Menai Bridge Pillows

I ventured down to Church Island (Ynys Tsilio). There was a bitingly cold wind but the evening light was subtle and the tide was just right ~ not too high and not too low... I set up tripod on the rocks and got a shutter metering from my camera... I then added a new filter another ten stop which gave me around 6 seconds via a remote shutter - to create this image... It seemed rather flat, but a good quality of light. After some thought, I decided to work on this in post using Lightroom, to add depth and texture to this iconic landscape and engineered setting... that is "Menai Bridge".

The classic Menai Bridge shot for tourists and holiday makers who wish to pull up and just take a shot! I've taken many an image from here using point and shoot and smartphone cameras... but this time I took my mirrorless camera, tripod and classic lens and worked on a slightly longer capture than usual using long exposure photography - to add more texture to the water and to the clouds. The colour balance was adjusted in camera and later in post... with that still very authentic classic vintage lens look that you get with Pentax glass.

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

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..!

Menai Bridge Wales UK Wales Flag Heart. Do you love Menai Bridge? Show your love with this Menai Bridge design.

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...

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.

This pastel pink illustration features the Menai Suspension Bridge, connecting Anglesey and mainland Wales.

Menai Bridge, Anglesey - North Wales

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

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

Britannia Bridge - Anglesey

A poster produced for the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) to promote rail links with daily summer sailings from Liverpool to Llandudno, 1923-1947. - Please Note: These are old posters which means they were not always printed straight and level so please don't be surprised to see some slight angle differences around the edges of the adverts or some slight imperfections in the images. -

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