Our First Workshop

 St. Elvan's Art and Photography Workshop

After the crazy year that was 2021, Cynon Artsy Lens & Nature Unleashed are proud to say that we have completed our first workshop.

With lockdowns and restrictions changing every week we have tried our hardest to organise workshops last year, but we can confidently say that we are now currently on track to start a very productive 2022.

With that kind help of St. Elvan's Church we were able to put together a 1 hour workshop on Saturday 22nd January. 

Our theme for this workshop was "Light". Linda, Carol, Kevin and Alyison showed the children around the magnificent stained glass windows of the church.

Alyison showed the children how they could use different shapes to create their own stained glass window effect. Linda brought crepe paper and laminate to allow light to shine through some of their drawings.

Kevin and Carol helped the children decide how they wanted to arrange their shapes and cut them out ready to be laminated.

While some of the group coloured in their stained glass windows, Wendy took the other group up into the mezzanine for a demonstration on how light works with a camera.

She showed them some of the early cameras that were made and how light can pass through different glass to make cool effects in a picture.

She showed them how light is split into different colours like the rainbow, with red being at one end of the spectrum and violet at the other.

She showed them warm and cool tones and how they affect the final image.

Wendy then took her group downstairs to guide them through close up photography, colour and shapes. Giving them plenty of inspiration to snap their own photos.

All in all we had a great time. All the children were excited to be taking part and we look forward to organising our next workshop, now that we have dipped our toes in and all had an amazing experience.

Our First Workshop

Our first wildlife children’s event ( Friday )

 

 

Marie from RCT run a community event 

(volunteers in the distance raking grass away at Cae Pugh)

 

 

 

the reason being - if the grass is left to break down into the soil , the grass act’s like a fertiliser. 

 

The wildflowers don’t like fertile soil , they die off and the ground doesn’t produce so many flowers the following year . 

 

In order to courage indigenous wildlife, the grass it’s raked , collected and the ground is clear of the cut grass, to encourage new growth and more productive growth the following year.

 

 

 

 

Feeding Frenzy at Aberdare Park

 Aberdare Park's beautiful

Wildlife- feeding frenzy

Aberdare 2019-2020 Wildlife

Swan's enjoying the winter's early morning's sun.

A Bird Banquet

 

This video was captured by one of our members, Julie Rowe, and shows a flock of birds enjoying their feast in a peaceful Welsh garden.

It is important to remember our feathered friends during the winter, with the ground frozen and many trees yet to blossom. It can be a tough time for these little birds, but as you can see here, they will be only too happy to greet you with their presence if you put out some nuts or berries for them.

It is a perfect opportunity to photograph or film them as they are rarely seen so close to us for a long period of time.

Capturing Wild Nature. Brecon Beacons

Brecon Beacons

 

'Capturing Wild Nature'

 

I'm an amateur Photographer that enjoy taking our very special Welsh landscape images and to capture the natural beauty .  

 

These were taken close to my home in Penderyn. 

 

A Virtual Walk Around Aberdare Park

Wendy and Geriant, a volunteer at Cynon Valley Museum produced this article during lockdown - two members of Aberdare Camera club also added images of bird’s and butterflies.

 

A Virtual Walk Around Aberdare Park 

 

Here are some of the amazing photos showcased by the talented photographers. To see more of these and read up on this fascinating tour, check out the link above.

Small Tortoise Butterfly by Mike Ruck

 

 "The rose garden provides another ideal opportunity to see our wonderful array of bees, butterflies and even in the height of summer dragonflies."

 

The Grand Fountain by Wendy Donovan

"The focal point of the park is undoubtedly the grand fountain which was a gift from the first Lord Merthyr in 1911 to the town in commemoration of the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary."

 

Mallard (Female) by Graham Morgan

 

"The lake is home to several species of foul: including mallard (a large duck the males are easily recognisable with their green heads, white collar ring, an almost dark blue rump, grey body, and bright yellow beak. The females are a similar size, but their colouring is totally different with a brown appearance with darker brown mottling and duller yellow beak.)"

 

Greylag Geese by Wendy Donovan

To see more of these photos and the full virtual tour, head over to the Cynon Valley Museum website or click the link below.

A Virtual Walk Around Aberdare Park