Morning Light

Photography comes from two Greek words, "photos" meaning light and "graphos"meaning writing (writing with light), light isn't constant it changes during the day, it is generally believed that the highest quality light comes twice a day, one hour after sunrise (in all weather conditions), one hour before sunset in sunny conditions, otherwise known as "The Golden Hour"

With a forecast of a fine frosty morningI intend visiting a favourite area of mine overlooking the Glyn valleyand the Talybont reservoir, it's about an hours walk from the car so an early start is needed to try and get there by sunrise, I take only essential items, tripod, camera, lenses, spare batteries, flash cards, filters, remote control, lens brush etc, the small items put into an easy to get at (with cold fingers) exterior pocket, with a two hour return walk and cold conditions any weight saved will cover the all important flask of hot tea /coffee, preferably with a nip of good malt or brandy, not too much though or the verticals will suffer !!

I arrived just after sunrise to see a thick layer of mist over the water. Fearing that it would soon clear I took one rather hasty shot, then quickly got into my routine of wandering round, camera in hand, composing (not taking) shots from various positions and angles, only when satisfied as to the best viewpoint do I clip the camera onto the tripod. Since I purchased an ND4X grad filterits not been off my wide angle lens, so easy to turn the gradation over any hotspots, in addition I sometimes add a polarizing filterto increase saturation.

Tor-y-foel
(Click on image for larger view)

Tor-y-foellit up by the low sun looked fantastic, used the dark frost covered trail as a lead in, with the camera aperture set at F/22 took about a dozen shots of the valley using the full focal range (18-55) for differing compositions. I then clipped on a 75-300 lens for another half dozen or so (aperture still set at F/22), again using full focal range. Standing here in the shade its bitterly cold, must mention clothing at this point, warm clothing is vital in these conditions, better to take a layer too many, easily taken off if the temperature rises.

The freezing mist has steadily been dissipated by the rising sun, not happy with lack of foreground detail on the trail I climb to a better position higher up the hillside,  again going through my routine, another dozen or so shots taken while the sun was still low in the sky.

Talybont reservoir
(Click on image for larger view)

With the mist almost gone, my final shot of Talybont reservoir in the Glyn valley, happy with results so far and anxious to exploit the light further I decide to climb to a point overlooking the next valley (DyffrynCrawnon).The eastern side of this steep heavily wooded valley was in deep shadow, a single patch of angled sunlight had penetrated the darkness and settled on a small farm, lighting up the treetops and casting long shadows over the frost covered fields and buildings. A lovely scene, too distant to get any detail with a wide lens I clipped on the 75-300 and took half dozen shots at different focal lengths with an aperture of F/22, this shot Dyffryn farm taken at 210mm, 1/25sec exposure, against the dark wooded backdrop the image in the viewfinder looked magical.

Dyffryn farm
(Click on image for larger view)

Dyffryn farm (a wider view),again taken at distance, gives an idea of the versatility and quality of this 75-300 lens, this shot taken at 120mm, F/22, 1/25sec. I use the 75 - 300 often to pick out what I refer to as pictures within pictures, by no means an expensive lens the DOF and sharpness achieved is impressive.

Dyffryn farm (a wider view)
(Click on image for larger view)

Since arriving, two pleasing, albeit quite busy hourshave passed quickly, time to be on my way with about forty shots in the bag. Walking back to the car in bright sunshine I was glad I had taken this opportunity, clear frosty conditions like this, once a common event, are becoming rarer each year, just being out on the mountains on a morning like this has been so refreshing, the capture of some nice shots a bonus.

I think the moral here is to grab the opportunity as it arises, watch the weather forecast, plan the trip, dress for the weather, take only what you need, get into position on time and use up all the quality light time that's available,

Good shooting,

Merlynn.