Mountains have always been of special interest to me, their untamed ruggedness and beauty inspire me to explore and photograph when ever I get a chance. A recent visit to Snowdonia National Park, North Wales gave me an opportunity to walk some of the peaks and capture the ever changing light and mood of these amazing pieces of rock. The weather around mountains can change in an instant something I experienced at Llyn Idwal during storm Dennis 2020, whilst taking a shot of Cwm ldwal , wind and rain that came through across the lake battered me into submission forcing me to take refuge behind an old stone wall, it was just a little reminder from the slopes to respect your surroundings, the resulting shot can be viewed in the gallery and I certainly hope you can feel some of that atmosphere in the photograph.
Mt. Snowdon - Snowdonia National Park
This photograph was taken from Llyn Cwellyn on a cool and blustery day, I spent a couple of hours waiting for the right moment when these shafts of light broke through the clouds dancing across the landscape.
The mighty Mt. Tryfan photographed from the slopes of Pen yr ole wen. Strong winds and stormy skies during the build up to storm Dennis 2020.
Mt. Tryfan forming the backdrop with the Afon Lloer forming the foreground interest.
This view across Llyn Idwal will forever be in my memory as one of the most difficult photographs that I have ever taken. The rain and wind funneling down from the Mountains during storm Dennis was something made of iron, I had to hang on tight to the tripod whilst pressing the shutter and then quickly take shelter behind a small stone wall. Hopefully you can feel some of this drama in the picture.
The slopes of Snowdon covered with a dusting of snow photographed from the roadside between Chapel Curig and Beddgelert along the shoreline of Llynnau Mymbyr Snowdonia National Park.
Mt Tryfan taking centre stage once again or is it? Does this scene belong to the lone tree standing guard over the Afon Lloer meandering down the slopes of Pen Yr Ole Wen.
The Raging waters of the bottom of Llyn Ogwen after the heavy rains of storm Dennis 2020 with Mt. Tryfan in the background.
The beautiful Glen Etive Glencoe, Scotland.
Old man of Storr, Isle of Skye. After a 6 km hike and 2100ft ascent i was rewarded with this early morning light on a spectacular landscape.
Fairy pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland.
Early morning Lake Agnes, Alberta.
Three sisters in Canmore, Alberta
There is something special about spending time at the coast, the different moods and emotion the water can evoke from the gentle lapping of the waves on a warm summers evening to the forocious battering of the cliffs during storm conditions. Many hours can be spent trying to capture the power and the beauty of the wave action, often using a slow shutter speed to give that ethereal look or indeed speeding up the shutter speed to say 1000th of a second to freeze the action and power. It is definitely a favourite of mine even though I have got wet feet on many occasions in my enthusiasm to get the shot.
Stormy conditions around the north coast of Holy Island, Anglesey. This area takes a beating from the winds and waters of the Irish Sea, pictured here is the tail end of storm Dennis 2020.
Predawn light at Durdle Door in Dorset on a calm and mild February day.
Trebarwith Strand, Cornwall quickly became a favourite location during a visit to the area. Wave action in this little cove is a photographers paradise, and on this occasion mixed with a wonderful sunset, what more could you want.
Penmon lighthouse stands on the eastern peninsula of Anglesey, North Wales, getting low amongst the rocks gave this unique perspective of the shoreline and those stormy clouds of storm Dennis 2020.
The old Llandudno Pier built in 1876 in North Wales. At over 700 metres long its a fine example of Victorian architecture. This picture was taken the day after storm Dennis had passed through meaning the pier had yet again defied the elements, a testament to Victorian workmanship.
Crackington Beach - Cornwall
These lineal rocks formed a great foreground combined with a long exposure to capture the water movement.
Porthcurno - Cornwall
The turquoise water of this wonderful bay kissing the undisturbed sand create a calm, serene setting.
Botallack - Cornwall
Site of the old tin mines and a location associated with the TV series Polldark on a cool February afternoon.
Godrevy - Cornwall
With the lighthouse standing firm during a stormy February afternoon.
Staithes Harbour, Yorkshire. I had been waiting for this early evening shot for a couple of hours, a delicate balance of capturing some of the last light and the coming on of the street and house lights all while fighting a stiff coastal wind .
This image was taken along the North Yorkshire coast on a calm cold February afternoon, l feel the simplicity of the composition is what holds it together.
The Cobb At Lyme Regis, Dorset England.
Waterfalls bring tranquility and serenity, the sound of the falling water can be hypnotic. Photographing waterfalls brings with it unique challenges mostly deciding how to capture the detail of the water itself.
The use of filters enables you to slow down the water creating those milky, blurred, ethereal images. However there are times when we need to speed up the shutter and capture the full force and power of the falling water.
For me that’s why I love to shoot waterfalls as they provide so much fun experimenting and trying to produce that balanced shot.
Aubrey Falls, Northern Ontario.
Sand River Falls near Agawa Bay, Northern Ontario on a bright Fall morning.
Crystal Falls, Sault Ste Marie, Northern Ontario.
One of the many falls along the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail in the Finger Lakes region, New York State.
Ragged falls, Algonquin Park Ontario.
Fillmore Glen, Finger Lakes, New York State
A lovely little falls tucked away in this small park easy access after a 5 minute walk.
Another angle of the Fillmore Glen Falls taken with a wide angle lens pulling in the small rapids in the foreground.
Taughannock Falls State Park, Taughannock falls are one of the highest in North America at 215 feet high with an easy trail walk up the gorge to the falls.
Upper Falls Letchworth State Park, New York State with the Portage Viaduct spanning the gorge.
Split Rock Falls on the Bouquet River, New York State
These beautiful falls are situated within 50 metres of the highway giving easy access.
Lowerfalls at Fillmore Glen State Park
These falls are easily missed if you enter the park from its highest point, but can be accessed from the bottom entrance to the park. This shot was taken in late September 2019 and although shows some dropped autumn leaves most of the trees were still retaining their vibrant green foliage.
Staircase falls in Watkins Glen National Park.
Rainbow falls in Cape Breton, shot in early October light.
Mississagi River, Northern Ontario.
Small portion of Crystal falls, Sault Ste Marie.
Landscapes are my primary genre getting me out into nature, walking the trails and hills. The quietness and solitude have a profound effect on me, it feeds my soul and provides peace and calm to my inner self.
Walking in the countryside can often be enough, I don’t always have to get a shot, but when the elements and weather play ball its one of the most rewarding experiences. I have a particular love of the English countryside with its abundance of public footpaths running through some of the most diverse landscapes in the world, from the rolling hills of Yorkshire, ruggedness and beauty of Snowdonia National Park to the Lakes and hills of the Lake District.
You can travel less than a few miles and find yourself in totally different surroundings and it is this that gives England its uniqueness and draws me back time and again.
Fall colours along Garden River , Sault Ste Marie.
Aubrey Falls, Northern Ontario.
Chippawa River, Northern Ontario.
Lakeside fall colours, Northern Ontario.
Mt Snowdon on a grey blustery day from the shores of Llyn Cwellyn with a dusting of snow on its peak.
A view across Llyn Dinas, North Wales with the late afternoon sunlight dancing across the surrounding slopes.
Mabry Mill located at milepost 1762 of Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia. One of the most photographed spots along the parkway.
Red brick arched bridge at Audley End , England on a bright summers day.
The famous Red Barn (now demolished) just outside Keene, New York State. This barn was an iconic landmark and the subject of thousands of photographs.
Another shot of the red barn on an early September morning with high cloud reflecting the light from the sunrise and mist hanging in the valley.
Flume falls on the Ausable River in New York State, pictured here with vibrant fall foliage and low water, Whiteface Mountain dominating the background.
Scotts Pine lining the slopes of Glyder Fawr, Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.
Early fall colour around the rock pools at split rock falls along the Bouquet river in New York State.
Nant Peris, Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.
One of the old Mine Buildings along the Watkin Path, one of the many trails that leads you up the slopes of Mt Snowdon, North wales.
Lighthouses are intriguing structures particularly from the point of how they are constructed. Always positioned on points of treacherous rock with the sea battering them constantly, they are without doubt engineering marvels. Obviously there purpose is to protect shipping from the perils of the rocks on which they stand, but from a photographic point of view they provide a great point of interest in what could otherwise be a difficult coastal shot. They provide that anchor point whether foreground or distant to pull together that perfect composition.
Seeing the structures in rough conditions with the seas pounding them day in and day out, makes you appreciate the engineering skills of the early structural engineers such as Alexander Mitchell and Robert Stevenson and his famous Bell Rock Lighthouse circa 1800’s.
With the onset of technology most if not all of these lighthouses are now unmanned and remotely controlled, but their importance still remains providing warning and safety to modern seafaring shipping and of course great subjects for us budding photographers to photograph.
Godrevy Lighthouse on a stormy afternoon.
Penmon Lighthouse, Anglesey Island, North Wales
Ominus and broody sky over the peninsula the day after storm Dennis 2020.
Twr Mawr Lighthouse on the Island of Anglesey on a warm September evening.
Point Ayr Lighthouse, Talacre, North Wales, no longer in operation and showing a distinctive lean.
Louisbourg Lighthouse, Cape Breton
Peggys Cove Lighthouse, reflections.
Peggys Cove beautiful sunset on a warm early October evening.
Kidston Island Lighthouse, Baddeck, Cape Breton on a warm October evening.
Twilight at Bass Head Lighthouse, Acadia National Park, Maine.
Photographing flowers presents a whole different set of challenges, often requiring a dedicated macro lens in an effort to blur the background and single out the main subject, the flower head. Wide apertures are often used for shallow depth of field and of course fast shutter speeds when out in an outside environment to counteract the movement of the wind. Flowers are such a wonder of nature providing perfect symmetry with their delicate pedals and fine pistils and vibrant colours. Being situated here in Ottawa, Canada, we are fortunate to have the yearly Tulip Festival providing a great opportunity to practice our photographic skills to capture these marvels of nature.
Macro shot of a Tulip at the Ottawa Tulip Festival.
An unusual angle looking up amongst the tulips at the Ottawa Tulip Festival.
Blue Hyacinth mixed in with Tulips at the Ottawa Tulip Festival.
Close up shot of the Ninebark flower.
The ornate flower of the Honeysuckle shrub with its delicate Pistils.
When photographing close up you’re always looking to separate the subject from the back ground, this is done primarily by using a wide Aperture the effect can almost give a 3D look as in this shot.
Another example of how a wide Aperture can blur the background and bring out the subject.
Here again we see how blurring the background with a shallow depth of field can make the flower pop.
Can you see him? The humble bumble bee I mean, going about his work amongst these flowers.
The dancing Tulip field, Ottawa tulip Festival.
The symmetry and beauty of nature amazes me some times.
Red hot pocker.
Tropical Punch Hibiscus flower.
Winter can bring many photographic opportunities from snow covered trees and buildings to the long shadows cast by the low angle of the sun. Living in Ottawa, Canada we experience some of the coldest winter weather of any city in the northern hemisphere, this can really test the limits of both the camera and its operator. One of the times I remember the most was at Niagara Falls trying to get a sunrise shot in -17 Celsius and a stiff breeze, myself and 4 other photographers lasted no more than 15 minutes before our fingers were numb and the camera batteries exhausted.
Although the cold can make photography difficult the conditions you can get during winter are very special, the low angle of the sun and the soft light it casts can help to produce some stunning images.
This photograph of the old port of Wivenhoe a place i lived for many years was taken during the winter storm of 2018 which gained the name Beast from the East.
I grabbed this shot along the roadside one frosty winters morning, i was struck by the beauty of the light amongst the frost laden trees.
Multi coloured Beach huts along the Mersea sea front after a very rare snow storm.
Rowhedge water front, Essex. On a cold February morning.
Beautiful sunrise over Niagara Falls, Canada.
This was taken at Niagara Falls on a cold February morning and I named the shot Scorpion due to the shape of the bushes in the foreground.
Winter at Niagara Falls.
Another rare snow covered view of Rowhedge village, Essex.
Coming soon
I came across this image on the beach at Porth Nanven, Cornwall. It was the contrast between the straight Lineal rocks and the round smooth pepples together with the beautiful colours that caught my eye.
This image is of a small group of Silver Birch trees and was the result of a technique called Icm ( intentional camera movement) . In this case I purposely moved the camera in a vertical plane giving this interesting result.
