Sunset over Cemaes

After a week in Wales, it felt like the sun finally came out properly when we arrived on Anglesey for the second weekend of the half-term.

We took the opportunity to pop down to the beach for the sunset.

Bit of a play with the panoramic setting...

Sometimes it's just nice to get out for a stroll, and to take some pictures, on a pleasant evening.

Around the Ffestinog on a murky May holiday

The weather over the Half-Term was rather on the poor side. It didn't make for great photography conditions generally, and considering how many shots we've taken on the Ffestiniog in the last two decades, the recent trips have been a bit of a poor showing.

The pair of us went for a walk up around Tanybwlch, the claggy, murky conditions clear to see.

Still, there was the chance for some nice shots of the local plants...

Play with the panorama feature.

About the best train shot of the day. Due to some poor planning, I (Ben) managed to leave the memory card out of the camera, so this was as good as the phone could cope with.

Slightly better shot of "Merddin Emrys" at Porthmadog, in the brief bit of afternoon sunshine on the Wednesday.

"Merddin Emrys" again. I wanted a shot of this loco in the new (old) livery, and if the clouds had moved just a little quicker, it would have been in perfect light... Maybe another go in July beckons.

The last day in Porthmadog, and "Taliesin" at Harbour...

"Merddin Emrys" one final time, in the gloomy light.

 

The flowers of Cemaes

Just a short post tonight, whilst we're in the edit from last week in Wales.

These are some shots Amy took in my (Ben's) parent's garden. Partly just for the pics of some very lovely plants, but partly also to get some fodder for possible future abstracts/digital photomanipulations.

 

A sunny evening in Saltaire

Now that we live somewhere you can walk around in the evenings without feeling you need to constantly look apprehensively over your shoulder, we've been starting to do after-work strolls.

The light the other evening was stunning.

Sports field between the Aire and the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

Part of the Salts Mill complex.

Shipley College.

And then it was off, back to the house. What a lovely evening for a wander.

Poppleton Nursery, for Garden Rail

A return to Poppleton, the Community Railway Plant Nursery on the outskirts of York.

We were there to get some plants for the under-construction garden railway...

...and some research pics for (yes, yet again) another article.

It was actually quite tricky to get decent pictures, just because the place was so busy.

It was quite tricky to find new angles on Poppleton too, just because we've been there so many times.

Another successful visit; lots of reference shots, and a boot-full of plants.

 

A little ray of sunshine; yellow train, in Saltaire.

The other afternoon, we went for a stroll out in Saltaire; partly for the exercise, partly to go see the Network Rail Test Train (yellow HST) come racing through.

United Reform Church peeking above the trees.

A nice stroll, and then the HST put in an appearance. Shame I was shooting into the light, trying to get the mill in shot...

...better though, over the other side of the bridge.

 

A sunny Spring lunchtime on the Worth Valley

I (Ben) have an article under way for British Railway Modelling, for which I'd shot a load of prototype pics earlier in the year. With the weather having improved significantly since they were shot, we decided to make the most of the Spring sunshine and head out for some more pictures. 

First stop, Ingrow, and a visit to the always-excellent shop the at Vintage Carriages museum.

Then it was off up to Oxenhope for a quick (and very tasty) bacon sarnie at the buffet coach.

An atmospheric view of "Vulcan", which was on pilot duties due to the fire risk. In fact the two above views make the place look quiet, but they were lucky shots; the trains were heaving!

Amongst the many items photographed for the article was the playground... had to wait for all the kids to sprint over to watch the locomotives running round.

With that, it was off home to crack-on with more work...