My love of photography started when I was given a Polaroid Instamatic at the age of 14. Immediately, I started taking photographs, most of which I still have today. So, as well as being a professional photographer, photography is also my hobby, especially landscape photography. Being a keen walker means I get the opportunity to photograph most amazing landscapes. This is just a small selection of some of my favourite locations for landscape photography such as the Garth Hill (near Pentyrch), Pen-y-Fan (Brecon Beacons) and the Wales Coastal Path.
Scenic
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)
The high mountains and rugged countryside of Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) is enjoyed by thousands of people every year. It is also a wonderful place for landscape photography. With the unique weather systems changing quickly and dramatically, it is important to be prepared carrying full wet gear even when the sun is shining bright. For me, walking in the <a href="https://www.breconbeacons.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bannau Brycheiniog National Park</a> is one of my favourite activities, especially in areas where the footfall is less. And, over the years, I've managed to capture the drama of the mountains in an image. <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brecon-beacons/trails/pen-y-fan-and-corn-du-circular-walk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pen y Fan</a> mountain is the highest mountain in the <a href="http://www.breconbeacons.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brecon Beacons National Park</a> (Wales, UK) and is one of the most popular climbs in the British Isles. The peak is 886 metres (2,907 feet) above sea level with a sister peak, Corn Du, just slightly lower. There are two routes from the main car park to the top of the mountain, commonly known as the easy (directly from the main car park) and hard (from the Storey Arms side). At the summit of the Pen y Fan mountain is a well preserved and structured Bronze Age cairn with a central stone cist, similar to that on the nearby summit of Corn Du. The grave is fitted with a series of concentric stone kerbs to protect the central mound from slippage. Pen y Fan and Corn Du are both formed from Lower Old Red Sandstone from the Devonian period (416 to 359 million years old) and it is possible to see fossilized sand ripples in the exposed rocks. Related photo galleries: <a href="https://paulfearsphoto.co.uk/blog/department/scenic/">Scenic Photographs</a>. To discuss purchasing any of the photographs displayed or a specific photoshoot, please contact Paul on <a href="mailto:paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk">paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk</a>
Garth Hill
I am very fortunate to live close to the Garth Hill located near the village of Pentyrch outside Cardiff in South Wales. It is the highest ridge in the area and looks out over Cardiff to the Bristol Channel. On a clear day, you can see Weston-super-Mare in South West England and the Brecon Beacons to the north. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Hill" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Garth Hill</a> has a rich history and along the top are several tumuli. These are burial sites dating from the early to middle Bronze Age. The Garth Hill was also the subject of Christopher Monger’s novel <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112966/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Englishman who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain</em></a>. The Garth Hill is also a wonderful location for any keen landscape photographer. The views from the top are expansive and often breath-taking. I have spent many an evening walking up to the top and then photographing the sun as it slips away for the night. I used it for a great deal of my training for challenges such as the <a href="https://5in55.co.uk/what-is-the-10ntaff-challenge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ty Hafan #5in55 and #10nTaff</a>. The Garth Hill is a highly recommended walk. Related blog: <a href="https://paulfearsphoto.co.uk/blog/2019/05/23/national-walking-month/">5 Mountains in 55 Hours Story</a>. To discuss a photography assignment, please contact Paul on <a href="mailto:paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk">paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk</a>
Kent Coast
In 2013, I spent the year staying in <a href="https://www.canterbury.co.uk/info/37/whitstable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whitstable</a> and Tankerton on the Kent coast. Before I went, I had no idea of the beautiful sunsets and the amazing character of the Kent of coast. I spent a great deal of time walking along the coast at dawn and sunset, taking the opportunity to keep a photographic diary of my year's adventure. These galleries feature a small selection of the photographs I took on those often freezing cold mornings and warm sunny evenings and, hopefully, capture the wonderful atmosphere of this special part of the United Kingdom. Related galleries: <a href="https://paulfearsphoto.co.uk/blog/department/scenic/">Scenic photograph galleries</a>. To purchase a print or digital version of any of the photographs in this or other galleries, or to discuss a photography assignment, please contact Paul on <a href="mailto:paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk">paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk</a>
Snowdonia National Park
The Snowdonia National Park (or Eryri in Welsh) is one of the most beautiful areas on planet Earth. Being Welsh, you might think I would be biased, but if you've visited this incredible mountainous area of natural beauty, you will understand what I mean. The <a href="https://www.visitsnowdonia.info/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snowdonia National Park</a> was the first in Wales to be designated a 'National Park' in 1951 and includes the United Kingdom's third highest mountain, Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa at 1085 metres. The park covers 823 square miles and includes the Snowdon massif itself, the Glyderau, the Carneddau, the Moelwynion and the Moel Hebog range. I have the opportunity of hiking through the mountains on a number of occasions and have tried to capture the magnificence of the region in a photograph (which is impossible). And here are some of my favourites.
Waterfalls
<a href="https://www.visitwales.com/things-do/nature-landscapes/go-chasing-wales-most-wondrous-waterfalls" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wales is blessed with some of the most wonderful waterfalls to be seen anywhere in Europe</a>. The amazing rugged Welsh landscape and mountains give rise to spectacular cascading water. The Waterfall Country, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons in the Vale of Neath, is littered with waterfalls. And waterfalls are wonderful to photograph. The best time to photograph waterfalls is when there has been heavy rain, which means you need to get your walking boots and waterproofs on. Long exposures give that wonderful milky look, but don't forget to try and freeze those droplets as well. Related galleries: <a href="https://paulfearsphoto.co.uk/blog/department/scenic/">Scenic</a>. To discuss a photography assignment please contact Paul on <a href="mailto:paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk">paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk</a>
