Mini adventure - Day 1

I had been given the opportunity to have a few days away from home. Just me and the camera, so the last few weeks have involved meticulous planning and many changes of destination. I finally decided on Anglesey as there is so much to see there and my earlier visits had only just touched the surface.

However, I wanted to make the most of the journey so planned the route to involve at least one Cadwaladers (Criccieth of course) and one visit to the Llyn Peninsula.

First stop was to be Porth Ceiriad. I had been there once before on our chasing waves day so wanted to see it again when it was a bit calmer and see how different the photos would be. I remembered having to drive through a campsite so found the postcode for that. Wrong campsite of course, Navigationally Challenged in the blog title for a reason! Found it eventually, but they don't make it easy!

Last time we were here the waves were wild and so dramatic. This time is was decidedly calmer and the water seemed a much more beautiful colour.

Storm clouds were rolling in, but the rain stayed off the shore all the while I was there.

Managed to get further along the beach this time and found more caves with some beautiful rock formations. The Welsh coastline is truly dramatic and beautiful and I regret that it has taken me so long to find this out.

I don't know if it is the right or wrong thing to do, but I am trying to avoid using the tripod on the beach. The way it sinks into the sand makes it very difficult to keep steady, so I am instead upping the ISO a bit and opening the aperture to get a shorter shutter speed so I can hand hold. So far so good.

So off to Anglesey. I had booked to stay in Beaumaris for the night. Its a lovely town right on the harbour, but the storm was threatening so didn't have much chance to look around, but got a few pics.

The rain brought with it a rainbow, which hung over the water for a while and was so pretty.

I am trying to diversify with the type of pictures I take, meaning not just scenes. Going for "art". Not sure if its working yet, but will keep at it!

You can see the rain coming in on the last photo, so this was my cue to head to the hotel.

Lessons learned: I have realised that I struggle to concentrate in the presence of a pretty face. Handsome young concierge at the hotel asked for my car registration number and my mind went blank. I really am too old for that sort of nonsense!

I really do have absolutely no sense of direction.

Chasing Waves January 2015

A storm was about to hit and the seas were predicted to be rough so Stewart and I decide to go Chasing Waves!

I start off in Abersoch, getting there for sunrise and yes, that did mean a completely ungodly hour to get up in the morning.

Next stop, Hell's Mouth where the waves were expected to be extreme, 10 - 12ft! The sea was a bit wild, but I think someone exaggerated a bit!

So plan B. Porth Ceiriad. And oh Wow, what a place. Here were the extreme waves. Here was nature at her most dangerous. The wind was so strong we could barely stand and the noise from the sea was deafening and I have never had an experience like it!

It was so cold, but I have learned from past experiences that you need layers and plenty of them (3 on my legs and 5 on the rest of me). Top that off with a woolly hat with earflaps and I'm afraid to say that I didn't look at my most glamorous. Its a difficult call when you are on a field trip with a handsome young man. Glamour or warmth? Its probably a sad indication of the time I have reached in my life when warmth won without too much of a struggle.

When looking back at my photos I think I should have used a shorter shutter speed. I got a lot of movement on the camera because of the intense winds. I think I would have got a bit more definition. The tripod kept being blown over so I had to make sure I had a firm grip on the camera at all times.

With reluctance we left Porth Ceiriad and drove to Trefor where there were people surfing. It is very much on my To Do list to take a good photo of a surfer and although I took plenty, none were good. I have never seen anyone surf before and it is fascinating. The patience needed to wait for the right wave, the agility and balance to get up on the board, and then to be able to cruise in on the wave. Incredible stuff. But no, not tempted. Its still freezing cold water and a rubber jumpsuit. Will stick to trying to photograph it.

But what a fantastic day, some amazing locations, great company and some cracking photos!

Lessons Learned: You can't look alluring when you have doubled your body weight in thermal layers, so don't even try.