Drying Peat Slabs on Fence in Autumn Floodplain

Dark, rectangular slabs of peat rest across a wire mesh fence, their rough, fibrous surfaces catching the dappled afternoon light filtering through overhead branches. The fence runs horizontally across a wet floodplain in Alsace, where the ground remains saturated from recent rain. Above, heavy dramatic clouds churn in shades of slate and grey, pressing low against the horizon. The peat slabs appear almost black in silhouette against the brighter, washed-out sky visible through the leafy canopy. Sparse autumn leaves in rust and ochre hang from the trees framing the view, their edges sharp against the moody backdrop. The wet grass below reflects the overcast sky, at the base of the drying fuel in the damp, still air of the season. One wire strand glints with moisture near the bottom edge of the frame.