Penarth Pier and Pavilion

Being in the Cardiff area in South Wales this week, I was also able to visit the newly refurbished pavilion (inc. cinema) on Penarth Pier – a very good job they have done of it too! These photos are also available to purchase through the StillWalks PhotoShelter website. My favourite shots are those at the bottom of the structure under the pier!

Lines and Blocks – Cardiff Bay Architecture

I wouldn’t describe these images as Christmasy but I was in Cardiff Bay the other day and happened to have an hour to spare. The architecture there creates some interesting patterns and I had taken my camera.

I had a bit of an argument with the security guard for the building with the lines and bars (he wasn’t very polite!) but that just added to the interest. Personally, I really like the concrete wedge! More of these photos are available on the StillWalks PhotoShelter site.

Cardiff Bay Architecture

Lines and Bars

Cardiff Bay Architecture

Bar Reflection

Cardiff Bay Architecture

Bars Perspective

Cardiff Bay Architecture

Wedge

Cardiff Bay Architecture

Wedge and Rectangles

Swiss Valley, Llanelli

Why the area is called Swiss Valley, I do not know! It is clearly not in Switzerland but a beautiful area in South West Wales. The photos were taken on my iPhone – I love the snaking shape of the reservoir overflow but that particular image needed some work on it.

Swiss Valley

Swiss Valley Reservoir

Swiss Valley Reservoir

Going Backwards – One More from the Park

I am pleased to say that I am not actually going backwards – at least I hope not! Just leaving Cwmdonkin Park in Swansea until I have worked on other StillWalks productions from earlier in the year.

And below is the final sound clip I recorded before leaving the park. Are these squirrels or jays? I know they can sound similar and I know there were plenty of squirrels around but I saw no Jays at all. Also available on SoundCloud.

Cwmdonkin Park

You can use the Donate button below to help StillWalks. Pay how much you want and receive a high quality download of this week’s featured StillWalks video – “Abertawe Walk” which is along the cycle path alongside the River Tawe going into Swansea, South Wales. Click the image below to watch the video. DVD Collections are available to order in the StillWalks Shop.

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Calm Shops and Happy Days in Cowbridge

Yesterday I went to Cowbridge to explore possible retailers for StillWalks DVD Collections and I am pleased to say that I found “The Little Shop of Calm“. So this is now another retail outlet where you can buy both StillWalks DVD Collections if you don’t like shopping online. They are also available at the Taliesin Arts Centre shop.

little shop of calm

I also found another interesting shop there – “Happy Days” which amongst many other things . . .

Cowbridge-4. . .  stocks skeletons!

skeleton in Happy Days

You can use the Donate button below to help StillWalks. Pay how much you want and receive a high quality download of this week’s featured StillWalks video – “Abertawe Walk” which is along the cycle path alongside the River Tawe going into Swansea, South Wales. Click the image below to watch the video. DVD Collections are available to order in the StillWalks Shop.

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After the Tide

This week’s featured StillWalks video is “After the Tide”. It will be available to watch all week and will then revert to the sample length video.

The marshes in question are tidal and therefore salt marshes. They are near a busy motorway and the sound of the traffic is almost always there to some extent. Having said this, I should also say that it is one of my favourite local walks and the sound of the traffic does not bother me. Yes, I love the peace you can find in quieter rural locations, but on the marshes, I simply don’t listen to the traffic.

The wind in the grasses and the birdsong are the sounds I focus on and on the occasion of this StillWalks production, the sound of my wellington boots in the water as the tide ebbs.

You can use the new Donate button below to help StillWalks. Pay how much you want and receive a high quality download of this week’s featured StillWalks video – “After the Tide” which is from the marshes on the Loughor Estuary, South wales. Click the image below to watch the video.

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Sand, Sea and Wind

On a windy day in Swansea Bay, watching the movements of the top layer of dry sand getting blown across the seaweed and other debris on the beach is as entertaining as watching the sea itself.

The action of waves in the sea can be mesmerising, but so too can the patterns created by the wind on dry sand as it catches the various objects and undulations of the beach. The sculptures created can be fascinating but watching them be created is even more so.

The camera does not see in the same way as the eye but in these images I think there is some advantage to the relatively narrow depth of field. The areas of blur seem to me to emphasise the atmosphere and effect of the conditions at the time. The textures that show through in the areas of sharpness combined with soft foreground / background, feel much more like it physically was than if everything was clean and crisp and static.

I hope the second sound clip from this photo shoot helps to “put you in the picture”. Even my home made wind shield could not handle the strength of the wind on the beach, but I decided that the distortion and break up of the sound was all a part of the character of the scene.

High Winds in Swansea Bay

High Winds in Swansea Bay

High Winds in Swansea Bay

You can use the new Donate button below to help StillWalks. Pay how much you want and receive a high quality download of this week’s featured StillWalks video – “Moss Wood Walk” which is from Gnoll Park in Neath, South wales. Click the image below to watch the video.

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Looking for Christmas Presents?

Order StillWalks DVD Collection 1 or 2 for a beautiful set of relaxing StillWalks videos or order your own choice of StillWalks videos on DVD with your own message.

Buy Now

Collection 1 features seven walks in South Wales. Collection 2 features eight walks from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Existing DVDs – £11.99 each.

Order a bespoke collection of your choice of 4 or 8 StillWalks videos. These can be authored in PAL or NTSC standards (see below). Bespoke DVD collections are produced with a unique disc label and cover which can include a special message if required.

Four StillWalks videos of your choice on DVD – £45.00, eight videos – £75.00.

Prices do not include p&p.

NB – Existing DVDs are available in the PAL standard. These DVDs may be watched on any computer but they will not play on a TV in certain countries where the NTSC standard is used, such as the USA. Click here for a list of countries using PAL and NTSC standards.