I am the director of a documentary film called Pelada, a journey to 25 countries around the world in search of pick-up soccer on side alleys, concrete courts, jungles, rooftops, prisons, and any other crazy location. The word Pelada literally means "naked" in Portuguese -  it's the term used in Brazil for pick-up games, the version of the game stripped of all rules. It took three years to make the movie and we returned home with many amazing stories of every-day people who play. When it became clear that the film might enjoy some success, we began a search for our key art. We had taken hundreds of photographs during our years on the road, and while many were great, none fully captured the essence of pick-up. 

Then we came across a photo from Kenya by JB Reed, Co-Founder and CEO of Nuru Project. It was shot in Mathare, a slum in Nairobi and the site of one major story from the film. Mathare is an amazing place - a feast for all the senses, and JB's photo captures the nrighborhood's end-of-the-day soccer games that rage until nightfall. We loved the photo because it could have been taken anywhere in the world. The silhouetted people could be of any race, religion, or gender. By taking the details out, JB allows the viewer to experience the unadulterated joy and pure adrenaline that often accompanies casual games. To us, it is the perfect "naked" photo of the game, the embodiment of what pelada means for people around the world.

- Ryan

BUY THIS PRINT - Nuru Project connects photojournalism with non-profits. We suggest selecting Kiva as the benefit non-profit at checkout with your JB Reed print purchase. Kiva connects people through microlending to alleviate poverty.

Ryan White is a documentary filmmaker from Doraville, GA. His latest project is Good Ol' Freda, a documentary film in-progress about the untold story of Freda Kelly, the Beatles' trusted secretary and friend throughout their rise to fame.