Port Amlwch, a photo from Isle of Anglesey, Wales

Photographer's Note

This small port in Amlwch was once one of the most important ports in the world. It was the world's biggest exporter of metal and a base for great ship-building in the 1800s.

Before the mining of Parys Mountain (out of shot to the left in the image), Amlwch was a quiet hamlet.

The emergence of Amlwch as an important player on the international industrial stage grew from the discovery of vast reserves of copper on Parys Mountain. Parys Mountain is one of only three sites in Wales which have evidence of copper mining during the Bronze and Roman Ages. The re-discovery of copper was made by local miner, Rowland Puw, who was given a bottle of whisky and a lifetime's free rent on a local cottage for his work. Others, however, profited far more from the mining and export of the metal which was in great demand as Europe began its industrial revolution.

The Amlwch mines, under the direction of Anglesey lawyer and entrepreneur Thomas Williams, better known to the miners as Twm Chwarau Teg (Fair Play Tom), became the world's most important producers of copper. Not only was it in huge demand by the emerging industries of the early years of the Industrial Revolution, the mining companies also produced sheathing for Nelson's 'Men of War' as well as minting their own coinage.

Such were the numbers of ships using Amlwch as a port at that time that delays were inevitable, and an Act of Parliament was passed in 1793 which allowed for the port's deepening, widening and regulation. Business that had previously been conducted on the western side was transferred to a raw broad quay, quarried out of the rock on the eastern side, where some of the buildings still stand (one of which is in the centre of the image).

Following the exhaustion of the mines, the port became a well known centre for ship-building. The yard belonging Captain William Thomas, a local man who ran away to sea when he was 12 years of age, turned out vessels renowned for their superior workmanship, speed and beauty. Vestiges of these yards remain, in the form of a sail loft, workshop chimneys, and a dry dock quarried out of the living rock. Other buildings such as the watch house with its little lighthouse, several copper bins, as well as a lime kiln, are much as they were in the 1800s. However, a number of warehouses, a water powered sawmill and a pub are now little more than ruins.

Enjoy.

macjake, macjake, danos, dta, timecapturer, timecapturer, Noel_Byrne, annjackman, Gigidusud, tatadalou has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Romano46 (4930) 2013-01-31 11:11

Ciao Michael
una stupenda interpretazione di queste isole che esalta l'asprezza della natura con i colori forti ricchi dei toni del marrone e del verde, mantre il mare placido e livido fa da base ad un cielo grigio ed imbronciato.
Una foto di gran classe perfetta in tutto che ritengo avrà un buon successo.
Complimenti
Ciao e buona serata
Romano

HimalAnda (5630) 2013-01-31 11:20

Hello Michael,

The composition is perfect, the light and the colors are beautiful. Congratulations.

Stéphane

macjake (39235) 2013-01-31 11:28

Hi Michael
man....Not sure if i've told you before, but i'm born and raised in Newfoundland Canada...and this scene that you have for us today is pretty much a spitting image of the coastline that i'm so familiar with. Brings back alot of memories.
very rugged, cliffs, probably windy, cold, fishing boats, lots of nets and lobster traps....feels like Home to me!!
excellent grey skyline too!
the color contrasts make this work
nice shot
cheers
craig

GREGG (8243) 2013-01-31 11:41

Hello Michael,
fantastic landscape so typical for Wales,
a good composition with a strong foreground
too aggressive HDR ..strong saturation of the color red
is unreal..
have a nice evening
Greg

danos (74020) 2013-01-31 11:44

Hello Michael,
well chosen the vertical format with the moody sky to creates this light on the foreground making the image so beautiful and unique.I like the presentation as the clarity of the shot.

Regards,danos

dta (51454) 2013-01-31 12:38

Hello Michael ,
A wonderful little port , and a masterfully composed picture . I like especially how you've used the mooring ring in the FG . I like the light , too and the contrast with the threatening sky .
About the red buoys , it was easy to avoid the little problem : you could have decrease the saturation of the red tonalities .
Regards

lousat (57674) 2013-01-31 13:49

Hi Michael,beautiful postcard whit all the english juice inside,the tipical country scenary and a great choice of point of view and work in PP,very very well done! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

carlo62 (12610) 2013-01-31 13:58

Ciao Michael
bella composizione con grande profondità, il cielo scuro crea drammaticità ed i piccoli punti rossi risaltano molto bene.
Saluti
Carlo

ACL1978 (5783) 2013-01-31 16:50

Hey Mike - I can see what Craig said about Newfoundland; I could see a similar case being made for similarity to Nova Scotia. Interesting series of walls and buildings here in the harbor, all with that bright mossy green color to them, and the iron ring in FG is a great find. Thanks!

Andrew

dkmurphys (36819) 2013-01-31 22:20

Hi Mike,
That's just amazing! A lovely composition taken from the best position. The red signalization elements are sure getting my attention. Well done, great catch!

Daniel

emka (58152) 2013-01-31 23:57

Hi Michel, Wonderful photo of this small harbour. I love the viewpoint here and eye catchind red balls. Nice flowers in foreground and this rusty object.

Warm regrads

Malgo

timecapturer (30334) 2013-02-01 3:19

Hi Michael
a great POV with wonderful fg detail and amazing DOF. The light and atmsophere here are just so attractive and the execution perfect. Captivating work!

Have a great weekend - Brian.

jhm (122458) 2013-02-01 3:52

Hello Michael,

You chose an excellent angle this care for splendid picture in a nice surroundings.
Sharpness and clarity are perfect.
Excellent composition, nice perspective and depth picture.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

Noel_Byrne (7374) 2013-02-01 5:34

hi Michael,
The textures and tones in this are really class, a very vibrant and alive scene. The steel ring in the foreground adds anotehr texture still to the natural setting> That sky is awesome too!
All the best
Noel

Robert1969 (6238) 2013-02-01 9:57

Hello Michael,

Beautiful surrounding/landscape and a picture
with an excellent quality.

Friendly regards,
Robert Alderliefste

Kamilutka (3207) 2013-02-02 0:31

Hello Michael,
beautiful landscape and creative composition. Very nicely chosen POV and all the details carefully planned. Great colors despite lack of the sun.
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Kamila

annjackman (13219) 2013-02-02 9:18

Hello Michael,
I have missed so many great pictures in this last month as I have not been very active on TE (sinusitis). Looking at the TNs of your images this immediately attracted my attention. The grey sky, the light on the FG and those vibrant orange buoys has given a superb image. I like the detail on the rocky outcrop in the FG and the wonderful perspective through the harbour. Exquisite clarity - many congratulations on a fine image.
Kind Regards, Ann

cornejo (18088) 2013-02-02 10:15

Hi Michael, excellent and lovely view of this interesting and beautiful place, very well captured in this beautiful picture, with good technique and quality. Very nice and charming job perfectly done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.

Good night and good Sunday.
Greetings from southern Spain.
Angel.

Gigidusud (8078) 2013-02-02 12:39

Hello Michael,
Splendid composition on the port with nice colors and fantastic sky.Excellent POV with the grass on FG and great framing.I like a lot!
Thanks for sharing.
Ghislaine

GiovanniG (1619) 2013-02-02 18:11

Hi Michael,
Your capture is outstanding from foreground to harbor entrance everything is stunning. I will be added to my favorites for sure. By the way, your narrative is also superb. Thanks for sharing, well done!
GiovanniG

mesutilgim (67982) 2013-02-03 12:04

Hello Michael
Very nice capture of this beautiful landscap crowned by a dark stormy sky.
Many nice details here but the eyecatching elements are those brigth red buoys !
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

dale54 (4922) 2013-02-04 12:10

michael hi,love this so dark and moody so u.k.,love the color in this,great POV too. tfs, dr

tatadalou (3273) 2013-03-13 14:52

Hi Michael,
Wonderful light and colours.
The foreground is particularly bright and contrasts well with the gray sky. Nice balance between sky and earth.
Regards,
Delphine