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2013-05-20 17:54:20 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Dearest Daughter (Tamsin) has been drawing a dragon picture for a competition. I'd be grateful if anyone would kindly like her drawing over on Facebook ...  thanks very much.

FYI Tamsin is a big fan of Fantasy Worlds containing Elves, Dragons, etc. She's in the middle of creating her own series of illustrated mythological tales.

#parenting   #dragon   #mythology   #drawing   #art  

2013-05-05 10:43:39 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

Seeding Territory

Lots of activity on the farm, our latest update: 
http://www.foelfriog.co.uk/news.php#fus_8
includes details of our reseeding work and also my favourite Redpoll photo for some time.

There's plenty of competition for food & breeding space and a few tempers may be getting a little frayed... as with this Goldfinch & Siskin ...

#wildlifewednesday   #conservation   #songbirdsaturday  

2013-04-26 17:40:49 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 13 +1s)

Spring Life Anew

The latest farm wildlife & conservation update including our first Pied Flycatchers of the year (photo) is available on our website at:

http://www.foelfriog.co.uk/news.php#fus_7

The species list for the couple of hundred trees we've planted this winter includes:

Oak
Sycamore
Birch
Ash
Holly
Beech
Hazel
Rowan
Bird Cherry
Aspen
Guelder Rose
Wayfaring Tree

I'm hoping for a good success rate with the trees, they should provide a valuable additional resource for many wildlife species.

Here's a picture of the spring flowering heather, providing plenty of early nectar for the bees:

#conservation   #wildlife   #wales   #photography  

2013-03-27 13:04:24 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Snow Foragers (Badgers)

"Cast not a clout before May be out", that's what I should have reminded myself of before wondering if spring had arrived.

With much of the UK plunged back in to winter snows, our wildlife is busily trying to keep up with these meteorological whims.

I've updated the farm news with an IR shot of the Badgers and a timelapse video of them too ...

2013-03-12 22:31:22 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

Comet PanStarrs and Moon
(or more scientifically C/2011 L4)

Comet PanStarrs is too low in the sky for me to photograph from home, so I've spent the last few evenings on the local beach. Somewhat chilly, very beautiful but plagued by low cloud over the Irish Sea horizon.

The clouds were there this evening so I wasn't very hopeful but 3 mins before 7pm (GMT), there was just enough contrast in the sky to spot the very thin crescent moon hovering above the clouds & to go for a shot. I couldn't pick out the comet through the 1D MkIV's eyepiece but I'd calculated that at 200mm fl the comet would be in frame if I kept the moon low & to the right.

I popped off a couple of shots just before the moon fell into the clouds and was delighted to find that the plan had worked :) So here I present the crescent moon with PanStarrs in the top left of the frame... more »

2013-03-09 22:26:07 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Is Spring almost with us?

In the latest farm news:
Some moth photography and a recording of an early March dawn chorus.

2013-02-16 00:17:22 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Asteroid 2012 DA14
or "Crossing the Dragon's Tail"

Not a pretty picture tonight, but hopefully one that interests some folk - it's a shot of the asteroid that passed by close to earth this evening.

With a little help from NASA's JPL Horizons website, I prepared some star charts and waited for the clouds to clear. I had to wait until after 10pm for the sky to clear and had decided to do this one the old fashioned way, by star hopping - no computerised mount this evening ;-)

The photograph is taken as the asteroid appears to move past the tail of the Draco constellation. If you look at the large version of the picture and look just above centre for the trail that is 'going the wrong way', that's the asteroid; everything else is star trails.

For those who are curious, here are the stats for the shot:

Exposure: single... more »

2013-01-18 23:09:26 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

"Leaf Geometry"

For #forestfriday   by +Rudolf Vlček  +Forest Friday 

also for #leavesonthursday   +Leaves On Thursday  +Marilou Aballe  +Ray Bilcliff  +Anne Durand 

This is a slightly surreal image that I've been intending to post for a while.

The image is of Rhododendron leaves and has been symmetrically manipulated in PS.

Rhododendron plants, beautiful though they are, can be a significant pest in our local woodlands and on some mountainsides. The specific Rhodo involved is Rhododendron ponticum. Classed as an invasive species in the UK, they take over swathes of land and also produce an inhibitory effect on the growth of other competing species, destroying the indigenous under-storey in our woods.

There is a useful mobile phone app that can help track invasive plants in the UK. You can find out more about itat this link:... more »

2013-01-18 18:31:38 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

"Tingle Time"

I'd like to share a family snap, for a change. With a little over 6 inches of snowfall on the farm today, it was time for some winter fun. Here's Tamsin speeding her way down one of the fields:

#photography   #family   #winter   #snow   #snowysaturday  

2013-01-11 18:24:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

"Sunshine Planting"

Happy New Year everyone!  Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

It's been a busy start to the year for us. A drier spell has allowed us to get on with some jobs, including bulb & tree planting.

I've added a news update to our newly created 'Farm News' stream. I aim for this to be a low volume stream with a handful of updates & photos each month. Today's update includes a female Bullfinch feeding on Dock seeds.

There's also an RSS feed, if you should wish to subscribe; you can find it here:  http://www.foelfriog.co.uk/news/rss.php

Feel free to have a browse around our farm website while you're visiting.

2012-12-22 16:22:09 (10 comments, 3 reshares, 23 +1s)

"Merry Christmas"

For +John Briggs ' endearing #songbirdsaturday   theme and to wish everyone on Google+ a wonderful Christmas.

I hope that you all have a terrific Christmas Holiday and that 2013 treats you kindly.

Thanks too for all the time you've spent viewing & commenting on my photos.

#photography   #birds   #wildlife   #christmas  

2012-12-21 22:57:00 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Starry Wishes

I've always liked the idea of installing an all-sky camera on the farm. Now Starlight Xpress (manufacturer of my Lodestar astronomy guidecam) have produced the "Oculus".

I think this has to go on my wishlist. It'd be great linked up to the server, posting one image a minute to the internet.

#astronomy   #photography   #weather  

2012-12-21 19:19:44 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 23 +1s)

"Pleiades"

For the pre-christmas #astrofriday   +AstroFriday  as curated by +Dawn Peterson  and +Nimesh Patel 

I'm not sure why but The Pleiades or Messier 45 always seems evocative of Christmas for me; perhaps it's the twinkling blue light.

This stunning open cluster (my favourite) is made all the more beautiful by the dust clouds illuminated by its starlight. Another name for them is "The Seven Sisters" and those of you who drive a Subaru car should recognise the makers badge too.

This photograph was taken using a Canon 500mm prime & 40D body. The exposure time is 3 hours.

Also for #nightphotographyfriday   +Night Photography Friday  as curated by +Mark Hammon and +Steve Passlow 

#astrophotography   #astronomy   #canon   #messier  

2012-12-21 00:14:37 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

"Decay to Life"

For #fungusfriday   as curated by +Chris Sullivan  
and also #lowkeythursday   +Low Key Photography  as curated by +Bartek Siębab 

This Parasol Mushroom was growing in a dark corner of an old barn, in amongst autumn leaves & detritus. I wanted to convey its environment in my photograph, hence the photo below; hope you enjoy.

#fungusphotography   #decay   #nature   #closeup   #autumn  

2012-12-20 17:06:44 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

"Peaceful Exhilaration" and "Guardians"

Two portrait orientation seascapes for #thirstythursdaypics   as curated by +Giuseppe Basile  & +Mark Esguerra  
Also for #natureartthursday   +NatureArtThursday  as curated by +Trisha Standard  & +Dane Clingan 

Taken earlier this week, these two shots are from the beach between Tywyn & Aberdyfi. This stretch of beach is several miles long and you can often have it all to yourself in wintertime.

The beach is so peaceful with just the sound of waves & sea birds, yet it's also a place for fun. There were two people surfing when I took these photos and I can also say, from personal experience, that it's a great place to open up a racehorse :)

At places there are interesting signs of human existence, the old defensive groin shown in "Guardians", the remains ofa WWII ... more »

2012-12-19 19:34:26 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 28 +1s)

"Foraged"

For #wildlifewednesday   +Wildlife Wednesdays  as curated by +Mike Spinak  and +Morkel Erasmus 

A Red Kite, snacking on the wing, is highlighted by winter sunshine.

#wildlifephotography   #canon   #redkites   #wales  

2012-12-08 21:52:11 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 28 +1s)

"Wobbly"

I haven't posted many bird photographs recently, so for +John Briggs ' #songbirdsaturday   I'd like to post this little blue tit, who looks kind of nervous about his spruce top perch.

I'd also like to say thanks for the invites I've received to several wildlife photography communities; thank you +Adam Kumiszcza  and +Sandy Schepis 

#photography   #birds   #wildlife  

2012-12-07 21:25:13 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Inspiration

Almost 34 years ago in the spring of 1979 I sat mesmerised in front of the TV set.  I was ten years old and was both inspired and moved by David Attenborough's series 'Life on Earth'.

One year later I won the book to the series, in a school competition; the book still sits on the shelves at the left of my desk.

This week we have been watching 'Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild' on BBC iPlayer. I'm still as inspired & moved today as I was back then.

Can I recommend this series to anyone who can view iPlayer, it reminds us of why we should care about both learning science and about looking after our neighbours on this small planet.

2012-12-07 17:05:55 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 18 +1s)

"Nebulae in Orion"
For +AstroFriday  as curated by +Dawn Peterson  and +Nimesh Patel 

Some time back, I started acquiring data for some of my favourite nebulae in the belt region of Orion; each time I've had opportunity, I add another hour or two of exposures. My idea was to make a nice poster for my wall. Thing is, it's tempting to keep adding more exposure time; so I never get around to making my poster print!

Anyway here's the image as it currently stands, all taken with Canon DSLR's & lenses (plus a Celestron CG5 mount). The scene includes the following key nebulae:

- The Flame
- The Horse-head
- The Running Man
- Messier 42 / 43

 The background also shows the great clouds of dust that are present in this region.

Hope you enjoy it.

#astrofriday   #astrophotography   #astronomy  #orio... more »

2012-12-05 19:44:57 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

"Light of Future"
for #womenwednesday  

+Tamsin Jones  (our daughter) enjoying a forest walk, late this afternoon. She's loves to explore & imagine. I think the title says everything else for me.

#photography   #silhouette   #sunset  

2012-11-30 00:45:28 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 22 +1s)

"Five Moons"
This one is for +AstroFriday  

(Reposted because original post didn't share correctly - apologies for inconvenience)

Haven't had much in the way of good astrophotography weather this year but last night the skies cleared and I was tempted out for a quick peek.

Last night Jupiter appeared in our skies in close proximity to our Moon, that seemed like a good opportunity for a quick but interesting shot. So at 02:58 GMT there I was with tripod & camera, stood in the frosty farmyard taking a couple of exposures.

As well as our Moon & Jupiter, Jupiter's 4 Galilean moons can be seen. They are (From top left to bottom right) Europa, Io, Ganymede, Callisto. 

Astro Info:
Cartes de Ciel quoted the following data:
Moon Distance: 401657.3 km - Jupiter Distance: 4.0695 au  
By my calculation thatmea... more »

2012-11-13 18:36:03 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 30 +1s)

"...grow great Oaks"

for #treetuesday   curated by +Christina Lawrie  and +Shannon S. Myers 

Clasped by his crown
This little seed waits
During autumn he will fall
Yet rise again
As a great & mighty Oak

#closeup   #nature   #fall   #autumn  

2012-11-10 13:59:42 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

"Claw Cut" and "Alien Tango"

Two pictures that represent what consumed much of my time & concentration this year. I'm really not sure what hashtags would suit this post, maybe #corporatenuisance  or #erroneousdevelopment  .

The local utility company pushed a new gas main through the valley, against the desires of ourselves and various other local landowners. These pics (on our farm) show the stripping of turf in May and the gas pipe laid out with attendant excavators in July.

The construction / restoration process took from April through to October and disrupted pretty much all aspects of our life. I've spent much of the time fighting to reduce the environmental impact and safeguarding both livestock & wildlife. It has been an interesting but unwelcome experience.

If you'd like to know more, I'm slowly writing thes... more »

2012-11-08 23:16:14 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 35 +1s)

"Sea Lines"

A picture from last week that I thought would fit #thirstythursday  but now I think its also for #longexposurethursday  and #coastalthursday  ; so there we go, a triple header :)

Our favourite local Fish & Chip shop (they do great pineapple fritters) is in Barmouth; so we like to spoil ourselves occasionally and it's also a good excuse to spend a few minutes doing coastal night photography afterwards.

This is a 5 minute exposure taken on a blustery night, looking west across the bay. The promenade lights help to illuminate the sea but the sea wall casts a shadow, so I decided to make a feature of this; thereby splitting the image in to 3 different zones.

On the horizon you can also see the lights of the Lleyn peninsula.

#monochromephotography   #wales   #seascape  

2012-11-02 14:09:19 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

"Twisted Shades"
An image for #fungusfriday  as curated by +Chris Sullivan 

This pale little troop were found nestled in a partially decaying V of an old Hazel. Just perfect for fairy's to shade under.

If you're curious about the processing, it's basically a sketch processing of the fungi that's blended back against a fairly harsh monochrome conversion of the original photo.

Glad to be back on G+ :)

#fungusfriday   #fungusphotography   #closeup   #wales  

2012-07-27 07:34:56 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

"Lily Rise"
For +Tamara Pruessner 's #floralfriday  

A dew covered pond side Lily photographed at sunrise on this glorious morning.

On another topic .....
We've just finished ringing the bells to welcome the Olympics (12 hours to go) - good luck to all the athletes & organisers.

#flowerphotography   #olympics2012  

2012-06-30 20:24:30 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 23 +1s)

New Hopes
for +John Briggs wonderful #songbirdsaturday  theme

Wow, it has been a wet June this year. This shot, of a young fledgling Robin, was taken just before all the wet conditions arrived. We've been feeding heavily throughout and I'm still seeing plenty of young birds, so fingers crossed for their survival.

I do love these young Robins, all full of curiosity & bravado, even before their red chest plumage has grown; makes me smile :)

#birds   #wales   #nature  

2012-06-12 19:15:52 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 28 +1s)

The Snow Prince
for +Jillian Chilson 's #equinetuesday  theme

I've finally found the time to complete editing this action portrait of a Welsh Section B pony galloping through the snow.

Thanks to Eyarth Tarragon and +Tamsin Jones for their help with the sequence of shots, of which this is one.

#equine   #horse   #wales  

2012-06-09 09:41:26 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 16 +1s)

"Pied FlyCatchers"

On this rather wet #songbirdsaturday  (we've recorded 4.75 inches of rain in the last 24 hours) I'd like to spare a thought for all the birds trying to safely rear a family. 

We're lucky enough to have Pied Flycatcher's breeding on the farm and with some help their numbers seem to be improving. I am however rather concerned about the riverside brood today, the river is very swollen and the brood must have been near to fledging.

Here are 3 photos:
1] Male perched in tree, with caterpillar
2] A different male returning to one of our nest boxes
3] A female anxiously looking out of her riverside nest (I spent almost an hour chest deep in the river for that photo!)

Hope you enjoy them.

#wales   #conservation   #wildlifephotography  

2012-05-21 09:10:38 (9 comments, 3 reshares, 30 +1s)

"Glazed Mushroom"
for #macromonday as curated by +Kerry Murphy +Jennifer Eden and +Kelli Seeger Kim

Have you ever sat by a lake watching rain drops fall in to the water, so peaceful & soporific. If so, this macro is for you ...

#macrophotography #water #droplets

2012-05-19 17:06:08 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 23 +1s)

"Spring Return"
For +John Briggs ' #songbirdsaturday

Found it hard to choose which picture to post for Songbird Saturday. This one's won out because the return of these guys from their warm wintering in Africa has brought much needed cheer during a somewhat chilly spring.

Photographed with me trying to control 700mm fl whilst hanging out of an upper storey window; thank goodness for image stabilisers :)

#photography #migration #springtime #swallow

2012-05-19 13:24:53 (4 comments, 3 reshares, 18 +1s)

Cuckoo Flower
for +Tamara Pruessner 's #floralfriday

Hello again everyone, hope life is treating you all fine & dandy.

I love these delicate flowers, they grow all across our farm grassland. Walkers often give the white flowers a small cursory glance but if you get down and look at them closely they have an array of colours. The butterflies certainly appreciate them.

Anyway here are 2 pictures of Cuckoo Flowers (Cardamine pratensis), photographed in our horse paddocks on one evening last week:

#photography #macro #flower #spring

2012-03-09 00:08:12 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 18 +1s)

"Annus 3500"
5500 year old preserved woodland

Taken earlier today, mainly for content interest. The Oak stump in the lower right has been preserved in peat beneath the sea and now emerges as part of a submerged forest off the coast at Ynyslas.

Radio Isotope dating ages it to 3500 BC, that's older than both Stonehenge and the ancient Eygptian Pyramids!

I've included the GPS location for anyone who is interested in visiting the submerged forest. You can see further stumps out across the beach.


for +Giuseppe Basile & +Mark Esguerra 's Thirsty Thursday
and for +Matt Shalvatis ' History Thursday

#thirstythursdaypics #historythursday #ancient

2012-03-03 15:53:06 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 25 +1s)

"Spring Romance"
a pair for +John Briggs ' Songbird Saturday theme.


There she stands all golden glow,
in her bower of honeysuckle.
Up above he doth bestow,
a voice & song that’s not so subtle.

Territory best, territory best!
Plenty of food, I’m your dude.
Big nest, big nest!
Let’s get it on and make a brood.

Well.. I felt like writing a little ditty to go along with them :)

These Chaffinches were both taken yesterday; it felt good to be back behind the camera after a few days of distractions.

#songbirdsaturday #photography #spring

2012-03-03 15:50:27 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

2012-03-03 15:50:27 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

2012-02-27 13:41:18 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

"The Jumper"

Last night was my first night of moth trapping for 2012. In the damp conditions, quite a few small flies decided to come and share the trap with the few moths that were about.
This fellow perched on the edge of the trap's polycarbonate moth retainer, so I held a ring-flash above and took this macro of him apparently poised to leap off in to the unknown.

Have a fun +Macro Monday as curated by +Kerry Murphy +Jennifer Eden and +Kelli Seeger Kim

#photography #macromonday #insect

2012-02-22 16:28:14 (16 comments, 3 reshares, 32 +1s)

"Rhaeadr Mawddach"

Well with almost 1.5 inches of rain so far today, most of my outdoor projects are currently 'rained off'. So it seems appropriate to post a waterfall photo.

I took this one back in January. The Afon Mawddach descends towards Dolgellau through Coed y Brenin. These falls are located by the ruins of an old gold mine where significant amounts of Welsh gold were once washed from the extracted ores. The sluice, pipes and stone ruins are still there to be explored.

For +Eric Leslie 's Waterfall Wednesday
#photography #waterfallwednesday #wales

2012-02-21 17:33:48 (17 comments, 4 reshares, 32 +1s)

"Wintertide Grey"
for +Jillian Chilson 's Equine Tuesday theme

I'm a bit busy at the mo but just wanted to pop in to say hi and share this pic of a Welsh pony in the winter weather.

#photography #equinetuesday #horses

2012-02-14 14:28:37 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

"Encrusted Sea"

Much of our local coast line is designated as a "Special Area of Conservation". Amongst other interesting features there are various different types of reef. One reef forming organism is the Honeycomb Worm - Sabellaria alveolata. This is a 1 - 2 inch long marine worm that builds colonies from the local sea-bed substrate.

This is a 2 minute exposure taken last night when the last glimmers of light coincided with low tide. On the exposed rocks & old WWII defences lighter hummock like formations can be seen; these are Honeycomb Worm colonies.

For Sea Tuesday as curated by +Julia Anna Gospodarou

#seatuesday #marine #photography #naturalhistory

2012-02-13 20:03:43 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 19 +1s)

"The Night Clock"

A Dandelion seed head viewed from beneath.

I love the shapes in these everyday flowers and had been pondering on a different view to some of my previous Dandelion shots; this angle is what I went for, to show the details within the 'clock'.

For Macro Monday as curated by +Kerry Murphy +Jennifer Eden +Kelli Seeger Kim

and for +Rolf Hicker 's Nature Monday

#macromonday #naturemonday #photography

2012-02-06 14:05:04 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 25 +1s)

"Yr Wyddfa"

I've been having a hard time choosing which of last weeks Snowdon pictures to post. I've chosen this one first, for its low pov from Llyn Llydaw and for the interest of the old copper mine buildings.

I love Snowdon not simply for the fact that it's the highest mountain in Wales but because it has those wild characteristics of mountains much larger than itself.


for both Mountain Monday as curated by +Michael Russell
and Nature Monday curated by +Rolf Hicker
#mountainmounday #naturemonday #photography #wales

2012-02-05 16:36:46 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 31 +1s)

"Reflection"


The river of our life flows in many convoluted paths
but there is always reflection to help us adjust our course.

Make time to reflect, it may keep one straight & true.

----------


The second of my pair for Zen Sunday curated +Charlotte Therese Björnström +Simon Kitcher +Nathan Wirth
and for Sunday Subtle Landscapes curated by +Steve Sieren

This one's for Sky Sunday too! with thanks to its curator +Simone Linke

#zensunday #sundaysubtlelandscapes #skysunday #photography

2012-02-05 13:31:10 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

"Boundaries"
The first of a pair for Zen Sunday curated by +Charlotte Therese Björnström +Simon Kitcher +Nathan Wirth
and also for Sunday Subtle Landscapes curated by +Steve Sieren

---------

Boundaries

We build walls for protection,
but are they to keep others out or ourselves in?


We make insurmountable mountains out of small problems,
yet mountains are climbable beauties.


We say the sky is the limit,
yet we go further, to moons & beyond.


Next time you reach your boundary,
perhaps it's not set in stone; or space.
---------

#zensunday #sundaysubtlelandscapes #photography #wales

2012-02-04 22:54:08 (13 comments, 2 reshares, 36 +1s)

"Action Stations"
for +John Briggs ' wonderful theme, Songbird Saturday.

Continuing on my stream of Tit posts (no giggling in the back row please) here is a Great Tit (Parus major) poised on a rotting branch.

The light wasn't especially wonderful when I took this; I had to use a moderately high ISO of 4000, so I'm pleased that the detail has survived the higher noise levels.

#songbirdsaturday #photography #birds

2012-02-04 13:20:37 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

"Final Embers"
for +TJ Kelly 's Sunset Saturday theme

Taken on Thursday evening from an Iron Age fort above Dolgellau. This was the view as the sun set beyond Cardigan Bay with the Mawddach winding it golden way towards the Irish Sea.

Thanks to Tamsin for putting up with the bitter cold while assisting me on this one :)

#sunsetsaturday #photography #landscape #wales

2012-02-03 19:42:27 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 24 +1s)

"On Winged Darkness"
a post for +Meg Rousher 's Fly By Friday theme

Here's a gull ( a Kittiwake I believe) who kindly flew through a beam of sunlight between camera and shadowy woodland. I quite like the stark almost studio type feel of the resulting image.

#photography #flybyfriday #flight #bird

2012-02-01 18:47:36 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Snowdonia Conditions Update

Just a quick check-in before cooking a nice warming curry.

Had a 4am start this morning so that I could be within the Snowdon Horseshoe before dawn. Conditions are fabulous up there and I think tomorrow should be good too. After sunrise I climbed up it to the crags around Y Lliwedd, views fantastic, ground conditions challenging (see below).

So if any UK photographers want some winter shots and have the spare time / inclination, tomorrow may be a good time.

Just a brief word of warning: Conditions high up demanded caution & experience. Away from the main route there's a white out obscuring any path with compacted ice covered in loose powder snow and the wind chill was between -15 to -20 degrees centigrade.

You will need crampons & ice axe plus some very warm gear, as well as the standard walking kit.
... more »

2012-01-31 20:55:29 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 31 +1s)

"Alive"
for +Eric Leslie and +Melanie Kintz 's My Town Tuesday theme

As many of you may already know, I live in Dyfi Forest. So this local picture is taken from a high spot that's just a nice walk from home. It's the point at which the mountains of Snowdonia meet the hills of Dyfi Forest.

Taken at sunrise last Saturday morning, the camera is looking south-eastwards over the forest and beyond. It is these moments that make me feel invigorated & alive, hence the title.

#mytowntuesday #photography #sunrisesaturday #wales

2012-01-30 19:38:02 (19 comments, 3 reshares, 18 +1s)

"My Rainbow Halo"

OK I'd like to pick your brains on this snapshot, if you please :)

After I had taken the previous photo of Cadair Idris, the mountain mists came down for a little while. With the sun low to my back, my shadow was cast long out across the mist but with a spectrum as a halo around it. At times it was quite clear to the naked eye so I took this snap of it.

Does anyone know of a name for this phenomena and of any folk lore or superstition about it.

Thanks for any info that you can pass on...

#photography #weather #sky #phenomena