First published in Welsh Country Magazine, Jan-Feb 2016
One of my favourite ever afternoons of shooting took place at Porthcawl. Strong winds and storms were promised, and as a result there was only one way that I was going to deal with such speculation – to get Mr Nikon and my waterproofs out! Such colour, movement and atmosphere, complimented by the stillness of the calm, onlooking lighthouse…nothing more emphasises the beauty of Wales than its seascapes in my opinion, and as the waves continued to tower, the longer I wanted to stay…
I always plan my photography and locations, and one of my first ‘missions’ was to capture the lighthouse at Burry Port. In my photography I strive to photograph subjects from differing viewpoints – low-level, within a frame, etc, and here the texture and tone of the bench I was perched upon, together with the brickwork of the wall, only emphasise the beauty and colour of my view. It was a truly stunning summer twilight, and the evening haze complimented my subject wonderfully. The second photo was taken down at the beach in Llanelli – again a true example of Wales’ coastal beauty, with the gap in the fencing welcoming the viewer into the frame to explore and share my vista. Once more texture and light played a part in my focus to help draw the eye.
The images below were captured at Aberavon and Ferryside respectively. Aberavon is a favourite strolling venue of mine, and when photographing locations I like to emphasise certain features and involve them in my viewpoints and captures. Thus, the curvy, walled defences at Aberavon helped to create a quirky, monochrome visual. What’s more I love captures that highlight depth and line, and Ferryside pier does all of the above. There was such a beautiful sky present that afternoon also – helping to establish an eerie yet stunning view. We live in a beautiful country…
