Crack open a new deck of cards, and what do you pull out? The jokers , of course. Also called jester, fool, trickster, buffoon, jack-pudding, and wearer of the motley, this character is nearly universally recognized…

Many jesters were gifted athletes. They were gymnasts and jugglers, even magicians in a simple way. The jester was not to be taken seriously. His job was to bring laughs. Some were dwarfs or even slightly mentally challenged. The expert jesters were much more. They were as erudite as any of the King’s councilors.

Although the antonym of a fool is a sage or genius, the jester was the real master of wit. It is not a coincidence that in a deck of cards, the joker is the wild card. In a king’s court, the jester was also the wild card.

Shot taken in July 2012 Campement van Kampen Fair & Joust Tournament in the Netherlands.

Equipment: Eyes, hands, mind, soul, Canon Eos 30D

• Feature 25-01-2012 Hat Heads Group