diff --git a/src/styles/global.css b/src/styles/global.css
index b3236ae..f321aa9 100644
--- a/src/styles/global.css
+++ b/src/styles/global.css
@@ -708,9 +708,23 @@ mark { background: var(--tint-cherenkov); color: inherit; border-radius: calc(va
   .band-bg::before {
     content: ""; position: absolute; inset: -45% -30%;
     background: var(--nebula);
-    animation: nebula 16s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
+    animation: nebula 12s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
+  }
+  /* Photo hero, animated path: the photo itself moves (slow Ken Burns zoom —
+     the unmistakable "alive" signal) and carries its scrim so the AA zones
+     travel with it (≤ ~4% shift at scale 1.1 — left text zone stays ≥.76α).
+     The Cherenkov glow drifts AND breathes (opacity pulse) above the photo. */
+  .hero-band { background: var(--galaxy); }
+  .hero-band .band-bg::before {
+    inset: -6%;
+    background: var(--hero-scrim), url("/brand/hero.jpg") center / cover;
+    animation: kenburns 26s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
+  }
+  .hero-band .band-bg::after {
+    content: ""; position: absolute; inset: -45% -30%;
+    background: var(--nebula-glow);
+    animation: glowdrift 12s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
   }
-  .hero-band .band-bg::before { background: var(--nebula-glow); }
   /* Whole-page wash — slow drift, clearly alive */
   .has-ambient::before { animation: ambient 36s ease-in-out infinite alternate; }
   /* Hero content rises in once, gently staggered */
@@ -729,8 +743,16 @@ mark { background: var(--tint-cherenkov); color: inherit; border-radius: calc(va
   .card:hover, .search-results li:hover { transform: translateY(-2px); } /* the one elevate gesture (no cover zoom) */
 }
 @keyframes nebula { /* inert unless applied inside the block above */
-  from { transform: translate3d(-8%, -5%, 0) rotate(-6deg) scale(1); }
-  to { transform: translate3d(8%, 6%, 0) rotate(6deg) scale(1.3); }
+  from { transform: translate3d(-8%, -5%, 0) rotate(-6deg) scale(1); opacity: 0.75; }
+  to { transform: translate3d(8%, 6%, 0) rotate(6deg) scale(1.3); opacity: 1; }
+}
+@keyframes glowdrift {
+  from { transform: translate3d(-6%, -4%, 0) rotate(-5deg) scale(1); opacity: 0.55; }
+  to { transform: translate3d(7%, 5%, 0) rotate(5deg) scale(1.25); opacity: 1; }
+}
+@keyframes kenburns {
+  from { transform: scale(1) translate3d(0, 0, 0); }
+  to { transform: scale(1.1) translate3d(2%, -1.5%, 0); }
 }
 @keyframes ambient {
   from { transform: translate3d(-5%, -4%, 0) rotate(-10deg) scale(1); opacity: 0.85; }