This moody photo series taps into the drama, struggle and intensity of being an elite athlete

When it comes to big sporting competitions like the Olympics, the life of a sportsperson can, on the surface, appear pretty glamorous – flashy sports gear, massive crowds, medals, sponsorship deals, and record breaking performances. But what this glossy veneer often doesn’t show is what it takes to get there; days starting at the break of dawn, gruelling training regimes, strict diets, the omnipresent fear of injury and, of course, the weight of expectation.

Destined for Greatness, a new series from creative director twin sister duo Fa and Fon and photographer Seb Barros, instead shows a different side to the scene. Centred on sprinter Ojie Edoburun and equestrian Emily King, the series is imbued with a “moody” quality, attempting to show the “dark undercurrents” of elite sports.

So, how did the trio capture this “moody” feeling that runs throughout, and this sense of intensity and discipline? Well, even at a preliminary glance, the series looks far flung from your typical sports shoot, lacking the intense bright lights you might find in a stadium, or the over-saturated colours of team kits. Instead, they opted for darker and more dramatic, contrasting lighting and tones throughout, which gives the impression of each shoot taking place in the early hours of the morning, or the late evening. But not only referencing the intense training schedules of the athletes, it also helps to “amp up their naturally cool personas, because there’s no doubt that both of the athletes ooze coolness,” says Fon. Working with a strictly staged and controlled set, and playing with frames and angles, the trio were able to really ramp up the energy, without photographing them mid-competition.

While the project was inspired by, and timed for the Olympics, Seb say that it’s far from a “straight” story about the competition, but instead “a celebration of athletes themselves, their teams and the preparation they go through everyday”, he says. “The taking part rather than winning, if you wanna be British about it.” While Seb has a lot of experience shooting high performance athletes, finding the “tension in athletes super compelling”, for Fa and Fon (who usually gravitate toward working with models, dancers, musicians and actors) it was their first foray into the sporting world. “Our usual sphere felt somewhat unsure, and the world of sport seemed a distant realm,” says Fon. “We’ve always been fascinated by athletes – their stories and dedication have intrigued us.”

They kickstarted the project with conversations with athletes, hearing about their stories and trying to plan a shoot that fitted well with their personalities. “That was the fun bit,” says Fon, “just having a conversation with such disciplined people.” It was also a steep learning curve. Fa says that their original approach was “through very innocent eyes”, and some of their original visions – like having the athletes leaping head first into a crash mat – had to be put to bed. Fa continues: “Initially, we entertained extreme concepts, envisioning athletes diving headlong into peril for the perfect shot, anticipating wild and emotive results. Yet, through profound conversations with these athletes, a common thread emerged – their bodies were their craft [...] our creative vision needed to be proud yet humble, majestic yet serene in its quiet moments.”

But while the athletes couldn’t put their bodies on the line, it doesn’t mean those in production couldn’t. One particularly impressive shot shows Emily jumping on her horse, Goose, from below, which involved Seb physically lying under the leaping horse. “I’m used to getting really close to the action in my images but took it to another level with this one,” says Seb. “You feel the power this horse had and the rush of air as it came over me, it was really quite something.”

Another means by which the vitality of the scenes was accentuated was through clothing and accessories, with In Woo styling Emily, and Shammi Popat styling Ojie. “We thought of this like the typical fashion shoot at first and then everything else we had to cater to,” says Fon. “In terms of blending sports and fashion I think it just makes sense. Athletes have an air about them, they are proud performers, so it was great to have them as subjects on the movement front.” But one of the biggest challenges was making sure the outfits were ones the athletes could actually move in. Some highlights include Emily’s helmet-cum-bonnet which gives her a 60s supermodel vibe, or Ojie’s brown and blue tracksuit, the white piping of which pleasingly mimics the racetrack he passionately sprints down.