Pools of Light

Posted on 11/03/201411/03/2014 by Alastair

A network of salt water gullies and holes on the Loughor Estuary.

Pools of light is a bit more poetic than puddles near Llanrhidian. Living at the northern most point of the Loughor Estuary in South Wales, I can travel up either side of the salt marshes that make up the estuary and get beautiful and spacious views across from either the Gower Peninsula on the eastern edge or the Carmarthenshire shore on the western edge.

I have heard that if any of the ponies that graze there are caught on the marshes when the tide comes in, they simply stand where they are until the tide goes out again because of the danger of falling into one of the gullies or holes.

This week’s featured StillWalks video is set a few weeks ahead of the current date in terms of the time of year but the flowers and activity of the birds celebrate the beautiful sunny weather of Spring with gusto and are a welcome change to the wild, wet and windy weather we had through Winter.

The video above is in 480p quality. You can use the Donate button below to pay however much you want and receive a high quality (720HD) download of this week’s featured StillWalks video – “Garden Park Walk – Spring” which features Clyne Gardens in Swansea, South Wales. Click the image above to watch the video. DVD Collections are also available to order in the StillWalks Shop.

Spring Sights and Sounds at Clyne

Posted on 10/03/201410/03/2014 by Alastair

This week’s featured StillWalks video – a walk through Swansea’s Clyne Gardens.

The video is set a few weeks ahead of the current date in terms of the time of year but the flowers and activity of the birds celebrate the beautiful sunny weather of Spring with gusto and are a welcome change to the wild, wet and windy weather we had through Winter.

Hereford Cathedral

Posted on 08/03/201408/03/2014 by Alastair

Not affected by the flooding River Wye, Hereford cathedral is still undergoing repairs.

The tree in this photo conveniently hides the scaffolding covering the main side entrance to the cathedral. I was tempted to enhance the effect of the lowering sun on the front of the building but decided in the end that it was enough like a picture postcard already!

This new StillWalks video will be here to view all week and will then be changed to sample length. I hope you enjoy it and comments are welcome.

You can use the Donate button below to help pay how much you want and receive a high quality download of this week’s featured StillWalks video – “City River Walk – After the Flood” which features York and the River Ouse. Click the image above to watch the video. DVD Collections are also available to order in the StillWalks Shop.

Aware of the Water – Hereford and the River Wye

Posted on 05/03/201405/03/2014 by Alastair

The River Wye is another river that swells with flood water on a regular basis.

Like the Ouse in this week’s featured StillWalks video the Wye collects water from a wide area and sometimes there is just too much to contain and so, despite flood defences, the water spills onto the surrounding land.

We visited Hereford again recently to take my daughter back to university. We were lucky enough to have good weather for the trip and had time in the afternoon for a walk along the river. The footpath, however, was very muddy from the recent floods and we were not well enough shod to squelch our way through it.

This new StillWalks video will be here to view all week and will then be changed to sample length. I hope you enjoy it and comments are welcome.

After the Flood – A New StillWalks Video

Posted on 03/03/201403/03/2014 by Alastair

This winter in the UK brought wind and rain.

Again and again and again! We may now be coming out of that wild and windy season but many people are still suffering from the effects of all that water or fallen trees. I am sorry for those people but also glad we were not included amongst them.

StillWalks featured videos are back again this week with “City River Walk – After the Flood”. The city is York, the river is the Ouse and the time is April 2012. The Ouse regularly floods as a result of rain falling higher up the course of the river. I assume that the residents and businesses situated alongside it the river bank are suitably prepared for these events and have systems in place to deal with it.

However, it is when the unexpected occurs that tried and tested systems are put to the test and this Winter they were certainly tried and tested everywhere in the UK. Some systems were satisfactory . . . others were not!

This new StillWalks video will be here to view all week and will then be changed to sample length. I hope you enjoy it and comments are welcome.

Water’s Edge – Brynmill Park, Swansea

Posted on 19/02/201419/02/2014 by Alastair

Architecture – In the Abstract

Posted on 15/02/201415/02/2014 by Alastair

The Senedd by Richard Rogers – The National Welsh Assembly building in Cardiff was opened in 2006 but until recently I had only viewed it from the outside. There have been many photographs taken of it, most of them showing the exterior or the mushroom like ceiling of the interior. The photos below are mine.

Different Events – The architecture I have featured this week has all been different as have the events that have taken me to the various venues. The event at the Senedd was the launch of a community solar PV co-operative by friends – www.egni.coop – and are looking for people to invest. We already enjoy reduced bills as a result of solar PV panels on our roof.

Eyes and ears open – I said at the beginning of the week that I always try to have my eyes and ears open for potential StillWalks locations. In fact a StillWalks video could be produced for any location, but because I am looking and listening to the things around me with this potential in mind, I feel I am able to see and hear better than I would otherwise. Using the camera (DSLR, compact or iPhone) helps me to focus in on different aspects of my surroundings and in time you begin to do this anyway. It is the same with sound – listening through headphone helps you focus your hearing and in time I believe you become more perceptive. Now I just need to prove it lol!

Featured SillWalks Videos – I’m afraid this is going to be another week without a featured StillWalks video. I have a number of productions to complete and I look forward to adding these to the StillWalks collection. For now there is, as always, access to sample length videos is available through the Walks menus and you can always buy them at anytime for as little as £1.50.

Architecture – Cardiff ATRiuM

Posted on 14/02/201414/02/2014 by Alastair

A wide range of places – The various meetings, seminars and workshops I go to take place in a wide range of places. Yesterday’s post showed the venue for some first aid training. Today’s shows the ATRiuM building in Cardiff. It is part of University of South Wales and I was on the top floor there last week for a workshop run by the Creative Exchange Wales Network (CEWN).

Contrasts of architecture – The architecture here is quite different to that of the Guildhall in Swansea (see previous pos). Quite recently built, it has elements of the abstract about it and a lot of glass! The spiral staircase was one feature pointed out to me and liked its viewpoint as well as using it. Despite the vague reference to the Guggenheim Museum, the angle I viewed it from on the ground floor could have been more interesting.

Just like New York? – Over coffee, before the start of the workshop, a couple of people suggested that the view from the top floor resembled New York! I made a point of getting a quick photo on my phone at the end of the day and although I have not been to New York, I could not honestly say that I could see the resemblance. I may well be wrong of course – you tell me (anyone that knows New York).