Walker Pickering

Esprit de Corps is a series of photographs of young musician-athletes, rooted in the documentary tradition. Through graphic images of the pattern and fanfare of this familiar American activity, I attempt to distill my own nostalgia for collective performance into a portrait of the larger institution as it now stands. Many people are familiar with the dynamism of the marching band, but are unaware of the training involved. Through traveling with these groups, I attempt to understand what motivates them to sacrifice their time and energy.