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Justinas Keturka

83 Portraits That Capture The Beauty, Strength, And Diversity Of Humans That Are Often Overlooked (New Pics)

India

Amid the rush of everyday life, it’s easy to overlook just how remarkable people truly are. Yet every so often, a single image captures a moment so full of beauty, strength, and human connection that it reminds us of the diverse goodness woven into the world around us.

Below, you’ll find some of the most beautiful and eye-catching photos of people that have been shared in this subreddit that’s dedicated to capturing the human experience. And while at it, don’t forget to read our interview with an acid attack survivor from India.

#1 A Man Carrying A Sheep On A Motorcycle, During A Wildfire In Patras, Western Greece. August 13, 2025

#2 A Woman Holds Her Cat In A Metro Station Hallway As People Take Cover During A Russian Attack, Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo By Evgeniy Maloletka

#3 A Woman Embraces A Rabbit Rescued From The Debris Of Destroyed Houses

After an attack that authorities blame on a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in Robles, Colombia. October 9, 2025. Photo by Santiago Saldarriaga.

Sometimes, a single photo of a person can stir up a wave of emotions. It could be a look in their eyes, a small gesture, or just the raw honesty captured in that moment. These images don’t just freeze time; they tell stories—stories of love, resilience, and everything in between.

But for some, those stories are too painful to be captured. That was the case for a 26-year-old woman from West Bengal, India. An acid attack survivor, she once found the idea of taking pictures unbearable. For her, photos weren’t just images; they were reminders of a life that had been completely changed in an instant.

#4 Portrait Of A Member Of The Suri Tribe, Southwestern Ethiopia. (Image - Lynn Fraser)

#5 10 Years After The UK Legalised Homosexuality, A Gay Kiss In Public Could Still Lead To Arrest For Public Nuisance. At This Early Pride March, A Police Officer Turns A Blind Eye. London, 1977

#6 Venezuela; Wayuu, 1930-1939. Yvonne Sauphar

“I was 21 when it happened. I remember it like it was yesterday,” she shared. “There was a guy from my coaching class who liked me. He followed me everywhere, constantly trying to talk to me. But I wasn’t interested. I was focused on preparing for my Company Secretary exam and had no time for distractions.”

For six months, she endured his persistent advances, hoping he would eventually move on. “One day, I had enough. I firmly told him no,” she recalled. “I think that triggered something in him.”

#7 Young Lass Reading The Alphabet At Her Primary School In Zanzibar, Off The Coast Of East Africa. (Image - Nese Ari)

#8 Voters Queue At A Primary School To Cast Their Ballots In Legislative Elections, Gitega, Burundi [os] [1920x1280] Photo By Tchandrou Nitanga

#9 A Turkic Qashqai Woman In Traditional Qashqai Attire

A few days later, as she was walking home, he rode past her on a bike with a friend. Before she could react, she felt something burning, something that made her skin feel like it was melting. “He threw acid on my face. I remember screaming in pain, but after that, everything became a blur,” she said. “The real pain, though, was when I saw myself in the mirror for the first time after the attack.”

#10 The Dani Tribe, Wamena, Papua, Indonesia Photographed By Joseph Radhik

#11 A Wakhi Ethnicity Woman In Xinjiang, China

#12 Woman Of The Shammar Tribe, Saudi Arabia. Scanned From The Book Heureux Bédouins D'arabie By Thierry Mauger

Coming to terms with her new reality was not easy. “It took me a long time to accept that this is what I look like now,” she admitted. “I used to be the one behind the camera at family events, but after the incident, I didn’t want to be captured at all. I hated the idea of seeing myself in photos.”

#13 A Violinist I’ve Encountered In Osaka

#14 Jordanian Women Wearing A Tradional Arab Clothing

#15 Portrait Of Young Persian Lady In Tehran, Iran

Over time, with therapy and the support of loved ones, her perspective shifted. “It took me a while to realize that my photos don’t show a ruined face, they show a survivor,” she said. “They remind me that I am still here, that I am strong enough to withstand everything life has thrown at me.”

#16 A Man Carries A TV From His Home Flooded By Hurricane Melissa In Santiago De Cuba, October 29, 2025. Photo By Ramon Espinosa

#17 A Serbian Soldier Sleeps With His Father Who Came To Visit Him On The Front Line Near Belgrade, Serbia, 1914

#18 South Sudanese Lady Seen In South Sudan By Ulrich Kleiner

Today, she proudly embraces photography again, seeing it as a powerful way to reclaim her story. “My pictures are no longer just images; they are a testament to my resilience. I refuse to let one moment define me,” she said. “I want other survivors to know that healing takes time, but it’s possible. Your scars don’t make you any less beautiful.”

#19 A Yemenite Habbani Woman Wearing Her Traditional Clothes And Jewelry

#20 Smiling Indian Woman

#21 Standing On An Upright Bass

Even though cases of acid attacks in India have been on a decline over the past few years, they still remain a terrifying reality. In 2017, 244 incidents were reported, dropping to 176 by 2021. While this decrease is a positive step, the profound and lasting impact on survivors remains life-altering.

#22 Elaine Roberts Who Arrived In London From Jamaica In The Early 1960s, Helping Her Team To Prepare Free Food Packages In Clapham, Mainly For Carribean Elders. (Image - Jim Grover)

#23 An Indian Man Preparing Paan, A Traditional Indian Delicacy Made From Betel Leaf. (Image - Thibault Gerbaldi)

#24 Ronald Fischer, Beekeeper, Davis, California, 5/9/81 By Richard Avedon

Beyond physical scars, they face emotional trauma, social stigma, and countless hurdles in rebuilding their lives. However, many survivors have shown immense strength, reclaiming their confidence and finding their voice despite the odds.

#25 Border Morris Dancers In Oxford Yesterday For Midsummer Celebrations

#26 Girls From The Village Of Laya In Bhutan Wear Traditional Hats Made From Woven Bamboo. Olivier Föllmi

#27 Saudi Arab Woman From The Gulf (Khaleeji), Model Photographed By Maram Ayaled

Photos have the power to reflect real human experiences: the pain, the strength, and the triumphs. Which of these images left the biggest impression on you? Let us know in the comments.

#28 Youngsters In Bear Costumes At Traditional Festival "Leading The Bear" In Iasi, Romania

#29 A Young Woman From The Tharu Community, A Mostly Hindu Group In Southern Nepal And Northern India, Parades With Others In Honour Of Buddha's Birthday

#30 Nika In Green Field

#31 Silent Film Actress Gladys Cooper C 1910

#32 Children Sitting In A Basin React As They Are Pulled Through A Flooded Area On Manila North Road

Following heavy rains brought by Typhoon Co-may in Minalin, Pampanga, Philippines, July 25. Photo by Eloisa Lopez

#33 Ladhaki Goatherder, South East Asia. (Image - Arati Kumar-Rao)

#34 Patient Of Neurofibromatosis Waiting At A Doctor`s Office In Kolkata

#35 Michael Magers, Kanaval In Haiti (2017)

#36 Woman Posing Infront Of One Of The Buddhas Of Bamyan, 1968

This was part of Fred J. Maroon’s Vintage Afghanistan series. The subject’s identity is uncertain to me.

She’s like a tourist on the Hippie Trail (formerly Beatnik Trail), which was a popular route from the mid-1950s to late 1970s and included three Afghan cities: Herat, Kandahar, and Kabul. They would usually subsist on as low of a budget as possible while interacting extensively with locals, travelling using vans, on foot, local or public transportation. It was part of alternative tourism as well as New Spirituality movements.

#37 “The Route Of Samarkand” (1978)

By Roland and Sabrina Michaud. The man was a travelling dervish in Faryab, Afghanistan. This photograph was taken at a local bazaar by the couple.

#38 Hopi Man, 1921

#39 A Person From Nasik, India

#40 Alfred A. Stratton Lost Both His Arms At Age 19 On 18 June 1864 By A Cannon Shot In The American Civil War. The Amputation Was Performed By As Coe

Stratton[passed] as a father of two at the age of 29.

#41 The Employment Of Women In Britain, 1914-1918 Mrs Kitchener, A Female Gravedigger, Carries On Her Husband's Business Whilst He Serves On The Front, Aley Green Cemetery, Luton

#42 Hindu Pilgrim (Sadhu), Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, 2025

#43 Habani Child, “I Don’t Want My Picture Taken!” Ein Shemer Immigrant’s Camp. 9.9.1950

#44 A Young Girl In The Village Of Laya In Bhutan. Olivier Föllmi

#45 Late Night Taco Shop

#46 Bruce Gilden (2017) Wisconsin State Fair

#47 Sophia Weisberg Of Brazil Competes On The Balance Beam During The 53rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships In Jakarta, Indonesia, October 21, 2025. Photo By Dita Alangkara

#48 Former US Army Ranger And Appalachian Trail Hiker, "Magic Mike," 1400 Miles Into His Journey

Within one year of retiring, his wife and son [passed] in separate incidents. He said, "I have a lot of miles left. I have a lot of healing to do."

#49 "Cyndi Lopper," A Backpacker On The 3,100 Mile Continental Divide Trail, Takes A Side Trip To Summit Mount Elbert (14,432')

Most CDT hikers are absolutely exhausted by the middle of Colorado; her partner had to stop because of excessive weight loss. Here, she carries on by herself.

#50 Us Military Veteran "Tin Man," Was Named For The Huge Amount Of Metal In His Joints And Limbs

He called the 2200 mile Appalachian Trail "the ultimate rehab validation." This smoke break was about 1750 miles into his hike.

#51 A Tribesman Checking The Water Level In A Well In Morocco As The Dunes Of The Sahara Desert Extend To The Horizon. [image - M’hammed Kilito]

#52 Florist From Trimbakeshwar, India

#53 Farmer Harvesting Grapes At Wadi El Nutrun, Egypt. (Image - Doaa Adel)

#54 A Portrait Of An Old Yemenite Man At The Ein Shemer Immigrant’s Camp

#55 Dancer And Actress Ada Overton Walker (1880-1914) Who Was Known As “The Queen Of The Cakewalk”

#56 Ryan Brown, Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) At The Tower Of London

#57 A Villager Prepares To Take Part In The Berobana Dance, A 150-Year-Old Tradition Symbolising Unity And Solidarity. Artvin, Turkey. Photo By Dilara Irem Sancar

#58 Two Sart Men And Two Sart Boys In Samarkand (1910)

#59 Early Silent Film Actress Mary Miles Minter (1902-1984)

#60 Electric Guitarist Mid Solo

#61 Salkantay Trail, Peru

#62 Clam Vendor In Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

#63 A Group Of Kids In Fez, Morocco

#64 Shirley Mallmann By Helmut Newton, Vogue Italia (1996)

#65 A Naga Sadhu (Ascetic Devotee Of Shiva) At The Kedarnath Temple In The Himalayan Range. The Temple Is Closed Most Of The Year Due To Climate, But He Lives There All Year

#66 "A Sadhvi Of Juna Akhara Takes A Holy Dip At Sangam On The Auspicious Makar Sankranti Day During The Kumbh Mela" (2019, Author Is Dhns From Deccan Herald)

#67 Street Vendor In Bogota Colombia

#68 Singer

#69 Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka During Her Match Against Germany’s Laura Siegemund In The Women’s Singles Quarter-Final At Wimbledon, London, England. Photo By Kirill Kudryavtsev

#70 This Backpacker, "Wildcat," Hiked All 150 Trails Of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

That's over 900 miles and only 700 people have done it. I met him by chance, and took this portrait the morning after he finished.

#71 Vacationer At Cedar Point

#72 Resident Of Hillfields, A Suburb Of Coventry In The West Midlands, UK. (Image - Jason Scott Tilley)

#73 Native American Jazz Singer Mildred Bailey In The 1930s, Known At The Time As “The Rocking Chair Lady”

#74 A Competitor In The Annual Thailand Cat Show Holds Her Persian Cat, Ampao. Bangkok, Thailand. Photo By Manan Vatsyayana

#75 Campbell Scott Producing Arbroath Smokies By Hand

#76 Maasai Gentleman

#77 Piping In The Dawn At The Solstice Sunrise At Stonehenge On Salisbury Plain In Wiltshire, England

#78 Dupreegod Performing In Brooklyn

#79 Central Plaza, Valladolid, Mx

#80 Grabbing A Coconut Water In The Yucatecan Jungle

#81 Hare Krishna Devotee

#82 Punk Rock Singer Under The Red Lights

#83 Naga Sadhu At 2013 Gangasagar Fair, Transit Camp Kolkata

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