When Jim Salzano was concepting for a new personal project in which he could combine still photographs and motion, he started to look into women’s professions that have been traditionally reserved for men. He found a boxer, a butcher, and a construction worker.

“I was looking for a topic that was not only visually interesting but socially relevant,” says Jim.

The series was launched earlier this month with a video featuring professional boxer Patty Alcivar. Jim found Patty via a recommendation from Men’s Health Creative Director Jeff Griffith; the magazine had profiled her in a series featuring urban athletes and Jeff thought she’d be a good candidate for the project.

Jim says that as he started a dialogue with Patty, he learned she was also a survivor of child abuse and views her boxing as empowering therapy. “I consider myself a fighter. I’ve had many challenges in my life, and that’s what motivates me,” Patty says.

Realizing a project like this is not as simple as finding a subject and turning on the camera; Jim was supported by a number of people and organizations. His former first assistant and favorite collaborator John Engstrom, now the owner of Scheimpflug Digital in New York City, provided the equipment and served as a second director of photography on the project. Engstrom also helped implement an agreement with Broncolor for use of their new Para 330FB light.

Trinity Boxing Club in Manhattan generously provided the space to shoot.  Long-time business partner Ray Benjamin edited the piece, Jim Farmer provided the sound design and Ellen Salzano scripted the narrative. Jim says everyone on the team has been extremely supportive, and he looks forward to completing the next two projects with the construction worker and the butcher. If everything falls into place, he could add several additional professions turning it into a much longer term project.