Weekly Photo Challenge: Symbol

For this weeks challenge I’m going to return to the Snowdonia National Park and the Glyderau. One of my favourites, it’s a beautiful place to walk and take photographs, even if you are only going as far as Cwm Idwal. Managed by the National Trust, you can see their symbol here.

A thing is not what you say it is or what you photograph it to be or what you paint it to be or what you sculpt it to be. Words, photographs, paintings, and sculptures are symbols of what you see, think, and feel things to be, but they are not the things themselves. – Wynn Bullock

At the start of the walk, water from the Afon Idwal tumbles over rocks and right away you have a great photo-op.

Better still, walk over the bridge and take the photograph from the rocks just to the side of the path. In the winter, when there’s been lots of rain or the snow is melting, the river is a torrent, which throws up spray and mist, so make sure you take something to dry your camera with.

Once over the bridge follow the clearly marked path, although saying that, it’s not so obvious when the snow has fallen.

Word of caution here. In the winter the path does get icy and it’s very easy to slip and do damage to yourself. When the snow falls it’s treacherous as more and more people walk over it, creating really icy patches. Coming down is worse than going up.

But saying that, even in the winter it’s beautiful and worth the walk. This is the same waterfall as the second photograph above. It just looks so different with the snow and ice.

Back to the summer time again and further up the path. As we start to climb you can see, more clearly, Tryfan, the 15th highest mountain in Wales. Sir Edmund Hillary trained on Tryfan for his ascent of Everest.

The lake you can see in the distance is Llyn Ogwen, one of the most popular lakes in Wales. Maybe because the A5 runs along the side of the lake and  there are several convenient car parks. Anyway, Llyn Ogwen is bordered by high mountains, including Pen yr Ole Wen and Tryfan. compared to many of the Snowdonia lakes it’s quite shallow at only three metres depth. All in all it’s roughly about one mile long and lies at a height of 310 above sea level.

Talking of Pen Yr Olwen, further up the path to Cwm Idwal you get a really good photo-op of this mountain.

Not far to go now to Cwm Idwal and the lake. I like this point on the trip up. It’s a good spot to take a breather, Not that the path is that steep but it’s good to stop and take your time to look around before getting to the lake.

Ok we are at the top now. You can walk round the lake, there’s a clearly marked path, or better still, sit and have something to eat and drink. And of course take more photographs.

Before setting of to head back down to Ogwen Cottage and the car-park, follow the path to the right and cross the slate bridge. Go through the gate and climb up towards the rock outcrop on your right hand side.  From here you should be able to get a good panorama of Tryfan, Llyn Ogwen, Pen yr Olwen, Nant Francon and the mountain that I can never remember it’s name. Foel-Goch, maybe.

As Wynn said right at the start of this post, photographs  are only symbols of what you see and feel. But to really experience them you have to get out there, do the walk and take it all in. Don’t you agree?

As usual here’s what other bloggers are saying about this weeks challenge.

https://tomwarrenphoto.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/bonnie-me/
https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/porcupine/
https://agnesszilagyi.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/wpc-symbol-happy-sunflowers-2/
https://thereluctantphotographer2014.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/weekly-photo-challenge-symbol/
https://spiritual2014.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/wpc-symbol/
https://martinazuercher.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/with-love/
https://akebild.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/weekly-photo-challenge-symbol/
https://aditixpictures.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/water-symbolism/
https://winedrinkingmummy.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/symbol-of-urban-art/
https://lifecallsphotography.wordpress.com/2015/07/12/you-and-me-missing-you/