The underbelly of fetish parties has been exposed in photographs captured by Belgian photographer MagLau. The photographer dedicated three years to capturing the obsession with leather and chains, visiting fetish parties through Europe and Japan. The photographer told: “I just took pictures, always finding some beauty in the dark side”. He said that most people were happy to be photographed for the project, with the images included in a new book Fetish Ballad. Aiming to capture the candid moments, he said he never judged but instead wanted to simply observe and understand. Here: Picture from Fetish Ballad book. (Photo by MagLau/Laurent Muschel)

Balinese Hindu people take part in a cleansing ceremony called “Melasti”, in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 25 March 2025. Melasti is a purification ritual where Balinese Hindus cleanse themselves and their sacred objects in the ocean to purify and renew spiritually, symbolizing the washing away of impurities and starting anew. It typically precedes Nyepi, the Day of Silence, marking the Balinese New Year. Balinese will celebrate Nyepi Day on 29 March 2025, during which Hindus on the island of Bali are not allowed to travel, work, light lamps, cook, or do any other activities. (Photo by Made Nagi/EPA)

An Emerald City Kickball member makes their way up the parade route on March 02, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. Emerald City Kickball began in 2020 as a project between friends to find a safe and affirming way to create an inclusive community during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a recreational sport that is available to players regardless of skill or experience level, kickball quickly became a vibrant piece of the Sydney LGBT community. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)

Chinese epidemic control workers wear protective suits as they disinfect each other after performing nucleic acid swab test for COVID-19 on citizens at a government testing site in Xicheng District during an organized tour on June 24, 2020 in Beijing, China. While Chinese government medical officials have said they believe they have controlled the spread, authorities are trying to contain the outbreak linked to the Xinfadi wholesale food market, Beijing's biggest supplier of produce and meat. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

A woman poses for a photo in the tourist area surrounding Houhai Lake during Chinese National Day holidays in Beijing, China, October 2, 2020. China is celebrating its national day marking the 71st anniversary of the People's Republic of China and the Mid-autumn Festival for a week beginning on October 1st. (Photo by Thomas Peter/Reuters)

A model prepares backstage before during the Heaven Gaia collection show by Chinese designer Xiong Ying on day two of China Fashion Week A/W 2021/2022 at 751D.PARK on March 25, 2021 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)

Buns are stamped the Chinese characters “Ping An”, meaning peaceful and safe, inside a bakery, at Hong Kong's Cheung Chau island, China May 17, 2015, ahead of the upcoming Bun Festival on May 25. The festival celebrates the islanders' deliverance from famine many centuries ago and is meant to placate ghosts and restless spirits. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Miss India Manushi Chhilar (C) reacts as she wins the 67 th Miss World contest final next to France Aurore Andrée Raphaëlle Kichenin (R) and Miss Kenya Magline Jeruto (L) in Sanya, on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan on November 18, 2017. (Photo by Nicolas Asfouri/AFP Photo)