2013.11.01 Hay Bluff Landscape Shoot / by Tom Glendinning

Hay Bluff, PowysHay Bluff, PowysGalactic Disk from CusopMilky Way over TwmpaNighttime Storms over WalesCumulonimbus over Cefn Hill.
Welsh Ponies on Cusop HillTwilight deepens, Hay Bluff, Powys.Offa's Dyke, PowysHay Bluff, PowysSunset on Hay Bluff and TwmpaHay Bluff, Powys
Cusop Hill looking North toward Hay-on-WyeSunset over the Golden ValleyLogging Track, New House Wood, CusopCoed Robin WoodCefn HillI love my Job, Cefn Hill


This has been a crazy week. It started with a last-minute trip to Hereford to begin work on a landscape commission to shoot iconic Herefordian scenery - so thank you Mark for making my job amazing. I was catching a potential gap in the weather just after the storm blew through leaving choppy, unsettled weather patterns in it’s wake. Opportunity for dramatic light thought I.
I drove up Sunday to try my luck with a sunset (no-go, just watched rain approaching) but had a good scout at Frome Hill which has good potential for a whole overview shot of central Herefordshire.) Anyhow I was in position to drive over to Hay Bluff at the north end of Offa’s Dyke, a familiar escarpment making a sharp edge to the landscape viewed West from all over Hereford. The idea was to shoot this profile from closer to get some detail and good light on it. I scouted around and ended up taking the sunset (along with some night sky shots) from Cusop Hill, just south of Hay-on-Wye) although without the best of success. Low storm clouds in the west stole my light.

I had planned to sleep in the car on location but ended up at staying with my sister near Hay. Better sleep for my back.
Up at 5 to make it up Cefn Hill before sunrise. Disaster: Rain came in just after the sun got up and soaked me. I had on 2 base layers, micro fleece, insulated jacket and waterproof (3 hoods + hat) so I was warm and dry except for my legs and UN-waterproof gloved hands. My fingers were so deeply cold in the wind afterwards that some nice men I met earlier on took pity and gave me tea to revive them!

I persisted and luckily the weather cleared and I got some good light on Hay Bluff from 8-9am. With the good light gone I made my way home to Bath for a climbing competition shoot in the evening, driving via the Vale of Ewyas to case it out for a potential future shoot. Much more Hereford scenery planned so look for new blog posts!


As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

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