diff --git a/themes/intotheeast/css/style.css b/themes/intotheeast/css/style.css
index 7045866..db7fd80 100644
--- a/themes/intotheeast/css/style.css
+++ b/themes/intotheeast/css/style.css
@@ -216,8 +216,13 @@ body::after {
 .journal-photo-slide {
     flex: 0 0 100%;
     scroll-snap-align: start;
-    aspect-ratio: 3 / 2;
+    aspect-ratio: 4 / 3;
     overflow: hidden;
+    cursor: zoom-in;
+    background: none;
+    border: none;
+    padding: 0;
+    display: block;
 }
 
 .journal-photo-slide img {
@@ -225,8 +230,11 @@ body::after {
     height: 100%;
     object-fit: cover;
     display: block;
+    transition: opacity 0.15s;
 }
 
+.journal-photo-slide:hover img { opacity: 0.9; }
+
 .journal-photo-dots {
     display: flex;
     justify-content: center;
diff --git a/themes/intotheeast/templates/dailies.html.twig b/themes/intotheeast/templates/dailies.html.twig
index 83c3943..a1fdaa2 100644
--- a/themes/intotheeast/templates/dailies.html.twig
+++ b/themes/intotheeast/templates/dailies.html.twig
@@ -123,9 +123,9 @@ feedMap.on('load', function () {
                 {% if images|length > 0 %}
                 <div class="journal-photo-strip" data-slides="{{ images|length }}">
                     {% for img in images %}
-                    <div class="journal-photo-slide">
-                        <img src="{{ img.cropResize(900, 600).url }}" alt="{{ entry.title }}" loading="lazy">
-                    </div>
+                    <button class="journal-photo-slide" data-full="{{ img.url }}" data-alt="{{ entry.title }}" aria-label="View photo">
+                        <img src="{{ img.cropResize(900, 675).url }}" alt="{{ entry.title }}" loading="lazy">
+                    </button>
                     {% endfor %}
                 </div>
                 {% if images|length > 1 %}
@@ -163,4 +163,74 @@ feedMap.on('load', function () {
         <p class="feed-empty">No entries yet. The journey is about to begin.</p>
     {% endif %}
 </div>
+
+<div class="lightbox" id="feed-lightbox" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label="Photo viewer" hidden>
+    <button class="lightbox-close" id="feed-lb-close" aria-label="Close">✕</button>
+    <button class="lightbox-prev" id="feed-lb-prev" aria-label="Previous">‹</button>
+    <img class="lightbox-img" id="feed-lb-img" src="" alt="">
+    <button class="lightbox-next" id="feed-lb-next" aria-label="Next">›</button>
+</div>
+
+<script>
+/* ── Journal photo strip: dot sync + lightbox ───────────────── */
+(function () {
+    /* Dot sync */
+    document.querySelectorAll('.journal-photo-strip').forEach(function (strip) {
+        var slides = strip.querySelectorAll('.journal-photo-slide');
+        var strip_id = strip.closest('article');
+        if (!strip_id) return;
+        var dots = strip_id.querySelectorAll('.journal-photo-dot');
+        if (!dots.length) return;
+        var io = new IntersectionObserver(function (entries) {
+            entries.forEach(function (e) {
+                if (!e.isIntersecting) return;
+                var idx = Array.from(slides).indexOf(e.target);
+                dots.forEach(function (d) { d.classList.remove('is-active'); });
+                if (dots[idx]) dots[idx].classList.add('is-active');
+            });
+        }, { root: strip, threshold: 0.5 });
+        slides.forEach(function (s) { io.observe(s); });
+    });
+
+    /* Lightbox */
+    var allSlides = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('.journal-photo-slide[data-full]'));
+    if (!allSlides.length) return;
+    var lightbox = document.getElementById('feed-lightbox');
+    var lbImg    = document.getElementById('feed-lb-img');
+    var current  = 0;
+
+    function open(index) {
+        current = index;
+        lbImg.src = allSlides[index].dataset.full;
+        lbImg.alt = allSlides[index].dataset.alt;
+        lightbox.hidden = false;
+        document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+        document.getElementById('feed-lb-close').focus();
+    }
+
+    function close() {
+        lightbox.hidden = true;
+        document.body.style.overflow = '';
+        allSlides[current].focus();
+    }
+
+    function prev() { open((current - 1 + allSlides.length) % allSlides.length); }
+    function next() { open((current + 1) % allSlides.length); }
+
+    allSlides.forEach(function (slide, i) {
+        slide.addEventListener('click', function () { open(i); });
+    });
+
+    document.getElementById('feed-lb-close').addEventListener('click', close);
+    document.getElementById('feed-lb-prev').addEventListener('click', prev);
+    document.getElementById('feed-lb-next').addEventListener('click', next);
+    lightbox.addEventListener('click', function (e) { if (e.target === lightbox) close(); });
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', function (e) {
+        if (lightbox.hidden) return;
+        if (e.key === 'Escape') close();
+        if (e.key === 'ArrowLeft') prev();
+        if (e.key === 'ArrowRight') next();
+    });
+})();
+</script>
 {% endblock %}