that is Maëva Berthelot.
A reportage project following the British Youth Speedway championships.
“Rarely has a bunch of kids ever been so important to the survival of their sport.”
I was introduced to Martin by his agent with perfect timing in a gap between projects. The project came together pretty fast...
Sometimes just a brief encounter and other times a more consider studio approach. The portrait is nearly always my favourite shot from any project.
The Projects
(In detail)
LJ & Laura
I met LJ during a training session at the Brixton Street Gym which is next to my studio in London. His energy is infectious and I knew almost immediatly that I wanted to shoot a project with him.
A few weeks later I meet with LJ and his training partner Laura back at the Street Gym as they practiced a syncronised kettlebell flow routine out in the yard.
The result of which make up this super simple personal project Kettlebell Flow with LJ & Laura.
Revée Walcott
Nolan
I first scouted Revée via her instagram page, an Olympic track hopeful* and newly signed model looking to shoot tests. I'd seen the perfect location down the road from my studio, a running track which cuts right through the middle of a school, surrounded by concrete walls and graphic shapes. These images are the result of the two hours we spent experimenting with graphic forms, a primary red piece of perspex and Revée.
*Revée achieved her goal and competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games in the 1500m.
5000m
A portrait lead personal project taken during at event called The Comeback 5000. One of the first races back after covid, set in Battersea Park's Millenium Stadium and organised in part by the running club I'm a member of, the Herne Hill Harriers.
“5000m, 12.5 laps around a track. The aim, finish with zero left in the tank and your heart rate maxing out. Any less and you’ve not reached your potential, any more and you’ll burn out before the end.
I waited patiently at the finish line to capture those post race emotions in all their exhausted and elated glory.”
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Adam Clarke / The Long Distance Runner
Shot in the dusk light along the coastal roads of the south coast of the UK.
The combination of vivid red set against softer tones are a repeating theme within my work, this time evoking thoughts of Blood from the projects title.
Kimani Smart / The Track Athlete
Set against the faded grandeur of the indoor track facility in Crystal Palace, London.
Sprint, sweat, ice, repeat...
Millie / The Swimmer
Diving into an aquatic world as a contrasting elements and colour palette.
Maëva
A collaborative project with Art Director Gemma Fletcher. Working with the immensely talanted, dynamic and expressive force that is Maëva Berthelot.
Credits - Dancer & Choreography - Maëva Berthelot Cinematography - Beatriz Sastra Styling - Daisy Deane @ Frank Agency Hair & Make Up - Anna Gibson Edit - Catrin Griffiths Grade - Nathaniel J Cooke
Crystal
This project was shot off the back of a commercial job in Antigua. I had a spare morning in my schedule and wanted to make the most of my time in this beautiful location.
I searched for inspiration and was lucky enough to come across Crystal, a local free-diver. After Crystal agreed to work together, the brief was super simple... Find some clear water, jump in and have some fun!
Youth Speedway
A reportage project following the British Youth Speedway championships.
“Rarely has a bunch of kids ever been so important to the survival of their sport. In fact, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to say motorcycle speedway’s very existence depends on these youngsters turning circles on shale. Just seven years short of its centenary, British speedway is in the doldrums. If seeing the 2020 league season wiped out by Coronavirus wasn’t enough, an exodus of talent has left Britain’s league teams in the lurch.”
“Rarely has a bunch of kids ever been so important to the survival of their sport. In fact, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to say motorcycle speedway’s very existence depends on these youngsters turning circles on shale.”
“It takes a pretty special breed of kid to do it. They’re all pretty tough, and they all bounce well.”
Martin Foru
I was introduced to Martin by his agent with perfect timing in a gap between projects.
The project came together pretty fast, I visited Martin during a training session and got to know him a little and recced the gym. I'd been working on an idea with Gemma Fletcher on a sports series and this was the perfect way to get it all started. I had two main shots in mind, a graphic overhead shot and a portrait. Those two are still my favourites from the series.
A few weeks later I returned to shoot a motion piece to sit alongside.
Portraits
Sometimes just a brief encounter and other times a more consider studio approach. The portrait is nearly always my favourite shot from any project.
A few of my all time favs in this section.
Selected Commercial
Work
A few of my all time sporting favs... In no particular order.