Nigerian Eyo Masquerades in Predawn Lighthouse Light

White-robed Eyo masquerades stand in a public square under the sweeping beam of a lighthouse during predawn darkness. The late spring sky holds dramatic, heavy clouds that catch the edge of the light. Figures in flowing white fabric and conical hats create layers of depth, receding from the foreground into the dim distance. The beam cuts through the night air, illuminating the texture of the cloth and the white face paint on the nearest figures. Playful lightheartedness appears in their relaxed postures and the way the light grazes the edges of their robes. Shadows stretch across the paved ground, defining the space between the dancers. at the edge is the bright white collar of the front figure against the dark, wet stone beneath.