Dawn Lantern Prep at Deir ez-Zor Shrine

Soft, overcast dawn light fills the stone interior of a shrine in Deir ez-Zor, illuminating a work table laden with unfinished lantern frames and stacks of program sheets. Wooden rope barriers lie in a neat pile near the entrance, their fibers slightly damp from the light drizzle visible on the floor. The air holds a quiet stillness as the late summer season settles over the stone walls. Layers of depth draw the eye past the immediate table toward rows of hanging lanterns in the background, their paper surfaces glowing faintly against the gray morning. one drop of rain rests on the edge of a wooden frame, marking the transition between the damp exterior and the sheltered interior.