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.
