First published in Welsh Country Magazine, Sept-Oct 2015
Wales has an amazing variety of wildlife and habitats so there is a wealth of opportunities for me as a landscape and nature photographer based in the dramatic and inspiring surroundings of Snowdonia, where I have lived for over ten years.
I have always had a passion for conservation and for the past twenty years I have worked as a graphic designer for UK National Parks (most recently for the Brecon Beacons) as well as Natural Resources Wales, completing many exciting interpretation design projects.
Since I was a teenager I have also had a strong interest in landscape photography and, after purchasing a professional digital SLR camera in 2010, I started my own business and website earlier this year *. One of my long-held ambitions was to visit and photograph the beautiful island of Skomer in Pembrokeshire, so I took advantage of a good weather forecast in early June and headed south…
Photo Gallery
High winds the day before meant that sailings to Skomer would still not be a certainty so I was a little anxious. Fortunately I was lucky enough to board the last boat from Martin’s Haven. My excitement grew as we approached and hundreds of seabirds wheeled overhead. The island is managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and this year they have had their highest counts of seabirds including Puffins and Guillemots.
As I walked to the favoured nesting sites, it was a thrill to capture the Puffins at close quarters as they brought in sand eels for their chicks in burrows underground. Wildflowers such as Thrift and Sea Campion were also in bloom adding to the wonderful spectacle.
As the good weather continued in Pembrokeshire I was able to photograph other locations such as Elegug Stacks near Castlemartin, with its incredible colony of Guillemots, that can be smelt from quite a distance! The Stacks are on MOD land so, as there was live firing that day, it would be late afternoon before the access road reopened. This gave me time to walk the stunning coastline of nearby Stackpole Head, which is managed by the National Trust. The dramatic cliffs and glistening blue sea looked idyllic, whilst insects and wildflowers, such as Viper’s Bugloss and Bluebells, were abundant in the summer sun. All of these images and many more scenic locations in Snowdonia and Wales can be viewed and purchased directly from my website at: www.garyshortphotography.co.uk I am also available for landscape photography commissions. My Facebook page can be found at: @garyshortphotography.co.uk
