Gothic details of York Minster in black and white #2 by Charlotte Hagg

During a stopover in York in the summer of 2024, I took this photo of York Minster, one of England’s most famous cathedrals. The shot was taken during a special trip to Scotland, together with my dog Sky and my mother, who unexpectedly decided to come along. York wasn’t the final destination of the trip, but rather—'—a place that made an unexpectedly strong impression along the way. By standing close to the building and shooting upwards, this powerful perspective emerged, in which the architecture seems to stretch almost endlessly towards the sky.

What particularly appeals to me about this image is the interplay of lines and the symmetry of the Gothic architectural style. Arches, ornaments, niches and decorative details are visible everywhere, coming together to form an impressive whole. The black-and-white processing places the emphasis entirely on shapes, contrasts and structure, without the distraction of colour. At the same time, it is remarkable to consider that structures of this kind were designed and built hundreds of years ago. The level of detail in the stonework demonstrates the sheer craftsmanship that went into it. It is precisely this contrast between the age of the building and the precision with which it was constructed that makes this cathedral so impressive for me to photograph.