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  • At low tide in the Afon Braint Estuary, Anglesey North Wales at sunset. Millions of tiny shells and Ragworm casts are revealed on the vast expanse of sand and silt. Oystercatchers, Curlews and numerous other waders feed on this vast expanse of rich estuary. Shallow rivers and streams of warm water continue to flow down to the low tide mark even as the tide starts to rise once again.
    GD001852.jpg
  • On the low tide, on a sunny but bitterly breezy Sunday afternoon, hundreds upon hundreds of dog walkers promenade along the 4 mile plus stretch of Mount’s Bay. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many dogs and owners in one place at one time. It was like Crufts on Sea. <br />
<br />
This was one moment where after waiting ten minutes for dogs and walkers to clear, the beach resembled a little of it’s natural beauty, back-dropped by historical Penzance town.
    GD002127.jpg
  • Llanddwyn car park was heaving. As I headed over the dunes I saw huge numbers of people out for their boxing day walk, most on an ant-like procession to Llanddwyn Island and the famous little lighthouse, but very few indeed on the vast expanse of shore to the left.<br />
<br />
I was very fortunate that it was an outgoing tide as otherwise every inch of exposed sand would have been covered in foot and paw prints, but as it was there was acres of pristine virgin sand to photograph.<br />
<br />
The wind was cold even though from the South, and apart from the handfuls of ten-second Boxing Day Dippers most people were well wrapped up for winter. The clouds were spectacular and the intermittent light cutting through created a wonderful intensity of colour and illumination. Oystercatchers huddled together on the waters edge, seemingly keener to stay together than hunt for food, but I don't blame them,.<br />
<br />
As dusk approached, the crowds started to fade with the light and soon I was almost alone on my stretch of beach. The warm yellows and oranges turned cool to blues, washed with delicate pinks and magenta from the disappearing sun. The wet sand formed a wonderful mirror onto which I saw double the wonder of the evening.
    GD002887.jpg
  • At low tide in the Afon Braint Estuary, Anglesey North Wales at sunset. Millions of tiny shells and Ragworm casts are revealed on the vast expanse of sand and silt. Oystercatchers, Curlews and numerous other waders feed on this vast expanse of rich estuary. Shallow rivers and streams of warm water continue to flow down to the low tide mark even as the tide starts to rise once again.
    GD001853.jpg
  • Low tide at the expansive Aberffraw beach on the West Anglesey coast. This wide flat beach seems to hold the sea water and the sands often remain wet long after the tide has retreated. We are looking towards Caernarfon Bay, and the mountains of the Llyn Peninsula can be seen in the far distance.
    GD001817.jpg
  • When the crowds have gone and the leagues of dog walkers have departed for tea, the beach releases its true magic. I’ve always been fascinated by the cleansing effect of an incoming tide. I love watching the mess of footprints disappear as a new virgin floor of sand smoothes its way up the beach in front of my eyes. It’s even better when evening pulls a dark blanket of silence over the noise pollution of the day.<br />
<br />
I crouched almost at sand level, the tripod legs repeatedly covered by salty water and I enabled the fast motion of the rapid tide to move everything in the image other than the ancient rocks themselves. I walked back across the huge beach and up along the deep river in darkness. True harmony.
    GD000585.jpg
  • Low tide at sunset at Cymyran beach near Rhosneigr. A beautiful but quiet windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. At low tide the sea always creates amazing patterns and ripples in the sand, interspersed with rivulets and streams from the inland sea.
    GD001928.jpg
  • Low tide at sunset at Cymyran beach near Rhosneigr. A beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. At low tide the sea always creates amazing patterns and ripples in the sand, interspersed with rivulets and streams from the inland sea.
    GD000862.jpg
  • Low tide at sunset at Cymyran beach near Rhosneigr. A beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. At low tide the sea always creates amazing patterns and ripples in the sand, interspersed with rivulets and streams from the inland sea.
    GD000725.jpg
  • A hillside tree is sillouetted by dramatic sunlight reflecting off the vast bay of Traeth Coch, (Red Wharf Bay) which at low tide reveals a pattern of sand cusps in the wet sand which reflect the bright sunshine. Small figures at the water's edge on the shoreline show the scale of this beach. <br />
<br />
Following a specific location request from one of my customers, I found myself (almost) lost outside Llangoed on a warm late summer's afternoon. The sunshine back-lit the leaves of lush overgrown lanes as Cara Dillon sang to me in the front of the van. The hedgerows literally brushed past me as I ventured into narrower and narrower pathways, crows giving buzzards a temporary reprieve as they laughed at my black VW squeezing it's way out towards the bay.<br />
<br />
The shallow beach at extreme low tide creates huge cusps of sand and water, resembling textile designs from the 1960s! The vicious and burning intensity of the light on the retina was not from the sun itself but from it's reflection on the wet sand. Although I tried to compose using peripheral vision I still was left temporarily blinded after shooting some frames.<br />
<br />
Of course the contrast between the sunlit sand and the dry areas surrounding, meant the contrast was of the scale. To me, this was wonderful though, for just as looking towards the light blinded me, I found the fake shadows to be a beautiful and textural contrast, absolutely stunning.
    GD001010.jpg
  • Dramatic sunlight reflecting off the vast bay of Traeth Coch, (Red Wharf Bay) which at low tide reveals a pattern of sand cusps in the wet sand which reflect the bright sunshine. <br />
<br />
Following a specific location request from one of my customers, I found myself (almost) lost outside Llangoed on a warm late summer's afternoon. The sunshine back-lit the leaves of lush overgrown lanes as Cara Dillon sang to me in the front of the van. The hedgerows literally brushed past me as I ventured into narrower and narrower pathways, crows giving buzzards a temporary reprieve as they laughed at my black VW squeezing it's way out towards the bay.<br />
<br />
The shallow beach at extreme low tide creates huge cusps of sand and water, resembling textile designs from the 1960s! The vicious and burning intensity of the light on the retina was not from the sun itself but from it's reflection on the wet sand. Although I tried to compose using peripheral vision I still was left temporarily blinded after shooting some frames.<br />
<br />
Of course the contrast between the sunlit sand and the dry areas surrounding, meant the contrast was of the scale. To me, this was wonderful though, for just as looking towards the light blinded me, I found the fake shadows to be a beautiful and textural contrast, absolutely stunning.
    GD001009.jpg
  • Low tide at sunset at Cymyran beach near Rhosneigr. A beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. At low tide the sea always creates amazing patterns and ripples in the sand, interspersed with rivulets and streams from the inland sea.
    GD000864.jpg
  • Low tide at sunset at Cymyran beach near Rhosneigr. A beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. At low tide the sea always creates amazing patterns and ripples in the sand, interspersed with rivulets and streams from the inland sea.
    GD000863.jpg
  • Dramatic sunlight against ominous dark skies threatening very heavy rain moving over the Isle of Anglesey. The beach in the foreground is the vast Red Wharf Bay (Traeth Coch) which at low tide reveals a pattern of sand cusps in the wet sand which reflects the bright sunshine. <br />
<br />
<br />
Following a specific location request from one of my customers, I found myself (almost) lost outside Llangoed on a warm late summer's afternoon. The sunshine back-lit the leaves of lush overgrown lanes as Cara Dillon sang to me in the front of the van. The hedgerows literally brushed past me as I ventured into narrower and narrower pathways, crows giving buzzards a temporary reprieve as they laughed at my black VW squeezing it's way out towards the bay.<br />
<br />
The shallow beach at extreme low tide creates huge cusps of sand and water, resembling textile designs from the 1960s! The vicious and burning intensity of the light on the retina was not from the sun itself but from it's reflection on the wet sand. Although I tried to compose using peripheral vision I still was left temporarily blinded after shooting some frames.<br />
<br />
Of course the contrast between the sunlit sand and the dry areas surrounding, meant the contrast was of the scale. To me, this was wonderful though, for just as looking towards the light blinded me, I found the fake shadows to be a beautiful and textural contrast, absolutely stunning.
    GD001011.jpg
  • Low tide at sunset at Cymyran beach near Rhosneigr. A beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. At low tide the sea always creates amazing patterns and ripples in the sand, interspersed with rivulets and streams from the inland sea.
    GD000840.jpg
  • Dinas Dinlle is a vast beach beyond Caernarfon in Gwynedd North Wales. It is backed by an ancient hill fort which is gradually being eroded away by each high tide. As the tide retreats it leaves a huge expanse of sand, rocks and pools
    GD000439.jpg
  • Dinas Dinlle is a vast beach beyond Caernarfon in Gwynedd North Wales. It is backed by an ancient hill fort which is gradually being eroded away by each high tide. As the tide retreats it leaves a huge expanse of sand, rocks and pools
    GD000436BW.jpg
  • Low tide at the expansive Aberffraw beach on the West Anglesey coast. This wide flat beach seems to hold the seawater and the sands often remain wet long after the tide has retreated. We are looking towards Caernarfon Bay, and the mountains of the Llyn Peninsula can be seen in the far distance.
    GD001693.jpg
  • ....."The tide was .............. high! Not high enough to drown the caves but high enough to eliminate sand patterns. Hmmm. The light at 6.30 ish was surprisingly bright and high in the sky so I didn't even get the contrast and colours I wanted. I decided instead to enjoy the spring warmth, watch the gentle wavelets and observe the rising tide. I wandered as far out around the headland as I could, scrambling over rocks until I found a fantastic cave, with light at the rear! I ducked down and entered the cave. I discovered another tunnel at 45º joining it at the back, effectively forming a giant torch. I was surprised at the both the intensity of the light, but also the warmth of the light when seen in isolation from the rest of the sky and open landscape. It was very theatrical......"
    GD000918.jpg
  • This small sound of water at Penmon can be treacherous as a huge volume of tide pulls around this point at each turn of the tide and there is a relatively shallow rocky chanel beneath. The present Penmon lighthouse at 29m tall was erected between 1835 and 1838. It was converted to solar power in 1996 and it's 15,000 candela light can be seen 12 nautical miles away. It also has a fog bell which sounds every thirty seconds.
    GD000727.jpg
  • Nominated in 10th (2017) International Colour Awards (Nature category) <br />
<br />
This small sound of water at Penmon can be treacherous as a huge volume of tide pulls around this point at each turn of the tide and there is a relatively shallow rocky chanel beneath. The present Penmon lighthouse at 29m tall was erected between 1835 and 1838. It was converted to solar power in 1996 and it's 15,000 candela light can be seen 12 nautical miles away. It also has a fog bell which sounds every thirty seconds.
    GD000683.jpg
  • As the tide recedes  the water in the sand bank drains away carving temporary and unusual channels in the sand bank, at right angles to the direction of the river. The mountains of Eryri can be seen in the distance.
    GD000474.jpg
  • Sunset and clouds over streams and rivulets flowing down the sandy beach at low tide at Traeth Lligwy, Anglesey, North Wales
    GD001417.jpg
  • Low tide at Cymyran beach, a beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. The mountains of the Llyn Peninsula on North Wales' mainland, can be seen in the background across Caernarfon Bay. The watersport town of Rhosneigr can be seen far left of the image, at the far end of this long stretch of sand.
    GD000724.jpg
  • A weak sunburst over the Irish Sea at Rhosneigr, West Anglesey, North Wales. In the foreground is a large sand pool, emptying on the outgoing tide. In the distance, a large gull stands on a rock at a distant reef.
    GD001794.jpg
  • Sunset and clouds over water channels exposed at low tide in the Dulas Estuary, Anglesey, North Wales
    GD001418.jpg
  • Low tide at Cymyran beach, a beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. The mountains of the Llyn Peninsula on North Wales' mainland, can be seen in the background across Caernarfon Bay. The watersport town of Rhosneigr can be seen far left of the image, at the far end of this long stretch of sand.
    GD001530.jpg
  • Abstract of sand patterns at low tide at Aberffraw beach, West Anglesey
    GD000575.jpg
  • Waves pushing shorewards from the Irish Sea, at Rhosneigr, West Anglesey, at sunset with rich colors in the sky and splashes of water and movement of tide
    GD000892.jpg
  • Boat wreck exposed at low tide in a moody sunset, near Church Bay (Porth Swtan) North Anglesey. Holyhead mountain is the large hill in the background, situated on Holy Island.
    GD000827.jpg
  • Boat wreck in wintry, showery weather and high winds, at low tide at Cymyran beach near RAF Valley, West Anglesey.
    GD000726.jpg
  • A cold afternoon on Anglesey's West Coast. The weather was cloudy and showery but from the West sunshine kept breaking through the clouds and scattering around the landscape. The tide was low and the wet sands provided a beautiful surface on which to mirror reflections from the rapidly changing skies.
    GD001944.jpg
  • A cold afternoon on Anglesey's West Coast. The weather was cloudy and showery but from the West sunshine kept breaking through the clouds and scattering around the landscape. The tide was low and the wet sands provided a beautiful surface on which to mirror reflections from the rapidly changing skies.
    GD001904.jpg
  • Sunset and clouds over wide sandy beach at low tide, at Rhosneigr, West Anglesey.
    GD001777.jpg
  • I'm always so grateful, that even during periods of great lows, some surprising and exceptionally wonderful moments present themselves, uplifting us and making our hearts beat faster, for good, positive reasons, not for reasons we may have been facing beforehand. <br />
<br />
At an extreme low tide, the lowest I've ever seen on this beach where even a distant boat wreck seemed reachable, I was quite simply blown away by the sheer beauty of the surreal landscape exposed.
    GD002790.jpg
  • Waves pushing shorewards from the Irish Sea, at Rhosneigr, West Anglesey, at sunset with rich colors in the sky and splashes of water and movement of tide
    GD000889.jpg
  • An expansive Braint Estuary, Llanddwyn, Isle of Anglesey, at mid tide still exposing acres of sand just a few centimeters below the surface. The sea lies beyond the range of sand dunes in the distance, as do the hills of the Llyn Peninsula and the well known 3 peaks of Yr Eifl on the mainland.
    GD000500.jpg
  • Sunset and clouds over wide sandy beach at low tide, at Rhosneigr, West Anglesey.
    GD001778.jpg
  • Sun behind a cloud over colonies of mussels at low tide, at Llanddona beach, Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey, Wales
    GD000668.jpg
  • Normally at this time of year, when you see a beach like this, the marks on the sand are from footprints of beach-goers, but today on a near-empty stretch of beach at very low tide, these millions of impressions are entirely natural, an intricate but vast web of interconnected structures created during the outgoing tide. Streams from stranded beach pools desperately cutting their way to the ocean are an ongoing fascination for me.
    GD002614.jpg
  • Dinas Dinlle is a vast beach beyond Caernarfon in Gwynedd North Wales. It is backed by an ancient hill fort which is gradually being eroded away by each high tide. As the tide retreats it leaves a huge expanse of sand, rocks and pools
    GD000432.jpg
  • Low tide at Cymyran beach, a beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. The mountains of the Llyn Peninsula on North Wales' mainland, can be seen in the background across Caernarfon Bay. The watersport town of Rhosneigr can be seen far left of the image, at the far end of this long stretch of sand.
    GD001527.jpg
  • Boat wreck exposed at low tide in a moody sunset, near Church Bay (Porth Swtan) North Anglesey. Holyhead mountain is the large hill in the background, situated on Holy Island.
    GD001110.jpg
  • Delicate light from wet weather over pools, patterns and textures left at low tide at Llanddwyn Beach, West Anglesey, Irish Sea.
    GD001287.jpg
  • Revealed at low tide, a face in the boulders at Church Bay, North Anglesey. Holyhead Mountain in the background
    GD000833.jpg
  • Dramatic sunlight reflecting off the vast bay of Traeth Coch, (Red Wharf Bay) which at low tide reveals a pattern of sand cusps in the wet sand which reflect the bright sunshine. Small figures at the water's edge on the shoreline show the scale of this beach. From left to right, places include Llanddona Beach, Pentraeth Beach and to the far right, Benllech.
    GD001013.jpg
  • I'm always so grateful, that even during periods of great lows, some surprisng and exceptionally wonderful moments present themselves, uplifting us and making our hearts beat faster, for good, positive reasons, not for reasons we may have been facing beforehand. <br />
<br />
At an extreme low tide, the lowest I've ever seen on this beach where even a distant boat wreck seemed reachable, I was quite simply blown away by the sheer beauty of the surreal landscape exposed.
    GD002754.jpg
  • In the failing light, remnants of the old jetty stand proud against the powerful rise and fall of the sea. The waves and sky did their best to suck everything away from the beach but these small objects cling like limpets to the shoreline.
    GD000782.jpg
  • Low tide at Cymyran beach, a beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. The mountains of the Llyn Peninsula on North Wales' mainland, can be seen in the background across Caernarfon Bay. The watersport town of Rhosneigr can be seen far left of the image, at the far end of this long stretch of sand.
    GD001528.jpg
  • Low tide at Cymyran beach, a beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. The mountains of the Llyn Peninsula on North Wales' mainland, can be seen in the background across Caernarfon Bay. The watersport town of Rhosneigr can be seen far left of the image, at the far end of this long stretch of sand.
    GD001526.jpg
  • The rocks down on the quiet shoreline seemed dark from afar, am isolated hard reef doing it’s best to resist erosion against the Irish Sea. <br />
<br />
Down in amongst them though, they became rich in character and colour. Every peak an unique individual, with different faces and textures and shapes. As I nestled into them they become my security. Small waves would belie their gentle appearance and would suddenly burst over the lower stoney barriers. As the tide advanced each wave reached further and faster up my legs. <br />
<br />
I enjoyed the small acts being played out in different sectors of the image. Little cameos, small and larger characters, but together creating an amazing stage set.
    GD002185.jpg
  • Cofete - A most spectacular beach at the Southernmost tip of Fuerteventura in the Canaries, towering volcanic cliffs and perfect sandy shoreline. However the Atlantic breakers and powerful tides around the peninsula created incredible rips that made swimming just impossible, especially on this day. We decided to sleep in the shade of a huge cliff and to our shock we were woken by the sound of crashing waves that were no more than 15 feet away from us, as the tide seemed to have risen rapidly, almost cutting us off completely from the main beach and safety. We made a lightening fast exit!
    GD001624.jpg
  • At high tide the calmer seas at East Anglesey, rise above the grassland forming marshy land. This is a huge bay with several beaches, but this section is accessed through Pentraeth village, looking towards Liverpool Bay to the North.
    GD000550.jpg
  • Dinas Dinlle is a vast beach beyond Caernarfon in Gwynedd North Wales. It is backed by an ancient hill fort which is gradually being eroded away by each high tide. As the tide retreats it leaves a huge expanse of sand, rocks and pools
    GD000434.jpg
  • Low tide at Cymyran beach, a beautiful but quiet  windswept beach on Anglesey's West coast. The mountains of the Llyn Peninsula on North Wales' mainland, can be seen in the background across Caernarfon Bay. The watersport town of Rhosneigr can be seen far left of the image, at the far end of this long stretch of sand.
    GD001529.jpg
  • There was nothing set up about this image. The wood was actually there, partially embedded in the soft sands of Silver Bay as the waves washed over it on the incoming tide. In the background a gentle sun illuminated the rear of a heavy blanket of rain cloud, sending a pink glow into the air. The shift between the warm and cool ends of the spectrum were subtle and delicate, absolutely beautiful.
    GD001200.jpg
  • Sunset over Aberdesach beach at low tide, on the Northern edge of the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales, revealing rock pools in the wide beach. The mountains of Gyrn Goch, Yr Eifl and Garn For are in the background.
    GD001167.jpg
  • Sand bars left by outgoing tide at Cymyran at dusk, West Anglesey. Rhosneigr in the far distance.
    GD000542.jpg
  • Ripples on deep water channels left between sand banks and mud flats at low tide in the Dulas Estuary near Lligwy, East Anglesey, in showery weather, with dramatic clouds in the sky.
    GD001022.jpg
  • After a wonderful sheltered swim in Holyhead Harbour, I headed for the West coast of the island to Trearddur Bay and Porth Dafarch. It's so rare that I can ever stand on Porth Dafarch beach and not see a soul, but today I was lucky, initially at least. High tide was slowly ebbing away revealing more and more huge swathes of orange sand, but the storm waves were deceptive and it was a mistake to wander casually onto the wet sand, as after every few waves at least one would come powering up the beach almost to high water mark. <br />
<br />
The gorgeous blue sky and sunshine of the morning was gradually being obscured by huge, watery grey blankets of cloud. Thankfully a blur of winter sunshine tunnelled through the vapour to create a wonderfully surreal illumination of the shoreline and waves breaking on the distant cliffs. By the time I’d created some images of this wondrous natural event many cars had turned up and the beach was back to normal, busy with crowds and dogs, my opportunity had been extremely lucky, I’d had glimpses of what this place might have looked like back in history.
    GD002905.jpg
  • Sea Pink (Thrift) glows in the evening sunlight at the edge of the churchyard of the 13th Century, Anglican, Eglwys Cwyfan (St Cwyfan's Church), not far from the small village of Aberffraw on Anglesey's West coast, at one time stood on the mainland coast but over the years, the sea has eroded the surrounding land leaving it stranded on it's own little island. Services are still occasionally held here but times are tide dependent.
    GD000719.jpg
  • An ebb tide reveals multi-coloured pillow-lava at Llanddwyn on West Anglesey. Many people have asked if the colours have been retouched in the computer, which they are not.When you are on a beach most pebbles look rather drab, but wet them in the water and they reveal rich vibrant colours. Imagine this on a bigger scale, where a whole reef of mineral rich rock becomes wet from the sea, and you’ll then understand why there was no need to use software to embelish this image
    GD000688.jpg
  • The 13th Century, Anglican, Eglwys Cwyfan (St Cwyfan's Church), not far from the small village of Aberffraw on Anglesey's West coast, at one time stood on the mainland coast but over the years, the sea has eroded the surrounding land leaving it stranded on it's own little island. Services are still occasionally held here but times are tide dependent.
    GD000815.jpg
  • Nominated in 10th (2017) International Colour Awards (Fine Art category) <br />
<br />
Field drainage water pours out through a water channel into the Irish Sea here at Porth Cwyfan. The 13th Century, Eglwys Cwyfan (St Cwyfan's Church), not far from the small village of Aberffraw on Anglesey's West coast, at one time stood on the mainland coast but over the years, the sea has eroded the surrounding land leaving it stranded on it's own little island. Services are still occasionally held here but times are tide dependent.
    GD000820.jpg
  • Successive storm waves during bad, gale driven weather, create piles of wind blown foam on the incoming tide at sunset in Winter at this West Anglesey beach near Rhosneigr
    GD001961.jpg
  • Low tide at St Michael's Mount. An apparition of Archangel St Michael witnessed by fisherman in 495 led to a monastery being built here. After the Norman Conquest, the abbey was granted to the Benedictine monks of Mont St Michel in France. The mount was eventually seized by Henry V111 & became a royal stronghold. Now owned by Lord St Levan
    GD001881.jpg
  • The water was so warm I wanted to swim as it went dark, but the breeze was so cold that I feared the effect after coming out. I could see a face in this stone and I watched for ages as the advancing tide lapped around then over it until finally it disappeared into the warm sea. I wanted to be under the water with it, floating in darkness. It was so wonderful to be alone with my thoughts and the sounds of the sea.
    GD001850.jpg
  • And so it was, at about 4.00 pm, I headed for the West Coast of Anglesey, as usual, to catch the dipping sun. I turned up at one of my favourite spots and ambled, totally arbitrarily along the shoreline, enjoying the water, the sounds, the heat and colours of the warm sun and the glistening rocks emerging from the receding tide. Funnily enough, the stark sunshine, at this time of day, at least creates strong shadows, long shadows and sparkling sea tops. As it sank lower the colours intensified further and amazing hues resulted, almost, but not quite unbelievable.
    GD000893.jpg
  • As the fog cleared, a beautiful and gentle sunset appeared, illuminating the calm sea on a slowly incoming tide.
    GD002558.jpg
  • As the fog cleared, a beautiful and gentle sunset appeared, illuminating the calm sea on a slowly incoming tide.
    GD002557.jpg
  • Tidal pool and sand ripples on an incoming tide at sunset at Porth Swtan, Church Bay, Anglesey, Wales
    GD001816.jpg
  • Nominated in 2022 International Colour Awards<br />
<br />
Even in this thick sea fog the crash of the waves and the advancing tide is relentless and comforting, confirming a natural order of things, the spin of the earth, the pull of the moon, the winds and the gales blowing their way around the globe. Yet I stand here on the shoreline, in one small microcosm of the rest of the planet, wrapped up in my own thoughts, my own ideas and my own emotions and without doubt my memories. Perhaps the whiteness of the fog even encourages this mental escape, eliminating everything else about me, reducing chaos to minimalist simplicity, lovely!
    GD001075.jpg
  • An extreme low tide revealed sections of sand bars I'd never seen before and at this distance even the dog walkers hadn't managed to destroy the purity of the sand sculptures. The sea was almost silent, the sun warm but the wind cold. I was the only one for miles on this end of the beach and I walked home alone.
    GD000997.jpg
  • Amazingy for midday, on an outgoing tide, the most beautiful expnase of virginal sand was revealed - sparkling rivulets os sand pools running away to join the sea cut perfect curves through bright surfaces and delciate waves gently slapped the shore.
    GD002031.jpg
  • The 13th Century, Anglican, Eglwys Cwyfan (St Cwyfan's Church), not far from the small village of Aberffraw on Anglesey's West coast, at one time stood on the mainland coast but over the years, the sea has eroded the surrounding land leaving it stranded on it's own little island. Services are still occasionally held here but times are tide dependent.
    GD000814.jpg
  • The water was so warm I wanted to swim as it went dark, but the breeze was so cold that I feared the effect after coming out. I could see a face in this stone and I watched for ages as the advancing tide lapped around then over it until finally it disappeared into the warm sea. I wanted to be under the water with it, floating in darkness. It was so wonderful to be alone with my thoughts and the sounds of the sea.
    GD001849.jpg
  • And so it was, at about 4.00 pm, I headed for the West Coast of Anglesey, as usual, to catch the dipping sun. I turned up at one of my favourite spots and ambled, totally arbitrarily along the shoreline, enjoying the water, the sounds, the heat and colours of the warm sun and the glistening rocks emerging from the receding tide. Funnily enough, the stark sunshine, at this time of day, at least creates strong shadows, long shadows and sparkling sea tops. As it sank lower the colours intensified further and amazing hues resulted, almost, but not quite unbelievable.
    GD000895.jpg
  • Ripples on deep water channels left between sand banks and mud flats at low tide in the Dulas Estuary near Lligwy, East Anglesey, in showery weather, with dramatic clouds in the sky.
    GD001021.jpg
  • After a wonderful sheltered swim in Holyhead Harbour, I headed for the West coast of the island to Trearddur Bay and Porth Dafarch. It's so rare that I can ever stand on Porth Dafarch beach and not see a soul, but today I was lucky, initially at least. High tide was slowly ebbing away revealing more and more huge swathes of orange sand, but the storm waves were deceptive and it was a mistake to wander casually onto the wet sand, as after every few waves at least one would come powering up the beach almost to high water mark. <br />
<br />
The gorgeous blue sky and sunshine of the morning was gradually being obscured by huge, watery grey blankets of cloud. Thankfully a blur of winter sunshine tunnelled through the vapour to create a wonderfully surreal illumination of the shoreline and waves breaking on the distant cliffs. By the time I’d created some images of this wondrous natural event many cars had turned up and the beach was back to normal, busy with crowds and dogs, my opportunity had been extremely lucky, I’d had glimpses of what this place might have looked like back in history.
    GD002906.jpg
  • The Celtic Cross shaped memorial at the highest point of ChurchIsland stands proud, just, above the fog draped Menai Strait.Though the fog obscured much of the view, the extreme low tide revealed a landscape not often seen.<br />
<br />
On the way to work that Friday, I couldn't even see the end of our road for thick fog! As I had all my kit with me for a day's studio shooting, I drove via the bridges to see what atmospheric effects might be occurring. Whilst approaching the first lay-by, I saw a beautiful recessional tonal layering of tall trees disappearing into thick fog, almost top-lit by the weak early morning sun. However by the time I'd parked the van the fog has shifted and the recessional effect had reduced, so I walked right down to the edge of the Menai Strait to see whether either of the bridges would show through. This time I had the opposite problem where the fog was so thick I couldn't even see the field alongside me or more than 30 ft out onto the silent Strait. I trudged along a damp, muddy and waterlogged foreshore eventually meandering back up the misty fields to the road. Ironically, from this elevation, higher above the Strait, and with the sun starting to back-light the fog, I enjoyed several stunning variations of view from just a 200 yd stretch of road. The light, sunshine and fog were all dancing across the fast water when regrettably, I had to leave to open the gallery at 10.00 :-(
    GD000872.jpg
  • I headed for the coast, desperate for fresh air, but the sky darkened and a huge blanket of grey formed overhead. Undeterred I kept going and amazingly on arrival at the beach, the cloud seperated and sunshine filtered and then burned through, splashing warm light across the wet sands. On the outgoing tide the sands were pristine and formed a wonderful layer in which the boulders created perfect pools and rivulets. I ended up on the beach until late dusk and the moon glinted overhead.
    GD002040.jpg
  • Sunset after rain at Porth Dafarch, a narrow cove with a sandy beach, very popular with tourists. As the tide retreats numerous streams from surrounding coutryside cut their way through the soft sands.
    GD000541.jpg
  • Waves pile foam crescents on the high tide mark at sunset in Winter at this West Anglesey beach near Rhosneigr
    GD001962.jpg
  • Waves on an incoming tide  flow around large granite boulders on the shoreline of the Atlantic Coast at Sennen, West Penwith Cornwall.
    GD001087.jpg
  • A channel marker had pulled from it's sand bank in Caernarfon Bay and drifted on the tide to this point on the Llanddwyn / Malltraeth beach on Anglesey. It was successfully recovered and re-sited within 24 hours.
    GD001192.jpg
  • And so it was, at about 4.00 pm, I headed for the West Coast of Anglesey, as usual, to catch the dipping sun. I turned up at one of my favourite spots and ambled, totally arbitrarily along the shoreline, enjoying the water, the sounds, the heat and colours of the warm sun and the glistening rocks emerging from the receding tide. Funnily enough, the stark sunshine, at this time of day, at least creates strong shadows, long shadows and sparkling sea tops. As it sank lower the colours intensified further and amazing hues resulted, almost, but not quite unbelievable.
    GD000894.jpg
  • Llanddwyn car park was heaving. As I headed over the dunes I saw huge numbers of people out for their boxing day walk, most on an ant-like procession to Llanddwyn Island and the famous little lighthouse, but very few indeed on the vast expanse of shore to the left.<br />
<br />
I was very fortunate that it was an outgoing tide as otherwise every inch of exposed sand would have been covered in foot and paw prints, but as it was there was acres of pristine virgin sand to photograph.<br />
<br />
The wind was cold even though from the South, and apart from the handfuls of ten-second Boxing Day Dippers most people were well wrapped up for winter. The clouds were spectacular and the intermittent light cutting through created a wonderful intensity of colour and illumination. Oystercatchers huddled together on the waters edge, seemingly keener to stay together than hunt for food, but I don't blame them,.<br />
<br />
As dusk approached, the crowds started to fade with the light and soon I was almost alone on my stretch of beach. The warm yellows and oranges turned cool to blues, washed with delicate pinks and magenta from the disappearing sun. The wet sand formed a wonderful mirror onto which I saw double the wonder of the evening.
    GD002891.jpg
  • Llanddwyn car park was heaving. As I headed over the dunes I saw huge numbers of people out for their boxing day walk, most on an ant-like procession to Llanddwyn Island and the famous little lighthouse, but very few indeed on the vast expanse of shore to the left.<br />
<br />
I was very fortunate that it was an outgoing tide as otherwise every inch of exposed sand would have been covered in foot and paw prints, but as it was there was acres of pristine virgin sand to photograph.<br />
<br />
The wind was cold even though from the South, and apart from the handfuls of ten-second Boxing Day Dippers most people were well wrapped up for winter. The clouds were spectacular and the intermittent light cutting through created a wonderful intensity of colour and illumination. Oystercatchers huddled together on the waters edge, seemingly keener to stay together than hunt for food, but I don't blame them,.<br />
<br />
As dusk approached, the crowds started to fade with the light and soon I was almost alone on my stretch of beach. The warm yellows and oranges turned cool to blues, washed with delicate pinks and magenta from the disappearing sun. The wet sand formed a wonderful mirror onto which I saw double the wonder of the evening.
    GD002890.jpg
  • After weeks of lockdown and social distancing, our short walks have become a lifeline, an escape, a therapy and a salvation. The world is a surreal place at present but seeing the gravestones, watching the tide come in and go out, are things that make you realise that the planet has seen all this before. Our generation will too be gone, sooner or later, but life will go on, the planet will survive and what we take as ‘normal’ is only a temporary view of our time on this planet, not of the planet itself.
    GD002448.jpg
  • I was up early to enjoy thick fog over the island. A shipwreck was exposed on the low tide, silhouetted by a blaze of brilliant sunshine. The ancient Welsh hills, normally a backdrop to this view were invisible, obscured by curtains of billowing fog gently heading Northwards.
    GD002305.jpg
  • Ynys Gorad Goch - an island in the middle of the Menai Strait which has used weirs to trap fish on the outging tide for many centuries. The earliest known document relating to Ynys Gorad Goch is dated 1590.<br />
<br />
At this time the island and its fishery was leased by the then Bishop of Bangor to a Thomas Fletcher of Treborth. He had to pay ‘Three pounds and besides one Barell full of hearinges at the tyme of the hearing fishinge’.<br />
<br />
A later map refers to this as ‘Bishop’s Island’. There is a Bishop’s Room in part of the house which is an observation room, and above the centre window is a carving of a mitre, and below it, the inscription ‘I.R. 1808’
    GD002233.jpg
  • At first I didn’t even know it was there, but as I stood on the dark wet reef in the lee of bad weather, an apparition appeared in the sea before me.<br />
<br />
As the tide began to drop, an underwater world was slowly revealed. The volume of water flowing backwards over the structure created a loud sucking sound above the crashing of the waves on the rocks. Trying to maintain my balance on the slippery rocks, a weird sensation developed inside me, that I was in fact being enticed towards the circular portal opening at the edge of the ocean.
    GD002150.jpg
  • Gentle waves flow around the rocks at sunset at this rocky point at Porth Tyn Tywyn, Rhosneigr, West Anglesey.
    GD000735.jpg
  • The 13th Century, Eglwys Cwyfan (St Cwyfan's Church), not far from the small village of Aberffraw on Anglesey's West coast, at one time stood on the mainland coast but over the years, the sea has eroded the surrounding land leaving it stranded on it's own little island. Services are still occasionally held here but times are tide dependent.
    GD001691.jpg
  • Llanddwyn car park was heaving. As I headed over the dunes I saw huge numbers of people out for their boxing day walk, most on an ant-like procession to Llanddwyn Island and the famous little lighthouse, but very few indeed on the vast expanse of shore to the left.<br />
<br />
I was very fortunate that it was an outgoing tide as otherwise every inch of exposed sand would have been covered in foot and paw prints, but as it was there was acres of pristine virgin sand to photograph.<br />
<br />
The wind was cold even though from the South, and apart from the handfuls of ten-second Boxing Day Dippers most people were well wrapped up for winter. The clouds were spectacular and the intermittent light cutting through created a wonderful intensity of colour and illumination. Oystercatchers huddled together on the waters edge, seemingly keener to stay together than hunt for food, but I don't blame them,.<br />
<br />
As dusk approached, the crowds started to fade with the light and soon I was almost alone on my stretch of beach. The warm yellows and oranges turned cool to blues, washed with delicate pinks and magenta from the disappearing sun. The wet sand formed a wonderful mirror onto which I saw double the wonder of the evening.
    GD002893.jpg
  • Llanddwyn car park was heaving. As I headed over the dunes I saw huge numbers of people out for their boxing day walk, most on an ant-like procession to Llanddwyn Island and the famous little lighthouse, but very few indeed on the vast expanse of shore to the left.<br />
<br />
I was very fortunate that it was an outgoing tide as otherwise every inch of exposed sand would have been covered in foot and paw prints, but as it was there was acres of pristine virgin sand to photograph.<br />
<br />
The wind was cold even though from the South, and apart from the handfuls of ten-second Boxing Day Dippers most people were well wrapped up for winter. The clouds were spectacular and the intermittent light cutting through created a wonderful intensity of colour and illumination. Oystercatchers huddled together on the waters edge, seemingly keener to stay together than hunt for food, but I don't blame them,.<br />
<br />
As dusk approached, the crowds started to fade with the light and soon I was almost alone on my stretch of beach. The warm yellows and oranges turned cool to blues, washed with delicate pinks and magenta from the disappearing sun. The wet sand formed a wonderful mirror onto which I saw double the wonder of the evening.
    GD002888.jpg
  • At the outset of the pandemic when we thought just a few months may have delivered a happy summer. As the fog cleared, a beautiful and gentle sunset appeared, illuminating the calm sea on a slowly incoming tide.
    GD002587.jpg
  • Pools and ripples left by retreating ebb tide at Traeth Tyn Tywyn Beach, Rhosneigr, Anglesey
    GD001108.jpg
  • Ynys Gorad Goch - an island in the middle of the Menai Strait, used for trapping fish for many centuries. Now in private ownership.
    GD002138.jpg
  • The advancing tide pushed small wavelets across the expanse of wet sand, smoothing and erasing the signs of the day upon it. For the first time in the year the touch of water on bare flesh was not unpleasant but rather soothing, providing optimism for the summer ahead.<br />
<br />
The gentle slopes of the beach formed wonderful curving wave patterns in the shallow water - and each wave reflected the sunlight at different angles creating a dance of light across the sea surface.
    GD002096.jpg
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Glyn Davies, Professional Photographer and Gallery

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