I’ve lived in County Durham for years, and like a lot of people, Durham Cathedral has always just been… there. It’s a place I’ve visited countless times, but I don’t think I truly appreciated it until I started photographing it.
This series came from wanting to see if I could photograph one of the most recognisable buildings in the North East in a way that felt a little different. Rather than focusing on the obvious postcard views, I wanted to slow down and pay attention to the things people often walk straight past – the way the light moves through the building, the incredible textures in the Norman stonework, and how tiny people look against the huge arches and columns.
All of the photographs were taken during several visits over the summer of 2026. Every visit felt different. Sometimes the cathedral was quiet, sometimes it was full of visitors, and every change in the weather completely transformed the light inside. It meant I was constantly finding new compositions, even in places I’d photographed before.
I shoot almost exclusively in black and white because it strips everything back to the essentials. Without colour competing for your attention, the light, shadows, shapes and architecture become the story. Durham Cathedral lends itself perfectly to that style. The contrast between the bright windows and the dark stone creates moments that almost feel theatrical, especially when someone walks into the frame at just the right time.
One of my favourite images from the series is the silhouette of a priest walking through a pool of light beneath the arches. It wasn’t staged; it was simply one of those moments where everything came together. Another favourite uses a single person to show the incredible scale of the cathedral, reminding us just how enormous and impressive the building really is.
Photography has also changed how I see the place I call home. Living here, it’s easy to become used to seeing the cathedral and forget just how special it is. Carrying a camera has made me slow down, look harder and appreciate details I’d probably walked past dozens of times before.
More than anything, I hope these photographs encourage people to do the same. Whether you’ve lived in Durham all your life or you’re visiting for the first time, I hope the series makes you pause for a moment, look a little closer, and see the cathedral in a different light.
If you’d like to see more of my photography, you can find my latest work on Instagram at @dsaundersphotos, where I regularly share black and white photography from across the North East and beyond.
