The first time I saw an Ashton Edwards video I must have kept it on loop a dozen times. He took the narrative of the lonesome hooper, refining his game at the park, to another level by playing off his shadow. Simply said: it was more than a basketball training video, it was poetic.

He kept the ambiance of the environment present, so that the quiet evening around sunset at his neighborhood park—some birds, a passing car, the echo of his dribble off the cement wall, and the scratch of his footwork on the surface—pulled the viewer into his life. Edwards dribbled and danced, going at an imaginary defender, then gave a spin dribble and dashed toward the hoop which was out of the frame, and as he disappeared from the frame, his shadow appeared against the wall to complete the reverse layup. It was like a magic trick: now you see me, now you don’t, and now I reappear. It’s a trick I never get bored with watching like when he remains in the picture for a fadeaway jumper, but the made bucket comes from the shadow of the hoop on the wall as you hear the swish of the net.

It’s difficult to be unique in the basketball media world, but Edwards has made a one of one project.

For his entry into the LIFE SPAN series, Edwards tells the back story of his video series that started at San Martin Park in Lakewood, California.

To stay up on his journey, follow him on Instagram: @ashxedwards