Glyderau Sunset Photography Workshop (April 26th 2025)

Description

Join me on the 26th of April and take a photographic walk up the Glyderau in Eryri with me, with a final sunset location at Castell Y Gwynt/Castle of the Winds. This challenging but rewarding day will take your photography to its next level and you’ll see what really gets the adrenaline flowing for me.

This is a day designed for those with prior hillwalking experience and ideally you will have at least a basic understanding of your camera already as there will be less time on camera than a normal workshop day with me. We will be walking up to 8 miles with an ascent of around 2000ft, if not more. Couple this with a return in the dark the day will be a long one but if the conditions are ripe, then it will all be worth it. If you want to double check your suitability with me beforehand, please do drop me an email and I’ll do my best to advise.

We will meet at Capel Curig at 14:30 before discussing the plan for the day. If the conditions and weather is looking good we will start on the Ogwen Valley side and walk up using a route with photographic opportunities on the day. While I want to ensure we stay on track for time for the main event, there are multiple great views, especially over the likes of Cwm Idwal if we go via the Devils Staircase. I highly recommend something like a Peak Design clip for your camera if you don’t already have one to allow you to keep your camera attached to your bag strap at all times.

Once we are on top, we will seek out other photographic viewpoints. If we go via Glyder Fawr we can have a quick stop at the summit here before moving on. Up on the plateau it is quite a rocky and moonlike landscape so we will take our time along this boulderfield. There is a stunning view down from Y Gribin overlooking Cwm Bochlywed and across to Tryfan, all without doing the scramble up the ridge.

After this we will move around to Glyder Fach which is where Castell Y Gwynt is located. We will stop quickly to talk about compositions at the castle so we are prepared but the summit has other opportunities. There is the Cantilever Stone, the view down Bristly Ridge and various other rock formations to take in and photograph.

If we go up the alternative way, we may walk up via Llyn Y Caseg Fraith which is a small llyn high up on the mountain with views to Tryfan so while the initial walk isn’t as scenic, there is a great opportunity on the way up too. I will keep our options open.

Once we have done sunset, I have allocated us two hours to return down. It shouldn’t take us this long but it will give us a little leeway. It will be a return in the dark and we will have to leave the summit as sun as the sun goes past the horizon. Good head torches are needed and you will need to be comfortable with mountain terrain in the dark. I will of course lead the way and endeavour to point out any obstacles.

Of course, if the forecast isn’t suitable for the day I may suggest another plan. The Glyderau are a big, tall mountain range and if they’re capped in clouds, other smaller mountains might not be. I hope it won’t come to that but if it is the case I’ll use my knowledge to suggest an alternative with better prospects rather than wasting out time stuck in clag. That is after all the nature of mountain photography!

What I aim to teach you on the day is my passion for the mountains, how to plan mountain trips, what to be aware of, some of the risks, what is involved and how to take pictures once you are at the top. I am also a qualified mountain leader so you know you will be in safe hands on the day.

My plan will be to put us in the best place for the given conditions on the day and we will stay flexible to ensure we make the most of it.

Upon booking you will be sent an order confirmation. email which includes meeting details, kit-list, discount codes and a questionnaire for you to fill out. This questionnaire just allows me to get information about you so I can plan the day appropriately for the whole group. Please pay particular attention to the required equipment as a certain level of appropriate gear is expected. The list won’t be conclusive but aims to give you the best guidelines possible. Please take a common sense approach to your packing, for example, I suggest 2l of water but you may know from experience you need more or less. Please contact me if you are unsure and I will try and advise you the best I can.

Photographically throughout the day we will look at techniques such as focusing, using a tripod, use of filters vs exposure blending, composition, working with the light and more.

The finish time has been noted for 22:30 but please allow flexibility in your plans should we need to take longer on our descent.

I am more than happy to discuss other more advanced techniques on a 1-2-1 basis as well as with the group, depending on what is beneficial.

The day is tailored around you as much as possible and I strive to give each of you on the course for that day the best day possible. At the end of the day, you will have hopefully learnt new techniques and taken away some imagery you will be proud of. I am a friendly and relaxed tutor and I welcome you to keep in touch with me after the course to ask me any questions you may have looked over on the day. I have also created a Facebook client area where you can keep in touch, share your photos and keep in touch with other attendees from the day.

There will be a maximum group size of 4 meaning there will be plenty of 1-2-1 time. I will be on hand throughout the day for any questions and my focus will be on ensuring you have the best day possible.

Please note you will need a head torch.

There is a £40 deposit required to secure your place on this workshop with the balance due no later than 6 weeks before the workshop.