WALES

by

Our dear Dina always wanted to go to Wales. She even had a voucher from us Bookfayries and our Master for a trip to Snowdonia. So we went to the mountains last month. We chose October as most of the tourist have fled Wales because of the wet weather. Dear Selma 🙂 told us that children are born in Wales with wellies on their feet. Siri 🙂 thinks that’s nonsense.

Unser liebes Dinalein wollte immer schon nach Wales. Sie hatte sogar einen Gutschein von uns Buchfeen und Masterchen für eine Reise nach Snowdonia in Nord-Wales. So fuhren wir letzten Monat in die Berge, da dann die meisten Touristen wegen des unsicheren Wetters Wales fliehen. Die liebe Selma 🙂 meinte, in Wales werden die Kinder mit Gummistiefeln an den Füßen geboren. Siri 🙂 hält das für Quatsch.

The beauty of rain: Magical light around a cloud-shrouded Snowdon seen from the Pen Y Pass where the Snowdon Miners Track starts.
Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm 50-140mm at 100mm, f11, ISO 160, ss 1/400, polarising filter, handheld.

We were very lucky with the weather. We never got really soaked. You wouldn’t believe it, we even had periods of warm sunshine, especially when we went up Snowdon. But we met hikers quite embittered because they got totally soaked when they went to the summit from the other side. We only once got a little soaked going down the Fairy Glen. These Glen-Fairies were probably jealous wanting to be the only fairies there.

Wir hatten großes Glück mit dem Wetter und sind nie so richtig nass geworden. Wir erlebten sogar öfters Sonnenschein besonders bei Aufstieg zum Snowdon. Allerdings kamen uns Wanderer grimmigen Blicks entgegen, die berichteten, dass sie bis auf die Haut nass geworden seien, da sie von der anderen Seite aufgestiegen waren. Witziger Weise wurden wir nur am Fairy Glen, der Feenschlucht, ziemlich nass. Da waren wohl die Glen-Fairies eifersüchtig auf uns.

Fairy-Glen: Torrential rain and then a burst of sun breaks into the narrow and fairly dark gorge through which the river Conwy flows into Betws-y-Coed. We stayed at the Riverside Hotel and could walk to the fairies.
Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm 16-55mm at 55mm, f18, Iso 80, ss 1/5, ND filter 6 stops, tripod

We are talking here of mountains but their heights are not really impressive. Snowdonia’s highest mountain, which gave the area its name, is just 3560 feet high. But after an ascent of one to two hours you have reached an alpine landscape. Sir Edmund Hillary trained for the ascent of the Everest on Snowdon. But as you know, we are not suffering from any sporty ambition. We never walked more than three hours up the mountain. This was enough to experience romantic mountain solitude, the right ambience for Dina to take photos until her finger was raw.

Wir sprechen hier von Bergen, aber deren Höhe ist alles andere als beeindruckend. Der höchste Berg Snowdonias, der der Landschaft ihren Namen gab, ist gerade etwas über 1000m hoch. Aber, nach ein bis zwei Stunden Aufstieg hat man schon die Baumgrenze erreicht und die Landschaft mutet hochgebirgsartig an. Sir Edmund Hillary trainierte am Snowdon für die Besteigung des Everest. Wie Ihr wahrscheinlich wisst, werden wir jedoch von keinerlei sportlichen Ehrgeiz geplagt. So sind wir nie länger als drei Stunden den Berg hinauf gegangen. Das genügt, um romantischste Bergeinsamkeit zu erleben, in der Dinalein sich den Finger wund knipste.

Ogwen Valley in the Snowdon area which is one the wettest parts of the UK receiving an annual rainfall of more than five metres. With a bit of fairy luck, the sun comes out – brilliant conditions for photography!
Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm 10-24mm at 10mm, f11, ISO 80 ss 1/80, polarising filter, handheld.

Our dear Master had climbed to the top of Snowdon years ago. But he can’t recommend this because this kind of cafe-and-souvenirs shop punishes the brave climber with an anti-climax. Our dear Master saved us from this punishment. The building that was there before was even more defacing Snowdon’s summit. Prince Charles called it the highest slum in Britain.

Masterchen hatte vor vielen Jahren den Snowdon bestiegen, ja, bis zur Spitze. Davon rät er jeden ab, da mit dem komischen Kiosk-Kaffee dort oben, der Bergwanderer mit einer Anti-Climax bestraft wird. Uns hat er lieber Weise vor dieser Bestrafung bewahrt. Allerdings wurde das Gebäude, das vorher den Gipfel verunstaltete, von Prince Charles als höchster Slum Großbritanniens bezeichnet. So ist das jetzige Bauwerk der Versuch einer Verbesserung.


The Watkin Path; this was our favourite track. The toughest path to the summit, starting at the lowest elevation in the scenic Nant Gwynant, but also with the prettiest beginning with streams, waterfalls and stunning views.
Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm 16-55mm at 50mm, f11, ISO 80, ss 1/60, polarising filter, handheld.

Dina got homework to do. Her teacher asked her to photograph waterfalls with the long exposure technique. So we were hunting waterfalls. But, oh dear, these pictures we didn’t like at all. The water looked more like yoghurt, as Siri 🙂 commented her work disrespectfully. By no means, this wasn’t Dina’s fault, we found the same desecration of our dear water in photo-books and photo-magazines which try to sponsor this in-technique. 

Dina hatte von ihrem Fotolehrer die Aufgabe bekommen, mit Langzeitbelichtung Wasserfälle zu fotografieren. So waren wir auf Wasserfall-Jagd. Allerdings, oh Schreck, oh Graus, diese langzeitbelichteten Bilder konnten wir gar nicht leiden. Da wirkt das Wasser gar nicht mehr wie lebendiges Wasser, sondern eher wie Joghurt, wie Siri 🙂 despektierlich bemerkte. Das lag keineswegs an Dina, sondern die gleiche Schändung des Wassers tritt auch in Fotobüchern und Fotozeitschriften bei langzeitbelichteten Bildern auf.


Idwal Falls, trying various LE: Fujifilm x-T3, Fujifilm 16-55mm at 20mm, f.11, ISO 80, ss 1/5, polarising filter, very heavy tripod.
Do you know how heavy a sturdy Manfrotto tripod with a geared head is!? 


Dina bribed and begged us to stop at countless waterfalls to practice LE.
Fujifilm x-T3, Fujifilm 16-55mm at 50mm, f.11, Iso 80, ss 1/6, ND 6 stops filter, heavy tripod. 

Dina’s new motto is “die with your memories and not with your dreams”. That’s from Anita Lipnicka and John Porter, a dissipated looking English musician living in Poland. Following this motto Wales is a great memory for us.

Dinas neuer Spruch ist “Stirb mit deinen Erinnerungen, nicht mit deinen Träumen“, der stammt von Anita Lipnicka und John Porter, einem etwas verlebt aussehenden englischen Musiker, der in Polen lebt. Gemäß dieser Devise bleibt uns Wales in bester Erinnerung.

Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm 16-55mm at 26mm, f11, ISO 160, ss 1/100, polarising filer, handheld.

This final photo gave us lots to ponder about; Dina wanted a title. So far she has rejected “The Long Way Home“, “The Winding Road to the Summit” and “The Road Lesser Taken“. Our Master suggested “Far A Way“. What do you think? Or better not because judges can be funny with no sense of humour (Dina wants to present this photo at a competition).

Das letzte Foto ließ uns viel nachdenken, denn Dina wollte einen Titel von uns. Nicht einfach – oder? “The Long Way Home“, “The Winding Road to the Summit” und “The Road Lesser Taken” fielen als Vorschläge durch. Masterchen schlug “Far A Way” vor – was meint Ihr dazu? Oder lieber nicht, denn Beurteilende (in Wettbewerben, wo Dina dieses Bild präsentieren wird) können humorlos komisch seien.

Kindest regards from the autumnal North Norfolk coast
Mit lieben Grüßen von der herbstlichen Küste Norfolk
Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma

 

 

© Text and illustrations, Hanne Siebers and Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea, 2019

 

 

267 thoughts

    • Dear Paulo
      Well, well, we tried our best: We Bookfayries showed Dina where to go, our dear Master drove us there (partly on hair raising little roads) and Dina took the photographs. We are very happy that you like the result of our efforts. Thank you!
      Wishing you an easy day
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Dear Selma and Siri,

    Please whisper into Dina’s ear what a wonderful photographer she is. Every image has me transfixed. Also, I do not wish to be disrespectful of your opinions, but I do not think that her long exposures of waterfalls make the water look like yogurt. I think they make the water look like beautiful delicate veils.

    From California with love,

    Mike

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

    • Dear Michael,
      GREAT that you like Dina’s photography. We told this our dear Dina. She is VERY proud that you like her photos, especially as we all like your photography soooo much. Actually, nearly every picture on your website/blog.
      Concerning the yoghurt-water: We sorted out all the pictures where the water didn’t look like water. These pictures ended up in the bin as they violate our Bookfayrie honour and Dina’s honour as a decent photographer as well.
      With lots of finest fairy dust from the North of Norfolk to California
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma
      … and don’t tell anybody that we wrote on our Master’s notebook but we have trouble with our MacFair – oh dear!
      Warm greetings from Dina 🙂 and our 🙂 Master as well

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Siri and Selma,

      Thank you very much for your reply. I am happy to know that the Fab Four like my photography. This means a lot to me. I do understand about yogurt water. This summer I shot a magnificent waterfall in Switzerland. Every single shot looked like yogurt. They all went in the bin. Boo hoo. My wife, who is also a photographer, asked how much of the beautiful glow in the photographs was brought out in post-processing? I replied to her that it was mostly the polarizer, but I do wonder what Dina’s workflow is. Could you ask her for us?

      All the best from gray-day California.
      Mike
      PS. I won’t tell.
      PPS. Regarding kitsch: I thoroughly, utterly, totally, and intimately understand. However it is good to learn a technique well and then put it in your bag of tricks for use when you as the artist decide that it is appropriate. And if in a given situation it is not appropriate, it stays in the bag.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Michael,
      we told Dina. But it seems to us she is rushing to this competition tonight. We are sure, she will tell you – but, pssssst, that’s all a secret. Only VERY special people are allowed to know it.
      You know what? Here the sun was shining the whole day long. Well now it’s dark
      with our finest Bookfayrie dust
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma
      Greetings from our dear Master and Dina too

      Liked by 1 person

    • Oh dear Michael, this is only my second competition in the advanced section amongst really good photographers and I feel nowhere as confident as the Klausbernd, Siri and Selma!! This time last year I had my first ever prints made for the first competition in the novice group and it has been an amazing journey so far. Pushing oneself beyond the comfort zone has been very helpful, but I still have a long way to go. Which is good, there’re so many options. 🙂
      Best wishes, Dina

      Liked by 1 person

    • No secrets here, Michael. 🙂 Until this spring I only regarded myself totally dedicated to Nikon. I bought the Fuji X-T3 to have a lighter camera for travelling, but I must admit I use it all the time and the Nikon is collecting dust. Secondly, I used to shoot im RAW and use only Lightroom for postproduction, playing with preset, Nike Collections etc.
      Now, with the mirrorless Fuji and the brilliant Fuji colour palette, I shoot mainly jpgs(!) and have switched to Photoshop, I hardly ever use LR now. I’m a beginner, absolutely thrilled to see the effects, how it’s possible to enhance an image from good! to stunning! with adjusting exposure and contrast, light and sharpening. There are no tricks or special effect presets, but for me it’s hard work to learn to master the tools of PS, I have a very patient mentor. I love it, it’s immensely rewarding and I hope you can see the progress in a few months time. 🙂 With the Nikon I used LR as a catalogue for filing my images, but now I have switched to PhotoMechanic, but I’m not really there with a 100% logical system yet – it’s goal for 2020.:-) I hope this answer your question, Michael – if not, please feel free to ask. Or come over, bring your wife and your cameras and we’ll show you Norfolk. 🙂
      All the best, Dina-Hanne

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Dina,
      This is very interesting. I’ve seen a lot of people use in Fuji recently. I think it’s fascinating. I’m thoroughly committed to Nikon at this particular point in time. It is very obvious that the Fuji gives you very nice results in jpg. I’d still recommend shooting also in RAW just in case you want to do something more dramatic or if there are shadows or highlights that you wish to recover. I very much admire you for not using any special filters. A photographer who knows what he or she is doing can do very well with the most basic tools. You obviously do. My method of organization is unique. I’ll describe it separately.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Wales is beautiful! My mother came from there. As a teenager I hiked there (on the Brecon Beacons , not on Snowden.) My wife Marian and I visited there 50 years ago. Thanks for the memories, and Dina’s magnificent photographs!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Peter,
      we loved Wales that much that we decided we will visit it again next year. Our dear Master knew Wales from years before. It was his praising this area that made us want to go there. We only know the Brecon Beacons from the map. Do you know a place you can recommend for hiking there? Living at the coast hiking in the mountains is a thrill for us.
      Thanks for liking Dina’s photography 🙂 🙂
      Wishing you a happy rest of the week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hiking in the Beacons centers on Pen Y Fan, the highest peak, and 25 miles East and west from there. It is mostly upland peat bog, and none of the granite cliffs and scree of Snowdonia. Pen Y Fan is highly visited! Better to approach from Abergavenny than from Brecon.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks a lot, dear Peter. We surely will visit the Beacons the next time when we are in Wales. We’ll go in late autumn again and hope that most of the tourist are gone by then.

      Like

  7. ‘The Long Way Home’ fits the last photo perfectly. AS to the others, well what’s there not to like about such stunning scenery in Wales.

    I’m must admit I’m not a big fan of yoghurt waterfalls, but Dina’s technique and results were perfectly attuned to the teacher’s homework task and for that, she should feel perfectly content.

    I love the action and details in the dark gorge shot.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Hi, dear Vicki,
      you like “The Long Way Home” – we’ll see. Tonight is the photo-competition and Dina is, of course!, expecting to win – well, VERY ambitious she is. And because of her ambition all the water-yoghurt-pictures ended up in the bin. We would never ever show them. Dina’s teacher is very happy about the efforts of his student. A teacher needs good students to learn therefore Dina was chosen.
      Getting down to this gorge was hair raising, very steep, slippery, nothing to hold on and to bring all the equipment down … As you see, we survived it 🙂 🙂
      Love from the rough sea and thanks for commenting
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. What magical landscapes. I love the green and gold in that last photo. You could call it landscape in green and gold. Judges would probably not react well to Magical Landscape as a title. I have to agree the water does NOT look like yogurt. It does look moving and substantial though.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Thank you, Lisa! Your kind words are much appreciated. 🙏🏻 You’re might be right about the title “Magical Landscape” not being a favourite with judges- and still you point to my dilemma with the title; the main scene here is not about the road, it’s the landscape, the scenery. In the end I went for the safe title: “Snowdonia”.
      So sorry about your cousin Allison health problems. Fredericksburg, then you were not far away from our dear friends, Pit & Mary. We send you all and Allison and Bob best wishes with the kindest fairy dust 🤗🤗🤗🤗

      Liked by 3 people

    • Good morning, dear Lisa,
      thank you very much for your ideas.
      There is a story behind finding the right title. Quite a while ago Dina got only the third place in a local competition for a brilliant picture called “Norfolk Fisherman”. The judge complained that nothing connotes fishing there. Later she entered a competition with the same picture calling it “Nigel” and she won the first price and got lots of praise for it (it was published in a magazine). Therefore we are all thinking hard about titles for Dina’s pictures.
      Thanks a lot for liking Dina’s long exposure photography 🙂 🙂
      Wishing you a happy day
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Tanja,
      GREAT! that you like our post 🙂 🙂
      Wales, especially Snowdonia, provides a lot of opportunities for shooting great photos.
      Dina loves her new motto very much. It’s hanging above her writing desk.
      Our best wishes to you
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Good morning, dear Robert,
      crème but not yoghurt 😉 😉
      Wales, especially Snowdonia (North Wales), is really GREAT between fairy tale country and barren mountain solitude. We loved it very much. It was especially exciting for us as we live in just the opposite landscape next to the sea.
      Thanks for commenting 🙂 🙂
      Love from the sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Dinas photographs are beautiful! I love the way she has captured the light, either reflected light or direct sunlight in all her shots. I can see why using the long exposure technique is so popular, and Dina’s examples of this method are excellent, but it doesn’t quite convey the excitement, the noise and the speed of the waterfalls. What a lot of walking you did!
    With best wishes to you all,
    Clare 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    • Thank you 🙏🏻 so much for your kind words, Clare. 😀 Wales is fabulous and we’re determined to go back next year. It might take some bribing and a gentle convincing 🧚‍♀️ talk or two, but we’re going. 😉 How was the The Swan Lake performance?
      Please come and see us if you’re planning a visit to the Norfolk coast this winter!
      Best wishes, Dina-Hanne 😊

      Liked by 2 people

    • How very kind! Thank you so much, Dina.
      Swan Lake was great fun. The Marina Theatre is tiny and there wasn’t an orchestra pit so they danced to pre-recorded music. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it very much and the theatre was absolutely full. 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Clare,
      we love hiking in the mountains. So different from our usual beach walks. The greatest was walking up 3/4 of the path to Snowdon’s summit. If one wants to have a similar experience in the Alps one has to go up more than the double hight of Snowdon.
      We think, a picture of the waterfall is not the waterfall. In a way, it is representing it quite poorly. No noise, no feeling of the spray on your face … But we don’t think that photography pictures reality. It’s a reality of its own following the language and world of pictures. Photography as art is not representing a reality except the reality of the world of pictures. At least so we see it.
      Wishing you a great rest of the week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Dina’s images are just superb, perfectly framed in amazing colors and having captured the mood of those places just beautifully. Waterfalls or any kind of flowing water can be a challenge, but with Dina’s excellent choice of exposure, they are just marvelous. What Yogurt are you talking about? Dina you can applause yourself , please.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Cornelia,
      well, you haven’t seen all those pictures ending up in the bin, water like runny low fat yoghurt.
      We are VERY happy that you like Dina’s pictures so much 🙂 🙂 A praise from such a great professional photographer is always something special.
      Thank you very much for commenting.
      Love from the sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Cornelia,
      we love the sea and any kind of water. That makes Dina experimenting with photographing water. But, of course, the picture of water is not water, it is a picture. So it doesn’t need to be realistic but it has to be beautiful as a picture.
      Don’t blush, your photography is really worth looking at 🙂 🙂
      With love from a rough sea today – we like it when the sea is wild –
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
      Dear Cornelia,
      seeing a picture I don’t judge the connection between the picture and its object but between this picture of that object to other pictures – photography and painting – of the same object. Pictures belong to the world of pictures …
      All the best
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Like

    • Thank you so much for liking our post.
      We Bookfayries are especially happy that you mentioned our writing too. THANK YOU 🙂 🙂
      Wishing you an easy rest of the week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Cindy,
      thank you very much. We are very well, just in between two trips. After Snowdonia we wil go to Rye at the SE coast of England. It’s a tradition to travel to special places in England around our dear Master’s birthday. Rye is called the most romantic little town in the UK.
      We visited Death Valley National Park years ago. We love this barren desert landscape, so minimalistic, great. But for us little Nordic Bookfayries it was too hot and sunny.
      Enjoy your desert trip! Indeed, we are living in such a beautiful world.
      Take care.
      Love from the cold sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
      Don’t you have sometimes a guilty conscience as well for travelling around to see beautiful nature and destroying what we love with our travelling?

      Like

  15. I love Wales! And Dina’s photos are magnificent. Every time I think of Wales, I think of Dylan Thomas and “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” “Though lovers be lost, love shall not; And death shall have no dominion.” Thank you for a wonderful view of the magnificent country. Sending hugs and love to my dear friends the Fab Four of Cley!!!

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    • Hi Clanmother, or dear friend,
      you are so right, Wales is Dylan Thomas and his powerful poetry. Thanks for mentioning and quoting this great Welsh poet who, unfortunately, died that young. Although he is without doubt THE Welsh poet he wrote in English.
      We are just in between two trips. In about a week we will go down south to Rye, “the most romantic little town in the UK”. There we’ll celebrate our dear Master’s birthday.
      Wales is magnificent, indeed. We decided to go again next year.
      With lots of love, fairy dust and big hugs
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Clanmother,
      well, our dear Master’s birthday is in a fortnight. But thanks a lot!
      You`re absolutely right, that’s Henry James’ Rye – and Benson lived there as well.
      Hugs & Kisses
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Those are absolutely gorgeous photos! I know what you mean about long exposures of waterfalls creating a blurred (yogurt!) effect, but I don’t see that in Dina’s photos. And a good title for the last one might be stolen from JRR Tolkien: “The Road goes ever on and on.”

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Dear Audrey,
      first of all, thanks a lot for you idea about a title. Especially, Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma like it because they love Tolkiens writing.
      And thank you so much for liking Dina’s photography 🙂 🙂 That’s VERY appreciated.
      Wishing you a great rest of the week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Beautiful photographs, as always. Quite the lens kit for Dina’s X-T3. The LE water seems to improve as the photos progress. I sometimes try for the silky water effect. Why do we like it? I also like capturing the splash in the air. The bookfaeries’ dialogue is amusing and insightful, as always, too. Who does most of the writing, Siri or Selma? How does one collaborate when writing anyway? Take turns every other sentence or paragraph? 😉

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Dear John,
      let’s start about the writing. We don’t know if you know that our dear Master was a bestselling author and editor who helps Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma with writing. Usually, Siri 🙂 starts writing until she runs out of ideas, then Selma 🙂 gets her ideas down. Then they shorten the text together with their dear Master. That’s the first stage. The second stage is looking for a kind of funny style, witty expressions and the rhythm and flow of the language and, of course, a connection to Dina’s pictures. For the latter our beloved 🙂 Selma is the specialist.
      Why do we like the silky water effect? Hmm … a lot of recipients like everything that’s smooth. In our culture we associate `smooth´ with comfortable in opposition to `hard´. But our dear Master don’t really like this silky texture. It’s too much mainstream, it’s fashion but not personal expression. Seen it from the theory of reception of iconographic and other texts it’s what we are used to like. And repeating what’s fashion or what’s the recipient is used to like is called `kitsch´. For the neo-structuralist theory of reception (Mukarovsky f.e.) this is how kitsch is defined.
      By the way, when we all write we actually do it like you think: We take turns after every paragraph.
      Everything answered now?
      Thanks for your clever questions.
      Wishing you a happy day
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • In an average it takes five to six editions of my books until they are free of any mistakes – although they are examined by two professional proofreaders before publishing. Quite often the attentive readers tell the publishers about the mistakes. I myself proofread for style and misspellings about five times, and I have so called beta-readers before I send my manuscripts to my agents or publishers.
      But for short texts like for the blog here, we proofread twice. Of course, our problem is the English text as none of us is a native speaker.

      Liked by 1 person

    • RE: writing ‘texts’, I don’t write books. I only blog about reading Lapham’s Quarterly, with which I did assemble the first 10 years’ issues into a 351 page unofficial, but printed, book. (No ISBN, etc.) My blog posts are mostly self-serving, done for personal interest and expression. My writing is unequivocally sophomoric, pedestrian, pedantic, immature, almost childish, but it is a passion of sorts.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear John,
      not everybody can be a professional writer. Being a professional writer means running a small business with people researching, agents in the different countries and PR people. Writing for fun is freedom – in comparison. I am now writing for fun as well and I don’t mind if it’s childish or not. That’s the privilege of our age, we can just enjoy what we are doing.
      I wish you happy writing
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Gwendoline,
      oh dear, this tripod is so bl..dy heavy and we small Bookfayries have to carry it quite often.
      “The Path Ahead” – we thought of this too, but Dina and our Master said that the path is not the main feature of the picture. Our dear Master couldn’t really help, as you know as a writer it’s not the author’s business finding a title. That’s the job of the editors and the distribution folks. Anyway, the title isn’t decided yet. But we know, we can have one title for the more conventional judge and other title when the picture is presented in an intellectual arty surrounding.
      Anyway, thank you very much.
      Have a happy day
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good afternoon, dear Jo,
      when we heard “Fairy Glen” it was decided that we have to go there. Although, it was quite a job going down to the gorge, steep, slippery, wet, nothing to hold on, really risky. But Siri’s 🙂 and 🙂 Selma’s fairy sisters looked after us and so we got all the equipment and us down and up again.
      Thanks so much for commenting 🙂 🙂
      Have a happy day
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Frederic,
      thank you very much for your comment 🙂 🙂 and your choice of a title. Oh dear, we can tell you, titling is quite a job. When our dear Master was writing his books there was always a team of people, a mix of distribution folks and editors, who were specialised on finding titles. Some of them did nothing else as finding titles.
      Thank you so much for liking Dina’s photography 🙂 🙂
      We always go around in England in autumn. Dina likes the fast changing light then. And we like that most of the tourists are gone. We liked Snowdonia that much that we’ll go next year again. It’s ideal that we can reach it easily within a day. So we don’t need to have a guilty consciousness. Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma forbade us to go any further or to take a plane so that we don’t destroy the nature we like.
      With lots of love from Cley to Blakeney
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Guten Tag, lieber Jürgen,
      schön, dass dir Dinas Bilder gut gefallen 🙂 🙂 und überhaupt unsere Post.
      Auch liebe von uns vom gerade sonnigen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  26. All photographs are out of this world, literally. There is magical play of mountains, clouds and light. Waterfalls add beauty to this dramatic landscapes. As always, I love your post and photographs.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, dear Nehal 🙂 🙂
      we wanted to show this magic, well, fairy magic, that is typical for Wales.
      Wishing you a great rest of the week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Guten Tag, liebe Annette,
      schön, wieder von dir zu lesen. Es lohnt sich in Wales, besonders im Bergland von Nord-Wales, zu stoppen. Wenn man zur Fähre nach Irland fährt, zumindest von uns, kommt man ja am Rande dieser Landschaft vorbei.
      Dina liebte sofort das Zitat. Wir hörten es übrigens in einer deutschen Kultursendung im TV, die wir über unser Notebook sahen & hörten.
      Liebe Grüße ins Ruhrgebiet und herzlichen Dank fürs Kommentieren
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  28. A post of great beauty and magic, my friends! The photographs are ethereal, adding so many dimensions onto the scenery I found myself gasping in awe at the magnificent capture of the landscape! A wondrous trip to Snowdonia and you leave me longing to visit as well.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    • Hi, dear Annika,
      we suppose you have such a nice warm sunshine like we do here not that far from you.
      Great that you like Dina’s photography that much 🙂 🙂 You can see, we fell in love with Snowdonia. It was was especially one path up the Snowdon that we didn’t want to leave. Ethereal, indeed!
      Thanks a lot, our dear friend. Enjoy the sunshine
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Herzensdank, dass ihr uns mitgenommen habt, die Fotos sind wieder ein Genuss, ja, auch die von den Wasserfällen! Witziger Weise habe ich gerade auch damit herum experimentiert und finde, dass es passen muss und es passt eben nicht bei jeder Wasseraufnahme, manchmal ist es schön die einzelnen Tropen zu sehen, manchmal dieses weiche Strömen.
    Herzlich grüße ich euch Vier,
    Ulli

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Guten Tag, liebe Ulli,
      da hast du wohl recht, es kommt darauf an, welches Wasser man sozusagen fotografiert. Hier gibt es natürlich viele Leute, die das Meer mit long exposure fotografieren, was, wie wir finden, oft daneben geht. Wir sind eher Fans von der Abbildung einzelner Tropfen. Auf jeden Fall freuen wir uns, dass dir Dinas Fotos gut gefallen – uns auch. Herzlichen Dank!
      Snowdonia ist wunderschön, so schön, dass wir nächstes Jahr nochmal dort hinfahren werden. Es ist auch für uns innerhalb von fünf bis sechs Stunden bequem zu erreichen.
      Ganz liebe Grüße vom heute sonnigen Meer, nach einigen regnerischen Tagen,
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Die Berge von Nord-Wales sind wirklich wunderschön. Da hast du recht, sie machen einen wanderlustig. Sie sind das ideale Gebiet fürs Bergwandern.
      Danke, dass dir Masterchens Titel am besten gefällt. Wir versuchen es mit diesem Titel.
      Mit herzlichen Grüßen vom Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Such wonderful images, Dina. You have really captured the essence of Snowdonia’s spirit, so the effort you made carrying that huge tripod up mountainsides was clearly worth it. A beautiful part of the country despite all the people. All the best. Laurence

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Hi, dear Laurence,
      we were quite lucky. There were not many people around because of the time of the year with it changeable weather. But Dina likes such a weather for her photography. Thanks for liking her pictures.
      We loved Snowdonia that much that we decided to go there again next year.
      We hope to see you and Jackie again soon. But we will be away in a week’s time going to Rye and the Seven Sisters being back at the end of November. Let’s meet then.
      Thanks and cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  34. You were lucky with the weather indeed. Wales in October is a chance to take.
    The mention of carrying tripods and using polarisers and ND filters took me back to my days of lugging heavy bags of equipment around using film cameras.
    Sad to say I never came close to the excellence of Dina’s photographic skill. In my opinion, any of these could win a photo competition. And should.
    Love from Beetley, Pete and Ollie. X

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Pete,
      the weather wasn’t too bad. We even had long spells of sunshine. We know, we were quite lucky.
      Carrying all the equipment made us really fit 😉
      Thank you so much for liking Dina’s photography 🙂 🙂 She has a personal teacher who is really brilliant. But he keeps her quite busy with all the homework she has to do. Nevertheless, she likes it. And the result is amazing. She won in nearly every competition she took part. Tonight is one again. We are sure that she will be among the winners.
      With lots of love from the sunny coast
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you very much, dear Fraggle 🙂 🙂
      We also keep our fingers crossed for tonight when this new competition takes place.
      Wishing you a happy rest of this week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good afternoon, dear Anne,
      we are happy that you like Dina’s photography 🙂 🙂 So it was worth it carrying all the equipment up and down the mountains. We think, our dear Dina is getting better all the time.
      Thanks a lot.
      Wishing you a relaxing afternoon
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  38. Hi, Dina. Thanks for your comments on my blog. I don’t know why I haven’t seen yours before but I am glad I followed the link in your name. These are wonderful images from Wales. I will be looking forward to more of your travels.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Good afternoon, dear Steve,
      thank you so much for liking Dina’s photography 🙂 🙂 You see, we love the Welsh mountains.
      Wishing you all the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  39. Fascinated me all these photographs, is that a place like them, they are like a fairy land… so beautiful. I know Wales is beautiful but your photography, dear Dina, makes them more than this… Thank you, Good Luck for the competition, “Wherever you take me, I follow this road…” Love, nia

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  41. Another wonderfully rich post from the four of you. You collaborate so well. And Wales is lovely. We toured a lot of it when living in Shropshire (also lovely), Pembrokeshire has fabulous beaches and green hills. Nothing like Snowden or the Brecon Beacons though for heights.

    Given the amount of rain we’ve seen recently I think All babies will be born with webbed feet soon! Dina’s photos are all deservedly winners. About time she opened a gallery of her own.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Good afternoon, dear Jude,
      we are very proud of our dear Dina. We love to work with her. She make us sparkling with ideas. And she is breathtaking successful.
      You are now the second person telling us that Pembrokeshire is worth a visit. Our dear Master has been to Wales several times but he always went to Snowdonia. Next time we go we will have a look further south as well.
      You wouldn’t believe it, in Wales the weather was better, meaning dryer, than here in Cley. But now it’s quite nice. We had sunshine the whole day long. We had a mixture of sunshine and showers for the last few days. Dina likes this changeable weather for her photography.
      With lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  42. My dear friends,
    what a joy to read and watch your co-work! Snowdonia looks like a wonderful place to be. Such stunning photos, Dina! I regret to say I have never been to North Wales…

    I can understand he dilemma with the title for the last landscape image. When in doubt, when selecting titles for your images as well articles, books, I try to keep them simple and neutral. Less is more, more or less.
    I use this list as a springboard for exploring options when I look for a title for lectures.

    1 List the subject and date, Snowdonia, (North Wales), 2019 for instance.

    2 State a relationship to the subject, yours or someone else’s; i.e. My Mother or Her Home.

    3 Use a general category for the subject rather than an individual one, such as Slave or Statistic.

    4 Name a formal element in the work – number, shape, color, size, etc.

    5 Refer to another medium, such as poetic or musical form.

    6 Loosely interpret the subject subjectively; similes and metaphors often work well here, such as Smells Like Teen Spirit.

    7 Use a technical term, related to either the subject or the creation of the work, in a way that furthers more inquiry, Ascent or Descent for example.

    8 State what the subject is not – Is Not Untitled.

    9 Create a contradiction ­– think of Magritte’s famous painting of a pipe entitled This Is Not A Pipe.

    The Fab Four will no doubt find ways to expand this list. have a go, have fun.
    I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, Dina!

    Hope to see and read more from you soon.

    Kram
    Annalena xx

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Our dear Swedish friend,
      thanks a lot for your list what to think about when looking for a title. We think, the most important recommendation is, less is more. We always try to keep the title as short as possible.
      Create a contradiction we love as well. A picture of a waterfall is indeed not a waterfall, isn’t it? To call that picture “These are not Mountains” would probably too philosophical, nevertheless our dear Master likes it 🙂
      It’s amazing how a title determines how we see a picture and what we notice in a picture.
      Anyway, we are happy that you like Dina’s pictures 🙂 🙂
      Thanks for your fingers crossed for Dina tonight, we keep them crossed as well.
      KRAM
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
      XXXX

      Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, to call the picture “These are not mountains” would not be my first choice for a competition. 🙂 🙂
      Still, i’s interesting to note that when you keep it simple and conventional, specificity works in your favour, – the more creative and unconventional you get the more ambiguity, sometimes coupled with a dose of irony or contradiction, works in your favour. The title “Oh Deer” was spot on for Dina’s capture of the Roe Deer in the barley.
      All the best.
      Kram
      Annalena xx

      Liked by 1 person

    • The famous “This is not a Pipe” can’t probably not used for a more complex picture. But of course it makes the recipient think and becoming aware that the picture of an object is not the object – like landscape and map.

      Like

  43. Fab Four of Cley,
    I have always thought that Dina’s pictures were wonderful, but she really has become quite remarkable with every passing post. Here, from the mountains in Snowdon to the footpath at Ogwen Valley and the final glorious vision of a world unattainable – I stand and applaud our dear, Dina.
    I did not like hearing their was a souvenir shop on the mountain top. If they must be sold, it could be down below and mostly hidden from sight.
    I thank you for another post to educate and excite!!
    Take care, my friends, and continue to have a life most of us could only dream of!
    GP Cox

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Our dear friend GP Cox,
      your are so kind. We are deeply moved.
      Above we discussed titles. As important is the order in which a series of pictures is presented. We feel that the last picture should be the highlight.
      You noticed that we love Snowdonia. Hiking in the mountains there was a glorious experience – even if we had to carry all this equipment. Well, that keeps us fit.
      The problem is that one can climb the Snowdon on different paths but you can reach the top with a small special railway as well. The summit is an anti-climax but the route is the goal. All the different paths are grand, great views. We agree with you, souvenir shops should be hidden (actually, who needs them?).
      Thank you very much for your kind comment.
      With lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you very much, dear Tish 🙂 🙂
      It’s the aim of Dina’s photography to capture the essence on one hand and present an unusual picture on the other hand.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  45. Greetings from Tromsø, Fab Four! What a coincident, I start to read your awesome blog post just as our mutual friend Annalena makes a comment. 🙂
    Of course I had to read her thoughts as well and now I’m tuned away and into the art of the right title. I think, like your art and your blog, titles are all about communication. The title becomes a part of your art. Therefore I think it’s wise to ensure the title makes a contribution to effectively communicating what you want to communicate. Hmm .. does this makes sense. 😉
    Keep up the great work, see you soon.
    Klem
    Per Magnus x

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Per Magnus,
      yes, it makes sense. We think so too, the title is part of the picture as it leads the view of recipient. And the commentary the producer gives as well. If we look at modern art and hear what art specialists tell us (our Master’s sister is one) then we see that nowadays iconographic and written communication merge together and make the art for what it is. Therefore we love to work together as Dina & Selma are clever with pictures and Siri and our Master love to play with language. But, of course, our disadvantage is that we are not native speakers. But we try our best.
      KLEM
      XXXX
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Jonathan,
      Merry Christmas and thank you very much for commenting and liking Dina’s photography.
      We wish you all the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Liebe Reni,
      toll, dass dir Dinas Fotos gefallen 🙂 🙂
      Ja, Snowdonia ist zum Verlieben schön – und wir haben uns in diese Berglandschaft verliebt. Sieht man, oder?
      Mit herzlichen Grüßen vom Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Michael,
      well, we have to try to keep fit to be able to carry Dina’s equipment up and down the mountains, on slippery paths and in the wild.
      Thank you very much for liking Dina’s photography.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hi, dear Leya,
      indeed, Wales and especially Snowdonia is so beautiful. At some places it presents views which are the ideal of a romantic landscape. Siri 🙂 mentioned at one point that it all could be painted by Caspar David Friedrich. We surely will visit Snowdonia next year again. Shall we meet there?
      With lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • That would have been wonderful – I can see you standing there on the mountain, looking out over the landscape, softly leaning on your stick. And Dina photographing you! Love that painting.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good morning, dear Leya,
      actually, that happened.
      Well, Dina told me how to look over the landscape like an explorer. The stick we brought from home. It’s all arranged a bit like a painting of the early 19th c, like a painting of Alexander von Humboldt my personal `hero´. We like to play with imitating such images, it’s fun 🙂 and Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma often contribute crazy ideas which make the pictures interesting. It’s that certain break with the expectations. The 19th c. in the 21st c., Humboldt with a compass on his mobile phone f.e.
      Anyway, we all wish you a GREAT weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • P.S.
      Dear Leya, I suppose we’ll go to Wales at the end of September or in October next year. We want to explore the Snowdon area a little bit more and maybe go to Pembrokeshire as well. We know a nice Hotel just outside of Betws-y-Coed, ideal situated for tours up to Snowdon and fine rides across the mountain passes.
      We would really like meeting you in Wales.
      We keep in touch
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Like

    • Let us keep in touch – long time until next year. Thank you so very much for thinking of me! I would love to meet you – life maybe will allow us to. Love to you all from a rainy Sweden♥♥♥♥

      Liked by 2 people

    • It’s actually a great idea to produce famous pictures like this of Caspar David Friedrich with modern photography. We will keep that in mind. Wasn’t it in the 19th c when people were posing like classic pictures?

      Like

    • Dear Cher,
      we are happy that you like Dina’s photography 🙂 🙂 Thanks for your kind comment!
      We love your other name `Sea Angel´. Are Sea Angels relatives of Bookfayries?
      With los of love from the rough sea today
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hi there! I sure do! Ah, yes! Thank you so much! I call myself, “seaangel” because I love dolphins. And dolphins have been known to rescue humans so they’ve been called, “angels of the sea”. I put the words, “sea” and “angel” together as “seaangel”. 🙂 🙂 🙂 xoxoxo

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Seaangel,
      thanks a lot for your explanation. We have sometimes dolphins at our coast, but we never spotted them.
      Love
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  54. What a dramatic and beautiful place. Like most Americans, I am a mix of many national heritages. Welsh is one of them. Oddly, this part of Wales looks very much like Appalachia, the place where my Welsh ancestors came long, long ago and where I now live. Circles upon circles. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Maybe we always come back to our roots, the mountains in your case.
      Unfortunately, we never made it to Appalachia. Sounds like Wales in America. So you are lucky to live in such beautiful surroundings.
      Thanks and cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Hi, Ivia,
      first of all, warm greetings from our Bookfayries to the FairytaleFeminista.
      The UK has many really beautiful places, but Snowdonia is more than beautiful. One of the top places in the UK besides the North of Scotland and the North Norfolk coast where we live.
      Thanks a lot for liking Dina’s pictures
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  57. Goodness, the photographs are moving!

    How about “When You Come Home” as a title for the last image? I’m not sure why.

    I hope you’re all really well. As used to be said here (in the USA), Happy Trails!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • “Happy Trails” – we really like it. We never heard it before.
      Thanks for your idea of the title for the last picture. It’s funny, we never thought of coming home, we always saw it the other way round as as going away. With your title we see this picture differently. It changed our perception quite a bit. Thank you 🙂 🙂 and thanks as well for liking Dina’s photography.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  59. Wow! The storm of these stunning landscape images almost blew me away. Dark cloudy skies often lend a helping hand to experienced photographers like Dina. October was a very pleasant month here in Canada, so typical of the Indian summer we often enjoy this time of the year. Best wishes and warm greetings from Canada! Peter

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Peter,
      when I first arrived at Montreal I was taken up North, that was in late September. I immediately loved Canada. We had a typical Indian summer then too.
      Dina likes this unstable weather, a sky with dark clouds and the diffuse light of grey skies. This was one reason why we went in October, a month people like to get away from the west country of the UK. We experienced from summer to winter more or less every season during our trip. We were very lucky having a longer stretch of sunshine when we climbed Snowdon.
      With warm greetings from the cold sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
      When does the winter starts at yours usually? When does the first snow and frost arrives?

      Like

    • Vielen Dank für deinen Kommentar. Dina ist sehr zufrieden mit der Fuji und wir erst einmal, da wir nicht mehr die schwere Nikon schleppen müssen.
      Mit freundlichen Grüßen vom Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  61. I love Wales too, and I love Dina’s photographs, yoghurt water or not. I think she’s too finicky about her work, the waterfalls look great, maybe more soft misty stuff than water but who’s to say this wasn’t deliberate. So often I look at a photograph that has won a major prize and I’m puzzled as to why. Dina’s never puzzle me, WYSIWYG.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good evening, dear Mari,
      yes, we know this as well, looking at photos which won a price and we asked why.
      Well, these are pictures of a waterfall but not a waterfall. And a certain alienation is wanted. You are absolutely right.
      Thank you so much for liking Dina’s pictures and we are happy that Dina never puzzled you
      With love from Norfolk
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Good morning, dear Janet,
      thank you very much for liking our post 🙂 🙂
      We always try to combine pictures and texts in a comely way. We suppose, you know this challenge from your book as well.
      Wishing you a happy day
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Liebe freie Denkerin,
      habe herzlichen Dank für deinen freundlichen Kommentar 🙂 🙂
      Toll, dass dir Dinas Fotografie so gut gefällt! Es ist ja etwas typisch Romantisches, dass man in die Bilder hineingezogen wird, fast so wie bei der bauen Blume der Romantik, wie sie Novalis beschreibt.
      Mit herzlichen Grüßen
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Robert,
      we went to Snowdonia in autumn because of the changing light then. Dina likes photographing when the weather is unstable and the clouds are interesting.
      We like that you write on your gravatar that you feel European. We do as well.
      With warm greetings from the cold sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Good morning, dear Greta,
      thank you very much for your kind words 🙂 🙂
      Dina got those pictures printed and there they look even better than on our notebooks. Well, they are larger … All the members of her photo-group liked her pictures very much but, unfortunately, there was a strange judge who didn’t gave her the gold medal. Never mind, she got enough medals. But she was a little disappointed and we as well.
      Wishing you all the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks a lot, dear Stevie 🙂 🙂
      We do love Wales and Scotland a lot but coming home we are very happy living at the North Norfolk coast.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • THANK YOU soo much, dear Amy 🙂 🙂
      You know we little Bookfayries and our dear Master carry a lot of Dina’s equipment. In one of the photo-competitions Dina won a sophisticated backpack she is carrying and we share rest what’s actually not as hard as it sounds – and it keeps us fit. The tripod is the problem: big and heavy. We take turns carrying it.
      Have a great rest of the week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Good morning, dear Anna,
      your comment is the light in a grey and rainy morning here next to the sea 🙂 🙂
      We are VERY happy that you like Dina’s photo. We love the first and the last photo best. All those photos show our love for Snowdonia. We will go there again next year.
      Wishing you a relaxing weekend
      The Fab Four of Cey
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
      … and now we’ll visit your blog and have a look what you are reading. Masterchen and Siri just read the novels of Dag Solstad, the most praised Norwegian author. We loved them really much. Very different to mainstream: Instead of action all innere monologue in third person perspective. Brilliant style.

      Like

  71. Snowdonia, Lake District, Wales, Scotland. Yes, they are very special places. I still haven’t quite found out what makes them so very special to me. Perhaps they embody this “there is nothing irrelevant” and everything is necessary and beautiful at the same time whereas I’m quite good at cluttering my everyday life with a lot of unimportant stuff.
    Thanks so much for recommending Solstad to me. I have just ordered the book about the frustrated teacher (perhaps because I’m marking class tests right now :-).
    Have a nice weekend! Anna

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Anna,
      oh dear, we are so busy right now. We got a new sauna heater delivered from Finland in the morning. And now we are installing it (what’s actually not so complicated as it is the same as the old one) but fiddly.
      For us Wales is special because of its mountains. A total different landscape to where we live. If one avoids the tourists, you live there quite comfy, nice hotels, great mountain pass roads and an ideal country for hiking. But we have to admit we only know Snowdonia, not the South of Wales. Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma see Wales as a fairy-country, well, they should know …
      We wish you fun with reading Dag Solstad.
      Now we are off, back in our garden to our Sauna hut.
      Thanks and take care
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  73. Dina used the opportunity very well indeed! The photographs are quite magnificent. They capture perfectly the scenery, the conditions, the sense of place and the atmosphere. They form a fitting celebration of the Snowdonian landscape

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Die Playlist für heute: Aerosmith “Walk this way” (was ein blödes Lied), “Dream on” von eben diesen lauten wilden staturnischen Musikern…dann irgendetwas mit “so sad, it´s a sad sad situation” vom lieben Elton, zum Abschluß natürlich “Caledonia”, ein abgedroschener Ohrwurm finden Iontach, die ich im Irish Pub in Kirchheim Bolanden zufällig traf…also die sind gaaaanz toll!!! Oh, habe gerade entdeckt ihre neue CD heißt Cuan!(!)
      Ich hatte einen komischen Traum mit einem Wagen, in dem ich mit Kindern nach Thailand fuhr, ich sagte den Kindern, haltet euch an den Stangen fest…am letzten Tag des Urlaubs in Thailand, verteilte jemand Fluglätter, darauf stand, dass man Stühle kaufen kann für 14,44 und 21,44 Taler…um den Urlaub zu verlängern, komisch!!! It´s a sad sad situation…
      Jetzt mache ich das Odenwald-Häuschen winterfest!!! Urlaub wäre suuuuper, aber…

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good afternoon, dear Louis,
      this is exactly what Dina wanted to do: to catch the essence of Snowdonia, to capture the sense of place as good as possible with a picture.
      Thanks a lot for your kind comment.
      Wishing you a relaxing Sunday
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hi, dear Pia,
      you are ended up here on a strange place for your comment. But it doesn’t matter.
      irgendwie bist du da an die falsche Stelle gerutscht, aber das macht nichts. Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma haben dich hier gefunden.
      Naja, mit dem Kaufen der Stühle weist auf Ausruhen hin. Man setzt sich auf den Stuhl und legt die Hände in den Schoß und Taler ist ja der Ursprung von Dollar $ > es ist billig, sich auszuruhen und Ferien zu machen, also du kannst es dir leisten 🙂
      Viel Glück beim Fertigmachen deines Odenwaldhäuschens. Wir waren heute den gesamten Vormittag damit zugange, unsere Terrasse winterfest zu machen, d.h. unsere Tomatenbüsche und Mengen von Blättern zu kompostieren, die verbleibenden Feigen vom Feigenbaum zu pflücken, eine Lieblingsaufgabe unserer geliebten Buchfeen und die Weinreben zu beschneiden.
      Mit lieben Grüßen vom heute sonnig warmen Norfolk
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Wenigstens bin ich zufällig bei Louis gelandet….hr1 hatte ne tolle Playlist, die Autofahrt war angenehm, im Odenwald scheinte die Sonne. Der Frostwächter ist noch gut intakt!!!
      Danke fürs Finden!

      Like

  74. Einmal ist das Wasser noch in den Wolken versteckt, dann kommt es aus den Steinen heraus? Es fällt? Eigentlich fließt es…
    In der Wüste ist auch noch ganz viel Wasser in den Steinen und im Eis (Süßwasserreserve der Erde).
    Ich – die Bilderanschauerin – bringe das Wasser auf den Fotos zum Fließen, man kann es hören, riechen, schmecken, obwohl es nur fotografiert ist – bestimmt hat die Jury bemerkt: Das ist ganz große Kunst!!!
    Herzliche Grüße nach Cley
    Ok, ihr habt jetzt natürlich die echten Memories eurer Wanderung, schon noch etwas besser, anders…intensiver wahrscheinlich…
    Und die Vorfreude auf die nächste Reise!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Liebe Pia,
      Wasser und Fotografie > Das Problem ist ja, dass die Fotografie ein statisches Medium ist, sie kann, zumindest nicht in einem Bild, Abläufe abbilden und somit auch nicht das Fließen. Sie lässt die Bewegung erstarren und ist somit eigentlich völlig ungeeignet, Wasser und alle Bewegungen abzubilden. D.h. sie muss sich damit behelfen, im Betrachter die Assoziation `Fließen´ auszulösen. Und wenn das bei dir gelungen ist, ist das wunderbar 🙂 🙂
      Unsere Erinnerungen haben den Vorteil gegenüber dem starren Bild, dass sie mit Abläufen keine Schwierigkeiten haben. Somit ist die Erinnerung stets dem Bild gegenüber überlegen. Anyway, soweit zur Fotografie von Wasser. Das ist ganz toll, was Dina’s Bilder alls in dir ausgelöst haben. Das ist das höchste Lob für die Fotografin.
      Ganz liebe Grüße
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Ja, höchstes Lob an die Fotografin!!! Jede Menge Assoziationen! Die benutzen ein Y, das manchmal wie i und manchmal wie ö gesprochen wird, wallisisch eben. Und dann haben die noch einen Buchstaben, den es sonst nirgends gibt?! Tage mit 24 Stunden sind sehr kurz…

      Liked by 1 person

    • Danke, liebe Pia!
      Wir finden dieses Inselkeltische höchst schwierig mit komplizierter Phonetik und Grammatik. Die meisten Leute, die wir in Wales trafen, sprachen kein Walisisch und konnten es auch nicht sprechen. Das liegt natürlich auch daran, dass wir uns weitgehend in der Touristenwelt aufgehalten haben. Von den etwa 7 Mio. Walisern sprechen 750.000 noch Walisisch, d.h. etwa jeder 9. Waliser spricht Walisisch. Es ist eine verschwindende Sprache.
      Mit lieben Grüßen vom grauen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • So, so, jeder 9. also…je mehr ich über Wales googele, desto schwächer fühle ich mich…ganz besonders, wenn ich wieder die Rückwärtssprechmethode anwende…
      Und außerdem haben wir einen Hausdrachen, das ist mein anderes “Ich”, wenn der Wäscheberg wieder ins Unermessliche gewachsen ist. Ich schwinge den Sauberstab und sage: 123, Sauberei – die Waschmaschine schalte ich selbst an!
      Irgendwo habe ich gelesen, dass die Nasa schon den Klang von 42 Sternen gemessen hat…könnte das wahr sein? Ich höre sie manchmal, bis zur Falsifikation…
      Yoga mit den Kindern war wieder großartig, es gab hellblaue Schals, alle fasziniert, inspiriert und beseelt-glücklich.
      Herzliche Grüße vom Pialein
      Auf meiner Autofahrt in den Odenwald hörte ich u. a. “Lessons in Love” (level 42), “Hounds of love” (Kate), “Personal Jesus” (in einer mir unbekannten Gitarren Version), ob die Musik auch ein Algorythmus auswählt, ach nein, es war ein Wunschkonzert…man konnte anrufen und sich was bestellen…eine Zeitreise…

      Liked by 1 person

    • Liebe Pia,
      nun wünschen sich Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma auch einen Hausdrachen. Der Zauberspruch “123 Sauberei” gefällt ihnen gaaaanz toll. Sie probieren ihn gerade in unserer Sauna aus, wo ein neuer Ofen gestern eingebaut wurde und Masterchen einige Sicherheitsabgrenzungen einbaute. Puh, ist das dreckig geworden … ja, da hilft nur “123 Sauberei”.
      Ja, Wales ist schwindelerregend super.
      Mach’s gut!
      Alles Liebe
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Yog hurt, Alter! Habe also “Hurt” von Johnny Cash als Music-Video gehört…und sein Leben gegoogelt, I would find a way…also in der Baseball Arena in Anaheim, damals mit 17 Jahren war ich 2 mal, einmal beim Spiel und einmal bei dieser anderen merkwürdigen Show mit Billy Graham…strange…
      Hatte die Amerika Reise gewonnen, wohnte 4 Wochen bei den Johnsons (aus Schweden), bei denen ich sehr herzlich aufgenommen wurde. Es gab auch einen Besuch der 5-köpfigen Familie bei uns zuhause, sie reisten mit kleinen Rucksäcken durch ganz Europa. Annie Johnson studierte später Piano in Santa Monika…wir haben uns aus den Augen verloren, leider…
      Liebdrücker und tschühüß
      Urlaub wäre mal gut, von mir aus auch in Wales…Yog hurt essen mag ich gar nicht mehr so, kühlt zu sehr.

      Like

    • Liebe Pia,
      wir sind große Yoghurt-Esser, besonders Masterchen liebt Naturyoghurt zum Frühstück oder eigentlich auch immer.
      Anyway, wir bereiten uns auf unsere Abreise vor, diesmal in den Süden Englands. Dafür studieren wir ausgiebig Rudyard Kipling, dessen Haus wir dort u.a. besuchen werden. Kipling und der Victorianische Imperialismus … auf jeden Fall hatte er ein großartiges Sprachgefühl.
      Liebe Grüße vom Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Wünsche euch eine wundervolle Reise in Englands Süden…ich weiß nicht, warum ich heute von meiner Freundin Babsi erzählen möchte, Ihr Mann bei Mercedes, sie lebten vier Jahre in Südafrika, jetzt wieder in D, u.a. lebten sie in Stuttgart (Babsi: Ah, da gehe ich lieber noch mal nach Afrika als nach Stuttgart, Pia , du nicht, du kannst nicht alle armen Kinder mitnehmen, Babsi nahm die kleine “Hope” mit..) Warum schreibe ich das nur? Wahrscheinlich Therapia…
      Ich mache keine Mindmap, einfach Mind, ohne Map, ob das gut geht?!
      Ich habe einen klitzekleinen Diamanten in meiner Steinsammlung, er ist nicht geschliffen, etwas grünlich…
      Den würde ich vielleicht nachher mal in die Hand nehmen und mir wünschen, dass alle Menschen Freunde sind, oje, Siri und Selma, da brauchen wir viel Geduld!!! Oder ist das zu langweilig für euch?
      …und da kein Mensch von Gedankensprüngen leben kann, die sowieso kaum jemand versteht, gehe ich jetzt zur nächsten Musical-Probe…

      Liked by 1 person

    • Liebes Pialein,
      hier schreiben deine kleinen Feenfreundinnen Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma. Ja, wir versuchen auch täglich zu zaubern, hokuspokusfairiebus, dass alle Menschen Freunde werden, so etwa wie in Beethovens Neunter, da werden sie alle Brüder – aber wir wollen auch die Schwestern.
      Dina studiert gerade die Karte, dass wir unser Navigationssystem gut beaufsichtigen können, Masterchen füllt Benzin ins Volvochen.
      Ganz liebe Grüße vom Meer, so sehr
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Ja, dann muss ich vielleicht doch noch “Die Töchter Ludwigshafens” gründen, und alles, wo die Brücken über den Rhein zerbröseln…
      Es werden Bäume gefällt, weil man den Deich erhöhen will, und breite Fahrrad Wege werden gebaut…
      Jetzt höre ich noch ein wenig Estas Tonne als Hintergrundmusik zu Hannes Fotos und lasse die Tränen laufen, ziemlich ambivalent das Ganze!!!
      Guuuuuute Fahrt!!!

      Liked by 2 people

    • Good afternoon, dear Julie,
      well, to photograph water is actually not possible, as water is flowing. A flow can’t be pictured with photography as photography is a fixing and rigid medium. The only way out of this dilemma is trying to present a picture that makes the onlooker associate water. But anyway, a picture of a waterfall is not waterfall – in the best case a representation of a waterfall. And if it goes wrong it represents yoghurt 😉
      Wales is stunning, indeed! We loved it VERY much and will go back next year.
      All the best and thanks
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  77. A wonderful post, thank you very much you beautiful fairies 🙂 My grandmother was from Wales ~ and I’ve been there once, but I never did get the chance to climb Snowdonia. And I can confirm Selma’s statement that “children are born in Wales with wellies on their feet” 🙂 The photos from Dina are incredible ~ both the 2nd and 3rd photos are my favorite, but then the final shot of feeling a long way from home does summarize this great post so well, and go with Klausbernd’s title as most appropriate 🙂 Wishing you all a dry and wonderful weekend.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good afternoon, dear Dalo,
      great to read your comment 🙂 🙂 We are so happy that you like our Bookfayrie-post. We loved it so much in Wales! And our dear Master is quite happy too that you like his title 🙂
      The whole westcoast of the UK is very wet but full of great scenery. They have quite big floods just now whereas we rather struggle with droughts.
      Thank you so much for liking Dina’s photography.
      We have quite a dry weekend. Yesterday it was warm and sunny and we had great walk. Today we were busy in the garden to prepare it for the wintertime. Last night we had the first light frost.
      We wish you a relaxing and happy week.
      With lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Jacqui,
      actually, we could easily stand this little bit of rain. We are used to it as we choose for our holidays always the autumn and areas in the North. Especially our dear Master and 🙂 Siri don’t like the south and this permanent sunshine, heat and boring blue skies. So we are well equipped. Weather is mostly a question of equipment, isn`t it? And today there exists such comfortable outfits.
      No, the waterfalls Dina is presenting here don’t look like yoghurt – not even like low fat running yoghurt 😉
      Thanks a lot for commenting.
      Wishing you a happy week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you very much for liking Dina’s photos 🙂 🙂
      We keep our fingers crossed that you will be able to visit Wales soon. Especially beautiful is the north, Snowdonia.
      Wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  81. Pingback: Blogbummel November 2019 – buchpost

  82. Gorgeous photographs, Dina! I’ve always wanted to visit this region and you’ve reminded me why. Plus, I’m one-quarter Welsh. Glad you had decent weather. I love the last photo and maybe would go with “A Faw Way.” 🙂 Enjoy your weekend!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much 🙂 🙂
      Sorry, that we didn’t reply earlier but we have been on a trip around southern England over our Master’s birthday.
      Great that you love Dina’s photography. We keep our fingers crossed that you’ll soon be able to travel to Wales. We like especially the mountainous north. Well, with the weather one has to be lucky in Wales. Rain is called Welsh sunshine 😉
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  83. Irre Fotos, gleich vom ersten beginnend.
    Man merkt aber auch die Handschrift: Dieses Klasklare, diese Hyperrealität in den Fotos, fast wie gereinigt von irgendwelchen Einflüssen, die die Sicht beeinträchtigen.
    Das hat was. Die Natur als Signatur.

    An der stelle: Ich habe oft an Dich und Klaus-Bernd gedacht, an die herrlichen Fotos und die Dialoge mit Klaus-Bernd. Aber mir schwimmen irgendwie die Felle davon. Von ehemals vielen Blogs, an die 80, schreibe ich zuletzt nur mehr dort Kommentare, wo man mir zumindest ein Like schickt – oder besser einen meanigfullen Kommentar.
    Ich habe ja oft auch Auseinandersetzungen mit meiner Frau wegen dem vielen am PC sitzen.
    Das aber nur nebenbei – und um etwas zu erklären.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Danke dir, für deinen lieben Kommentar bezüglich Dinas Fotos 🙂 🙂
      Ich finde es wichtig, dass Bilder etwas haben, das über die Realität hinausgeht. Ist es nicht die Ehrlichkeit des Bildes zu zeigen, dass es einer anderen Realität angehört als sein Objekt? Diese Verfremdung, finde ich, macht erst ein Bild interessant und verwandelt es in ein ästhetisches Objekt.
      Dieses Kommentieren um des Kommentieren Willens, das WordPress unterstützt, finde ich auch nicht nur zeitraubend sondern auch völlig überflüssig. Da wird ja mehr oder weniger mit den ewig gleichen Satzbausteinen pseudokommuniziert. Naja, über Pseudokommunikation im Netz gäbe es noch viel zu sagen …
      Ich habe mich vor einiger Zeit gefragt, wie lange will ich am Computer sitzen, als ich merkte, dass ich mehr dort schreibe und gucke als dass ich lese und nachdenke. Siri 🙂 meint so frech wie stimmig dazu: “Im Netz ist Denken und Belesenheit eh nicht gefragt”. Hmmm, dann wäre ich hier falsch als veraltetes Auslaufmodell des Bildungsbürgers. Anyway, ich habe mir zur Richtschnur gemacht, dass ich nie pro Tag länger am Computer sitze als ich für andere Aktivitäten aufbringe.
      Liebe Grüße vom Meer
      Klausbernd
      und vom Rest der Gang

      Liked by 2 people

  85. Pingback: Meine Woche | Binge Reading & More

  87. I’m late as usual, but I’ve been traveling, too — to a new apartment. I’d forgotten how distracting moving can be! Dina’s photos are utterly glorious. I have a dear friend who lives on the coast of Wales, in Tywyn, and every time I go to the post office to send a little something to her, I have to explain to the clerks again that her town’s name isn’t missing its vowels.

    I’m sorry that Dina wasn’t properly judged — not every judge is properly discerning! As for a title, I think I would have chosen “Emergent Worlds” — there are worlds galore implied in her image: the mountains emerging from clouds and fog, the emerging greens of the hills, the possibility of interesting travelers emerging from around the bend in the road. It’s a photo it’s easy to get lost in.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Oh dear, moving is distracting. You have our full sympathy. Fortunately, we can’t move because of all our books.
      “Emergent Worlds” is a great title! Thank you. We love your story triggered by this picture. Dina can use this title for the next competition where she will show this picture.
      Wishing you an easy rest of the move and a cosy Holiday Season
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Simon,
      thanks a lot for liking Dina’s photography 🙂 🙂 and our blog.
      Wishing you all the best, health and happiness for the New Year
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  90. Pingback: WALES — The World according to Dina – Nomad Advocate

  92. Pingback: WALES | Klausbernd Vollmar

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.