Charging the Wall

A while back, I was out photographing an obstacle challenge. Nothing too unusual – just mud, sweat and determination. But as I watched the runners hit this steep steel ramp, something clicked. The chaos, the struggle, the wild energy, I didn’t want to just take a photo, I wanted to build one.

I had this idea! What if I could show all the effort and madness of the race in a single, surreal frame? One image, packed with people mid-charge, scrambling and climbing like it was the end of the world. World War Z, starring Brad Pitt with the zombies climbing up the walls, sprang to mind. That’s it, that's the image I want to take!

Now, I didn’t have a tripod or a pro setup – just a small compact camera and a bit of stubbornness. So I improvised.

I pulled the camera strap tight around my neck and pushed the camera out in front of me, holding it at full stretch so I could keep the angle consistent. Not exactly high-tech, but it worked. I stood in the same spot for ten solid minutes, barely moving, camera in manual mode, focus locked, and just waited as wave after wave of muddy runners came charging by.

Click. Click. Click. I took dozens of shots, hoping I’d have enough to work with later.

Back at home, I opened everything in Photoshop and began layering. One image on top of another, carefully masking each person to let them appear without overlapping too much. It took time… a lot of it, but slowly, this fictional moment came to life. A wild, impossible crowd all attacking the ramp at once.

In reality, there were never more than a few people there at a time. But this image tells a different story, one that feels more like the adrenaline rush we all felt that day. That’s the power of photography blended with creativity, it lets us show not just what happened, but how it felt.

If you’re into photography or design, this kind of composite is a fun way to stretch your skills. You don’t need a big kit, just a steady hand, some planning and patience. Try it with sports, kids playing, commuters on the move – anywhere there's rhythm and repetition.

Creativity often comes from working with what you’ve got, not waiting for perfect conditions. This image, like a lot of my work, was born out of a problem-solving mindset, something I carry through into my graphic design and photography projects alike.

Have you ever tried something similar? Or come up with a creative workaround that surprised you? I’d love to hear your stories.