The Happy Light

Abstract Landscape and Nature Photography. Taken at one of the most iconic spots on the Isle of Anglesey , off the North Wales mainland in the UK featuring a li...
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Abstract Landscape and Nature Photography. Taken at one of the most iconic spots on the Isle of Anglesey , off the North Wales mainland in the UK featuring a lighthouse much favored by photographers , Penmon Light at Penmon Point. In this image I wanted to feature the often neglected side of the lighthouse. Most of images taken here , including many of my own, usually try and include the writing on the opposing side and use the rocky ground as a leading line or the raging waves at high tide. In this image I wanted to make the land and nature focal points as important as the lighthouse , including a partial view of Puffin Island in the distance and the beautiful underwater landscape of seaweed in the deep rock pools which also produce a nice partial reflection of the light because of the purity and stillness of the water on a lovely sunny summers day. The point of doing this was not just to produce a varied landscape composition but also to evoke feelings of happiness, nostalgia and calm in the viewer rather than dramatic seascape emotions. The perspective and the height of the tides as well as the right weather conditions all had to be in perfect harmony to do this . To get a beautiful view of the water covered seaweed the photograph had to be taken just before the lowest point of the tide when the weed would be exposed and not long after the moment that a perspective from this angle could be possible from the shore without which the tilted angle and low POV can not be attained . Afternoon light was also required with the sun at the right point in the sky to create a bright blue sky and an imposing image of the photographs main feature , the lighthouse , without the light being so strong as to create over illuminance on the white walls. Getting the opportunity to take a shot like this with no people or animals wandering across the stones on such a beautiful day is also very tricky indeed, the area is usually full of visitors both human and feathered on days like this In fact , despite the restrictions of travel during the Coronavirus Pandemic the area was still very busy with locals so the image i wanted had to be taken quickly with no real time to set up apart from as a composition I had planned in my mind and was taken crouching on a small rock with no tripod on a double exposure setting. No editing or cropping has been done , the photograph relies on natural manipulation and proves that , planning your composition , local knowledge , or a lot of research into the site you are visiting and the conditions that work best there, can bear fruit. Seascape photography
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