Nosy Neighbours: A Morning Encounter Close to Home
Not every photograph needs a long hike or a sweeping view. This morning’s images were taken just a few minutes from the front door, on my regular dog walk — a route I know like the back of my hand, but one that still manages to surprise me.
The light was soft under a grey sky, and the air was still — not exactly dramatic conditions, but a lovely, quiet kind of morning. I had my iPhone in my pocket as usual, more out of habit than anything else, when I noticed a row of black heads peering over a drystone wall. The cows had spotted us first — or at least, they’d spotted Seth — and were clearly curious.
Before long I was stood nose-to-nose with some of the most inquisitive cattle I’ve come across. One by one they leaned in, completely unfazed, pressing their wet noses right up to the lens, ears flicking, eyes wide. It turned into an unexpected little portrait session — no tripod, no big camera, just a few quick taps on the phone screen as they posed (and slobbered) beautifully.
These are the kind of moments I love — unplanned, honest, full of character. Photographing them with a phone made the whole thing feel even more spontaneous. You react quickly, catch what you can, and end up with images that are as much about the moment as they are about the subject.
It’s easy to think of the Dales in terms of landscapes, light and weather — and of course, those things are part of the story. But it’s encounters like this that remind me how much personality lives in these places. The farms, the animals, the daily rhythm of life — they’re what bring the landscape to life.
