Great Photos | @DrJimCarey | Flipboard
A Celebration of Life
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Naoko
April 2026

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Portrait of a member of Pussy Riot.

Taken during a live event where I was working as a photographer, this was one of those moments that arrived quietly, almost unnoticed at first. The band took the stage with their usual intensity—music layered with political urgency, performance intertwined with protest.

During the show, I captured a frame of one of the male performers standing on stage, wet from the conditions, looking out with a deeply focused expression. The light hit his face in a way that naturally sculpted the mood of the image, emphasizing both the texture of his clothing and the emotional weight of the moment.

What struck me most was not just the visual intensity, but the sense of narrative contained in a single expression. You can almost read a story in it—one shaped by conflict, conviction, and the realities of speaking out in environments where criticism carries consequences.

Photography in situations like this is about restraint. No staging, no interruption—just observation and timing. The challenge is to recognize when everything aligns for a fraction of a second, and then to simply be ready.

Regardless of musical preference, the message and courage behind Pussy Riot’s work are difficult to ignore. Their performances exist at the intersection of art and activism, and that tension is what makes moments like this visually and emotionally compelling.

In the end, it is not about agreement or taste, but about witnessing presence.

#PussyRiot #LivePhotography #ConcertPhotography #PortraitPhotography #PerformanceArt #PoliticalArt #MusicPhotography #CanonPhotography #StageLight #LowLightPhotography #DocumentaryPhotography #VisualStorytelling #PhotographyJourney #EventPhotography #ArtAndActivism #CandidPhotography #EmotionalPortrait #OnStage #CreativePhotography #HumanExpression #ThroughTheLens #ReportagePhotography #CulturalExpression #MusicAndPolitics #VisualNarrative #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #WonderingLens #LiveMusic

Portrait of the Princess of Persia.

At Efteling, one of the actors from the themed area inspired by *1001 Nacht* asked me to create a portrait that captured her character: the Princess of Persia. A dreamy presence in a world of stories, music, and imagination.

This image was taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 15–85mm. What made it more challenging was that she was actively working during the shoot. I couldn’t direct her in the usual way—no calling for attention, no asking for a different pose. The scene had to unfold naturally, while I moved around her and adapted to the moment.

Before she started, she gave me creative freedom. That trust made all the difference.

As she stayed in character and interacted with visitors, I looked for the moments where performance and authenticity blended together. I captured several images that, from a technical perspective, I considered stronger than this one. Sharper. More dynamic. Better framed.

But this was the image she chose.

And that matters.

Sometimes the person in the portrait sees something the photographer does not. A feeling. A version of themselves. A dream they recognize. My role was never to convince her to choose what I thought was best. She saw herself in this frame, and that made it the right one.

Her story. Her choice. Her portrait.

#Efteling #PrincessOfPersia #PortraitPhotography #ThemeParkPhotography #Canon7DMarkII #Sigma1585 #CharacterPortrait #DreamyPortrait #EnvironmentalPortrait #StorytellingPhotography #PeoplePhotography #CreativePortrait #BehindTheScenes #1001Nacht #PhotographyJourney #PortraitSession #VisualStorytelling #ThemeParkMagic #PhotographerLife #CreativeFreedom #NaturalMoments #ClientWork #FantasyPortrait #HumanConnection #ThroughTheLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #WonderingLens #PortraitArt #StoryInFaces

Portrait photography. Linda.

Taken with the Canon 5DSR and Sigma 24–70mm Art, this portrait was never just about capturing a face. It was about capturing something quieter: personality.

A camera can make people tense. Many don’t quite know what to do with their hands, how to smile naturally, or even where to look. That’s normal. Being photographed can make someone suddenly aware of themselves in a way they usually are not.

That is why portrait photography is as much psychology as it is technique.

Before this image, I took several other shots. Not because those were meant to be the final portrait, but because they served another purpose: helping Linda relax. Letting the camera become less important. Letting the moment become real instead of staged.

As a photographer, your role is not simply to point and shoot. It is to create a space where someone feels safe enough to lower their guard. Comfortable enough to forget they are being observed.

Only then does the genuine expression appear.

The slight smile, the softness in the eyes, the posture that no longer feels rehearsed—that is the moment worth waiting for. And technically, the 5DSR paired with the Sigma Art renders every subtle detail beautifully. But equipment alone does not make a portrait.

Trust does.

#PortraitPhotography #Canon5DSR #Sigma2470Art #Portrait #NaturalPortrait #PeoplePhotography #PhotographyTips #PortraitSession #HumanConnection #PhotographyJourney #AuthenticSmile #CandidPortrait #PhotographerLife #VisualStorytelling #EmotionInPhotography #LensAndLight #CreativePortrait #PhotographyMentor #NaturalLightPortrait #BehindTheLens #PortraitArt #ThroughTheLens #PersonalityPortrait #StoryInFaces #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #WonderingLens #LindaPortrait #PhotographyThoughts #HumanMoments