Wales photo essay - Lluniau Cymru

Photography © John Baker, Travel Images

This photo essay represents the typical range of subjects on a Travel Images photo tour, and are selected in the knowledge that every client is able to obtain similar images. That is the goal for each of my clients.

Wales by Jana Jirak

This is a 'no click' zone! . . . just scroll on down . . .

	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.
The Snowdon range sitting atop the Mymbyr Lakes near Capel Curig. Shooting into the light like this is very, very tricky, so bracket, bracket, bracket!


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.

Fern fronds. For this type of photograph it's important to get square with both fronds so that they're both in focus.
	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 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.


Llyn [lake] Gwynant near Beddgelert in Snowdonia National Park.

A Welsh pub at twilight. It's the 'Tafarn Y Cigydd' which translates as 'The Butcher's Arms.'
	Menai Bridge over Menai Straits which connects the Isle of Anglesey with mainland Wales.
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.


The Dwyryd and Glaslyn estuaries topped by the Lleyn peninsula in North Wales.

	One of those special moments when things just happen the way you want. I did need to lie down to eliminate some background distractions though, so maybe I earned this one! Taken near Trawsfynydd in North Wales.
Simple, but one of my favorite shots, or type of shot anyway. The dark background provides the contrast, and consequently the impact.
	Mmmmmmm, are they singing 'Baa, Baa Black Sheep' to each other then?!
And talking of Trawsfynydd and the owner of the above sheep, this is Edward Jones who has been a great friend over the years. This portrait was taken when visiting his farm with one of my groups.


Strumble Head lighthouse on the south west coast of Wales. The flowers are Sea Thrift, and provide the foreground interest.

	A mellow afternoon adjacent to Llyn Gwynant in Snowdonia National Park. The peak is Yr Aran at 2,451 feet.
One of Edward the first's castles in Wales' ancient capital, Caernarfon. Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales here in 1969.


My favorite spot in North Wales, the Mymbyr Lakes view to Mt. Snowdon in Snowdonia National Park.

	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.


Shot from the Llandecwyn hills near Talsarnau, Moel Ddu and Moel Hebog are on the left, and Mt. Snowdon, Wales' highest peak, is at right.

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!
	More of an emphasis on the sky for this one. Generally one can increase the drama in any sky by under-exposing, but again, I'd suggest some bracketing. The mountain range is Snowdonia.
Moelwyn Bach mountain hangs above the hillside village of Llan Ffestiniog in North Wales.


Shot from a narrow lane high above Harlech, Mt. Snowdon looms large, but it is purely the long lens perspective that gives that impression.

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.
	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.
Swallow Falls near Betws-Y-Coed in North Wales. Water falls are actually best shot when in the shade as 'white water' will produce too much contrast.


A Cricieth Castle view on the North Wales coastline.

	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'.
My favorite, the Sea thrift which thrives on the British coastlines during May and June. It is also known in other parts as Sea Pink and California Thrift.
	Here the Sea Thrift 'hugs' the nest and eggs of an Oystercatcher. Taken on Bardsey Island just off the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula.
Also on the Lleyn Peninsula is this graveyard. Wales produces a lot of slate, and these headstones will survive for many generations to come.
	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.
Bala Lake [Llyn Tegid] one fine, misty, and sunny morning.
	The community at bottom right is Blaenau Ffestiniog - noted for it's slate production and for sheep who 'window-shop' on the main street. The mountain range is the Moelwyns.
Just another sunset on Harlech beach in North Wales. Note the foreground interest of rippled sand which adds depth to the shot.
	Another of Edward the 1st's castles. This one is Cricieth, built upon this rocky promontory, and partially derelict.
Solva is the Norse name given to this South Wales harbor the Welsh call Solfach.
	Solva village with it's colored shop fronts.


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.

Llandaff cathedral on the outskirts of Cardiff. Living in Idaho as I do, there is a member of the Idaho Welsh Society who got married here just after the war. At that time there was no roof as it had been destroyed during a bombing raid.
	The humble roadside Foxglove. A bit of an unorthodox view this one, as I'm looking up from below in macro mode.
Patterns on the beach at Harlech and . . .
	. . . something a little more 'salty' in the form of this seashell collection.
Wild Fuchsia. It loves hedgerows close to oceans in several parts of the British Isles.


A Bluebell laden wood near Harlech in North Wales.

	The humble male Chaffinch pauses for a shot.
Wales/Cymru brochure \| Back to the Photo Essay Index