Rain-Damp Sheep in Alberta Shearing Shed

Broad late afternoon skylight floods a wide stable aisle in Alberta, reflecting off pale, smooth walls that define the space. Several sheep press closely together, their wool darkened by rain and lanolin into heavy, matted textures along their backs. Clean concrete floors show faint moisture where hooves have tracked wet earth across the surface. Narrow metal gates line the sides, creating a rhythmic corridor that guides the flock forward. Dust settles on dry, straw-strewn corners while the animals move with deliberate slowness. Water droplets rest on the coarse fibers of their shoulders, and a single drop slides down the side of a wooden post near the rear gate.