The Crooked Sentinel: The Lone Tree & Welcome to PixelPaths
Hey, and welcome to Pixel Paths! If you’ve followed me from "Life Through My Lens", thanks for sticking around and if you’re new here, I’m really glad you’ve found your way in.
This relaunch has been on my mind for a while. I wanted this space to feel more grounded, more personal. Somewhere I could share not just the final images, but the stories behind them—the detours, the quiet moments, the things that don’t always make it into the frame.
So I’m kicking things off with a photo that wasn’t even part of the original plan.
We were out for the day in Snowdonia in October 2021, just me and the family, taking in the sights, enjoying the fresh air, and making the most of the autumn colours. It was one of those relaxed days when the camera comes along, but it’s not the main focus. We’d already seen a few great spots, and I wasn’t sure I’d get anything I’d want to share. But then, almost as an afterthought, I decided to try and find the Lone Tree at Llyn Padarn.
We were out for the day in Snowdonia in October 2021, just me and the family, taking in the sights, enjoying the fresh air, and making the most of the autumn colours. It was one of those relaxed days when the camera comes along, but it’s not the main focus. We’d already seen a few great spots, and I wasn’t sure I’d get anything I’d want to share. But then, almost as an afterthought, I decided to try and find the Lone Tree at Llyn Padarn.
I’d seen photos of it before, it's a bit of a favourite among landscape photographers and I knew it was local, but I’d never been. And even with a rough idea of where it was, it took a bit of wandering to track it down. Eventually, I found it tucked away just off the path, standing quietly in the middle of the lake.
The light was shifting, the clouds were rolling in, and the hills around the lake were catching just enough glow to make the whole scene feel alive. The tree itself, crooked, sparse, but steady and stood out against the water like it had been waiting for someone to notice it.
I didn’t rush the shot. I just stood there for a while, taking it in. Then I reached for my trusty Panasonic DC-GX9, compact, reliable, and perfect for moments like this. I framed it, waited for the light to settle, and clicked. It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t scouted. But it’s one of those images that stayed with me. Not just because of how it looks, but because of how it felt to be there after a good day with family, finding something quietly beautiful at the very end.
That’s what Pixel Paths is about for me. Not just the polished shots, but the real ones. The ones that happen when you’re not trying too hard. The ones that remind you why you started taking photos in the first place.
Thanks for being here at the start of this new chapter. I’ll be sharing more soon, from coastal scenes, everyday details, and whatever catches my eye along the way.
Location: Llyn Padarn, Llanberis, Snowdonia, Wales - 53°7'37.2185" N 4°7'59.8199" W
Gear: Panasonic DC-GX9 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6
Gear: Panasonic DC-GX9 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6