SAFETY FIRST DESPITE THE ENTHUSIASM

Snowdonia in early November can experience variable weather conditions, but that’s to be expected and besides checking various Apps for the direction of light, weather conditions themselves should not be overlooked. Landscape photography is often a lone pastime and it’s just good sense to let someone know where you intend going.

Up before dawn on the 9th November, I left Capel Curig for Llyn Padarn which involves a drive down through Llanberis Pass. The forecast was variable and snow was forecast later that morning on higher ground. My reason for visiting Llyn Padarn was not to shoot the famous ‘lone tree’ at its north end with often hordes of photographers jostling to get that right position in front of the tree, but a misty morning with golden light funneling down the Pass can produce magical effects over the llyn. But no such luck that morning and conditions looked rather murky higher up the Pass. I certainly didn’t want to get stuck near the top of the Pass in my 2-wheel drive Tiguan, or risk sliding off the road. I returned, and was relieved when I reached the top of the Pass with a few flakes falling but luckily the road was clear and now I was on the right side of the Pass to get back to Capel Curig.

Within minutes two things happened very quickly: firstly, the sky suddenly flared a bright red despite being very overcast, somewhere closer to the foothills in the direction of Bwts-y-Coed conditions were not so bad, and secondly it started to snow very heavily with large flakes. About 5 cms of snow fell in 30 mins; reminiscent of the conditions I have experienced in the French Alps whilst skiing. Later that morning, my friend (a Border Collie) and I had to negotiate a snow plough! At least the considerate the driver folded in the blades away as he passed us. Incidentally, photographers I meet out on a shoot hardly remember me, even a day or so later, but they remember the well-behaved dog!

The conditions underfoot for the rest of the week were treacherous with slush overlying a blanket of leaves and mud below. I came a cropper once or twice, and it reminded me of those photographers you sometimes who walk around with tripod extended with camera attached and slung over their shoulder. OK, conditions may be better underfoot, but just one tumble could cause some costly damage. Unless my next pitch is just a few metres away, I tend to pack up everything up in my Flipside 400AW.

There are a few other rules that I have adopted over the years through bitter experience I have to say. There is a tendency when that fleeting light you have been waiting for suddenly appears to rush. Turn your back, and one of these could let you down:

• always check that your tripod is securely fixed at each flip lever

• that the camera is in fact securely fixed to the tripod head

• that the tripod head is firmly locked with the camera attached

• that the extended tripod itself is well balanced and not on the point of tipping over with a gust of wind, or an unexpected slip of the camera

• always check you haven’t left anything behind and that nothing has fallen from camera bag

In addition, in the eagerness to capture that ‘shot’ risk creeps in and:

• when close to a cliff never look through the camera and never walk forward at the same time, near distance of only a few metres can be distorted with a wide angle lens

• for those who have stood on the raised beach at Newhaven know how unpredictable and threatening the odd wave can be

• watch you don’t get cut-off by the sea. I saw this happen recently on the Ynys Llanddwyn promontory in Anglesey leading to a few hours wait

• conditions underfoot can be unpredictable particularly near lakes where marshy ground and irregular tussocks, and unexpected water-logged deep holes. I am thinking of the conditions around Llynnau Mymbyr near Capel Curig

• for those of us who photographed the fabulous waterfalls at Pontneddfechan in Brecknockshire will know who treacherously slippery the rocks are, and with camera equipment exceptional care is required. Step gingerly, don’t trust anything underfoot even the thin covering of soil will slide away underfoot

Capel Curig, with Snowdon shrouded in low threatening cloud