Week 3, seasides, sunshine and surf

Someone somewhere is smiling down on me. I have had 2 fabulous days out this week and the weather has been just perfect for both.
Wednesday found me with the opportunity to have a long day out so for a change I headed to Aberystwyth. I have only been there once, last July but didn't get the opportunity to really explore.
The day started off extremely cold, misty and frosty which made the journey incredibly beautiful. Just had to stop for this shot, the trees looked gorgeous but I just loved the little lone tree in the field behind. I have just softened the image a little in Lightroom and am very pleased with it.

By the time I got to Aberystwyth, the mist had cleared, leaving a beautiful blue sky and a wonderfully bright sun which lit up the colours of the houses.

I parked the furthest end of the promenade, by the harbour and walked the length of the sea front, then climbed to the top of the cliff shown in the following picture. Only had to stop to restart the breathing a couple of times. Definitely getting better. However, the views were worth it and the little white blob you can see on the horizon over the sea is actually Snowdon. Quite incredible!

So this was a completely fabulous day and what did I happen upon to make it just perfect? That's right. Surfers!

Because the day was bright, I was able to use a very short exposure to capture the moment. I tried manually focussing but I really wasn't quick enough. When I tried autofocus, it seemed to work most of the time. The trick is trying to predict which way they are going to head and I am definitely getting better at recognising the signs and enjoying the moment when the right wave forms.

This one I like because you can see the channel of water just carved out by the board. I shared the photos with the lad who was surfing (James) and one I took of his friend was posted on the Aber Surf Club F/B page! My fame is spreading.

I don't really know why surfing fascinates me. (Leaving aside the whole fit young men in skin tight outfits etc). It's not something I ever want to try but maybe its the feeling that I am watching the closest we would ever get to flying, the whole working together with the elements. I'm not sure, and if I ever come up with something that makes sense, I'll let you know.

And just to finish the day off perfectly, sunset! Don't know who the man is, but he stopped at exactly the right time and place!

2nd fabulous day out this week was to Llandudno, but I've wittered on too much about Aberystwyth to bore you with many details apart from to say that I had my climbing head on again and got up to the Great Orme Hill Fort and this is the view from it!

Lessons learned: I have learned this way, way, way too late, but photographing surfers is a very good way to meet handsome young men. Darn!

Diet Diary: Doing well, 7lb down! Combining the diet with the walking does seem to be doing the trick. Lets hope it continues for at least another few pounds!

Rambling Record: My target is to walk 20miles a week. At the end of week 3, with a target of 60miles, I have walked 74! Yay me!

Prize Winning Photographer, Llandudno and Bodnant Gardens

I have had the most brilliant few days. I have been on some fantastic trips but on Friday evening I was informed that my photo of Swans at Sunset at Ellesmere had won the Ellesmere Visual Arts Festival Photography Competition and would be displayed over the whole bank holiday weekend as part of the festival.

I was so surprised and completely thrilled. I am now a Prize Winning Photographer! I have only just stopped grinning to myself, starting to get some very strange looks.

Anyway, I have got a bit out of sequence. On Wednesday I decided to go somewhere new again. I planned to start in Llandudno (finding the Cadwaladers there to tick off my list) then head to Bodnant Gardens where I have never been.

Llandudno was actually very quiet and it was lovely being able to walk along the prom, although being blown along was probably more accurate as it was very windy. Still managed to get a couple of shots.

This is the bandstand on the front and it is completely charming. It is quite wide and not very high, so when I tried to get the whole thing in, it didn't quite work, but I am now looking at details and so capturing just part of it works for me.

I like photos of random people doing ordinary things, but still feel awkward taking pictures of strangers. I feel it can be seen as an intrusion, but if you ask if you can take the picture, then you lose the naturalness. I try to take them from a distance so I can pretend I'm photographing something else entirely. Anyone else have this problem?

What nearly did spoil the day is that they have closed the Cadwaladers! Apparently it has been a couple of years, so I am a bit behind the times! Completely gutted!

So on with the adventure, to Bodnant Gardens. You have got to go if you haven't already! It is the most beautiful place you can imagine. Going in May, all the azaleas and rhododendrons are out and the colours are quite breathtaking.

There is a whole new area opened this year and you can walk for miles. The sun had come out and it was a complete joy to walk amongst the gardens and woodlands. I won't pretend to know anything about plants. Its a standing joke in my family that you don't give me anything to grow because it will be dead in a fortnight and the same goes for my husband and pruning! I love the idea of a beautiful garden, but if I'm honest, don't have the knowledge or inclination to do anything about it. So I just wandered around thinking "that's pretty" rather than knowing if it was a hybrid strain of the Blue Balkan Bears Breeches (real plant). 

This last photo was taken in the Dell and is my favourite. Trying to think about leading lines and have focal points off centre. Strangely enough, I found it quite hard to take photos I was really pleased with as there is such a riot of colour and you are surrounded by flowers, shrubs and trees so it is difficult to pick out a proper focal point. Sometimes a photo just can't capture the impressiveness (is that a word?) of what you see.

This is the entrance way into the family crypt. It was called POEM when it was built and no one is completely sure why. One theory is that is stands for Place Of Eternal Memory, which is quite lovely. It's in the middle of woodland, surrounded by beautiful flowers and I can think of a lot worse places to end up!

A wonderful day is completed by stopping for Mango Sorbet at Cadwaladers in Betws-y-coed!

Lessons Learned: You don't have to be knowledgeable about things to be able to appreciate them.