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[2] => [3] => [4] => [5] => [6] => " [7] => http://www.michaelmartin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/D3J9683.jpg [8] => " [9] => [10] => [11] => ) -->NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.On Sunday morning I went to photograph Emma and her horse jumping some x-country schooling fences. It was a cold morning but thankfully dry. Emma’s horse is [...]]]>

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[2] => [3] => [4] => [5] => [6] => " [7] => http://www.michaelmartin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/D3J9683.jpg [8] => " [9] => [10] => [11] => ) -->

NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

On Sunday morning I went to photograph Emma and her horse jumping some x-country schooling fences. It was a cold morning but thankfully dry. Emma’s horse is more used to being driven than ridden, so jumping is all quite new for him, though he did seem to be enjoying himself. Anyway, we got some cracking shots of Emma and I think one of these will look great on a big canvas on her wall. What do you reckon?

If you would like a similar photoshoot, let me know and lets see what we can fix up.

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[2] => [3] => [4] => [5] => [6] => " [7] => http://www.michaelmartin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Snowdon-1.jpg [8] => " [9] => [10] => [11] => ) -->NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.Yesterday I went with my two good friends, Mark and Jon, for a walk in Snowdonia. Over a fine cooked breakfast at the Bryn Tyrch Inn we [...]]]>

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NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Yesterday I went with my two good friends, Mark and Jon, for a walk in Snowdonia. Over a fine cooked breakfast at the Bryn Tyrch Inn we made plans for our route. There was plenty of snow on the tops so wee decided on a route taking us up Y Garn, then dropping back down to the top of the Devil’s Kitchen before heading back up over the Glyders and then following the long ridge back down to Capel Curig.
Parking the car at Idwal Cottage at the end of Llyn Ogwen, we set off up the steep ridge leading to the summit of Y Garn. The temperature was -3c. It was not long before we had to don crampons as the ice covering the rocks became more and more tricky. If you never used crampons, it is an amazing experience to feel total grip on the ice. Just before reaching the summit of Y Garn, 947m, there was a steep climb through a snow cornice, the soft snow being hard work to work our way through, but once on the ledge, the views were stunning. From here it is a leisurely climb to the summit and then the long easy descent down to the top of Devil’s Kitchen. On our way down we heard that just below us somebody was waiting for the Mountain Rescue helicopter, so we went over to see if there was anything we could do to help. It seemed it was a suspected broken ankle caused by a simple trip over his own crampons. It is easy to catch the spikes on the inside of the foot on the trousers of the other leg, so when wearing them you need to walk a bit like a duck with toes turned out. Anyway, he had a good group of experienced friends with him so we carried on, reminded how easily such fun can turn seriously bad very quickly.
After a break for coffee and Christmas cake we trudged up the steep scree slope that leads to Glyder Fawr, 999m, except it was no longer a scree slope but now a snow and ice route. Again crampons made the going safe if not easy. Once on top, the sights were just amazing, the ice crystals, views, the rocks and the clouds with bright sunshine and blue skies. A winter wonderland. Too cold to hang about for long we marched of to Glyder Fach, 994m, sometimes walking on solid ice, at others pulling ourselves out of deep snow pockets.
The descent in the snow was much the same and I was glad of my crampons, but spotting one long slope down to a gentle stop at the bottom, I removed my ruck sack and held it in my hands as I sledged down on my back. Brilliant fun. After a while the snow gave way to frozen ground and then boggy paths.
Eventually we staggered exhausted into the cafe at Capel Curig for a well deserved pint of tea before a lift back to the car. ‘Twas a great day.

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[2] => [3] => [4] => [5] => [6] => " [7] => http://www.michaelmartin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/D3A9325.jpg [8] => " [9] => [10] => ) -->NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.I want to say a big thank you to James, Jemima, Charlotte and Emma for the great photoshoot this morning. You were all stars and I hope [...]]]> [1] => [2] => [3] => [4] => [5] => [6] => " [7] => http://www.michaelmartin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/D3A9309.jpg [8] => " [9] => [10] => ) -->

NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

I want to say a big thank you to James, Jemima, Charlotte and Emma for the great photoshoot this morning. You were all stars and I hope you all enjoyed it too, not forgetting Clara. Here are some of the images to keep you going for the time being. Hope you like them, I think they turned out great.