Setsubun Bean Throwing in Exeter Dawn Light

Silvery winter light spills across a quiet street procession in Exeter, where figures in traditional Japanese attire prepare for the Setsubun bean-throwing ceremony. Dramatic, heavy clouds hang low over the scene, casting a diffuse gray glow that softens the edges of the participants. Layers of depth recede into the distance, revealing a line of people holding bundles of dried beans. The fabric of their robes shows subtle folds and texture against the cool morning air. In the foreground, a wooden mask rests on a low stand, its painted features sharp against the muted background. The street surface reflects the overcast sky, at the base of the ceremonial objects in the early morning stillness. One bean lies on the wet pavement near the edge of the frame.