A new event has been added to the Events page.

Event name: Cwmorthin Photography Day

Date & time: 18/07/2009 at 10:00

Details: Intended as a day solely for practicing underground photography for photographers of all levels.

We've been asked several times for a dedicated photo day; it's often difficult on a trip to combine photography with the desire to explore, so a photo day would seem to be the solution.

The day will involve the usual Cwmorthin round trip, or a variation if people don't want to get wet feet, but will involve ample opportunity for photography and practicing techniques. The organisers will make sure there are various sources of light on hand.

We've had everything from candles to monstrous 1,500 lumen torches in Cwmorthin, and cameras rangning from digital to film to medium format film; and it really is a great mine for photo opportunities.

Maximum group size is set to 8 on this trip to ensure everybody who comes along gets chance to get the shots they want.

Event added by: simonrl

Full event: http://www.aditnow.co.uk/events/?uid=50 

---

Just a gentle bump for the Cwmorthin Photography Day, coming up in a little over two weeks.

There's still a couple of spaces left it any more people are interested (and is everybody on the list still coming?).

The intention is to do the usual Cwmorthin round trip (in via lake level, then either the back vein or old vein incline (depending on whether people want to get wet feet at the start of the day or the end!) and do a circular tour with various designated photo stops, and people of all levels of experience (both in terms of mine exploration and underground photography) are totally welcome.

I'll make sure there's a variety of light sources, from candles to big flash (if anybody wants to try open flash) to mega powerful hand torches like the WiseLED.

Does anybody need kit (one helmet and lamp reserved for loan already).

And is anybody bringing any particularly big or bulky photography equipment?

Look forward to seeing you all there!

A few of the likely photo stops (photographs by a variety of people)...

🔗Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-034[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-034[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Cwmorthin-24-05-2008-Image-018[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-24-05-2008-Image-018[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Cwmorthin-24-05-2008-Image-017[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-24-05-2008-Image-017[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Cwmorthin-24-05-2008-Image-014[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-24-05-2008-Image-014[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-29-04-2006-Image-007[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-29-04-2006-Image-007[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-10-09-2005-Image-002[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-10-09-2005-Image-002[/linkphoto][/link]

And a few pics from one of our earlier Cwmorthin photo days...

🔗Cwmorthin-Trip-05-04-2008-Image-004[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Trip-05-04-2008-Image-004[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Cwmorthin-Trip-05-04-2008-Image-001[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Trip-05-04-2008-Image-001[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Cwmorthin-Trip-05-04-2008-Image-009[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Trip-05-04-2008-Image-009[/linkphoto][/link]

---

Very much still coming! Have persuaded my occasional mining companion to sign up as well. We're driving down from Leeds on the Friday and booked into a pub in Betws-y-Coed to overnight 😉

I'm guessing maybe 6 hours for the trip? And I vote for feet wet at the end!

Camera, tripod and lamp add up to a fair few kilos but I'm used to lugging it around. Have got the odd spare helmet (without bracket), headlamp and tripod if needed.

Reluctantly I'm going to have to pull out, I was so looking forward to it too.

Been pressured into attending a family birthday, I know where I'd rather be!

Thanks for setting this up though.

Roly

Reluctantly I'm going to have to pull out, I was so looking forward to it too.

Been pressured into attending a family birthday, I know where I'd rather be!

Thanks for setting this up though.

Roly

Sorry to hear that Roly, but there'll always be another opportunity 😉

---

Plans for Saturday everybody :)

Aim to meet up at 10am at the car park just above Tanygrisiau, see a Google map here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Tanygrisiau&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=18.514185,41.791992&ie=UTF8&ll=52.9899,-3.963404&spn=0.004592,0.010203&t=h&z=17 

Tanygrisiau is on that map, zoom out a bit and you'll see the pushpin, it is about a mile and a half from Blaenau Ffestiniog along the A496.

Drive into Tanygrisiau, then up the hill passing under the Ffestiniog railway, keep going up hill passing some more houses, then bear right and continue up to the obvious car park by the slate tips (visible on that Google map).

It is about a 15 to 20 minute walk up to the mine from the car park.

We're a fairly small group, I think 5 (6 at most if one person who hasn't confirmed arrives) so there will be plenty of time for everybody to get all the shots they want. And I anticipate some bulky kit arriving, Mr Friend is coming and he usually brings a medium format camera :thumbsup:

We'll do the usual round trip in reverse so wet feet are at the end of the day, but it's definitely worth getting wet feet to photograph the E to G incline in Ch 1 West and the submerged slate slab and rubbish trucks.

And if anybody wants to stay later I'm more than happy.

--

If it's anybody's first time underground here is a quick run down of the equipment you'll need:

- Helmet with lamp (I'm bringing one spare lamp and helmet)
- Spare torch
- Wellies
- Boiler suit / overalls if you have them, don't worry too much if not, just wear something reasonably warm (it isn't particularly cold underground so layers are best) that you don't mind getting mucky
- Gloves, cheap gardening style gloves are ideal (slate is sharp)
- Food and drink
- Camera kit of course!

---

I'm intending to be at Cwmorthin tomorrow, showing a friend round so may bump into you 🙂

Hope to see you there 🙂

---

I very nearly put my name down for this trip, but I have to be somewhere else.

---

Would have been good to have you along Manic. Another time.

If anybody else wants to come along last minute, please feel free.

---

I've packed a few UFO lanterns! They'll likely be usefull for taking photographs by, but they'll make a change from candles for lunchtime light :lol:

---

can't make this trip but would be interested in one later in the year when my present work-in-hand is about complete.

---

I've packed a few UFO lanterns!

Care to re-phrase that Simon :lol:

Anyhow, a vote of thanks extended to Simon for giving up a day for this. Enjoyed it hugely. Great company and a great trip.