Black and white close-up portrait of a smiling man held in an arm lock with wrapped wrists.

Two men grappling in mid-air during a dynamic athletic match with sand flying from their cleats against a blue backdrop.

Monochrome close-up of two men confronting each other intensely, one wearing a mouthguard with a prominent arm tattoo.

Close-up of an athletic Black man with braided hair and neon green wrist wraps looking downward on sand.

Monochrome portrait of a tattooed man wearing a sleeveless mesh knit top while gripping his wrist against a neutral studio backdrop.

Close-up portrait of a bruised man in a dirt-stained white sleeveless Nike shirt illuminated by warm dramatic light.

Black and white close-up photograph of hands reaching upward toward a checkered ball in midair with a taped wrist.

Black and white close-up portrait of a man raising his clenched fists in a combat stance toward the camera.

Motion-blurred shot of two men grappling in dark athletic wear over a sand ground against a blue backdrop.

Monochrome photograph of two men in an intense physical tackle during a ball game with motion blur and airborne particles.

Muscular man with tattooed arm and taped hands tightly clutching a stitched ball against a warm studio backdrop.

A Black man in a dark sleeveless top with a neon green wrist wrap resting his hand over his face against a blue textured backdrop.

Grainy black and white shot of a shirtless man with motion blur throwing a dynamic punch forward.

Two athletic men clashing in mid-air during a dynamic combat match over sand against a painted blue sky backdrop.

Close-up action shot of two men grappling over a ball with red and neon green wrist wraps amidst motion blur and flying sand.

Circle Zero Eight CALCIO STORICO 2026

About

Circle Zero Eight presents Calcio Storico, a visceral editorial campaign that leans into the raw, ancient intensity of Florence’s historic football tradition. Through a series of powerful portraits and high-octane action sequences, the project captures the brutal grace of the sport, where athletic struggle meets the aesthetic precision of high-fashion documentary. Photographer Theo McInnes masterfully navigates this intersection, utilizing a mix of 35mm film, dramatic low-key chiaroscuro lighting, and high-speed freeze techniques to translate the gritty, tactile reality of combat into a sophisticated visual language. The imagery is defined by a striking tension; muscular forms, intricate tattoos, and dirt-streaked skin are elevated by deliberate, cinematic compositions that feel both timeless and urgent. Set designer Thomas Conant reinforces this grounded, atmospheric world, creating a sand-textured backdrop that grounds the explosive, mid-air grappling in a tangible, earth-hewn reality. By blending the immediacy of reportage with an artistically deliberate use of motion blur and deep-contrast monochrome, the work captures the chaotic kinetic energy of the game while honoring the technical rigor of the athletes. It is a striking exploration of physicality, where the deliberate application of neon accents and traditional athletic taping highlights the collision between the primal nature of the match and the curated, editorial lens of modern creative production.