Touching pictures of boy, 12, with muscular dystrophy as he swims, runs and does handstands

Twelve-year-old Luka suffers from muscular dystrophy - a cruel degenerative disease which confines him to a wheelchair and will make him weaker and weaker over time.

But with these beautiful pictures, entitled 'The Little Prince', friend and photographer Matej Peljhan has allowed him to explore an imaginary world where he can shoot a basketball, climb stairs and even perform a handstand.

Amazingly, the images did not require any digital trickery, Matej simply used coloured sheets and carefully placed objects and took the pictures from above.

Due to his condition, Luka is unable to do even the most basic of everyday activities such as washing himself, dressing, and eating.

His physical capability is mostly limited to tiny movements of his fingers, which allow him to move about in his electric wheelchair.

But he is also able to hold a coloured pen, with which he can slowly turn his imagination into drawings in a notebook.

The idea for the photographs came from a conversation Slovenian photographer Matej Peljhan had with Luka when he said he would like to see himself in pictures, getting up to mischief.

He pictured Luka from above as he posed on the ground, capturing the boy’s fighting spirit, positive attitude, and fun personality.