WHERE ARE THE WATCHMEN?

Another one bites the space dust!

Just when you thought you were safe to to view the blog again after the One Year Anniversary, I hit you with this. Not the poster for the Watchmen film at the cinema that's for sure. What part of Ramsey would this be then? For those that know from previous posts this would be my house. No, really. I don't mean I reside with aliens in an inter galactic state, although..... My other half(who out there said better?) is an illustrator, you know the one that was the Political Cartoonist for the BBC Politics Show. He created this image, Captain Pluton. Looks like a film poster or graphic novel doesn't it?


So to illustrate my post about the Watchmen I utilise this image. Crafty, I mean inventive eh!


It's simple, one question? Are we getting the film The Watchmen or not on the Isle of Man? Not complicated is it? Actually is seems to be. Rumours abound we're getting late night screenings only at the one and only cinema in Douglas. The cinema though has other ideas. Well at least the website does as it's not showing The Watchman in it's coming soon section. Look this may surprise you, but not all females want to see chick flicks. Some of us actually can't wait for Star Trek. I want options. Hello it's called the "Isle of Man" for pity's sake! Would that not be a teensy clue as to roughly the sex of half the population here. Duh! You know the ones who traditionally, in a stereotypical way of course, are graphic novel ( no not comic) sci fi nuts and don't want to see films about girl buy shoes, girl lose boy, girl bore me to tears with your tedious pink world. We need/ want choice. So the campaign to get the Watchman screened on the Isle Of Man starts here. People I need ya. Don't let me down. I will have no Quantum of Solace until we get it. So can we boldly go (split infinitives abound) to the final frontier - a film I actually want to drag my sorry ass all the way to Douglas to see. Don't even think about not showing Star Trek. Phasers set to stun, but Captain Pluton will shoot to kill if we don't get the Watchman.


Ooh that felt good. Image today courtesy and copyrighted to Barker, of (click) Gary Barker Illustration and Design otherwise known as the one is using my living room as his personal office space. Yes folks back in business, busier than ever. Regular magazine slot, private work and a hush hush campaign I can't wait to tell you about but can't yet.


This superhero needs her bed and has to wash her superhero suit. Dry clean! Don't be stoooopid and reveal I'm Babooshka handing it it at the Dry cleaners.

Live long and prosper.



WF9

PHOTOGRAPHING CRASHING WAVES - A TRICK OF THE NIGHT

The Irish Sea, Ramsey. Would you swim in that?

I thought we would start the New Year in typical Isle Of Man Style, a day late. Don't forget we are laid back(translate as plain lazy) procrastinators who put things off until they absolutely need doing. Can you believe it is traditional for the Manx folk to actually partake of a swim in the bitter cold sea. Not in Ramsey though. Oh no. Far to lazy to do that, we leave that to places like Peel. As for me I'm just the photographer and you know the camera isn't allowed to get wet. What of this image though?

For a change some creative photography. You either like or you don't. Just an exercise in photographing rapid movement, light and colour. To me if I take an image I just want to snap it upload it re size it for the blog and that's it. This is one such image, but how was it done?Looking down from the jetty with the zoom on full of the telephoto lens to hone in on just the sea and rocks. The ISO was set at 200 which was really too low, but this allowed for the image to be quite dark, actually darker than the light around. The speed was speed set at 600 to freeze the action of the individual droplets and they fell. The lilac and beige tinge are simply a trick of the light, or should I say the lights around bouncing a lilac hue off boats and the jetty out of shot. The white foam being the lightest colour picked up the lilac where as the rocks are too dark to catch the colour then also bounce or reflect the lilac back onto the water. A trick of the light image turning a day shot into a dusk image. If you wanted to make it even darker you could pop a hood onto the lens which wood obscure all the peripheral light but we won't complicate matters too much. Are you bored yet? How sensible am I today!

I know if it was that simple you'd all be doing it and of course it's not there is a thought process involved.  That though was how it was done by the photographer and her camera. Not really an image for Ramsey Daily Photo showing you the bridge, or the shops but it's the one you have today a Turnersque seascape because I'm feeling that way. A photograph for photography's sake not a snapshot of Ramsey life. 

Are we all ready for 2009 then? 

Gary is building a new website for my sales photography. That and drawing bikini clad celebrities for a UK National Paper called the Daily Star.( The Sunday edition.) Apparently the work of an illustrator is a tough life. I don't think so!

Help! How do I backlink on someone's blog like you do on mine?

MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS - 4 HEADLESS SWANS!

Duck Babooshka's here with her camera again!

Sounds like the macabre version of the 12 days of Christmas doesn't it? Four Headless Swans and one hunted Wren from yesterday's St Stephen's Day Post here Not at all just the way the photos fall. A walk along Ramsey Harbour, here) with camera is always a sheer delight for the photographer. I do mean real photographer, not snapper too but that's a matter for another day. At least acknowledge me you amateur!(you know who you are)

An image that begged to be shown as a black and white and the odd part well, all swans just swan diving at precisely the same time is a gift. Serendipity the photographers greatest friend lending a helping hand again.  You ignore serendipity at your peril. As you can see another natural image with all the debris that flows in and around the harbour left in the frame.  Why clone out something from an image that is perfectly natural just because it is slightly ugly and not perfect? Another time for that discussion on perhaps another blog.

Bad news again. Gary's laptop has died too. Now we are back to sharing one laptop that is borrowed until next week only.  You can appreciate a photographer and artist need a laptop each so blogging will take a back seat for a while. I will post as best I can, but it is difficult presently, work I'm afraid comes first, especially when people are still trying to clone my very being. 

Want to join the weird world of Odd Shots Monday? Then see KATNEY

Want to join the beautiful and creative world of MononchoromeMonday? Then see Aileni at LOOSE ENDS

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Merry Christmas everyone from Babooshka and Barker,  who designed the card

Early post just to say Merry Christmas to everyone who is celebrating and to those who aren't have a good day whatever you are doing. I'm sure like most people blogging is the last thing on our minds. Actually a glass of red that I'm drinking and mince pie are on mine. I'm raising a glass to you all as  I type.

This image is the card that Gary designed and printed. Like the Royal family, The Prime Minister, and the President we have an official card too that goes out to all.  The image for those of you not from the UK is Prime Minister Gordon Brown. I'll let your read the rest.  Good news today Gary will be doing another cartoon for the Daily Star again in Jan 4th, so watch out for that BBC Politics Show work now and then. For those of you that also don't know Gary's job at the BBC credit crunched last month, yes just before Christmas so anyone needing an illustrator see here. Did you know I am Gary's unofficial agent too.

Have a great time all. If anyone wants me to email them the card Gary said that's fine just this one time only. Let me know. As for the ones in the post, I hope you receive sometime. I.O.M post, terrible service.

Thanks to anyone who has clicked Google alerts too, an unexpected little bonus.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MANX FAIRY MAGIC - RAMSEY SKYWATCH

Could it be Manx Fairy Magic?

Well I don't think it's the Isle Of Man Fairies weaving their Manxie Magic and painting the sky with ribbons of gorgeous colour. No I think it's just another wonderful sunset over The Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve. There again with a name as weird as Poyll Dooey you would expect faires elves and Mystical types to be living here. Might even be Ginnie the Witch another famous Manxie. Click on the red words to find out what I'm on waffling about.


Good news - The Maxtor is working
Bad news- No new laptop yet
Good news- I can start taking new images again
Bad news- No laptop to upload too
Good news- The Maxtor holds tonnes of images
Bad news- Gary needs his laptop back.. er now.


Gary is now designing his Christmas Card. Not just any Christmas Card, but a Political Christmas Card. You have no idea the places that this card will turn up, but put it this way a Black Door with a black door knocker and a White House will have a little bit of Ramsey, courtesy of Gary Barker, BBC now and again Political Cartooinst. Do you dare me to add my name, Babooshka Ramsey Daily Photo? Anyway he needs are greater we are sharing his laptop. By the way the cards are being rush printed tonight in America, yes that's right America. The best price and the best service. Now that's not manx magic.


To join us go to SKYWATCH.


The concept was DOT'S, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch are Klaus | Sandy | Ivar | Wren | Fishing Guy| Louise

MANANNAN'S CLOAK

RAMSEY DAILY PHOTO
Jane Hards


Manannan is the mythical god of the sea, lord and protector of our land, Isle of Man. Manannan appears in many other Pagan and Celtic myths and legends but for us he is the guy who put the "Man" in the Isle of Man, and why you sometimes see the spelling of Mann aswell. What is Manannan's cloak though?

Manannan's cloak is a mythical shroud of mist that Manannan would throw over the island to shroud us from our enemies in times of trouble. The cloak would roll in from the sea over the land, covering all from prying eyes, keeping us safe from unwanted visitors. The cloak takes the form of a tinged grey and purple fog slowly enveloping the land, until Manannan is safe to lift the shroud when the unwanted visitors have passed by. Mannanan was also known to be a shapeshifter, so next time to you ask a local the way, be polite. It could just be Manannan and if decides you aren't a worthy visitor he will shroud and protect us from you.

We still get the mist descend upon us. The image shows a rolling mist on the mountains, sometimes it rolls in from the sea. It is an awesome sight, especially when caught my sunlight. Sometimes a white blanket, a gold sheet, or a lilac candyfloss gently engulfing the island.

The island has had crisis talks today due to the financial situation. Remember we are not part of the UK, but geographically part of the "British Islands." We have our own government, and we are an off shore banking solution. Due to the collapse of Iceland finacially, many Manx residents are worried about their finances, business, jobs and the survival of the island as a major player in the financial world. As you know Gary works for the BBC,(BARKER GALLERY BBC POLITICS SHOW) and his weekly political cartoon which is usually submitted by tonight is still ongoing due to the ever changing situtation. No wonder Manannan thought so wisely to shroud us in his protective cloak this week, we need it. Just to be even more confusing MANNANAN'S CLOAK spelt differently yes is the website from yesterday's post.

To join skywatch go to SKYWATCH
The concept was Dot's, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch now are Tom, Imac and Sandy

RAMSEY SWING BRIDGE

Ramsey Swing Bridge No 9 of 100
RAMSEY DAILY PHOTO

This was actually taken last week on a fairly blue sky day. It's no 9 in the series of same subject different view. It's been a while since we had the bridge so today it's bridge day. I wanted a fresh one taken today as it was so glorious, but there were funny little men with cones working very diligently and attentively so I thought best to leave them to it. Instead I took some of those pubs you asked for,a gorgeous ship called The New Wave and the odd person sneaking into the shot. OK, should say who I've sneaked into shot.

Ramsey Swing Bridge was built in 1892 by the Cleveland Engineering Company at a cost of £2o,325(what would that be in today's terms?) primarily to transport people to the other side of the harbour, to the newly built housing that had emerged around this time.

The bridge is still the main access route across the harbour. At certain times of the day the bridge is closed to cars and pedestrians when it is swung out to allow tall mast boats through. It was also featured in another British Film called The Martins, Staring Lee Evans and Kathy Burke. It's also going to feature heavily in this blog as I never get bored of photographing it.

The two paragraphs above were from one of my own earlier narratives. It's perfectly fine to plagiarize oneself, it's just others I take an exception to text images or ideas. To add a little coincidence to the post and the weird world of blogging take Mrs N. of MRS NESBITT'S PLACE .Her husband did his apprenticeship with the very same Cleveland Engineering Company, and yes Mrs N. is coming again next year for the TT. Spooky.

It's busy Wednesday here, always is. Gary is working on the cartoon for the BBC tonight, so my main job is supplying cups of sugary coffee. Obviously with the economic climate as it is this cartoon is a very important one. Lots of huffing and head shaking from him and a floor full of sketches. It's going to be a long night. Artists!

ABC WEDNESDAY- C IS FOR CELEBRITY CARTOON, VICTORIA BECKHAM, BY MY CELEBRITY ,CARTOONIST ,COHABITOR

Enough C's for you .

Celebrity Cartoon, By Celebrity, Cartoonist/Caricaturist and my Cohabitor


No, Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice isn't in Ramsey, but she has been lying on my living room floor for the last few hours. Figuratively speaking that is, on paper. Gary is now doing David Beckham as I type this up. It was quite interesting watching her taking shape. What starts as a rough sketch of disjointed lines, a puzzle you can't fathom suddenly takes shape when the inner eyes are drawn, the pout, those sucked in cheeks or the flick of the hair.

What's really exciting though is seeing the Political cartoons take shape. Being privy to an editorial cartoon lampooning the Government for the BBC. Not being able to tell anyone what Gary is working on until it appears , knowing the controversy they will cause. Believe me photography is easy compared to this line of work, as many of you artisits out there will know.

So that's my C, a bevy of them. Thanks to NEW YORK, MING and his Serendipity post for giving me the idea for today's post.

Check these links for more of Gary's work. Please tell him to tidy his workstation up too, namely my floor. I need to hoover again and I wouldn't want David Beckham to me sucked up into the Dyson.

BARKER BITES BACK!
BARKER GALLERY BBC
CLOUDED YELLOW

Want to join ABC got the lovely hostess with the mostest, MRS NESBITT'S PLACE