Criccieth November

After Anglesey I fancied a trip to Criccieth to catch the sunset. This has got to be one of my favourite places. Got there about 4.30, parked up and dithered about whether to get a ticket as it was late. Conscience won over so I put in my 50p which the machine swallowed but then wouldn’t print the ticket, so I pushed all the buttons, like one does, and broke the machine. The screen flashed up “Not Operational” and a loud alarm bell started ringing! So I nonchalently sidled away. That will teach me to be honest, its a life of crime from now on!

So spent a lovely half hour up and down the beach taking sunset shots. It really is a beautiful place and again am pleased with the photos.

The only difficulty I have on these days out is making myself come home. I just don’t want them to end, but it was completely dark by this point and although I now have a whistle, I wouldn’t feel safe wandering up and down the beach by myself. 

I can’t wait until the spring comes and the days are longer. Back to the car, and the alarm bell is still ringing, so I hastily depart and come home (via McD’s as I realise I haven’t eaten anything since my gingerbread latte in Anglesey, too busy having fun to eat)

Lessons Learned: Choose your honesty selectively as it can get you into more trouble than you would imagine.

Night Time Photography

I have always liked pictures shot at night with their really rich colours and amazing effects, but always thought it was something I'd never be able to do. But then again, I am a New Woman now and trying brand new things and I can do anything. I think.

So back to the ever patient Stewart to arrange a night time workshop. We head out to a bridge over the A5 to photograph traffic and the results are quite incredible. It turns out that it is just the same as day time photography, only with longer shutter speeds. Who'd have thought!

(Seem to have permanently lost this photo, but trust me, it was a corker ;-) )

This was taken with a shutter speed of 20s, aperture at 4.5 with ISO at 100. The most difficult part for me was getting the focus right and for the first time in my life I actually wanted there to be more traffic. OK so the photo isn't art but the practice is the same whether over a dual carriageway in Shropshire, or on a mountain road in Snowdonia.

Next stop, Whittington to photograph the floodlit castle. Unfortunately it wasn't floodlit, but the pub opposite was so I am nothing if not adaptable.

 Exposure 3.2s, aperture 5.6, ISO 200. Starting to get a bit braver with the camera and have taken it off automatic. Its a steep learning curve and there were many, many pictures that will never be seen again but there are some I am pleased with so it is worth all the trial and error.

Lessons Learned: Don't put the camera away with the sun, there is a lot of fun to be had out there in the darkness.
Trial and Error is to me the best way to learn. If someone tells you how to do something I don't think it has the same impact as finding it out for yourself.