{"product_id":"we-are-subculture-by-marsha-balaeva","title":"We Are Subculture by Marsha Balaeva","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e‘We Are Subculture’ is a non-for-profit book of photography celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of people in the climbing community. It was set out to explore the subject of mental health and the role of climbing as a form of escape for some or a source of personal growth for others, as a way for find a group of people who share one’s values or a search for solitude and reconnecting with nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe project started in 2023 and it features 48 climbers of all ages, ethnicities and gender dressing in a way that reveals something about their inner world and their personality. The concept behind it was to highlight how different we all are, how much of what is going on inside our lives is invisible to people around us, how unique our mental struggles are and how nobody’s life is as easy and trouble free as it comes across, especially on social media.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe book starts with 13 short stories and poems written by Niall Grimes based on his interviews with some of the climbers photographed for the book. These writings are anonymous and give a glimpse into some very personal observations, experiences and challenges, that would resonate with anyone who is passionate about climbing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eEvery photograph was set up to use the natural beauty of the rock and the location and to enhance it further with the use of studio lighting, handmade props, costumes and a wide variety of photographic techniques to make each image a true one-of-a-kind spectacle and capture the real essence of how the climber expressed themselves with their look.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eLocations ranged from iconic to esoteric: grit, limestone, sandstone, slate, rhyolite, from as far north as Arisaig Cave in Scotland to Lake District, Yorkshire, Peak District and down to Dinas Rock in South Wales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe author and all the climbers volunteered their time free of charge for this project with the objective to raise funds for Mind Charity, to help them campaign on a range of issues that could affect anybody with a mental health problem. This includes health services, legislation, legal rights and employment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAll profits from the sale of this book will be donated to Mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAbout the author:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMarsha Balaeva is a photographer based in Manchester, with a background in editorial and commercial photography who took up climbing in 2018 and it quickly became something more than a hobby, leading to both a career shift towards climbing photography and videography, and getting active on the UK outdoor climbing scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHer photography work was shown in a solo exhibition titled ‘What We Do On The Limestone’ in 2022 showcasing female sport climbers on their projects, her short film ‘Action Directe’ about Buster Martin’s ascent of the route was shown at ShAFF in the same year. Marsha’s photography features in several climbing guides, magazines and online articles in both UK and abroad.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHardback \/ 192 Pages\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Bookish Type","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58004645740925,"sku":null,"price":27.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0264\/0891\/0933\/files\/cover-visualisation-white_a_0331db31-85a0-4542-a767-9d255329c157.jpg?v=1775295675","url":"https:\/\/thebookishtype.co.uk\/products\/we-are-subculture-by-marsha-balaeva","provider":"The Bookish Type","version":"1.0","type":"link"}