Our bleary-eyed pro and apprentice met at 5am in a Travelodge car park, just outside of Bangor, North Wales. “I’m really hoping this clears up,” said Ian, as rain cascaded off the flatbed of his Toyota Hilux. Once Jason’s camera bag was safely stowed, they jumped inside the car so they could exchange pleasantries in the dry. Jason was accompanied by a friend. “This is my interpreter,” he said with a smile. “I’ve always been deaf. I sign, lip-read and am obviously happy to talk, but sometimes out in the field, if I’m concentrating on the camera, I’m not lip-reading. So don’t be afraid to tap me on the shoulder if you want my attention. In fact, please do!”
The pair laughed. “Got it, Jason,” said Ian with a nod as he buckled his seatbelt. “First stop, Penmon Point.”
Rain continued to pepper the Toyota’s windscreen throughout the 30-minute drive to the famous Anglesey lighthouse, but thankfully it had let up slightly by the time they’d parked and readied their gear.
“Wales makes you work hard for images,” said Ian as he pulled a pair of waterproofs over his walking trousers. “This is going to be your friend,” he said, as he pointed towards Jason’s lens cloth.
“Water droplets,” said Jason as he mimicked rubbing the front element.
“Exactly.”
Ian told Jason to handhold his camera and use his Nikon Z 50’s EVF to scout out a composition. They soon agreed to set up their tripods on an avenue of craggy rocks.
“Would you use a neutral density filter here?” asked Jason. “Not in these conditions,” replied the pro. “Because it’s so overcast, the sky really isn’t much brighter than the land. We can expose for the sky and easily balance the foreground in post, if we have to. I’d only use a grad if the sky was very bright.”
Ian grabbed Jason’s tripod as the apprentice went to rifle through his camera bag. “Never leave your camera on a
