It wasn’t hard finding my choice from the Magnum Photos Blog. The preview photo from the Koh Phangan Full Moon Party stood out from the pack as a bright and cheery technicolor beauty amidst a crowd of relatively drab colors and images. Located at Haad Rin Beach on the island of Koh Phangan in Thailand, the Full Moon Party takes place under the light of a full moon and draws a crowd of roughly 20,000–30,000 each and every time.

I couldn’t help but notice I was scrolling through the pictures with an ear-to-ear grin, and in a way, I felt like I was there as I witnessed a wide range of emotions… joy, wonder, love, amazement, all in the span of 21 vibrant photos. It’s subjects are portrayed displaying all those emotions, wide-eyed Westerners experiencing a nirvana of body of soul. If only for one night, they are carefree, reveling in the spirit of the moment. From passed-out partygoers sprawled along the beach to one-night lovers wrapped in what seems like an eternal embrace, the photos capture the essence of joy.

The first picture that really made me double-take was a bold, painted face partier limboing under a wooden stick set ablaze (3 of 21). As much as I myself would love to have attended this Full Moon Party, I can’t envision myself being as brave as this particular man was. Though his face is painted, I can see the fear and determination in his expression as his eyes linger on the flame dancing inches from his face. Shock and awe radiate from his impressed peers, and I couldn’t help but join them in their wonderment. It takes a certain kind of individual to willingly bring his face to the fire, and even as a still, I felt a strong sense of admiration.

In a sharp juxtaposition from the first, my next choice featured two lovers lying on the beach looking into each others eyes (5 of 21). Unaware (or perhaps, very aware) of the chaos stirring about them, they are framed perfectly between two blurs of passing partygoers. I was overcome with a sense of pure, unabashed enthusiasm and joy for the couple. Whether they came together or met during the night, they were together now, gazing into each others eyes, still in a world surrounded by movement.

Though it was a tough choice for my third picture, I settled on one that gave an idea of the scope of the party (15 of 21). As the early-morning sun brought a light unseen to the beach for many hours, I was so amazed to see so many individuals still celebrating along the length of the beach. I actually shook my head, incredulous to the fact that these same individuals who celebrated the night away had already rose (or in some cases, stayed awake) to take on the morning. This photo, though in smaller resolution, fascinated me, if only because it gave me the tiniest hint to the size and duration of the evening’s events.