Snowdonia

This region of magnificent scenery has long been a beloved one with photographers, indeed Joe Cornish rates it as one of his favourite areas for photography in the UK.

 

Snowdonia National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) has the highest mountain ranges in England and Wales, with four peaks over 1000 metres and 14 over 900 metres. The rugged terrain includes lakes, fast-flowing rivers and wide ranges of moorland. The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in England and Wales at 3,560 ft (1,085 m). As well as the highest mountains, Snowdonia also boasts the largest natural lake in Wales. Indeed, lakes are almost as much of a feature of Snowdonia as the peaks.

 

The rich and varied human history of the area is illustrated through the remains of habitation, from Stone Age burial chambers to Roman forts to churches, castles, slate quarries and other industrial works. Much of the world's roofing slate once came from this region and the landscape is dotted with the scars of slate pits.

 

Our base for the workshop is the small village of Dinorwic, lying on the western edge Snowdonia, close to what once was the largest slate mine in the world. Great locations are literally on our doorstep; the extensive ruins of the slate quarry are less than ten minutes away on foot. We will spend some time exploring this fascinating site. It provides opportunities for both close up photography and wider views of the quarry.

 

Further afield, the Llugwy River - flowing east from Capel Curig down towards Betws-y-Coed - has a number of great locations including the magical Fairy Glen.

 

If you travel a little further up the A5 you’ll enter the Ogwen Valley. Flanked by the Glyderau range on one side and the Carneddau peaks on the other, photographers are surrounded by classic Snowdonia landscapes in every direction. We won't be sticking to the roadside and only indulging in drive-by shooting. I will lead you deeper into the landscape to explore some of its less-known areas.

 

Over six full days of photography, I will take you to some of my favourite locations and help you to make the most of the opportunities, tutoring you not only in the technical aspects – such as exposure and filtration – but also helping you to see with a keener eye and help you to make more compelling compositions.

 

In order to maximise the time spent on photography we will try to concentrate on locations within half an hour’s drive of the house.