Title: James Stout - Morning of the dance, Amsterdam

"This image captures James Stout, Principal dancer with the Dutch National Ballet, just after he has woken up in Amsterdam. It's one of his few quiet moments in the day before he embarks on his rigorous daily training, a testament to his unwavering dedication to his craft before he steps onto the stage.

In this image, you can see a glimpse of James's vulnerability as he clenches his arm, contemplating the hard work and pain he may have to endure to meet the exacting standards of performance he demands of himself.

I had never realised the sheer amount of effort that goes into being a ballet dancer until I undertook this shoot. Spending two days with James in Amsterdam for The New York Times has given me a newfound respect for the art."