The Wales photo tour gets under way in South Wales in the former coal mine region . . .
Sunrise over Caerphilly castle north of Cardiff. It is the largest castle in Wales, and was built by Gilbert de Clare between the years 1268 and 1271.
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In the South Wales valleys our groups are always treated to some form of interaction with the locals. When we turn on onto a terraced street, see next image below, anything can happen and usually does! On this occasion we got to meet these Welsh children and their friend . . .
. . . who just happened to be a very good Merlin the Magician. The group would have been happy just to photograph him with that great beard, but he disappeared into his home and returned in costume. Another wonderful experience.
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Terraced homes in the South Wales that were at one time housed mostly by Welsh coal miners.
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The Norman Keep on the corner of Cardiff castle. The castle is actually a hotch-potch of architecture in that some of the medieval walls are built on top of walls that once formed a Roman fort on the site. |
Cardiff is the capital of Wales, and as such has many buildings befitting a city of such stature. Being Wales the 'Red Dragon' is well represented too, a symbol in my own mind of Welsh pride, tenacity and resilience. How do I know?! I lived there from 1975 to 1985 and Wales, 'Cymru' in Welsh, will always be a special place to me. |
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An image that has more of a story to tell rather than something of photographic note. This is one of the former coal valleys north of Cardiff that are known collectively as 'The Valleys'. Until only recently, each valley often had a coal pit, plus a railway line running through it which was a 'modern' means of transport some 100 years ago. The move away from coal as an energy source has meant a loss of jobs, but the white roofs left of centre signify a new industry, that of electronics, i.e. Sony and others. The old ways may have gone, but the air is purer, people are healthier, and jobs are a lot less dangerous than days of yore. |
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Mmmmmmm, are they singing 'Baa, Baa Black Sheep' to each other then?!
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Rhosili head at the tip of the Gower peninsula in West Glamorgan.
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The 11th century Celtic cross which stands at the entrance to Caerhiw Castle in Pembrokeshire.
The cross is inlaid with Celtic knot-work, and the cross is a royal memorial commemorating Maredudd ap Edwin, who became joint ruler with his brother of Duheubarth, the kingdom of Southwest Wales, in 1033. He died two years later. |
Castell Caerhiw [Carew Castle]. Originally a Norman stronghold built with local limestone, it also contains various Tudor architectural features hewn from Cotswold stone from south central England. |
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The boatshed in Laugharne where Dylan Thomas penned many of his works. |
The interior of St. Davids cathedral on the remote St. Davids peninsula. |
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St David's Cathedral in St. Davids, Pembrokeshire. It was one of several cathedrals on the Welsh south coast built in a hollow to hide it from the marauding, not-so-friendly, seafarers many centuries ago.
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Solfach village with it's colored shop fronts. The village's 'English name' is the Scandinavian influenced 'Solva'. |
Solfach harbour which has and always will be the epitome of a picture postcard. |
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Irish Sea sunset taken from the near Skomer Island in South Wales. I shot this with a long lens, knowing that I'd crop it in this fashion for greater impact.
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Evans, Ty Canol, near St. Davids in Dyfed. |
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This shot is on a quiet back lane not too far from St. Davids. Actually, if the paint had been black I doubt we'd stop for this! An aperture of around f.22 is needed to achieve sharpness from front to back.
Then, ten years on, this is how the same location looks at right.
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Strumble Head lighthouse on the south west coast of Wales. The flowers are Sea Thrift, and provide the foreground interest in the shot.
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The Pentre Ifan cromlech, or burial chamber, in southwest Wales. At one time it was an earthen mound, but with the soil gone it makes a striking silhouette. 'Pentre' is village in Welsh, so Pentre Ifan is 'Ivan's village'.
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An old watermill and waterwheel on the River Teifi at Cenarth. Just downstream you are likely to see Salmon fishermen still using the Coracle fishing boat that dates back to the first century. |
A Celtic standing stone in the grounds of Aberystwyth Castle in Mid Wales. The building at the rear is the old Aberystwyth University. 'Aber' in Welsh is 'Mouth', thus Aberystwyth translates as the mouth of the Ystwyth River. |
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And so to North Wales with three views of Harlech Castle. This one includes Mount Snowdon. |
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A silhouette at dusk of Harlech Castle, with a view to the Lleyn peninsula in North Wales.
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Foggy night at Harlech Castle, Meirionydd. |
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Blaenau Ffestiniog street re-creation at a slate mine. |
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Cricieth Castle, Gwynedd. One of the many castles built by Edward the 1st to 'keep the Welsh contained'. |
One of the 'Great Little Trains of Wales' leaving Porthmadog station. Most, if not all of the narrow gauge railways in Wales, started life hauling coal, slate and such. Nowadays they are tourist attractions run by volunteers. |
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Moelwyn Bach mountain, and the village of Llan Ffestiniog in Gwynedd. |
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Beddgelert, Gwynedd. |
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Llyn [lake] Gwynant near Beddgelert in Snowdonia National Park.
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Menai Bridge over Menai Straits which connects the Isle of Anglesey with mainland Wales.
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Llangollen, Clwyd. |
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| Simple, but one of my favorite shots, or type of shot anyway. The dark background provides the contrast, and consequently the impact. |
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Swallow Falls near Betws Y Coed in North Wales. |
The Daffodil [Cenin pedr] is the national flower of Wales, and is worn on March the 1st each year, St. David's Day. |
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My favorite spot in North Wales, the Mymbyr Lakes view to Mt. Snowdon in Snowdonia National Park.
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The Celtic cross at sunset. Actually this is a gravestone in a cemetery in Llan Ffestiniog in North Wales, and was a 500mm mirror lens shot. |
| Dolgoch Falls near Abergynolwyn. To 'soften' water you need a shutter speed of a 15th of a second or slower and a tripod. |
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An evening light view from above Talsarnau to Harlech Castle sitting on the edge of the Irish Sea.
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A young Lamb peeks from behind a rock near Harlech in Wales. If you want good Sheep and Lamb images, join us in Wales where the sheep flocks are approachable.
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The slopes of moody Yr Wyddfa [Mount Snowdon], the highest mountain in England and Wales.
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A sweet shop window in Harlech, North Wales. With shots like this it's important to get as square to the subject as possible . . . or it will drive you barmy later!
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Shot from a narrow lane high above Harlech, Mt. Snowdon looms large, but it is purely the long lens perspective that gives that impression.
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Cwm Prysor [Prysor valley] near Trawsfynydd. A view across part of the valley to Cader Idris, a peak some 40 miles south. I used to live here, and looking at this again, why did I leave? |
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One of Edward the first's castles in Wales' ancient capital, Caernarfon. Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales here in 1969. |
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A Bluebell close-up, and a Bluebell-laden wood near Harlech in North Wales.
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Cwm Ogwen in rugged Snowdonia. Narrow lanes, most of which are paved, are a wonderful way to see the 'off the beaten track' Wales. Join Travel Images' Wales photo tour and be a part of the picture!
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Wales by Jana Jirak
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