For Photographer Director Dylan Priest, this photographic series began with a casual introduction. A friend had started training with a women’s boxing group at Nomad Gym, and he was instantly drawn in. What started as quiet observation turned into an ongoing documentary project that explores strength, resilience, and community through the lens of female fighters.
Shot entirely on black and white film, this body of work captures the raw energy and emotional intensity of the boxing world. Film, with its grain and texture, feels intrinsically tied to the subject. “There’s something about the physicality of the medium, its imperfections and unpredictability that mirrors the sport itself. Every frame is a moment suspended in tension: sweat in midair, clenched jaws, quiet focus before a round begins and the emotional release after a fight.”
For Dylan, shooting in black and white removes distraction. It strips the image down to its essence light, shadow, movement, and emotion. In doing so, it amplifies the intimacy of these scenes, allowing the viewer to feel the determination in a fighter’s eyes or the exhaustion in a moment of rest.
“This project is as much about boxing as it is about the women who show up day after day, gloves on, pushing limits. It’s about discipline, solidarity, and quiet power. Through this series, I aim to celebrate a community that’s often overlooked and reveal the deeper stories unfolding inside the ring.”
For more of Dylan’s work, visit his Workbook portfolio.
