Moel Famau country park

We are lucky enough to have this country park on our doorstep. It's nothing spectacular when held up against nearby Snowdonia national park, but serves as a great local bolt-hole for a fix of fresh air. Once in a while it all falls into place - with the sun, snow and the last of the autumn colour it starts to feel like somewhere far more remote.

The bottom image is a panorama, moulded from seven portrait shots. The quality of the original image is astounding, but you will have to take my word for it looking at this postage stamp version!

Click images to view larger...

8th April 2008

This chap lives on my street. He is a real talent on a bike and rarely rides these local park dirt jumps any more - they just ain’t big enough for him.

It seems like shooting this sort of thing is a lesson in keeping it simple; sun near straight on, fast shutter speed, wide angle lens to show the landing/context, getting in very low and close (i.e. lying in the mud in this case), then just shooting loads. On the 'cool sports' theme, I love the work of photographer [Ryan Allan] who has shot some amazing skate, bike and surf images, but all shot in an natural, earthy style. Inspiring.

19th March

Lake overflow and log, Delamere Forest.

I did to Delamere forest expecting to find much I wanted to photograph, but once I looked a little closer, there were a lot of little natural details worth hunting out.

18th March

I need to work on someone to have their picture taken in this location, its such a moody backdrop in early morning sunlight.

17th March

Frosty oak leaves, Winter is back today.

16th March

Old ruin, hazy hills, Snowdonia. Even in mid-March, this felt like one of those perfect summer days that you wish would never end.

15th March

The Golden Lion, Frodsham. I think a series on English pubs (inside and out) could be worthwhile this year.

14th March

These trails are the result of a powerkite session on the beach. The S-shaped trails tapering off into the distance come from being pulled along the sand by the kite's power - a technique known as 'skudding', or translated 'the wind is too strong or I am to scared to kiteboard today'.

5th March 2008

Forest panorama, graphic details.

The original of this image is made up of three images blended to together to form a very high-resolution landscape image. Graphic icons added later.

25th Febuary, 2008

Silver Birch tree and quarried rock, Helsby Hill.

20th Febuary 2008

Colin Down on 'McMoab' rock garden, Kirroughtree, 7stanes. The bike trail actually goes up this ridge of rock away from the camera position, then drops down steeply to the right of Colin. Not for the faint-hearted.

This is actually photo taken at the weekend, but since it took some image editing today, I figured it would be ok to use this as todays entry, just this once...

18th Febuary

View from Glencaple, Solway Firth, Dumfries and Galloway. I had to wade through ankle deep mud (gloop) to get this shot. I wanted to go further onto the mud flats, but the mud threatened to get much deeper really quite quickly.


Disused fishing boat, Glencaple, Solway Firth, Dumfries and Galloway

17th Febuary

Sabine riding at Ae forest, 7 Stanes



Highland cows on a frosty morning, Dumfries and Galloway

16th Febuary

Sabine on 'McMoab' rock garden, Kirroughtree, 7stanes


View over the Solway Firth, Dumfries and Galloway

11th Febuary 2008

Tractor shed, A56 Chester/Helsby. I wont be getting up for any more sunrise shots tomorrow, I am far too tired from three sunrise sessions in a row.


"Bouncer" in the local park. I love the bling colar.

10th Febuary 2008

Warm early morning light pooring into an disused outbuilding, adjoining the Hendre Isaf Basecamp bunkhouse, Betws-y-Coed, North Wales


Snowdon from Llynau Mymbyr. This is much used road-side photography spot, lazily captured in mid-morning light. At sunrise though, Snowdon glows bright orange from this location. I must go back.

9th Febuary 2008

The first of hopefully many people shots in this project. I feel uncomfortable asking friends and indeed strangers if I can take their picture, although I am working on techniques to make this more of a balanced exchange in the future.

9th Febuary 2008

Sunrise, River Merddwr, Pentrefoelas. This was shot 2 minutes walk away from the excellent Hendre Isaf Basecamp, near Betws-y-Coed, North Wales.

6th Febuary 2008

Stanlow Oil Refinery


Inside a disused mill, Helsby. There seems to be a confinement theme today...

5th Febuary 2008

My dream machine