Snowdonia and Anglesey Late December

After the excesses of Christmas I felt that I needed a long and wild day out so headed for Snowdonia.

It was a completely gorgeous morning. So cold but really bright and crisp. I knew exactly the spot I wanted to get to and arrived at about the right time for the sunrise. There were already quite a few photographers there lined up with their tripods, but was able to find a good spot. So what is the collective name for them? A flash of photographers, an exposure of photographers? Answers on a postcard please!

Very pleased with how the pics turned out. Almost worth the frostbite! The colours on the mountains were just glorious. You definitely need a tripod for this as my fingers were shaking so much with the cold. -5. Thank heaven for thermals!

        

            

After that I drove towards Beddgelert and took some shots along that road. It goes along the valley and a low mist just hung in the middle of it. So very pleased with how this photo came out.

       

I wanted to explore further as it was still very early, so decided to find the Twr Mawr Lighthouse on Anglesey. It is situated on Llanddwyn Island, just outside of Newborough on Anglesey and is the most gorgeous place. It starts off like a bit of a nature reserve in that you drive through protected forests where there is supposedly an abundance of wildlife including red squirrels. After a couple of miles you come to the beach and it is spectacular. The water is the Menai Straits and the other side of that is Snowdonia, so you have sea and mountains in one view with forests behind.

You walk for over a mile to one end and that is when you come to the Llanddwyn Island which is cut off from the mainland by really high tides. On this Island are 2 lighthouses and a small ruin. There are many secluded bays and lots of hills to clamber up so I took so many photos. Well worth a visit if you haven't been there.         

  

 

The light has been just about perfect all day so I have felt very inspired and I am hoping that shows in the photos. Trying to concentrate on focal points in my scenes and playing around with settings to make the best of the light.            

 

Spent about 3 hours just walking the beach and lighthouses and it was almost sunset by this time so I set up the tripod and snapped away. And isn't it amazing when there is a boat exactly where you need one to be!

Lessons Learned: Brave the elements and don't assume how the day starts will be how it finishes.