Menai Straits Kids T-Shirts

I used a vintage Jupiter 9 85mm F2 lens to take this image - shooting in full manual mode with the aperture dialled in slightly to add slightly stronger depth of field on the focus. Focussing on the bridge, the image was then worked on slightly in post - checking over for sharpness... but for a 72 year old lens... really you can't fault it..!

Ynys Gorad Goch or "Red Weir Island" dates from 1590 and was traditionally a weir which acts as a fishing trap and one of the fishermen's cottages on the island was a smokehouse. In the 19th Century, a bell by the Anglesey shore summoned a boat to carry visitors across to enjoy a 'Gored Whitebait Tea' which comprised a pot of tea, brown bread and butter and whitebait ‘fried in a basket’, priced one shilling... Shame it doesn't exist today!

Menai Bridge photograph taken in the early evening light from Church Island

The suspension bridge crossing the Menai Straits, connecting the island of Anglesey to mainland Wales viewed here from Anglesey. Before the bridge, the only means of crossing was by ferry - risky due to the fast flowing waters of the Straits. Cattle going to market on the mainland had to swim over - many being swept away by the currents! The bridge was designed by Thomas Telford, work starting in 1819 and finishing in 1826. It was designed so tall ships could sail undeneath.

Living by the coast and by the sea, gives me time and chance to walk down to the seashore and capture some varied sunsets... For quite some time, I have been watching the sun setting from my home, awaiting for a wonderful sunset silhouette over the calm dark waters of the Menai Straits... One barmy summers evening when the temperature was in the upper twenties, I took a late stroll down to the harbour to capture this...

The human mind is such a wonderful thing... Ever since my university days and the discussions of cameras, photography and the human eye - and the comparison between the two - I have been fascinated by the capabilities of both... But there's one key difference which I think cameras cannot deal with very well and that is the matter of immediacy, capturing the moment - and the quality of visual depth... at least I do not think so - anyhow..! Visualising this particular area beforehand I had a pretty good idea of what to expect and what initially I found appealing... The idyllic retreat of a modern fisherman's cottage right by the sea of the Menai Straits - sat neatly tucked away and nestled just around the corner under the famous Me...

I've tried to emulate at watercolour effect on this piece as I felt that it just deserved it... For many many years I have appreciated those who can best create still life or aspects of landscape by picking up the tools which craft and create such marvellous masterpieces... yet I have neither time nor inclination to do so... at least - not at present anyhow... I do very much enjoy art and appreciating art in all its wonderful forms... but mastery I feel takes time and time is of the essence. I have chosen photography. Who knows if the man above gives me more time - I will consider working in another medium... but it is not priority ~ certainly not at the moment. I hope you enjoy this piece - it is of the famous Menai Brid...

An original illustration featuring the Menai Straits and Menai Suspension Bridge, connecting Anglesey and mainland Wales.

In memory and thinking of the Royal Thai Navy Seal 'Saman Gunan' who laid his life on the line in attempting rescue of the 12 thai children and coach which were trapped within the deep recesses of the Tham Luan cave system of Thailand... I've designed this. It is a Wild seal. In Thailand, the buddhist belief is that if you do good in your life, you experience everlasting life, in the reincarnate... As I understand it, doing good means, you might be reincarnated as a better being or life force, doing bad and not learning the tenets of the buddha - means that you can equally be created as a lesser life force... I like to think that Saman Gunan might come back as an enlightened creature one that experiences lesser stresses than t...

Very lucky to live in a place with such magnificent views of the Caernarfon Castle and to be situated in an area in which I can be having a drink and think about the sunset ~ and watch it unfolding... Sunsets like these are quite common from where I'm situated and if we keep adding nitrous oxide into the atmosphere - they will be sunsets set to be - more often! We must get a handle on things - but for the time-being at least, I've come back to be in Wales and this is my nirvana. Caernarfon, my town, my home. Iechyd dda Gymru..! Good Health Wales..! In times like these - we certainly 'need these well-wishes' :-)

One of the most iconic views and viewing points of Snowdonia and Anglesey - that of the Menai Straits looking across to the Thomas Telford Suspension Bridge adjoining the mainland to the island... Whoever thought to build yet another bridge in such an iconic area of outstanding beauty !? o.O

A fisherman stands along the shore of a tidal lagoon, whilst white egrets and grey heron fish in the smaller pool during low tide, within the Menai Straits. The landscape is the subject but its the finer details that add to the framing... Such details can only be viewed effectively at full scale blow up at 100%... but I am blown away, by the quality of this specific landscape 'classic' lens... A large photographic print would just do it !

A landscape view straight up the Menai Straits to the Britannia Bridge.