A snowy walk

it snowed in Aberystwyth, apparently for the first noticeable time since 2010! Do not quote me on that though... The walk today wasn't a planned project, i. It started out as a 'snow day' where the snow changes the pace of everything and going outside feels like the right response. I set off from my house all bundled up with my camera and activated strava just in case it became a longer journey than expected (spoiler - it did). I aimed for South beach and walked along the coastline taking in the views and snapping shots of things that took my interest. I went as far as i could along the coastline and decided instead of walking back, i would take the path through the gate on my left.

As i went down this new path it looked stripped back and beautiful with the snow laying over it, shot after shot on my camera. there was a beautiful field on my left with lots of sheep which became a recurring theme on my walk... I photographed as I walked, collecting images and leaving behind footprints. As I moved away from the coast, the landscape shifted. The snow covered banks and trees and fences instead of stones and sand. the tree branches holding just enough to outline their twists and bends. The path I walked down opened up slightly as i came out by some remote houses, the path became icier in spots as the terrain changed. This left me with a few oh my god moments where i nearly slipped over. Leading to one accidental photo which I love! The slight slip as i pressed the shutter on my camera softened the image and blurred it just enough to give an ethereal quality to the photograph of some trees.

Ethereal trees, photograph, canon 2000d.

The sheep were impossible to ignore. Dotted across the fields and up against the fences, they stood out sharply against the snow. Their expressions somewhere between confusion and mild irritation maybe. I stopped several times to take their photo, partly because there was something a little funny about it to me and partly because they were the closest thing to a human around.

Snowy sheep, photograph, canon 2000d.

Further along the route the snow became a bit deeper and the paths a little more uneven again as i reached the trail running alongside the Ystwyth river. The light was dramatic as it was starting to set so i had a mixture of golden hour and sunrays. 7Km in started nearing the beach again. I took fewer photos on the final stretch, i felt like i had already taken loads and that the walk had given me what I needed. The camera stayed in my hand, but the urgency to shoot had passed.

Snowy harbour, photograph, canon 2000d.

This walk reminded me why I carry a camera even on days without a clear goal. Walking creates the rhythm that suits my way of working, and the photography becomes a response rather than an interruption. The photographs from today felt grounded in experience. They came from moving through the landscape, slipping on black ice, laughing at sheep, and slowing down enough to notice how the environment shifted with each step. It wasn't about chasing a perfect imAGE, IT WAS ABOUT BEING THERE AND RESPONDING TO WHAT UNFOLDED, LETTING THE WALK SHAPE THE WORK.

hilltop, photograph, canon 2000d.

BY THE TIME I GOT HOME, 8KM, I WAS TIRED AND STARTING TO GET A LITTLE COLD AND HUNGRY! I made some dinner and then let myself plug in my SD card and take a look at the images. Looking back at them brought back each step and brought attention to the traces of movement and subtle ways a landscape can change when you meet it on a walk. Editing the photos was minimal. I wanted the keep a natural feel but enhance some of them to give it more of an ethereal or atmospheric feel. The snow spoke for itself in majority of the images.

The camera becomes a way of marking time rather than chasing an image, and the landscape offers moments quietly, with no demand. The shoot in the snow today brought attention to little details and brought a whole new look on the landscape surrounding me.

ethereal sheep, photograph, canon 2000d.