diff --git a/attached_assets/image_1772303816735.png b/attached_assets/image_1772303816735.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9248460
Binary files /dev/null and b/attached_assets/image_1772303816735.png differ
diff --git a/client/src/components/photo-gallery.tsx b/client/src/components/photo-gallery.tsx
index d544b00..44de15c 100644
--- a/client/src/components/photo-gallery.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/photo-gallery.tsx
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ function SingleImageCarousel({
         <img
           src={images[index].large || images[index].thumb}
           alt={images[index].fileName}
-          className="w-full h-full object-cover transition-opacity duration-500"
+          className="w-full h-full object-cover object-top transition-opacity duration-500"
           loading="lazy"
           data-testid="img-gallery-current"
         />
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ export function PhotoGalleryWidget() {
         <SingleImageCarousel
           images={images}
           autoPlay={true}
-          interval={5000}
+          interval={10000}
           onExpand={(i) => setLightboxIndex(i)}
         />
       </div>
diff --git a/client/src/pages/home.tsx b/client/src/pages/home.tsx
index 6567ba0..921c91a 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/home.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/home.tsx
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ function GalleryHeroCard({ images }: { images: GalleryImage[] }) {
   const [idx, setIdx] = useState(0);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    const timer = setInterval(() => setIdx((i) => (i + 1) % images.length), 4000);
+    const timer = setInterval(() => setIdx((i) => (i + 1) % images.length), 10000);
     return () => clearInterval(timer);
   }, [images.length]);
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ function GalleryHeroCard({ images }: { images: GalleryImage[] }) {
     <Link href="/gallery">
       <div className="relative group cursor-pointer rounded-lg overflow-hidden h-full" data-testid="card-hero-gallery">
         <div className="relative h-full min-h-[300px] md:min-h-[380px]">
-          <img src={images[idx].large || images[idx].thumb} alt={images[idx].fileName} className="w-full h-full object-cover absolute inset-0 transition-opacity duration-1000" loading="lazy" />
+          <img src={images[idx].large || images[idx].thumb} alt={images[idx].fileName} className="w-full h-full object-cover object-top absolute inset-0 transition-opacity duration-1000" loading="lazy" />
           <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-t from-black/90 via-black/30 to-transparent" />
           <div className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 right-0 p-5">
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2">