Frightened Tree Photography - North Wales

Porth Swtan, Anglesey
Being on the west coast of Anglesey this is a great location for a sunset although it was too cloudy while we were there. We parked in the car park near the Lobster Pot restaurant (LL65 4EU). Follow the footpath towards the coastal path and go left. This viewpoint is on the right-hand side after a couple of minutes walk but care is needed getting down to the arch as the pathway is faint and quite steep.
Camera settings: Nikon D750, Tamron 24-70mm lens at 24mm, ISO 100, f/10, 1/2 second

Perch Rock Lighthouse, Merseyside
The setting sun, dramatic clouds, coastline and a lighthouse always make a great scene. I stood there and watched the waves crash over the rocks for a while to see what would be the best shutter speed to use. I didn't want the waves to be too milky I wanted to be able to see the spray and the swirls of the water as it crashed over the rocks.
Camera settings: Nikon D850, Sigma 24mm ART lens, ISO 64, f/14, 1/5 sec

Gladstone Docks from New Brighton.
We wanted to get a few shots of Perch Rock lighthouse on the coast at New Brighton, Merseyside, however while I was shooting the lighthouse Becky was shooting in the opposite direction: towards Gladstone Docks. The clouds were amazing and the sunset better than I could have imagined in that direction. Suffice to say I soon turned my camera around to face Liverpool Docks.
There is free parking near the lighthouse at the shopping retail park (...CH45 2JU). Great area for a sunset.
Camera settings: Nikon D850, Sigma 24mm ART lens, Becky shot this hand-held so used the following: ISO 1000, f/7.1, 1/400
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The Green Bridge of Wales, Pembrokeshire.
The bridge is in an area of Pembrokeshire called Castlemartin; there you will find the Green Bridge of Wales, Elegug Sea Stacks and Flimston Chapel. We did manage to get a night shot of the bridge with the milky way but, even with me and Becky holding down the tripod, the wind was too strong and the images were fairly poor quality. So, we thought we would take a sunset shot instead but, of course, the sun set behind a huge bank of clo...ud which is a shame because certain times of year the sun on the arch looks very beautiful. Fortunately we do have this image which I do really like.
There is a free car park which is very close to the sea stacks and bridge and the postcode is SA71 5EB. You would have to move the car for Flimston Chapel but the postcode is the same. The chapel can be see from the car park. Best to check the MoD website to confirm that the area is open to the public as the military do stop access at certain times for training at the shooting range.
Camera settings: Nikon D850, Sigma 24mm f/1.4 ART lens, ISO 200, f/8, 2 second exposure
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Point of Ayr Lighthouse, Talacre.
Another shot from our evening out in Talacre. The location is superb for sunset shots.
Camera settings: Nikon D850, Tamron 70-200mm G2 lens at 70mm, ISO 64, f/11, 1/8 sec.

The Nant Ffrancon Pass, Snowdonia.
This was taken on an evening stroll a couple of weeks ago. There is plenty to see while you are in this area. All in all we were there around 2 and a half hours and got to see this view, Llyn Idwal and the lakes from the top stile of the Devil's Kitchen while walking at a fairly slow pace. We parked near Ogwen Cottage LL57 3LZ.
Camera settings: Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm 1.4 ART lens, ISO 100, f/11, 1/25 second.

Lydstep Point, Pembrokeshire.
This is near Skrinkle Haven, Pembrokeshire. At low tide you can access the beach. It is a lovely secluded area so thought it would be good to do a long exposure using the rocks - the tide was perfect as it just washed over the rocks giving it the swirl. I had this type of shot in mind for a while and assumed black and white would better suit the image but I do like the colour version.
We parked at the Skrinkle Haven car par (SA72 6DY) and headed ...north on the coastal path. While there you may want to head south on the coastal path and see Church Doors in a neighbouring cove.
Camera settings: Nikon D850, Sigma 24mm f/1.4 ART lens, ISO 40, f/14, 1 second. I think I used a Lee 10-stop filter to slow down the shutter.
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Puffin, Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire
One of Becky's shots from our wonderful visit to Pembrokeshire's Skomer Island. One hundred and fifty people per day are allowed to visit the island so to secure tickets it is important to get to Lockley Lodge very early. We arrived just before 6am and we had a queue of 11 ahead of us and the queue grew very quickly.

Flimston Chapel, Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire.
We journeyed down south in order to see puffins on Skomer Island. While we were there we planned on doing some night time photography around the coastal path. The weather forecast was abysmal in the morning but by the afternoon there was a change so we decided to head for Flimston Chapel and the Green Bridge of Wales. The wind made the Green bridge impossible but Flimston Chapel was shielded from the elements and we were able to b...ag this shot.
Castlemartin has a military firing range and is closed off to the public often so if anyone wants to go either day or night then they really need t visit the MOD website to find out whether the area is open. The postcode for the chapel is SA71 5DW - the same parking area as the Green Bridge of Wales.
Camera settings: D750, Samyang 14mm 2.8 lens, ISO 6400, f/2.8, 30 seconds.
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Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia
This was taken around one hour before sunset. The lake is around a ten minute walk from Ogwen Cottage. There is so much to do in the Ogwen Valley.
Camera settings: Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm 1.4 ART lens, ISO 100, f/11, 1/15

Berwyn Railway Station, Llangollen
We popped down to the railway line which connects Corwen and Llangollen to see the old steam trains - we have no interest in them except for the fact that they are a step back into the past. We took this shot at Berwyn Station near Llangollen.
Camera settings: Nikon D750, Tamron 24-70mm lens at 34mm, ISO 100, f/11, 1/25 sec.

Castell Dinas Brân, Llangollen.
We didn't plan on going far from Wrexham on Saturday afternoon but still wanted to shoot something. Initially we decided to go to Berwyn Railway Station near the town, which we subsequently did, and then go on towards the Panorama if we felt like it. Well we knew the rain was approaching so thought there may be an opportunity of a rainbow over the castle (we can be very optimistic). Just as we arrived at the top we could see the rain approaching. I got the camera out quickly and captured this.
Camera settings: Nikon D750, Tamron 24-70mm 2.8 lens at 24mm, ISO 100, f/11, 1/160 sec. Tripod

Point of Ayr Lighthouse, Talacre
I know the internet is over-saturated with images of this structure and we do usually try to stay away from the North Wales honey spots but we wanted to do something a little different with the lighthouse. However the conditions weren't perfect for what we wanted. So we have to consider what we can do to create something from what conditions we have. I really like the simplicity of the image. Nothing spectacular but very pleasant.
We didn't pa...rk on the beach car park because it closes at 21.00 at this time of year and sunset is later. We parked on the on-road parking bays outside the caravan site of Gamfa Wen (CH8 9RT). This parking area is very close to the lighthouse.
Camera settings: Nikon D850, Tamron 70-200mm G2 at 70mm, ISO 100, f/4.5, 1/320 sec (I used this shutter speed to keep the grass sharp due to the high wind).
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The Alwen Reservoir, Cerrigydrudion
A very easy night time location. The dam is right next to the car park (LL21 9TT).
Camera settings: Nikon D750, Samyang 14mm lens, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 30 seconds. I had to decrease the saturation slightly due to light pollution.

Pistyll Rhaeadr, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant
We have shot at this location several times but I have never really been satisfied with the result. We went this past weekend after I decided to shoot the lower waterfall rather than the entire 80 metre drop which I don't really like.
There are a few free parking spaces in a couple of laybys before reaching the car park but if you do park in the car park the charges are £4. The postcode is SY10 0BZ but it is only an approximate postco...de. Once you are on Waterfall Street you need to continue on the road for around four miles until the road ends at the waterfall car parks.
Camera settings: Nikon D850, Tamron 70-200mm lens at 70mm. ISO 320, f/13, 1/5 second (I tried to use a shutter speed which would not make the water look too milky and unrealistic), Hoya CPL.
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Snowdon from Moel Siabod
This was taken from the descent of Moel Siabod. The fastest way to arrive at the viewpoint is by parking at Llynnau Mymbyr next to Plas y Brenin, walk over the bridge and the ascend for around 25 minutes.
Camera settings: Nikon D850, Tamron 24-70mm at 54mm, ISO 400, f/13, 1/500 (we used this shutter speed in order to hand-hold the camera)

Llyn-y-Foel, Moel Siabod
Llyn-y-Foel is situated on the lower flank of Moel Siabod. The simplest way to reach the lake is to hike from Bryn Glo in Capel Curig (LL24 0DT). Walk across Pont Cyfyng. Take the track right and follow the path. The views over the Carneddau mountain range comes into view just past the farm. After climbing over the ladder stile you will soon stumble across the old slate quarry and then a further climb the lake comes into view. Reaching the lake takes minimal effort so it is quite accessible to most people.
It is a two image stitch joined using Photoshop. Camera settings: Nikon D850, Tamron 24-70mm lens at 24mm, ISO 100, f/13, 1/125

Springtime Under Cadair Idris, Dolgellau
We were fortunate to stay the night at our favourite bed and breakfast: Tyddyn Mawr. It is a great location as it is very near both the Fox Path and the Pony Path of Cadair Idris. In the morning I went to take a look at Llyn Gwernan which is situated opposite. I had never been to the lake before so it is good to explore somewhere new. Whilst there it is a good idea to visit Llynoedd Cregennan.
Camera settings: Nikon D850, Tamron 24-70mm lens at 65mm. ISO 64, f/18, 1/25 sec