diff --git a/frontend/src/components/react/PostList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/react/PostList.tsx
index 26026a2..5c3e8f1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/react/PostList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/react/PostList.tsx
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ export default function PostList({ posts: initialPosts, isAdmin = false }: Props
               aria-label={`View ${displayTitle}`}
             >
               <div
-                className="plate-image"
-                style={{ aspectRatio: layout.aspect }}
+                className={`plate-image ${hasCover ? 'is-natural' : ''}`}
+                style={hasCover ? undefined : { aspectRatio: layout.aspect }}
               >
                 {hasCover ? (
                   <img
@@ -170,8 +170,6 @@ export default function PostList({ posts: initialPosts, isAdmin = false }: Props
                   <span>{formatMonth(post.date)}</span>
                   <span className="plate-caption-sep" aria-hidden="true">·</span>
                   <span>{formatYear(post.date)}</span>
-                  <span className="plate-caption-sep" aria-hidden="true">·</span>
-                  <span>{post.reading_time} min</span>
                 </div>
               </div>
             </a>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/react/admin/Login.tsx b/frontend/src/components/react/admin/Login.tsx
index 8f2ec51..d328b01 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/react/admin/Login.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/react/admin/Login.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ export default function Login() {
   const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
   const setLoggedIn = useAuth(s => s.setLoggedIn);
 
-  async function handleSubmit(e: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) {
+  async function handleSubmit(e: React.SyntheticEvent<HTMLFormElement>) {
     e.preventDefault();
     const token = value.trim();
     if (!token) return;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/react/admin/Settings.tsx b/frontend/src/components/react/admin/Settings.tsx
index 0c66e11..da81355 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/react/admin/Settings.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/react/admin/Settings.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export default function Settings() {
     setConfig(prev => ({ ...prev, [key]: value }));
   }
 
-  async function handleSubmit(e: React.FormEvent) {
+  async function handleSubmit(e: React.SyntheticEvent) {
     e.preventDefault();
     try {
       await updateConfig(config);
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/posts/[slug].astro b/frontend/src/pages/posts/[slug].astro
index ede2331..e7ac27e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/posts/[slug].astro
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/posts/[slug].astro
@@ -114,8 +114,6 @@ const displayTitle = post ? (post.title || formatSlug(post.slug)) : 'Work';
         <div class="section-rule max-w-md mx-auto mb-6">
           <span class="ornament">✦</span>
           <span>{formatDate(post.date)}</span>
-          <span class="ornament">·</span>
-          <span>{post.reading_time} min</span>
           {post.image_count > 0 && (
             <>
               <span class="ornament">·</span>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/uploads/[...path].astro b/frontend/src/pages/uploads/[...path].astro
index 1711c19..b227453 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/uploads/[...path].astro
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/uploads/[...path].astro
@@ -8,12 +8,9 @@ if (!response.ok) {
   return new Response(null, { status: 404 });
 }
 
-const blob = await response.blob();
-const contentType = response.headers.get('content-type');
-
-return new Response(blob, {
+return new Response(await response.blob(), {
   headers: {
-    'content-type': contentType || 'application/octet-stream',
+    'content-type': response.headers.get('content-type') || 'application/octet-stream',
     'cache-control': 'public, max-age=3600'
   }
 });
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/global.css b/frontend/src/styles/global.css
index fee5552..581c80e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/global.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/global.css
@@ -548,6 +548,14 @@ code, pre, kbd, samp {
   filter: saturate(0.94) contrast(1.02);
   transition: transform 0.8s cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.2, 1), filter 0.4s ease;
 }
+/* Natural mode — container drops fixed aspect so image shows its true ratio. */
+.plate .plate-image.is-natural {
+  height: auto;
+}
+.plate .plate-image.is-natural img {
+  height: auto;
+  object-fit: contain;
+}
 .plate:hover .plate-image img {
   transform: scale(1.03);
   filter: saturate(1.05) contrast(1.04);