The annual autumn colour hunt 2010

This month I’ve mostly bin shootin’… autumn!

Back in the summer I visited the waterfalls near Ystradfellte in the Brecon Beacons for the first time. Many photographers flock to this area to capture the magnificent cascades of water created by several rivers that flow through the valley. Each waterfall has a name and many have myths and legends associated with them, which really appeals to my romantic imagination. What I thought was beautiful in the summer was made even better by the hues of autumn. Please enjoy letting your eyes wander through these images.

A Love Affair

Scwd Ddwli (which from my understanding is pronounced ‘Scood Thooli’) is one of the most photogenic of the falls along the Nedd Fechan. Using a wide angle lens I framed the two foreground rocks that seemed to be interacting (almost dancing) with each other.

She Falls

Sgwd Gwladus (‘Scood Gooladis’) lies further downstream from Scwd Ddwli. The waterfall has a completely different feel to it because the water falls from an overhang above straight down into a pool of water below, creating a ‘power shower’ effect. I wouldn’t really recommend trying to shower beneath it though! Sgwd Gwladus is associated with Sgwd Einion Gam, another harder to reach waterfall further up the valley, in a romantic legend explained on the Brecon Beacons National Park website.

Pont Melin Fach

My favourite picture from the day was also the final I took. The bridge at Pont Melin Fach carries the road over one of the rivers in the area. Just out of sight is the car park for this stretch of waterfalls. I thought the bridge would make an interesting picture when I arrived in the morning but I left it until last to try to photograph it. As always, I picked the most awkward place from which to capture it as getting to this spot involved clambering over the fast flowing stream. Amazingly for once I didn’t get wet!