On a rainy day, black and white photos seem to be the right thing, and I loved the sight this morning of the sheep gathering together for a stare-down with Red, who was blocking their access to the pasture while Maria and I opened the gates. If the sheep are not held back, they can charge in mass and knock somebody over or break somebody’s leg. So Red’s job is to hold them until we are ready for them.

They have learned to respect this, although they will mutiny every now and then. But not for long. They were considering the situation carefully, and I am realizing that sheep are perfect for black-and-white photography.