The Triumph of Obscurity

Above all they are unabashedly themselves. These are world record holders: jugglers, light bulb eaters, and sword swallowers, among others. Most have dedicated their lives to their own obscure and fantastic talent. They live in a different world, where both insignificant and impressive feats are celebrated, and then forgotten as the next goal comes into view.

I want to show the extraordinary and mundane. I chose to photograph the record holders in their homes or other spaces significant to them to give the viewer more access into their personalities, which raise far more compelling questions than the actual records. What makes these record holders want to be the absolute “best” at something, even if it’s trivial? What makes them cultivate this extreme individuality, at the risk of injury or alienation?