Pictures of the Year: A Picture and its Story
Camels stand behind drying laundry as circus shows remain shut as part of COVID-19 restrictions, at the Royal Circus home base in Senas, France, February 9, 2021. Reuters photographer Eric Gaillard: "When I met William Kerwich in February 2021, his family's travelling circus had not performed a show in nearly a year due to COVID-19 restrictions in France. His morale was low with his family parked on a plot of land in southern France and his lions and tigers confined to their pens. Even if the pandemic ended, he faced another threat to his livelihood: France phasing out the use of wild animals in circuses. His young daughter Cassandra trains the animals and I followed her as she fed the tigers, hippo, horses and camels. During the interview, I noticed some washing hung with tiny garments belonging to a newborn baby, but it didn't make a great photo. Then I got lucky and a group of camels slowly headed toward the clothes line. I waited for the right moment, hoping the camels did not suddenly go in another direction. It worked perfectly and now I always try to include animals in my photos." REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File Photo SEARCH "POY STORIES 2021" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY