An unexpected opportunity

[James G]

A week or so back, Janet & I had a quick break away to Llandudno in North Wales. She wanted to visit Portmerion, so on our second day we headed south the 'pretty way', round Snowdonia via Capel Curig and Beddgelert. The weather was quite grey and didn't clear till the early afternoon. The view of Snowdonia, and lakes Gwynant and Dinas was probably the best I have ever seen. These are a first working of some of the images. I think I'll be working them for the next few months...

On a technical note, I wasn't really prepared. The weather had been atrocious further north and I hadn't expected the cloud cover to lift so no tripod. They are all handheld captures which have then been stitched to create the resulting panoramas.
#1, Snowdon & Cwm Dyli_B&W


#2, Snowdon & Cwm Dyli


#3, Snowdon & Cwm Dyli


#4, Snowdon & Cwm Dyli_B&W


#5, Lake Gwynant from upper Nant Gwynant


#6, Reflections on Lake Gwynant


#7. Reflections on Lake Dinas


C&C welcome

[bnnrcn]

Very nice set James I prefer the color images to the BnW ones. I would reduce the brightness a bit in #6.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures, I see a sad face in the hill.

[James G]

I would reduce the brightness a bit in #6.

Thanks Binnur, the cloud was starting to burn off and the dynamic range was changing rspidly. I think I'm going to have to hone my masking skills for the next version.

I see a sad face in the hill.

John this is Wales, and Snowdonia is an area of mystery and magic. I been told it has been home to King Arthur, Merlin, Taliesin and a host of other mystical entities, which could explain a lot of things.....

[dem]

These are very spectacular. I particularly like #7. The symmetry partially broken by the foreground makes the composition interesting.
#5 is also very nice. It has a 3d feel about it and has many different textures and colours intertwined together.

Not sure if these two scenes work in B&W though. I think you need a well defined focal point with interesting texture (like a rock or a castle), more dramatic sky and better lighting on the day for B&W to be more expressive.

Thank you for sharing. I visited North Wales in April last year and the sky was plain grey for all three days we were there.

[James G]

Dem, thanks for the feedback. The B&W were a bit experimental. I agree about the idea of strong contrasts with more structured/geometrical elements being the norm, but I was curious to see what could be done with these. On balance I'm dissatisfied with them, but I think its because I'm missing something. I'll keep working them.

And I do empathise with your point about N. Wales and white skies. It was dumb luck that I was around and the cloud cover lifted as it started to burn off.

[IzzieK]

I prefer The coloured versions to the black and white and as you had explained about the faces, they are interesting to say the least. Love these...

[wilgk]

What a simply lovely part of the world, thank you for recording it for us, tripod or not, they're great.

[FootLoose]

These shots are amazing when viewed in Lytebox. That 7th image - the reflection seems more real to me than the physical landscape.

[deetheturk]

Great set James, what a beautiful place to visit!

[JohnRostron]

Nice to see Snowdonia as it should be. Fifty-odd years ago, I had many holidays youth hostelling in Snowdonia and remember spectacular scenery. I have been in North Wales in recent years, but although the coast was clear, the mountains have been shrouded in cloud and rain!

I particularly like #5 and #7. I'm not all that gone on the B&W.

John