December 13, 2021

Working with The Egin: The creative heart of Carmarthenshire

masnachol | Commercial
GWEITHIO GYDA’R EGIN: CALON GREADIGOL SIR GÂR - BLAGURO

Gall bywyd ffotograffydd fod yn unig. Mynd o un sesiwn tynnu lluniau i’r nesa’, tynnu lluniau o bobl yn dathlu priodas, pen-blwydd, pen-blwydd priodas, digwyddiadau, nosweithiau gwobrwyo ac ati ...

Er fy mod i gyda phobl a bod gen i gleientiaid rheolaidd, dwi byth wedi teimlo ’mod i’n rhan o dîm go iawn. Hynny yw, tan i’r Egin ymddangos!

Canolfan greadigol yng Nghaerfyrddin yw’r Egin, a dyma galon greadigol Sir Gâr erbyn hyn. Wedi’i lleoli ar gampws Prifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant, cafodd ei chreu er mwyn ysbrydoli creadigrwydd a dychymyg, ac i feithrin talent y dyfodol.

Dyma fy ail swyddfa erbyn hyn. Sdim swyddfa swyddogol gen i yn yr Egin, ond mae’r tîm wedi gwneud i fi deimlo fel bo fi’n rhan o’r ganolfan. 


Blaguro - (Blossom)

A photographer’s life can be lonely. Going from one shoot to another, photographing people celebrating weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, events, award evenings and the like…

Although I’m with people and have many regular clients, I’ve never truly felt part of a team. That is, until The Egin came along!

The Egin is a creative centre in Carmarthen and is now the creative heart of Carmarthenshire. Based on the campus of the University of Wales, it was created to inspire creativity and imagination and nurture future talent.

It’s become my second office. I don’t officially have office space there, but the team have made me feel like I’m a part of the centre.

Y prosiect ‘Blaguro’: Wedi’i ariannu gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru

’Nôl ym mis Mawrth 2021, cefais fy newis yn un o 5 o artistiaid yn unig i gydweithio gyda gwahanol grwpiau cymunedol er mwyn datblygu a bwrw gwreiddiau, yn llythrennol ac yn greadigol, ar safle’r Egin.

Wedi’i ariannu gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, pwrpas y prosiect ‘Blaguro’ oedd creu gardd gymunedol ar dir yr Egin, er mwyn dangos gwaith ymarferwyr creadigol a grwpiau cymunedol. 

Cafodd y prosiect ei gynllunio fel ffordd o ail-greu’r cyswllt gyda chymunedau tref Caerfyrddin, a cheisio cynnwys pawb gymaint â phosib.  



The ‘Blaguro’ project: Funded by the Arts Council of Wales

Back in March 2021, I was chosen as one of just five Welsh artists to collaborate with various community groups to develop and lay roots down literally and creatively on the site at the Egin. 

Funded by the Arts Council of Wales the project, entitled ‘Blaguro’ (Blossom), aimed to establish a community garden on land at The Egin, where the work of creative practitioners with community groups would be showcased. 

The project was designed as a way of reconnecting with the communities of Carmarthen town and trying to be as inclusive as possible.

The project was designed as a way of reconnecting with the communities of Carmarthen town and trying to be as inclusive as possible.


Yr Egin

Defnyddio celf i ailgysylltu â chymunedau

Fy rôl i yn y prosiect ‘Blaguro’ oedd gweithio gyda grŵp o bobl 50+ oed yn Sir Gâr er mwyn creu gardd greadigol/profiad celf wedi’i wreiddio yn yr awyr agored. 

Fel ffotograffydd proffesiynol, yn naturiol, dwi’n joio adrodd straeon drwy luniau. Ond, ar gyfer y prosiect yma, o’n i ishe herio fy sgiliau a chreu rhaglen ddogfen fideo fach. Felly, nes i ddewis pedwar o bobl oedd yn byw yn Sir Gâr a chyfweld â nhw mewn gwahanol leoliadau. 

O’n i ishe ffilmio eu dehongliad nhw o gael eu magu yn eu hardal leol. Y syniad oedd dal eu straeon personol a rhoi blas o shwt beth oedd cymunedau lleol pan oedden nhw’n ifanc. 'Nath hyn glymu mewn yn sbesial gyda phwrpas yr Egin, sef dod â chymunedau ynghyd a chael pobl leol i fod yn rhan o’r Ganolfan.

'Odd hi’n brofiad sbesial ffilmio’r rhai a gymerodd ran. Roedd ganddyn nhw i gyd straeon gwahanol iawn, ond yn aml iawn, o’n nhw’n debyg. Nes i hefyd ofyn iddyn nhw am air o gyngor ar ddiwedd y cyfweliad - a rhannwyd cyngor defnyddiol. 

Reconnecting with local communities through art

My role in the ‘Blaguro’ project was to work with a group of people aged 50+ in the Carmarthenshire area to create a creative garden/outdoor art insulation experience. 

As a professional photographer, naturally, I love to tell picture stories. But, for this project I wanted to challenge my skills and create a mini video documentary. So, I selected four people who live in Carmarthenshire and interviewed them in different locations. 

I wanted to film their interpretation of growing up in their neighbourhood. The idea was to capture their personal stories and shed light on what local communities were like around the time that they were young. This then tied in nicely with the purpose of The Egin, which is about bringing communities together and getting local people involved with the Centre. 

It was such a lovely experience filming all of the participants. They all had very different, but in some ways, very similar stories to tell. I also asked each of them for some words of wisdom at the end of their interview – some great advice was shared.

Geoff Thomas

Beti Jones

Sandra Llywelyn

Dothothy Morris

Fideograffeg emosiynol

Fel ffotograffydd, dwi’n hoffi dal adegau sy’n tanio’r emosiwn, a ro’n i ishe cadw’r steil yma yn y ffilm.

Ar ôl derbyn adborth ar y ffilm ers iddi gael ei dangos, dwi’n credu fy mod wedi llwyddo. Mae’n rhaid dweud, o’n i’n teimlo’n eitha’ emosiynol fy hun pan o’n i’n eu ffilmio yn adrodd eu straeon! 

Gwyliwch y fideo isod.

Emotive videography

As a photographer, I like to capture moments that trigger emotions and I wanted to keep this style within the film.

From the feedback I’ve had since the video documentary went live, I think I managed it, and I must admit that I got a bit emotional myself whilst filming them telling their stories!

Watch the video below

Blaguro - Dyddiau Fu - Celf Calon & Carmarthenshire 50+

Lluniau o brosiect yr Egin

Roedd gen i rôl arall yn y prosiect, hefyd. Fe wnes i dynnu lluniau o rai o gyfraniadau prosiectau’r artistiaid eraill, gan gynnwys:

  • Gweithdy garddio Lisa Fearn yng Nghanolfan S4C yr Egin
  • Sesiwn peintio ceramig Dorothy Morris yn Oriel Greenspace, Glan y Fferi 
  • Gweithdy sain Emma Baker - o’dd hwn yn weithdy anhygoel i dynnu lluniau ohono. Roedd e’n cynnwys grŵp o bobl ifanc ag anghenion dysgu ac anableddau.  

Tra ’mod i’n tynnu lluniau o’r sesiynau hyn yn yr Egin, o’dd e’n grêt gweld y rhai a oedd yn cymryd rhan yn mwynhau.  

’Nath hyn gadarnhau i fi fod cael y gofod creadigol hwn i’r gymuned ei ddefnyddio, a’r diwydiannau creadigol yn yr ardal, wir yn sbesial! 

Photographs of The Egin project

I played another role within the project too. I photographed some of the other artist’s projects contributions including: 

  • Lisa Fearn’s gardening workshop in the Egin centre, 
  • Dorothy Morris’s ceramic painting session at the greenspace in Ferryside, 
  • and Emma Bakers’ sound workshop - this was an incredible workshop to capture, involving a group of young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. 

While I was photographing these sessions within the Egin, it was wonderful seeing the joy on the participant’s faces. 

It confirmed in my mind that having this creative space for the community to use, as well as the creative industries in the local area, really is brilliant! 

Cyfarfod cyntaf yr artistiaid

Gweithdy Garddio Lisa Fern

Emma Baker yn recordio sain tywod gyda grwp Canolfan Elfed

Steffan Rhys Williams yn recordio grwp Canolfan Elfed

Canolfan Elfed yn cael profiad mewn stiwdio cerddoriaeth am y tro cynta

Llinos yr Egin wedi darganfod carotsen!! HWRE!!

Gweithdy paentio Serameg - Cymuned Greenspacce

Arddangos yn Yr Egin

2 Hydref oedd y noson arddangos. Roedd dau arddangosiad, felly ges i’r cyfle i’w profi yng ngolau dydd ac yn y tywyllwch. 

Dangoswyd gwaith fy ngrŵp 50+ a fi drwy ddangos tair sgrin fawr gyda’r ffilm ar lŵp drwy ffenestr. Roedd ymwelwyr yn gallu gwylio’r ffilm, ond roedd angen gwisgo clustffonau i glywed y ddeialog. O’dd e fel rhyw fath o ddisgo tawel!

’Odd e’n brofiad overwhelming gweld pobl yn cerdded heibio, yna’n stopio i wylio’r ffilm, yn enwedig gan fod tri o’r pedwar o bobl nes i eu ffilmio ar gyfer y prosiect wedi dod i weld yr arddangosfa eu hunain.

’Odd gweld gwaith celf y grwpiau eraill hefyd yn gyfle i gymryd y cyfan i mewn, yn dawel, yn enwedig yn y tywyllwch pan o’dd y cyfan wedi’i oleuo. Dyma’n gwmws beth o’dd ishe arna i ar ôl bod mor brysur yn y misoedd a oedd yn arwain tuag at yr arddangosfa. O’n i ddim yn llonydd am sbel, cofiwch – es i adre’r noson honno i baratoi i dynnu lluniau priodas y diwrnod wedyn!  

Exhibition at The Egin

On October 2nd, it was the night of the exhibition. There were two showings, so I had the chance to experience it both during daylight and darkness. 

Mine and the 50+ group installation was set up by using three big screens where the film was shown on a loop through a window. Visitors could watch the film but only hear the dialogue by wearing headphones. It was kind of like a silent disco!  

It was an overwhelming experience seeing people walk by the piece, then stopping to view the film especially as three out of the four people who I filmed for the project also came to see the exhibition in person. 

I got a sense of calm from seeing all the other groups artwork as well, especially in the darkness when it was all lit up. It was exactly what I needed after being so busy for several months in the lead up to the exhibition. No rest for the wicked though – that evening I headed home to prepare for a wedding shoot the following day!

Dorothy a'r cyhoedd yn gwylio'r ffilm | Dorothy and members of the public watching the film

Celf Dorthothy Morris, Greenspace a Ysgol Glanyfferi

Y Malwoden! Gan Gareth a Jen o gwmni Wired Wood, a nhw hefyd nath oleuo yr ardd ar y noson, gan rhoi cyfle i fyfyrwraig or drindod i gynhorthwyo

Diolchiadau!

Diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb yn yr Egin am eu help a’u cefnogaeth, ac am gredu ynof fel ymarferydd creadigol. ‘Odd e’n brofiad sbesial gallu cydweithio gyda phobl yn y gymuned, ac o’dd e’n sbesial bod yn rhan ohono!  

Diolch arbennig iawn i Dorothy, Sandra, Bet a Geoff am gymryd rhan yn y ffilmio - allwn i ddim bod wedi gwneud fy rhan i hebddynt!

Thank yous! 

A big thanks to all at the Egin for all their help and support and for trusting in me as a creative practitioner. It was a brilliant experience to be able to collaborate with people in the community, and it was so lovely to be a part of it! 

A special thanks must go to Dorothy, Sandra, Bet and Geoff for taking part in the filming – I couldn’t have done my bit without them!

Gobeithio y byddwch yn mwynhau’r ffilm ’nes i greu ar gyfer y prosiect – gwylio yma.

Ewch i’r dolenni hyn i gael mwy o wybodaeth am Yr Egin, a’r artistiaid a gymerodd ran.  

Gwasanaeth Ffotograffiaeth fasnachol a fideograffeg yn Sir Gâr 

Os ydych chi’n chwilio am ffotograffydd masnachol ar gyfer eich prosiect nesaf, gallwch gysylltu â fi a gweld mwy o fy ffotograffiaeth fasnachol yma ar fer wefan ac yn y blog. 


Darllen perthnasol


I hope you enjoy the film I created for the project – watch it here.

Visit these links for more details about The Egin, and the artists involved.  

Commercial photography and videography services in Carmrathenshire

If you’re seeking a commercial photographer for your next project, you can get in touch with me, and view more of my commercial photography here on the website and featured in the blog

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Llun clawr | Cover image:

Aled Llywelyn Photography