Photography News
Trefignath Burial Chamber
Trefignath Burial Chamber
Digging the scene…
For this week’s image and tale, I have chosen this feature in North Wales. It is on Holy Island, a tiny island off Anglesey, which has on it the port, Holyhead, and the resort town, Trearddur. This is Trefignath Burial Mound, a ruined Neolithic tomb or, rather, series of tombs, as this is three tombs placed together. Choosing this photograph and writing this blog on Halloween seems to have a degree of appropriateness, this structure being a remnant of a dark, mysterious, long-dead past.
In the foreground is the oldest tomb, dating back possibly to 3750 BC. The one at the far end – the most intact and vertical one – is a few hundred years younger. That in the middle, of which least survives, was built both physically and temporally between the other two. They were originally surrounded by a cairn, which is to say, they were surrounded by stones and took the form, more or less, of little man-made caves. This was mostly destroyed in the late 18th century. There is also evidence of a settlement which existed around the tomb. The site was excavated and preserved in the 1970s. It is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, preserved by Cadw.
From a photographer’s perspective, it is of course a gem. Using a digital camera, the shot was originally a straightforward colour photograph. This has been changed - enhanced, I would argue - by the use of a nearly black and white, slightly sepia treatment, to give it a hint of age. Similarly, vignetting has been introduced – dark edges and corners – as this is an effect that often occurred, unbidden, with early cameras. It has been shot with a small aperture and wide lens setting to ensure that both the foreground and background tombs stay in sharp focus.
This is the kind of photographic skill and aesthetic judgement I can offer to tourism-related organisations and businesses, and to conservation bodies. If you could use this kind of work, do please get in touch via the contact page.
In the foreground is the oldest tomb, dating back possibly to 3750 BC. The one at the far end – the most intact and vertical one – is a few hundred years younger. That in the middle, of which least survives, was built both physically and temporally between the other two. They were originally surrounded by a cairn, which is to say, they were surrounded by stones and took the form, more or less, of little man-made caves. This was mostly destroyed in the late 18th century. There is also evidence of a settlement which existed around the tomb. The site was excavated and preserved in the 1970s. It is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, preserved by Cadw.
From a photographer’s perspective, it is of course a gem. Using a digital camera, the shot was originally a straightforward colour photograph. This has been changed - enhanced, I would argue - by the use of a nearly black and white, slightly sepia treatment, to give it a hint of age. Similarly, vignetting has been introduced – dark edges and corners – as this is an effect that often occurred, unbidden, with early cameras. It has been shot with a small aperture and wide lens setting to ensure that both the foreground and background tombs stay in sharp focus.
This is the kind of photographic skill and aesthetic judgement I can offer to tourism-related organisations and businesses, and to conservation bodies. If you could use this kind of work, do please get in touch via the contact page.