Swansea/Ammanford

[dafmeister]

Anyone on here from these areas? Just wondering where to get good wildlife shots and an introduction to DSLR. Its one thing holding it in a shop,but seeing it working is another?:thinking:

[Angharad]

Hi, i'm from Llanelli and like wildlife shooting too. I personally don't know of anywhere great, but i like the wildfowl and wetlands in Penclacwydd, there's a monkey sanctuary up on the way to Brecon somwhere which i want to explore. I'd be grateful if anyone knows of any places around here to shoot wildlife that's any good?

[dafmeister]

I have been up the monkey sanctuary a few times. Very rarerly you can get a decent photo though as all the animals are in massive cages.
With a good zoom lense you can get photos of the baboons and thats pretty much it.
They have their own photographer who is allowed in the cages to take photos but from what i was told, he is the only one.
Well worth a visit though.Really nice place.

[dafmeister]

Hi, i'm from Llanelli and like wildlife shooting too. I personally don't know of anywhere great, but i like the wildfowl and wetlands in Penclacwydd, there's a monkey sanctuary up on the way to Brecon somwhere which i want to explore. I'd be grateful if anyone knows of any places around here to shoot wildlife that's any good?

You could also try LLYN LECH OWAIN.It is a nature reserve on the top of Cross Hands. I had some nice photos their last week.
Then if you go to the village of Gwaun Cae Gurwen,5 miles from Ammanford-there is another nature reserve/walks which is teaming with wildlife.I had some photos of squirells and a king fisher.Missed loads of other birds and stuff though.
Cant wait to get a dslr with a good zoom lense.:bang:

[BOM]

Hey Dafmeister,

For an easy day you could simply try going to Plantasia in Parc Tawe, lots of plants, birds, little monkies and I believe some lizards. I think they have a butterfly house there too. You can take your camera in as long as the photos are not for commercial use.

I'm actually thinking of going there myself.

BOM

[dafmeister]

Hey Dafmeister,

For an easy day you could simply try going to Plantasia in Parc Tawe, lots of plants, birds, little monkies and I believe some lizards. I think they have a butterfly house there too. You can take your camera in as long as the photos are not for commercial use.

I'm actually thinking of going there myself.

BOM

I have been there a few times.
Its at its best from may to september as they have a big indoor conservatory where they have loads of butterflies too. They import them from other countries, so they are hardly ever seen in this country.The plant life in there is amazing too,and the big pond with all the koi carp.
They do have 4 cappuchin monkeys there and some other spiders and reptiles.

When you thinking of going???

[sportysnaps]

hello - welcome - I live near Neath and work in Swansea - the wetland centre near Llanelli is worth a visit and with lenses as sort as ~100mm you can get nice shots in some sections but in the hides you need 4-600mm
You could try magam park near portTalbot for birds and wild deers

[dafmeister]

Thanks for that mate.I have been toying with the idea of margam park.
Is it just a case of turn up and shoot,or do you need permission first.

[taxi]

Margam park is pretty much like everywhere else, provided the photos are not commerical use, you can shoot away all day.


Been there once some interesting photos.

[sportysnaps]

Thanks for that mate.I have been toying with the idea of margam park.
Is it just a case of turn up and shoot, or do you need permission first.
just turn up - they do charge for parking but not entry - if you park at the first place you find and walk through (as if you had been walking all day) you will get in for free - follow the path up the hill and at the castle bear right and there is a big lake - lots of bird shots - follow down the path (to the right)for 3/4 miles you will find some small animals in pens - follow on further for 3/4 mile following the path around to the left and head towards the mountains and you will find 30-60 deers but you will need a long lens (4-500mm) or be very quite and slow to get close - good fun trying though.

failing this near the entrance are some birds of prey in large cages...

[dafmeister]

Awesome.Guess where im going on saturday????

[Dylanlewis2000]

Hey! I live inbetween Swansea and Llanelli. I have been to the wetlands centre in llanelli, the only thing that i have found when i went there was the amount of ducks around the place. I have however had one of my best ever photos of a dragonfly there!

The national botanical gardens is another one, slightly out a bit from Swansea but you say Ammanford, therefor your not to close away!

Cline gardens is good! Only bind with that, you have a few plants there but i havent had much success with insects. The best place for insects and flowers was the Botanical gardens.

If your willing to go places, Bristol Zoo is fairly good, although i would advise you take a zoom lens with you.

[dafmeister]

Thanks mate.Some good ideas.

[Dylanlewis2000]

what kit do you have?

[dafmeister]

Kodak zd710 (not dslr) but good intro to PASM.
And just been given a film slr with a 18-55 lense and a 18-135 lense.
Couple of flashes,2 tripods.
And a desire for a lot more experiance.

[Dylanlewis2000]

cool, have played with the 710, good camera for the price!

[dafmeister]

Its well worth the money,and the photos ive had are amazing.
Still cant wait to get a digital slr though.

[BOM]

Dafmeister, I was just going to go when the urge took me. Feel free to PM me if you go adventuring and want some company.

[dafmeister]

Thanks BOM. Stan the man has said the same too.Much appreciated.

[Dylanlewis2000]

If you see me out and about, say hello! :)

[dafmeister]

Will do mate. Not a problem.

[BOM]

I've met Stan the Man, recently went shooting waterfalls with him (See his Brecon Waterfalls and my Waterfall threads in Landscape)

I'll PM you next time I'm going out too.

[dafmeister]

Saw the shots of the falls yesterday. They are amazing.

I work nights so might not reply to pm.

Txt me on my mobile if you like. The number is on the map thing that is part of this site!

[BOM]

The number is on the map thing that is part of this site!

Wheres that then?

[dafmeister]

Not entirely sure.
Found it on one of the threads yesterday.

I think its on one of the "tog buddy" threads.

[dafmeister]

Wheres that then?

http://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=69841

Go to this link.

Password is same for everyone:-

talkphoto

:wave:

[Aimee K]

My boyfriends from Llandybie, we're up there quite a bit. There is a really nice waterfall just down the road, very hidden on private land. You have to ask permission from these farmers to go onto it, but they are cool about people going there. that's worth a look at because it's in a forest area. The Black mountains near Brynamman is nice too, you'll get some good scenic shots up there. I'll ask the fella what the waterfall is called tonight though.

[jpd300]

Never knew there were so many people from this part of the world on this forum. The wetland in Llanelli is good for ducks or you can go to the hawking centre in Barry if you want some photos of hawks or some deer in margam.

Julian

[dafmeister]

I go up the black mountains alot.Got some really good landscapes up there. And there is Carreg Cennen Castle of course.

[surfinrach90]

Weheyy it's the South Wales croud!

Also from Neath (there's an odd ammount of us about on here). I've also been wondering this question. I was planning on entering the Sunday Files photography competition on the BBC, most of you have probably heared of it. The first place I was going to check out though was going to be Margam park.

[dafmeister]

What is the sunday files competition then?

[dafmeister]

What is the sunday files competition then?

How do you enter it?

[Angharad]

I want to do Mumbles head at night all lit up :)

[chunkey20012001]

hey im from swansea too im from the area gorseinon so close to llanelli too do any of you guys meet up for a shoots or can i suggest one???

[dafmeister]

As it happens i am going for a walk and shoot 2moz at my local nature reserve.

Your more than welcome to come along.

Im just outside of Ammanford.

Your more than welcome to suggest one,there are a few people that would get together.

[surfinrach90]

Sorry my last post was totally wrong o_O

I really shouldn't try to multi task.. it never works out well. The show is called Country File, here's a link to the website about their competition. Linkage (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/countryfile/photorules.shtml)

[dafmeister]

Thanks.Gonna have a go at that.

[taxi]

Loads here from Swansea/Neath area. I was starting to get lonely on here :hug:

Looks like we'll have to sort a meet out to get to know you all. :clap::clap:

[Wail]

taxi,

Seems like a meet is a must ... if you do plan something like this, please make it the weekend after the 19th May as I'd love to come along.

[Dylanlewis2000]

taxi,

Seems like a meet is a must ... if you do plan something like this, please make it the weekend after the 19th May as I'd love to come along.

I wouldnt mind going out on a jolly with you guys, however i have too much work on at the moment :( Hopefully you will go in June/july time :-)

[chunkey20012001]

so is anyone willing to take responsibilty of a meet as i dont mind but i have never done this sort of thing before

[Angharad]

Well all we need to do is arrange a date and a time and hunt down those who don't show :naughty:

As the nights are getting longer what about a Friday night? Mumbles followed by a quiet drink in the sunshine :thumbs:

[chunkey20012001]

sounds good to me what about the first week in june is that good for everybody???

[Dylanlewis2000]

but if a mob of us meet, where are we going to go :) lol

[Wail]

chunkey20012001,

I am ok with the first week of June. As a matter of fact any date after the 19th May is fine with me and that' up to 26th June when I'll be very busy with my daughter (haven't seen her in months and she's coming to visit :) ).

[Wail]

Angharad,

Mumbles sounds great, may be we can meet there and walk over to Swansea marina (or vice-versa)?!? :shrug:

[taxi]

I'm not sure whats happening with this meet Gower Meet (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=50746) seems to have stalled but something to look out for.

I'll try and organise something towards the end of summer. Just sold my house so time will become a little sort in the next couple of months.

[Wail]

It seems that Ghandi is planning Gower for 17th May, if anyone's interested? Me, sorry I can't make that as I have exams up to the 19th May and would be very busy with studies.

[Dylanlewis2000]

Angharad,

Mumbles sounds great, may be we can meet there and walk over to Swansea marina (or vice-versa)?!? :shrug:

Its a bit of walk from Mumbles to the Marina.

[Wail]

Yup, it sure is ...

Today I had two relatives of mine walk all the way from Uplands to Mumbles and back to the Marina from there had them go to the new harbour accross in SA1 and then backagain up to Uplands. In all, we were out from 9am and only just got back a few minutes ago!

... but a great walk it sure is :)