Frost just makes the Elan Valley

It is the most amazing sensation to watch the sun rise above the hills here in the Elan Valley. Many times the intensity peters out by the time it peeks over the brow. Then there are days like this.... when it changes the frosty blue with a shard of fire erupting across the landscape. On this morning I stood by Craig Goch Dam and was almost breathless as the light pushed its way under the arches. I took the photo in HDR which I knew could either work or ruin it.  I spent my hour or two here watching a kestrel near the dam, in fact I got a great glimpse of it as it landed on the dam wall.... its red feathers sparkled the same rich tones of the landscape where the sun hit on the browns like the bracken slopes.

After a morning like this you just feel so alive.

F13 1/4 sec ISO 100 35mm lens with graduated filter HDR

Craig Goch Dam 

F 11 1/15 ISO 100 35mm lens with graduated filter

Craig Goch reservoir looking to Pont ar Elan

F 16 1.3sec  ISO 160 35mm lens

Waterfall in the Claerwen

F 9 1/5 ISO 100 35mm lens HDR

Frosty and dry river bed under Penygarreg Dam.

Winter sun is a magical ingredient!

The last couple of weeks have been a mix weather wise... the landscape altered in seconds by the light of the sun..... sometimes that is all it lasts. I am hoping for a little spell of cold to get out and capture some of that winter sun, the shadows nice and long as we approach the shortest day. Lots of farm catch up still on the go, so opportunities to get out unless for surveying are slimer. Below are a few of the photos captured.

Craig Goch under the layers of sun.

F:5.6 1/2 sec ISO 200 35mm

Monks Trod 2nd Survey: looking back towards Claerwen Reservoir.

F: 11 1/400 ISO 100 21mm

Penygarreg in the morning

F: 6.3 0.6 sec ISO 100 35mm lens - Gradual filter

Pretty Penygarreg in Pink - evening sun

F: 7.1 0.8 sec ISO 100 35mm lens

Winter reflection

F: 7.1 0.8sec ISO 100mm 35mm lens

The freeze- Elan Valley into Narnia

Playing a little catch up now on the blog here....
It has been hectic with work, puppies and finishing up jobs. The first day of December was "cold, cold and more cold". It was very misty to start so I decided to head out and see if I could get some photos. I couldn't see the dam at Craig Goch for some time, but then it happened, the sun came up and glowed through the mist creating the most amazing light. These photos required no talent, it was just was so terribly beautiful and the photos could not fail to impress...... and I am usually so modest! honest! I could feel my heart racing to capture everything, it was so beautiful, this was so special, this was something to share of the natural beauty being claimed by the elements who were taking a stand here in the Elan Valley. The frost was about an inch long on the fences and branches and so white standing proud in the cold. These are some of the photos from that magical morning.

F:13 1/30sec 100 ISO 35mm lens

Looking down from Craig Goch Dam

F: 13 1/30sec 100 ISO 35mm lens

F: 13 1/80 100 ISO 35mm lens

Craig Goch F: 13 1/15 100 ISO 35mm lens

Its not all sharp focus and ISO, its about soul and relationships

I have had a few lovely shots the last few days which I must upload. I have been contemplating today about what is the right image and what makes that special photo. The Elan valley is beautiful and many people are captured by different moments and experiences within its valleys. It may be the light, snow on branches, mirrored reservoirs or babbling brooks that lifts that special place in your heart. Some of our dearest family pictures are those simple moments caught, a look in the eye a favourite expression that you endear to. Not always a technically perfect photo.

I am putting up this image for a friend who has just passed away, of all my images he loves this one the most. He described it as truly capturing what the valley was about. He spent many years travelling up and down the valley so knew it well. Trying to capture and do justice to the valley`s soul is actually quite a hard thing to achieve. So for you old friend, We shall miss your warm and humorous chats on a cold frosty morning feeding the sheep. Your spirit will always be in these hills.

So for you - your favourite and one from today.

Its not all sharp focus and ISO, its about soul and relationships

I have had a few lovely shots the last few days which I must upload. I have been contemplating today about what is the right image and what makes that special photo. The Elan valley is beautiful and many people are captured by different moments and experiences within its valleys. It may be the light, snow on branches, mirrored reservoirs or babbling brooks that lifts that special place in your heart. Some of our dearest family pictures are those simple moments caught, a look in the eye a favourite expression that you endear to. Not always a technically perfect photo.

I am putting up this image for a friend who has just passed away, of all my images he loves this one the most. He described it as truly capturing what the valley was about. He spent many years travelling up and down the valley so knew it well. Trying to capture and do justice to the valley`s soul is actually quite a hard to do. So for you old friend, We shall miss your warm and humorous chats on a cold frosty morning feeding the sheep. Your spirit will always be in these hills.

So for you - your favourite and one from today.

Its not all sharp focus and ISO, its about soul and relationships

I have had a few lovely shots the last few days which I must upload. I have been contemplating today about what is the right image and what makes that special photo. The Elan valley is beautiful and many people are captured by different moments and experiences within its valleys. It may be the light, snow on branches, mirrored reservoirs or babbling brooks that lifts that special place in your heart. Some of our dearest family pictures are those simple moments caught, a look in the eye a favourite expression that you endear to. Not always a technically perfect photo.

I am putting up this image for a friend who has just passed away, of all my images he loves this one the most. He described it as truly capturing what the valley was about. He spent many years travelling up and down the valley so knew it well. Trying to capture and do justice to the valley`s soul is actually quite a hard thing to achieve. So for you old friend, We shall miss your warm and humorous chats on a cold frosty morning feeding the sheep. Your spirit will always be in these hills.

So for you - your favourite and one from today.

Just a little sparkle

Was a lovely night last night at the Elan Valley social clubs fireworks display held in the Elan Valley Village green. Many turned up to watch the show, hot dogs were fab and all enjoyed. I haven't really done fire works before so I had a little practice tonight..... its very exciting!

F:14 10sec ISO 2000 35mm lens

F: 10 10sec ISO 200 35mm lens

F: 16 5sec ISO 200 35mm lens

F: 16 25sec ISO 100 35mm lens

F: 16 2.5sec ISO 50 35mm lens

Finding Heaven

In a day's surveying.....

I awoke this morning and gathered my rucksack and lunch together. I found myself pondering those questions of life - Why does the winter sun make your windows look so grubby? - Why do I have a lump of bracken in my jacket pocket? - Did I charge that spare battery?

Soon I was on my way, dropped off at the top of the Claerwen Valley to walk a section of the Monks Trod. So there I was sitting on the banks of the Afon Claerwen with cold feet and warmed within by the light as it flitted over the great expanse of rolling moorland and upland hidden lakes. The River took some negotiating, it was in full flow and I needed to cross. So I took of my socks and wellies and headed across, but the water was so cold I stopped on an island to put on the wellies again. The rocks were so slippery at least the wellies could be pushed in under the stones. I rather inelegantly hunched my way across as I eventually defeated my obstructor. On my crossing my head was down and staring into the murky slippery depths which allowed my chancing upon an otter spraint, this was good! Alas I also cursed at our fluffy puppy Luna who had nibbled a hole half way up my right wellie boot, this was not good. However with my trousers rolled up at least my legs would not be wet, for today the wind was keen and unforgiving; a wonderful companion in the heat of the walk, but it would not be should it be clung to wet damp legs. I deserved a mint club and a cuppa after that so I sat on the bank and looked out at the magical landscape. Though my images are not technically fab, they have a real connection for me. I wore a plastic bag over my right foot in my wellie, again not a cool look but it did actually work - dry feet! I saw 4 snipe on the journey and I was floating on rainbows. Pictures will say the rest for you :-)

F:9 1/25 ISO 100 35 mm lens..... looking over the sheep to Penygarreg dam first thing on way up the Elan Valley

F:7 1/250 ISO 100 35mm lens.... claerwen the remotest farm in Wales

F:9 1/50 ISO 100 35mm Looking over to Claerwen

F:9 1/20 ISO 100 35mm the kit getting sorted for the rapids!

F:9 1/50 ISO 100 35mm Sitting having tea and bicci enjoying the light and listening to the chuckling Afon/river as it ran along beside me.

F:9 1/200 ISO 100 35mm I had spectators!

F: 5.6 1/100 ISO 100 35mm It was so wondrous

F: 5.6 1/500 ISO 100 35mm I found the magic at the rainbows end, the gold was painted in the landscape all around me.

F 6.3 1/200 ISO 100 35mm looking back to Claerwen on the ridge

F 5.6 1/125 ISO 100 35mm old fishing lodge

F 6.3 1/160 ISO 100 35mm Over Craig Goch as sun starts to set.

Puppies, beautiful puppies

Was a lovely moment hearing the tell tale squeaking of puppies. Ceri our red bearded collie gave birth to 7 pups. All lovely colours, 2 reds, 2 black and whites, 2 silver and one brown! Dad is a border collie. They were not planned, but they are very welcome and it should be a fun few weeks of busy bundles of joy. before we have to sell them on :-(

Ceri - Mum

All 7 pups

Born in the Heart of the Elan Valley is a puppy with a Heart! only boy.

Taff the dad.... winning best sheepdog at Pont ar Elan Show

Just too busy to download photos

It has been a hectic half term week, with little opportunity to take out the camera. Then Halloween Monday it was stunning, however I found myself tied to the kitchen as it was gathering day. It was stunning and the men enjoyed working in the Autumn sun. Its the last gathering before the long winter and sad in a way - it can be a long winter before our neighbours come back to help. Photographer friends have been telling me what a wonderful day it was for pictures. Frustrated of course I decided to get up early the following morning to "catch up" on the Autumn I was missing. However the mist failed to lift and I found myself in the woodlands capturing woodland scenes.
One such place is on the stream of old NantGwyllt where the old house is now under the weight of Birmingham's water. Where the poet Shelley once tried to buy but did not succeed in gaining assistance to financially help him.

F 7 1.6 Sec 24mm ISO 100

NantGwyllt, Elan Valley

F 7. 4 sec ISO 100 14mm

NantGwyllt Brook, Elan Valley

F: 7, 1/10 sec ISO 100 20mm

From our lower meadow over Penygarreg

F: 7.1 1/100 ISO 125 35mm

Bluebell the blue cow in the evening sun.

Solitude of the Mist

This morning saw another start with thick mist of white shroud the landscape. I found my self in the Claerwen Valley with only the flitting fieldfare and starling chirrup invading on the still calm I was enveloped with.

Dol y mynach unfinished Dam was where I felt the pull and therefore followed my instinct. It suited the sensibility of the day. Dol y mynach Dam was never completed and today there stands the footings. A small reservoir gathers behind the wall which is a superb pace for some unique and rare wildlife. This boasts the Welsh Clearwing moth, 5 spot lady bird, Otter, Water Vole, Corydalis weevil, wintering fowl and if in luck a fleeting electric blue streak passing you by of the king fisher. The Name Dol y mynach means monks meadow and it was likely the Cistercian monks took their stock to the area to graze on the meadows. It has this sense of serene and calm on most days visited. I thought myself alone but I did glimpse a fly fisherman, who I imagined thought himself alone.

The first few images are off the Dam and its place in the landscape. The second of a lonely alder tree perched on his rock. looking over to where Dol y mynach house should have stood, but was prematurely removed to make room for the Dam (which never came to that location after all).

F: 7.1 1/40 ISO 100 35mm lens

F: ? (around 7) 1/2 ISO 100 14mm lens

F: ? (around 7) 1/4 ISO 100 14mm lens

F: 7 1/4 ISO 100 14mm lens

F: 7 1/4 ISO 100 14 - 24mm lens HDR

F: 7 1/4 ISO 100 14 - 24mm lens HDR

Looking to the old house site

F: 7.1 1/15 ISO 100 35mm lens HDR

Looking down the Afon Claerwen from Claerwen Dam