Photorealistic image of a courtroom scene with scales of justice weighed down by cash, a gavel, and suited men in a dark, moody setting.

Cinematic photorealism, chiaroscuro lighting, shallow depth of field, moody interior. A worn courtroom gavel lies diagonally across a set of tarnished brass scales of justice, now smeared with greasy fingerprints. The smudges distort the balance — one side of the scale hangs low, weighed down by a stack of dollar bills and crony contracts. Surrounding the central objects are a circle of sharply dressed men in expensive suits, smirking or whispering, each holding leather briefcases embossed with government seals or dollar signs. One figure quietly slips a judge’s robe into a suitcase. Another hands over a contract behind his back. A watchdog statue in the background has a muzzle and “Oversight Office” plaque cracked in two. Behind them, red emergency lights flash silently through a courthouse window, casting long shadows like prison bars. The room feels claustrophobic — like power has collapsed inward. Mood: corrupt, claustrophobic, ceremonial decay. Style: Gregory Crewdson meets House of Cards, hyper-detailed textures, modern gothic political noir. See more