The untimely death of the legend of the circus world, animal lover, showman, but above all a charismatic man with a big heart and at the same time a loving husband, father and grandfather in one person, the principal JaromÌr Joo, shook me strongly. He was only 65 years old when he lost a heavy fight to the covid-19 less than two months ago. Few people in the world have been able to build such a warm and intimate relationship with beasts as he has. For decades, he entered a cage with five tigers several times a week - each with the feeling that this time he would not have to return alive and well from it - to eventually succumb to the fight, not with an insidious beast, but with a virus. For the long eight years I had the honor of photographing the principal and his amazing Circus Jo-Joo, I spent unforgettable moments with the principal, his family and dozens of other employees - from artists to cook to circus servants, life very fond of remembering. Although the circus environment is far away from the places where I commonly occur, I felt extremely comfortable between them. Just like browsing my archive with the photos I've taken in those long years at Circus Jo-Joo.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/63f1615b-a0f2-4b23-8186-b42365eff5d9_rw_1920.jpg?h=bdf6a8a58fdeb4b39cdf9bf471376307)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/f48764c9-5710-45b8-9412-77ddb97a7e5e_rw_1920.jpg?h=ffba08516e1c1f19935f0ac3862b18e6)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/678fdd8e-e2a7-49e7-9eaa-64d70f81a12d_rw_1920.jpg?h=067b4fc6fccc65a3572107687bbe6b33)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/f5eef35d-45ff-47a1-9534-a1ed6b150c70_rw_1920.jpg?h=08bd91e6d8554c697a01dabc0d0b318b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/47598037-2a8c-4122-ac20-bc9572d21456_rw_1920.jpg?h=4d18eb26de5cfeef94f4ec7ff3abf8e1)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/e6f53480-644f-45e8-9eb0-c731942fa8a3_rw_1920.jpg?h=0f395e68429a433ba345ec3142e125fc)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/68910658-51d0-4444-9ea4-7eb85cd0ab5d_rw_1920.jpg?h=9fc8f8cb03cecce46f3bfd87a82c74b6)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/20f9d6d6-dcb8-4a24-bbc6-24e1d10651df_rw_1920.jpg?h=e3bc88c70f6940bc3e2c6718d8f52c4f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/8a00a304-8162-491b-b983-9e9ae0432d0a_rw_1920.jpg?h=8675ba05f50367d3312300e57fe7d39b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/e312037c-900d-42d2-b3dd-fc72dfb92dc1_rw_1920.jpg?h=1e6c14ff232716946ff2c546124a54c0)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/59a92242-f63d-40ca-87ab-57e42f93a939_rw_1920.jpg?h=6fa80fcfc6a42f54a74ca8892bcb1aee)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/a9e7ba3b-c671-4dc0-befa-6340e382e815_rw_1920.jpg?h=c370edf6bc6e24d19abf429846bab08a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/17ef3b10-8a9f-44e9-be51-19d4c18985a1_rw_1920.jpg?h=569377b40c7934b17076638cdba8324b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/aeb25c3f-54f1-4db0-a212-0d00dc9c9e22_rw_1920.jpg?h=9c6d71095b0730d7fef09ca41a013598)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/ffad43b1-4d71-4517-a232-890874262378_rw_1920.jpg?h=df3030aed60382412c6f41f587693c7a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/ec701603-9d35-4e78-a83e-7978d922c33b_rw_1920.jpg?h=77eb6a55ea67df1e0d9fe27ab8f1f9a7)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/13662d5a-8d39-42d7-b56d-ca3dce0fb422_rw_1920.jpg?h=5faefd0d70ee78a59b07166aaebbcd6d)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/bee07a24-b511-4752-9132-c3c264e96e01_rw_1920.jpg?h=83814b6e1c51e17a9dbd6119fa5c2c19)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/1163c619-0f39-401c-9dda-5d9a079bea2c_rw_1920.jpg?h=432908820600e52c963487ce1c564704)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/73d1e00c-b391-46e0-af2a-a75d416bdf99_rw_1920.jpg?h=7f9887e5b8c38b6c1bffc296eb23a88b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/11cc1fb3-fa0e-42bd-961b-5815c736e043_rw_1920.jpg?h=3ed9f048e166e3f0f4ec86df5c2959a4)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/54a7fe1b-327a-493e-870f-947a4212d9e0_rw_1920.jpg?h=71bc652255ed2fdfb7f37bf90c2eeaa6)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/60a74cef-393f-44cd-9a93-f739b054f89b_rw_1920.jpg?h=a03f8a547ba2bc1af9ef9d392aaf6591)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/5bc1ffc9-0695-4b4d-9b94-ff9adf568cee_rw_1920.jpg?h=5de4ad9b0132ab60a87a9d7d16a8d041)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/dba364ca-c428-48fc-a63a-227a6f37bc3a_rw_1920.jpg?h=2cf1c88f4d97507a2a7caa987d45fc11)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/7f43ecae-f4e8-49fe-a0a7-066087156051_rw_1920.jpg?h=005ef609cabc51394803328611a9b9c9)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/db54cbdc-5dc4-4bcb-8ba1-88a94c50cd89_rw_1920.jpg?h=08b9d05ad864193a3c0828d026e79fc3)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/e4c21fbe-9e54-4c6e-a541-270822f39438_rw_1920.jpg?h=c69ea0fd0560b06f116efa82afab3273)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/1e6fc1d6-f430-4063-b70b-fc68166be5e9_rw_1920.jpg?h=e820d5ca41d284fd6d9678636f56905f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/a1ea0cc9-fd25-43e0-a303-0c1c99eb3623_rw_1920.jpg?h=8cf8617ebbafeef4c4d572803b99b86e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/2c77c882-67f9-4536-b3c3-22f9da64f49a_rw_1920.jpg?h=770bb9853d4b8eb7b6eafd6650f63d50)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/d8e36cd4-79f3-41df-a74a-631eef705272_rw_1920.jpg?h=fe6bb34a1c393c89a718988ea36147ef)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/fc013d47-9b2a-4add-8fef-d3201e332053_rw_1920.jpg?h=81dc12cfad4eb2fb26a780f44cec229f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/60175d89-389f-4af7-8938-71922f96a103_rw_1920.jpg?h=7312afe077e38fbf53dbd179584a7ba5)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/1df7b501-721a-4af4-8ec3-54dc7d6d8875_rw_1920.jpg?h=1aff0ca363668ae50341fe78751e3303)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/4dd0277e-2771-4647-8a83-9cf91f1aa8d7_rw_1920.jpg?h=a9da48ba0a35eb61c43ac0ee430780d8)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/4d0b0c88-d79e-4b44-8b1b-9da185232459_rw_1920.jpg?h=3a08dcf614a82a8b4d4991ba649cd7ac)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/b26ad12c-c7ef-4cfd-bae2-9efa30cfc63a_rw_1920.jpg?h=01493318957a50820798eb12654b211e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/c5d13e4c-8401-407f-b090-24caa5a06f6b_rw_1920.jpg?h=5c01c8ba785ee556ffbf57139df154c1)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/8488059e-7387-4125-b6cb-c7cbad8199e4_rw_1920.jpg?h=81a94830c2b9d20e8c39fa597a5482bd)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/eee86cc9-a118-46d5-9911-209facf90fb1_rw_1920.jpg?h=ef1e1675aeb5875ce69395ac0664a592)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/3ac41cd8-4688-460f-b09b-33bddf57ab93_rw_1920.jpg?h=545a2435d16975d47afd25b0300cc624)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/f69e5d98-905d-44a2-a9bb-43394b8a3f3c_rw_1920.jpg?h=c64eff29492baa64665a37e2ff903dc5)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/a0273739-5845-46b4-83ee-6b69a1f9e1e0_rw_1920.jpg?h=2e32419e53e8202f61e5f7d2fe98bf2b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/cbcf7b47-15c0-457e-92b5-5ab68101fdc5_rw_1920.jpg?h=14d01af46800010aeefff956388eb1f9)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/8c801150-7a5f-4015-8703-11d1db2aa8e0_rw_1920.jpg?h=1530fcacb05680bb18b7d19fa4fd5f3c)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/ce564c4e-ae14-485c-83a4-39a50869a861_rw_1920.jpg?h=53b528fe3ede7dc60d602b975eebea75)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/6622baab-650a-499b-9fca-acb7cb9a819f_rw_1920.jpg?h=af5d622393db3b37d3f2d0b3aa319c1e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/2919ba2e-2497-452b-89b1-94e35ec5a93b_rw_1920.jpg?h=aae4189d7eb84781dd8fe99bcf6f6af3)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/c4dbb1c3-6b79-422f-876b-0d6784e4d3f4_rw_1920.jpg?h=a99e06ff0d7152505d89813687f8d595)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/fbe0c05a-3d27-4db1-ac47-db8014e9bd02_rw_1920.jpg?h=e490e09ae83eb151da21e8a50663c4ca)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/b9b83a2f-8f3c-43ad-9356-f27124fe7013_rw_1920.jpg?h=4a0bbbf3ddda127ba61ba3858c389201)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/25f1edb4-bb17-4e52-b7dd-efea8f517158_rw_1920.jpg?h=6fa8939833928a01b7108689adcdeaae)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/574946a7-d4fd-4cbf-940d-c3460c9be6e5_rw_1920.jpg?h=7de4265b5a7d448eef7aa692158b7b7e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/c52b13eb-4521-4b07-97b6-72566611f805_rw_1920.jpg?h=73a16403a9b302e04a5b6249d6b282c4)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/e30fa669-30fa-4f20-882c-d3a41c0bfd02_rw_1920.jpg?h=a40814420b6b0b17ecfd4bc445a317a2)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/820c552d-0287-4edb-8dfd-5c6bca128da4_rw_1920.jpg?h=84a0af6d3f80e82588b45a3c83f16d3f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/f7d23a98-aa51-4310-adad-b6e2799ecfd3_rw_1920.jpg?h=be24cd5271c4afb4bbee742bca3e0e11)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/9708a809-41a3-4dca-bb08-9f04dd9e6104_rw_1920.jpg?h=d2a260747df4cf6ddf0bf6ffe88567c0)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/a74357db-b095-4af2-be4c-c0958ec7114a_rw_1920.jpg?h=c33640af0b3ccbef2f5a969d48156205)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/e5fb66b8-b923-4bc2-a985-c3dea64b95ea_rw_1920.jpg?h=908422b28285daa16224bd3ea537a6aa)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/2cd3e939-631c-4bbc-b86d-becd4e193aec_rw_1920.jpg?h=33151adf762904eb8181caae7f4aa343)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d2b34ac960aafa90e58e8dd159e933c/b3b4b461-9788-48d6-b3c6-aced098d78ad_rw_1920.jpg?h=be95487c3073bb0a07d967e2ecfb1b6c)