Captured during a lively street celebration, this photograph features a young man bearing a striking parade puppet—its face a fierce blue mask set against a raised palm hand. The puppet’s tail, made of plastic water bottles, hints at its symbolic role as a guardian of clean water. Blending folk tradition with modern environmental themes, the figure evokes mythic storytelling to highlight the urgency of protecting our natural resources from pollution.

Photographed at the 2024 Zinneke Parade event in Brussels, Belgium. The image was retouched and a blended texture was added to achieve a painterly effect. (June 2024)

• My other portraits and scenes from the Zinneke Parade