Ellesmere Canal

Reunited and it feels so good (anyone under the age of 30 isn't going to get the musical reference, so ask your parents!). Bob is back. He has had to undergo minor surgery to have a lens removed and fix a broken focus panel apparently, but he is recuperating well and had his first outing today.

However, before I start on today's trip, I must tell you about my outing last week. I was still using my little black point and click so decided to go somewhere where I didn't need to take photos. I decided to revisit my favourite way to spend a day. Criccieth for a walk on the beach, 2 minute beach clean and cake at Cadwaladers, then on to Hells Mouth to watch the waves (and if there are surfers, that is a bonus). 

Got to Criccieth and had the obligatory cherry and rhubarb cake then walked along the beach. The tide was out so I was able to walk around the bit of headland jutting out. I actually paddled barefoot and the water was really quite warm. The sun was shining and it was so beautiful there. Got completely lost in my own thoughts. On heading back, I was a bit perturbed to find that the tide had come in and by the time I got to the headland, perturbed had turned to quite alarmed. The water was bum deep and there was no way around it, only through it! So through it I went, holding camera and shoes aloft, hoping that I wouldn't trip and end up completely submerged. Made it through to the other side but was completely drenched, as you would expect after walking through 3ft of water.

However, I was wearing my quick drying shower proof Mountain Warehouse trousers and by heavens, they are good. By the time I had got to the other end of the beach, I was completely dry. Couldn't believe it. So off to Hell's Mouth for a recuperative loiter in the sand dunes watching the abundance of surfers who were there!

Back to today. Its Monday so it must be singing lesson. So a good 45mins to occupy while Maisie sings her heart out!

It has been a dull and overcast evening with occasional showers, but I thought a walk along the canal would be fine. We are so lucky in Ellesmere. We have the beautiful Mere and woodland, plus a fabulous and busy canal with all sorts of interesting things happening around it.

I have done a bit of editing on these photos to add some definition and boost the colours and clarity. 

However, I think the subject matter works well with the more muted colours too.

Many of the canal boats were bright colours and I think I will have to revisit when the sun is out and the light will be better, but for tonight I have gone for "moody" rather than bright.

Only took the camera, no spare lenses or tripod, as with only a limited amount of time, I didn't want to spend it putting up, repositioning and taking down the tripod. Had the ISO at around 400 which gave me an acceptable shutter speed.

After my workshop last weekend, I am trying to look out for the detail in a scene and get in a bit closer. Don't think I am there yet, but possibly heading in the right direction.

I will always welcome comments on my posts or pictures, and I know sometimes it can be impossible to get a comment posted. If that is happening to you, please feel free to e-mail.

I have lived in this area for over 20 years and there are still places that I haven't been to. Today was the first time I had visited the marina and it is a very interesting place with all the canal boats moored, in varying degrees of repair

I've never been on a canal boat either, so maybe that's another thing to add to my bucket list. Not got a lot on there yet, so suggestions welcome.

Lessons Learned:  I really am not safe to be allowed to go out by myself and yet people still let me! 

I will always love the oceans and mountains for a day out, but I really must explore the area around my home a lot more, before they frack it, build on it and generally destroy the charm of Ellesmere.

Shrewsbury Revisited

After my workshop on Saturday, there was a problem with my camera so it has had to be sent away for repairs for anything up to 4 weeks!! So I am feeling completely bereft and don't quite know what to do with myself. Photography has been the key behind the brand new adventurous me and I really don't want to be without it for long.

So, time to resurrect my old point and shoot camera that I used before I got a "grown up" camera. It has the enormous aperture range of 4.2 to 7.3, won't shoot RAW and doesn't have a viewfinder, only a live view screen. However, I thought it would help me to focus on the composition, knowing that there was little I could do with the camera to change things.

Still it's better than nothing, so out I go again. The idea is to retrace the route Richard and I took on our workshop. However, easily distracted by something shiny, saw the following in a field on the way in.

Please forgive the quality of the pictures, as it really is a very basic camera.

So I get to where we met up and followed our route, except that I didn't because I got completely lost. I can only explain it by the fact that I was listening so intently to what I was being taught that I didn't pay any attention to where I was going. I may have mentioned it before, but navigationally challenged is in the title for a reason!

I ended up crossing a fabulous toll bridge that I hadn't seen before. This led up a hill into a lovely posh residential area with some very pretty houses.

It was actually really nice just to wander around not really knowing where I was but having every confidence that I couldn't be too far from town and if the worst came to the worst, I could always just retrace my steps.

Funnily enough, it was actually quite liberating knowing that I couldn't do anything to the camera. I put in on auto (yes I know, I'm sorry) and let it sort itself out. I then had to get myself lined up properly and visualise how the picture would look. I think we can get so wrapped up in shutter speeds, apertures, ISO and everything else you can do that it is easy to forget composition. Unfortunately my screen on the camera isn't very good, so many of the pictures were a bit pot luck, and quite a few won't make it past Lightroom!

Normally when I go out photographing I have my 10lb backpack with spare lenses, filters, tripods, cleaning equipment, remote and all the other bits and pieces you need. Today, I put the camera in my pocket!

Eventually found my way back to known territory and walked along the river.

I have noticed when looking at the photos that I haven't done an awful lot of "thing" photography which was what the course was about. I think that is a mindset that I still haven't got into yet. I am hoping when Bob (my youngest named the camera) returns, I can have another go as I really want to be able to do that. Most of the photos I took are the type of thing I typically take, but a couple are a bit different, so baby steps!

Lessons Learned: It was a valuable lesson to be out and about without my Canon and what did I learn from it? That I don't want to be out and about without my Canon!

Diet Diary: How can I think about dieting without my camera, can't you see I'm upset and cake is the only thing that helps with the pain.

Shrewsbury - experimenting

So I did it. The hair is now pink and when I get a better picture than the selfie I put on Facebook, I will show you. Now I feel different inside and look different outside. Its been good for me I think, as I have found that I have had to dig deep and bring out some self confidence to pull it off! I'm walking tall and I'm done apologizing for who I am!

OK, so deep philosophical stuff out the way, back to the important stuff, photography!

I am pleased with how my landscape photography is progressing. I feel that although I am not there yet, I am heading in the right direction and have a general idea of where I need to improve.

However, I am clueless when it comes to more detailed photography. Taking photographs of "things" and making it interesting. I arranged an afternoon workshop with a fabulous local photographer Richard Hammerton (see my photographers who inspire section for a gallery of his work).

We walked around Shrewsbury and Richard encouraged me to look at things in a different way. Whereas I tend to shoot the whole, straight on and stepped back, he suggested I look at things from a different angle and to focus on the texture and interest in the detail.

It certainly changed the emphasis of the walk, I found I was looking at things a lot more closely, and elements were registering that I would simply have walked past before.

He taught me that there are 3 basic elements to look at to make a photo work: light, subject and composition. If 2 are right chances are it's a good photo, if 3 are, it has the potential to be a great photo. 

Rather than just point and shoot, it made me think more about what is the focal point of the picture, where is the light coming from and what effect is that having on the subject and the background. How do I want my subject to sit in the frame and how important do I want the background elements to be.

Now I know that these aren't great photos, I have a long way to go before getting there, if I ever do, but I am enjoying the learning curve of trying something new. So thank you Richard, for an enjoyable and very informative workshop.

Lessons Learned: You can miss so much beauty and drama in this world by only looking at the "pretty" stuff. Take time to really look at what is around you.

I Love Pink Hair!!!

Diet diary Ok, so back on track now.
Camera bag 1: 6 1/4lb down, 3 3/4lb to go
Camera bag 2: not started yet

Moreton Corbet,

Its been a very hectic few days with work and being out and about as much as possible, so the blog has been a bit neglected, sorry. To be honest, my head and heart are still at the top of Snowdon and everything else seems to pale into insignificance.

I have been struggling to think how I can top climbing Snowdon, but then I remembered that I got into all this to be a better photographer, not mountain climber. Although I do love being out and about in this beautiful Country of ours, I don't want photography just to be a secondary something I do when I am there. So I need to refocus and find a better balance.

At the end of the previous blog, I promised more details about my trip to Moreton Corbet, the derelict Elizabethan Manor just outside Shrewsbury.

I found out about it on a website which details many great places to photograph around the country, a great site to browse. shot hot spots

It's not far from me and I do happen to remember that there is a fantastic farm shop en route that does the most amazing cakes. Battlefield 1403

Moreton Corbet is incredible. It just sits in the middle of the field, with a modern farm opposite. Parts of it look completely intact, while most of it is in ruins.

There are the remains of a castle beside it, but to me they are typical castle remains in that there is not much left, but the house is fascinating.

The above picture is me playing around with Panoramas. Not quite worked out how to get it all straight. It is all sort of leaning into the middle. Something to work on. It was made up of 4 shots and then merged in Lightroom. I am still amazed at what can be done relatively easily.

It is completely free entry and you can walk all around it, through it and, in the small cellar area, under it!

You can find out more about it at this English Heritage Website moreton-corbet-castle/ Its probably wrong of me, but I can't get too fascinated in the history of some of these old buildings. They were owned by "this family" and then "that family", people I have never heard of and am not interested in. To me, it is an object of beauty to admire and photograph and if that makes me shallow, so be it!

Lessons Learned: I am loving taking black and white pictures. Never something I have been that keen on, but the whole experience is a learning curve and you never know what is going to appeal until you play around. Another lesson for life in general I think!

When you do something amazing and so far out of your comfort zone, it changes you and you expect everyone else to see the change. Unfortunately, apart from your friends, no one else does. So I am going to mark the change by having pink streaks put in my hair, so whenever anyone asks "why on earth have you done that?", I will say "because I have climbed a mountain!"

Diet Diary. Please, lets not mention the diet today. Not going well. I can climb mountains but can't resist cake. Hopeless!

Snowdon Conquered!

I did it! Got to the top of Snowdon. Can't quite believe it and if it wasn't for the fact that I can barely move this morning, I'd think I'd dreamed it!

It was a very spur of the moment decision. Woke up in the morning and decided to go for it. I have been making excuses for ages why I couldn't do it, but no more.

Got to the base about 11am and saw that there was still snow at the top which might change things, but I thought I would just see how far I could go whilst keeping safe.

The weather was perfect, bright but not hot so I set off up the Miners Path. I really like this path, I may have mentioned before that it is very forgiving of an inexperienced walker and the scenery of course is breathtaking.

I had more or less emptied my backpack of everything except food, just bringing my camera but no spare lenses or tripod as this trip was about the hike. 

I had previously got as far as Llyn Glaswyn, the top lake on the approach to the summit, which was a bit less than half way up. It seemed easier getting to it this time, which was very gratifying and I really started to think that I could do it. Although looking up at the mountain, the top seemed an awful long way off.

From here the climb started to get a lot more difficult. I soon hit snow which made the going a lot slower, but in some ways I think that might have helped because it made me take my time. I stopped quite a few times to rest and get my breath back, but I wasn't in a hurry. 

A couple of times I almost lost the path, but there were a couple of groups climbing, so I just waited, pretending to take photos, until they'd passed, then followed them!

I hope this doesn't sound mean, but it was very gratifying to see people half my age wheezing with the climb, more so than I was! I think all this time that I have been underestimating my capabilities!

Finally passed the intersection with the Pyg track, then on to where it meets the Llanberis Path.

The views are simply spectacular and from this point for the first time I could see the views of the other side of the mountain. Unfortunately before I could take a picture, the cloud dropped and I could see nothing.

Visibility was about 20ft, but I felt that it was safe enough to go on, having come so far. It was slippy underfoot and I think if I hadn't had my hiking sticks with me, I'd have ended up sitting on more than one occasion. The closer I got to the top, the stronger the winds became until it felt like they were guarding the summit and were trying to blow the intruder off her feet!

But I persevered and I got there!

The above plaque is on a plinth at the top of some steps and I clung to it for about 5 mins because the wind had got so strong that I couldn't stand and I had the feeling that I might soon be finding a very quick way to the bottom! It was the only time on any of my travels that I have felt genuinely scared. 

The wind briefly dropped and I was able to get down the steps, but I had a decision to make. I didn't think I would safely make it back down the miners track as it was pretty scary climbing up. If I followed the Llanberis track, it would be easier, but I would end up miles from the car.

But this time, for once in my life, common sense and self preservation kicked in and I followed the Llanberis Path.

It was certainly easier, but good heavens its long! About 4.5m, which might not seem too long, but when you have just climbed a mountain, its long. I had snow still until about half way down, then it got easier. However, I really started having trouble with my knees and by the time I got to the end, I was in quite a bit of pain.

Just when I thought I would struggle to go much further, I saw a sign "Taxis booked from here". Almost cried!

It was a fabulous tea house called Pen Ceunant (www.snowdoncafe.com) and I was welcomed by the owner Steve who was amazing. After sending me off to freshen up, he booked me a taxi and then made me a cup of tea free of charge! He said it would be the best cup of tea I have ever had, and after all that walking, it certainly was.

The Tea House is a gorgeous building. All roaring fires and 18th Century furnishings. He caters for walkers, which he welcomes, and if you are doing the Llanberis Path, you can park for free there and he doesn't mind if you sit and eat your own sandwiches. I can't recommend him highly enough.

So feeling refreshed, completely chuffed and amazed with myself, I got the taxi back to the car about 9 miles away!

Lessons Learned: I am generally a coffee drinker, but sometimes only a nice cup of tea will do.

I can actually do anything I set my mind to. No more believing that I can't. Now if only I can apply the same mindset to the diet!

Diet Diary
Camera bag 1 - 5 1/4lb lost 4 3/4 to go

New Skills

I am feeling very pleased with myself as I have learned how to do 3 new things with the camera. 

I am a bit of a technophobe and instruction manuals hold all sorts of silent terrors for me, so I have been known to buy gadgets, open them and then never touch them again because the booklet is a bit scary!

This happened with my intervalinator. This is a remote control device that I can use to automatically take photographs at set intervals. This is used for timelapse photography. Think nature programmes where you see flowers growing and blooming speeded up. Once I really master it, I will post one as an example but although I have now worked out how it works, haven't yet had the opportunity to set one up. Watch this space!

What I have managed to do is a Panoramic!

This was taken at Ellesmere, in Shropshire and is actually 4 pictures merged together. I'd read about doing this, but didn't have a clue how to go about it. 

I have the Lightroom Photo editing software on a monthly subscription because you automatically get all the updates, and the new version has a very simple merge tool. There is a photographer on YouTube called Serge Ramelli and he does some brilliant tutorials, I have learned practically all my editing skills from him.

So all I had to do was set up the tripod and take 4 or 5 shots and just move the camera round each time, overlapping slightly and let the pc do the rest! Simples! 

You do all your basic editing after the pictures have been merged, so you don't have to edit each individual picture. Plus you can have some great fun with this!

The final new trick is HDR. Heard so much about this, but not known how to go about it. However, its the same merge control on Lightroom, just choose HDR rather than panoramic. 

I couldn't begin to describe what HDR is and what it does, so here is a link to wikipedia HDR which will explain it properly. 

Anyway, what I had to do was take 3 identical pictures, just changing exposure values and here is my first result.

It brings out all the shadows and adds a lot more definition to a pictures, so I am pleased I worked it out. The building is Moreton Corbet, a ruined Elizabethan manor just outside Shrewsbury, but I will show more photos and give more details of my latest trip in my next blog.

Lessons Learned: Instruction manuals don't bite, but on the off chance they do, there is always You Tube!

Fairy Glen and Betws-y-coed

There are 2 very good reasons for joining some of the fabulous North Wales Photography groups on Facebook. Firstly, you will get a lot of inspiration for your photography but almost as importantly, you will get to see pictures of places you would otherwise never have known about.

This was true for me of the Fairy Glen near Betws-y-Coed, I have seen some quite enchanting photos and decided that I really needed to go. Been a bit poorly recently, so somewhere gentle and magical was just what I needed!

It was easy to find, cheap to park (£1 all day) and cheap to get into (50p per person). So far so good!

You follow a gravel path which takes you either to the Fairy Glen or along the riverside. 

The path down to the Glen is quite uneven and steep in places but it is so worth the climb down.

It is quite simply beautiful there. However, you do have to climb down over rocks to get a good position to take photos and it is a bit perilous! I had to have my tripod legs at 3 different lengths to get it even, and stand on just one of my own legs with the other strategically placed on another rock for the purpose of keeping me upright and dry! 

So set the camera up, let the lens cap drop then remembered it wasn't the one actually attached to the camera! So there was I precariously balanced over deep rushing water trying to fish a recalcitrant lens cap out of a small dark crevice in the rocks. It wasn't elegant and I don't think the language was particularly fairylike either. Luckily there were no witnesses.

You do need the tripod and not just for balance! It is very shady there as you are surrounded by rock walls and it is hard to get a quick enough shutter speed to hand hold.

You then, very carefully, retrace your steps back to the path and take the riverside walk. A beautiful peaceful scene with picnic benches and plenty of space.

The sign at the entrance reckons the whole walk takes 30 mins, but with taking many pictures and sitting, enjoying the beautiful sunshine I had that day, I was there for over 2 hours. Not bad for £1.50!

So off to Betws-y-coed for refreshments! Regular readers will know that I am just a tad addicted to Cadwaladers. They are a small localised chain of ice cream bars and coffee shops mostly in Wales and their cakes and coffee are to die(t) for. I had to have cake to help me recuperate from my recent illness so coffee frappe and carrot cake it was.

I have been to Betws many times and have discovered that it isn't all cafes and outdoor shops, but it is very pretty in its own right and there are plenty of places to explore. The park is very beautiful and if, like me, you have an uncontrollable urge to clamber over rocks, there are plenty there for you. I wonder, is there an upper age limit on clambering before it gets unseemly?

I did play around a bit with long shutter speeds, but none really came out well. It is an area that I am having trouble mastering, guess I have to keep practicing. 

But isn't this a great place to have your lunch!

Lessons Learned: Remember to put the camera in the backpack before clambering so that I have both hands for balance and I don't stumble and smack it against a rock!

If you give it half a chance, your lens cap will try to escape.