Ganggangsullae Dance Under Temple Fluorescent Lights

Brilliant white fluorescent tubes mounted on a high stone wall cast harsh, shadowless illumination over a wide courtyard in Caracas. A circle of dancers in traditional Korean hanbok stands on wet, dark pavement slick with recent rain. Their colorful silk robes shimmer slightly under the artificial glare, against the grey concrete floor and the rough texture of the surrounding temple walls. The dancers hold hands, forming a perfect, unbroken ring that stretches across the frame. Deep shadows pool in the corners where the light fails to reach, showing the starkness of the overhead glow. The wet ground reflects the bright overhead fixtures and the vibrant reds and blues of the silk skirts. At the far edge, a stone lantern sits dry and silent against the damp floor.