As Antigua’s 2025 Carnival draws to a close and the final celebrations of Insane Carnival wrap up the island’s biggest annual cultural season, one long-time band photographer has seized the moment to celebrate two standout figures with one-of-a-kind gifts that spotlight the magic of Caribbean carnival culture.
Justin Peters, a photographer celebrated for his sharp eye for detail and years of work capturing Insane Carnival’s participating “Troopers”, has built a reputation for more than just documenting the event—his work captures the deep joy of camaraderie, the explosion of vivid carnival colors, and the intricate artistry of Janna Costume Designs, one of the leading costume houses for Antigua Carnival.
This year, Peters selected two of Insane Carnival’s most high-profile, globally recognizable representatives to receive framed, timeless fine art prints of his iconic shots of the pair: Shannan “Dancer Boy Shan” Lawes, a popular fitness and dance instructor and social media content creator, and Asher Otto, a beloved Antiguan vocalist. Both images have been used for years in international marketing campaigns to promote Antigua Carnival to global travelers, with Lawes’ portrait even earning a spot in a recent summer 2025 feature on Antigua Carnival in the globally renowned business and lifestyle publication *Forbes* magazine. In that feature, writer Baz Dreisinger detailed Lawes’ unforgettable experience playing mas with Insane Carnival, highlighting the one-of-a-kind cultural atmosphere that makes the Antigua and Barbuda national carnival stand out from other Caribbean festival celebrations.
Both Lawes and Otto expressed heartfelt gratitude to Peters for the thoughtful, personal gift, noting that the photographer’s work accurately captured the raw, joyful emotion they felt while participating in the parade in custom costumes from Janna Costume Designs.
The *Forbes* feature was widely praised by carnival organizers for its authentic portrayal of not just Antigua’s unique open-road carnival experience, but the distinct immersive celebration that Insane Carnival has cultivated since its founding. That vision, first introduced by Insane Carnival Managing Director Captain Lenroy Browne when the band launched in 2014, has been brought to life in partnership with Janna Henry, head designer and founder of Janna Costume Designs. Over 12 years, the band has built a legacy of innovation and celebration, with Browne often emphasizing that the best years for Insane Carnival still lie ahead.
Insane Carnival’s leadership publicly commended Peters for his ongoing dedication to the band, his commitment to personal artistic growth, and his consistent ability to capture the joy, emotion and beauty of every Trooper participating in the celebration. Organizers noted that both Lawes and Otto are long-time, loyal members of the Insane Carnival community, making them deeply deserving of the honor. The exchange of the commemorative portraits also highlights the close, collaborative relationships that are at the core of Insane Carnival’s identity—an identity that has long lived by the band’s promise to members: “Expect Anything!”