Llyn Idwal

Cwm Idwal is a popular walking spot in Snowdonia as the trail leads you to the crystal-clear waters of Llyn Idwal, a small lake surrounded by the Glyderau Mountains.

Having walked around the Llyn Idwal, I picked out this spot to photograph the afternoon sun hitting the north side of the mountain range. The position of the sun creates a clear divide of light and shade across the scene, highlighting the stony texture of the hillsides protruding through the blankets of grass. The larger rocks that break the surface of the lake add depth and scale to the shot as the eye is drawn beyond these nearby features to the distant hills.

The wind was relatively calm, casting just a small surface ripple on the furthest part of the lake, and I was confident I could capture the clarity of the water close by. Setting the camera low to the ground emphasises the mountains encircling the water and allows you to see the rocky bed that forms the basin of the lake.

Llyn Idwal prints extremely well in high definition, from the finest surface details of the water to the rugged features of the landscape and soft scattered clouds.