Click on the image for licensing terms
What a stunning place, and surely one of the most beautiful views in Wales!
This is the Mawddach estuary, splitting the welsh coast between the twin seaside towns of Fairbourne and Barmouth, with the famous wooden railway bridge connecting the two.
My wife Liz and I make a pilgrimage here once or twice a year, a two and a half hour drive from our home in North Wales so the weather has to be ameanable to make the effort worthwhile.
On this occasion in June 2017 we had a mixed bag of sunshine and showers - a bit dogdy for prolonged hiking, but absolutely wonderful for some dramatic photography!
I caught this view looking up the estuary as heavy rain clouds were rolling towards us from the mountains inland, while the estuary and bridge were lit with bright sun, together with three small boats moored in the flowing water.
It was a race to compose an image with the boats in the optimum positions before the sunlight was extinguished and the rain hit, but I just about managed it before retreating hastily back to our parked car, just in front of the ensuing downpour.
A few sandwiches later the rain passed, the sun came back out and we managed a decent walk up the tracks of the narrow gauge railway as the tide came in.
What a wonderful way to spend a day.
Filename - mawddach estuary 02.jpg
Camera - Canon 6D
Lens - 24-105mm zoom @ 105mm
Exposure - 1/80 sec @ f8, ISO100
Filters - Polarising filter used to reduce the glare off the water and enhance the colours. Two stop neutral density graduated filter used to darken the sky.
Location - Mawddach Estuary, Mid Wales
This image - 800x533px JPEG
Conversion - Adobe Lightroom.
Comments - Image underexposed to preserve highlights on the brightly lit boats.
All content copyright © Howard Litherland 2009-2026 unless otherwise stated.