A lot of kids have dreams they'll never achieve due to the limitations of their little bodies. They want to fly, or to become a dinosaur, or to learn how to act like Spiderman. Luka Tavcar, 12, has muscular dystrophy and is totally dependent on his wheelchair. Nevertheless, late last year, he had an inspired plan: to be photographed walking around and having fun. He approached Matej Peljhan, an amateur photographer and a psychologist at CIRIUS rehabilitation center near Ljubljana, Slovenia, where Luka is a patient. At first, Peljhan was perplexed. How could he photograph a boy who can not move or act in motion? "Luka wanted to see himself playing and having fun, but it seemed impossible," he says. Then Peljhan had a brainstorm: Luka could lie down on a piece of cloth and, with the help of an assistant, Peljhan would pose the boy as if he were jumping, climbing stairs, moving downhill on a skateboard, and playing basketball. Then Peljhan would shoot these images from above. The photos took about a month to produce; all were shot early this year. Peljhan, who lost his right arm and left eye as a child, says his own disabilities motivated him to make the photographs. "I understand people with limitations," he says. He named the series "The Little Prince" after the French story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery in which a boy teaches a man about trust, hope, and friendship. Luka loves the photos. Matej himself understands what it is like to live with limitations--he lost his right arm and left eye as a child."Luka wants to stay positive and his imagination helps him forget his physical limitation," says Peljhan. "He's fragile, but he can see the world differently."
What is Luka's impairment?
How does he get around?
What did he want to do last year?
Who would take the pictures?
Where did he work?
Where is that located?
Did Peljhan think this was a normal request?
What did Luka lie down on?
And what did Peljhan do with him?
How long did it take to make all the photos?
What was Peljhan's disability?
What did he call the photo series?
Was Luka satisfied with the pictures?
muscular dystrophy
muscular dystrophy
his wheelchair
his wheelchair
to be photographed walking around and having fun
 to be photographed walking around and having fun
Matej Peljhan
Matej Peljhan
CIRIUS rehabilitation center
CIRIUS rehabilitation center
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana, Slovenia
no
Peljhan was perplexed
a piece of cloth
a piece of cloth
Peljhan would pose the boy as if he were jumping, climbing stairs, moving downhill on a skateboard
Peljhan would pose the boy as if he were jumping, climbing stairs, moving downhill on a skateboard
a month
a month
he lost his right arm and left eye
Peljhan, who lost his right arm and left eye as a child
The Little Prince
The Little Prince
yes
Luka loves the photos