Weathered Fence Posts in Black and White – An Afternoon in Swaledale
This afternoon, while out in Swaledale, I found myself slowing down to appreciate something that is so often overlooked in the landscape – the old wooden fence posts that line the fields and fells. These simple posts, shaped and scarred by decades of weather, quietly hold the character of the valley in their grain.
Wind, rain, frost, and sun have each left their mark. The wood is split and cracked, the surfaces worn smooth in places and rough in others, every line etched by time. To stand and really look at them is to see the story of endurance and resilience written in timber.
I chose to photograph them in black and white because stripping away colour allows the details to emerge more vividly. The monochrome tones highlight the textures, contrasts, and shadows that give each post its sculptural quality. They become more than practical markers in the landscape – they become artworks, shaped by nature and weather, standing quietly as part of Swaledale’s heritage.
Fence posts like these are easily passed by. Yet they are part of the fabric of the Dales, marking field boundaries, guiding the eye along dry stone walls, and enduring season after season. This afternoon, with the soft light falling across them, I was reminded how important it is to pause and notice the details that often fade into the background.
Photography has the ability to transform the everyday into something extraordinary, and for me, these weathered posts represent just that. They are humble, unassuming, but deeply beautiful – a reminder that there is quiet dignity in age and that resilience, even in the smallest of things, can be powerfully moving.
