It’s been a while since we were allowed to leave the county so it was not only enjoyable but quite a relief to get up to Snowdonia and play in the hills for a few days. We had perfect weather so enjoyed a few good days out on the bikes and also explored some familiar and some new parts of the area. Despite the great weather it was fairly quiet due to the fact that visitors from England are not currently allowed across the border. Up on top of the Glyders, after a scramble up Tryfan, we were treated to amazing views as the clouds parted and we were able to see them swirling and spilling around the peaks and cols.
snowdonia
The Wildsome Weekend in Snowdonia
in Landscape, People, Commercial
I spent the weekend up in Snowdonia with the Wildsome crew and guests shooting some images for their website and social media. The philosophy is to create tailored mountain adventures that deliver a full outdoor experience in one weekend. As a new venture this was only the second event they have offered but it was excellent; with a mix of challenging walking, some light scrambling and sharing of knowledge about the mountains, their history, flora and fauna and how to navigate them safely. The weekend was also about escape and exploring a new environment with mindfulness and sense of disconnection from the norm. Joey and Emily, the masterminds behind the Wildsome, have worked hard to make sure everything is in place to spend the weekend not only physically active but also well fed and nurtured in an ego free environment. There’s a sense of calm, of shared positive experience and personal growth coupled with belly laughs, fun and freedom to enjoy everything the outdoors has to offer. The blend was just right and everyone went home pleasantly weary and happy. Look out for their upcoming events at https://thewildsome.com/ and here on Instagram .
Following John Piper's lead in Snowdonia
in Landscape
I've spent a bit of time in the hills recently. A trip to Snowdonia a couple of weeks ago and the Western edge of the Brecon Beacons this weekend. Below is a shot from the Snowdonia trip, a view down the Ogwen Valley.
The artist John Piper painted many scenes in Snowdonia and I had in mind his paintings whilst wandering around up there as the palette at this time of year is typical of his work. He ended up spending time there after initially being sent on an uncompleted commission to draw the interior of Manod Mawr quarry where artworks from the National Gallery were stored during the Blitz. He fell in love with the area and rented a house in the Ogwen valley during the winter months.
The light was fairly flat for me this time but Piper understood the importance of immersing yourself in the landscape and here’s two fantastic quotes for anyone trying to understand how time to fully absorb the nature of a scene is essential to interpreting it...
“Each rock laying in the grass had a positive personality: for the first time I saw bones and the structure and the lie of the mountains, living with them and climbing them as I was, lying on them in the sun and getting soaked with rain in their cloud cover and enclosed in their improbable, private rock-world in fog”
“The rocks can look grey in a leaden light, and then do not, commonly. Against mountain grass or scree, against peaty patches near tarns, on convex slopes, in dark cwms, the same kind of rock can look utterly different, and changes equally violently in colour according to the light and time of year. The rocks are often mirrors for the sky, sometimes antagonistic to the sky’s colour.”
I’ll be returning to spend more time in Snowdonia to follow Piper’s lead and hopefully get better light and more drama.