Richard Irwin - Photoblog
Hanging Clouds
Posted by Richard Irwin (Belper, United Kingdom) on 20 August 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
Low cloud clinging to the slopes of Mount Snowdon. The little lake is called Llyn Du'r Arddu in Welsh.
Legend has it that a beautiful fairy emerged here from the underworld. She fell in love with a local man and they agreed to marry, but the ancient tale then recounts that she should never touch any metal three times, or he would lose her to the lake forever. As she climbed upon her lovers horse, the metal bridle touched her three times, and mysterious fairy forces pulled her back into the dark waters of the lake, never to be seen again.
Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France
Impressive cloudy sky on this mountain shot !
20 Aug 2008 5:32am
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
What a tragic story! But it certainly adds to the mystical feel to this amazing and dramatic image, it makes you wonder if anyone else lives in these parts, and makes me want to build my house right there, imagine that view every day, how awesome, a magnificent capture Richard!
20 Aug 2008 5:41am
@Kylie Greenan: Thanks. There are plenty of people still living in these mountains, in isolated places, with fresh mountain springs for water, and well off-grid, I have met people in these parts who are so happy to be away from the 'madness' of modern life...
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States
a tragically beautiful story, but a stunning landscape! what marvelous, low hanging cloud formations! what a view! magnificent is definitely the word!
20 Aug 2008 6:08am
Erik from Amersfoort, Netherlands
very nice colors, those clouds are amazing so low and I guess you got very wet ?
20 Aug 2008 6:41am
Marie Le Corre from Voiron, France
Beautiful clouds, ambiance, composition and light
20 Aug 2008 7:10am
onewayphoto / Mark from Essex, United Kingdom
Great landscape shot. I was here recently too, and it's certainly a beautiful mountain.
20 Aug 2008 7:53am
Anthony from Germany
Snowdonia is a wonderul place and usualy very misty and cloudy,which just adds to the mystery of the place.You´ve captured that feeling wonderfully.
20 Aug 2008 8:08am
@Anthony: Thanks Anthony, Snowdonia just has to be the most aesthetically perfect landscape anywhere.
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
What a fantastic story, and a stunning shot of the lake and hills. The low cloud gives a wonderful feel of mystery and magic.
20 Aug 2008 9:28am
Betty from New Jersey, United States
Wonderful story with this excellent landscape! You captured the mysterious feeling so well.
20 Aug 2008 9:39am
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
A beautiful image and a haunting story . . three strikes and out.
20 Aug 2008 12:21pm
Lorraine from Canada
No wonder the lake is so beautiful, it absorbed all the Love....fantastic photo Richard and legend ;)
20 Aug 2008 2:31pm
Anne from White Rock, Canada
You captured this beautiful scene beautifully! The low hanging cloud gives a mysterious and moody feel to it. Thank you for that sad legend! Thanks also for the Welsh names - I can't even begin to pronounce them let alone remember how to write any of them. You must be a wonderful note taker, or from Wales originally! ;-)
20 Aug 2008 4:17pm
@Anne: Thanks for you comment. Unfortunately I don't speak Welsh, and I understand it is very different from Scottish and Irish Gaelic, but the interesting thing is that the same faery legend is recounted for a number of lakes across Wales, and some historians believe it is an allegorical tale that recounts the end of the stone age people that lived in these islands so long ago, and their meeting and defeat by the metal bearing tribes that arrived from Europe, who pushed the inhabitants to the furthest western parts of the country (hence the strong 'celtic' traditions the further west you go.) Whether thats true or not I have no idea, but it kind of makes sense, even if I would rather believe in the literal legend of faeries....
yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece
great clouds and the little lake - excellent work Richard
20 Aug 2008 5:18pm
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Absolutely superb panorama, that lake is a place that I want to visit. Great fairytale, then again, it could be true...!
20 Aug 2008 8:10pm
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
A strange & dramatic atmosphere who suite well to this sad legend.
20 Aug 2008 9:03pm
amy from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
What a wonderful story... to go with a beautiful image, Richard!!
20 Aug 2008 9:31pm
Earnest from Oklahoma, United States
Beautiful picture and most enjoyable commentary!
20 Aug 2008 11:12pm
Michael from TX, United States
Very nice shot...the scene is really beautiful and the story is great too.
21 Aug 2008 12:58am
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
oh the low level clouds really create a great mood in this shot! what a lovely place as well - you got some really nice green tones below the clouds and the little lake is a good point of focus! nice commentary as well...
21 Aug 2008 2:55am
baobab from Cambridge, United States
great mist in this shot - like the way you've captured it hanging just above the mountain top.
22 Aug 2008 2:40pm
