This week at Leanne’s Monochrome Madness, Sue Judd is hosting the theme: figures in the built environment. I instantly thought of above photo. It’s one of my favourite happenstance shots, originally taken in monochrome. Also it features the astonishing 5,500 year old prehistoric chambered tomb of Pentre Ifan in Pembrokeshire, which however you look at it, is one piece of epic construction. (For an earlier post with more info and photos go HERE.) Finally, there’s a bit of a yarn about that chap, who so obligingly turned his face to the sun just as I was taking the photo.
I had walked down the field to take shots that showed the extent of the earth mound that once covered the still standing stones. It would have been a huge barrow, an earthwork that would have taken heaven knows how many people-days to construct. That capstone, too, is reckoned to weigh 16 tonnes and doubtless would have taken some serious magic know-how to get it in position.
When I walked back to the tomb, I saw that the man I had just snapped was standing on the wrong side of the site’s perimeter fence. The obliging sideways glance had arisen from his attempts to find a place to climb over it.
Things did not look promising. There were hawthorn bushes as well as barbed wire. He was wearing cropped pants. We got talking. And he told me he had left his car further up the lane, having missed the official parking spot. But, he said, he was so excited to see the monument, he had climbed over the nearest farm gate, thus ending up in the adjacent field.
In the end we agreed a tactical retreat followed by a fresh approach on the designated path were the only options.
Copyright 2026 Tish Farrell
Monochrome Madness #64 Figures in the built environment
This week Sue Judd is hosting the theme. She has posted a gallery of several striking examples. Go see!
Nice one, Tish! You’ve injected some mystery into the scene, and thanks for your enthusiasm
So pleased you like this, Sue. It was very inspirational theme you set us 🙂
Pleased you liked the theme, and got some interesting responses
Great images – the figures really add scale to the scene! And I think that tactical retreat will definitely have been the best option 🙂
Thanks, Sarah. As to the figures, I recall being a bit miffed with other visitors keep being in my line of sight. But actually, as you say, they’re great for a sense of scale.
Haha yes, I’ve often felt the same about people ‘getting in my way’, but I try to remind myself they have as much right to be there as I have 😀
Absolutely, Sarah.
Interesting story Tish, and images. Sometimes it’s best not to try a shortcut!
Yes, shortcuts can become terrible longcuts 🙂
😍
I agree that you have to wonder how they got those stones into place. I thought the same thing when I first saw Stonehenge, back in the days when you could walk among all the stones. The second time I went, you couldn’t do that, so I’m really glad I got to see it the first time that way.
The figure off the side does give a good feel for scale, but I’m with you in generally wanting no people in my picture
I, too, was lucky enough to wander around Stonehenge. You do have to wonder how they shifted such big stones,
And not just how did they get one atop the others but how did they get them there in the first place and stand them up?
Happenstance is often the best creative force.
It certainly can be.
I have been there, but in my minds eye I don’t remember it being so open 🤔 I shall have to look up my photos. I do recall the parking being quite hidden. You got some lovely photos.
Thanks, Jude. Looking at Google Earth just now, the site does look as if it’s been ‘regulated’ into a rectangle, and so perhaps cleared/tidied up at some stage.
Hi Tish
This is the lecture Peer Gynt already has to learn that the direct way is not the best one. It’s better to go back looking for another way.
We like your photo of the ancient stones. Perfect in BW.
Thanks
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Many thanks, Fab Four, and especially for a reminder of the Peer Gynt tale.
Nicely shared.
Thank you.
Wonderful Tish, I think the people are great for scale next to the monument. I love the suggestion of magic to get it up there. You do have to wonder how they did that sort of thing. Thanks for being part of the theme Tish.
Many thanks, Leanne.