To the lighthouse

                                   Suntrap


Sometimes the tide is so far out, you can walk continuously from one beach to the other along the coastline of Ramsey.  You can also capture upshots of the lighthouses standing where would normally be covered in the Irish Sea. Doesn't happen often, but when it does worth taking a camera. If you're lucky you'll even capture a local group of horse riders cantering the same route.  One for future photography projects. 

Ramsey, Isle of Man, around noon, Nikon D7000

Image part of Black and White Wednesday

Ramsey Bus Station

                     Say hello, wave goodbye


Probably one of the first places I ventured to when I arrived to live on the Isle of Man and head off and explore the island, the bus station. I still do. A bus gives you a vantage point above car level for sights over hedges and down coastal areas you would otherwise miss. Also another perspective for photographers. Even though it makes the journey longer, the views around the island are worth that extra time now and again. 


Jane Hards Photography

Image part of The Weekend in Black and White

The old swimming pool

Put to good use

Taken around 2008, the old swimming pool which remained at one time abandoned for over a year. Several proposals were put for forward for use of the building from a cinema to a community centre. A campaign gained momentum which backed another idea, a bowling alley. This proved to be the most popular choice and the SureStrike Bowling Centre opened in 2009.

Jane Hards Photography

Thursdays coffee with friends, the cafe.

The Lighthouses challenge, cycle race, theme day, movement.

                           No time for a pint


The Lighthouses Challenge is a cycle race covering most of the island. The route takes in as you would expect from its title, as many of the island lighthouses scattered throughout the land where riding is possible. Not a race for the faint hearted with 3 distances covering 100, 57 & 37 miles over hill and hugging the coastline, rough and smooth terrain. Not your average Sunday amble, but the island has produced world champions, Tour de France winners and Olympians and the youngsters taking part will hopefully go on to compete too in those events.  The event is open to overseas competitors too, all ages and both sexes. Cycling is a big sport on the island and attracting people to compete in such events is always good for the economy of the island.



My cycling albums can be seen below where you can see the grueling route and lovely scenery of the Isle of Man.

Lighthouses challenge
Manx 100
Cycling 2
Cycling 1

For more theme days from the CDP bloggers see here For more abc's around the world see here

The Chuck Wagon, Take Away

                       Gone but not forgotten

There are many fast food outlets in Ramsey, from traditional fish and chip shops to the local kebab shop. Others have closed to be replaced with trendier coffee shops and restaurants. The Chuck Wagon was one of those closed in recent years, now replaced by another food outlet, Coffee Break. The Chuck Wagon was a popular venue in Ramsey for bikers, those visiting tourists, over for the Isle of Man TT Road Races. The fastest of fast food could be bought there, for those needing to eat and ride. A bag of chips or a burger washed down with a can of coke was perfect sustenance. I have friends over for the TT, who remember this place fondly, because it reminds them of "that time of year." 


City Daily Photo, theme day today is take away outlets and others around the world can be seen here

School House Corner, the bridge

                              Off to school


School House Corner, get its name, from the local school, Ramsey Grammar. You may wonder why such a footbridge is need in such a quiet town. You can't cross this road when the Isle of Man TT Races are in progress, unless you use the footbridge. Well you try, but you'd be arrested for causing an obstruction.  You can walk into town fine, but for those that live on the other side of the road, it does avoid them getting trapped for hours on the wrong side of the road and forced to wait out the races. Unfortunately for the kids, the footbridge connects to the school too, so no excuse for missing exams.

Should the footbridge ever be closed and you find yourself unable to cross for hours, there is a pub on either side of the road to wait out the time. Just saying.

The White Bridge

Single File only

Another Ramsey landmark,  and regular haunt, the aptly (if not imaginatively) named White Bridge, situated in The Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve, crossing over the Sulby river.  It's basically a single file pedestrian only bridge, although bikes and motorbikes can be walked and not ridden across. It really is quite a narrow and sturdy, but perfectly formed walkway that allows you to reach the other side of the river without getting your feet wet. 


When looking for information about this bridge,  I've  just found the vaguest reference, or uncorroborated info. How long it's been here who knows, apart from the ducks possibly who appear to live below it, coming out for a waddle and food off locals. A mystery perhaps an older local can solve.

Queen's Promenade, floods and high tides

                              Waterworld


 In a complete contrast to yesterdays colorful Queen's Pier sunrise and peaceful weather, back to high tides and localised flooding. Fortunately not too bad, just a few rogue crashing waves swooping over the top of the promenade wall. Enough though to render the path and road out of bounds for the afternoon.  Queen's Promenade, Ramsey, on a very, wet, wet, wet, day. Bad day for fisherman, good day for surfers. Pass me my wellies and a canoe!

Mooragh Park

                                Surf's up

It gets a little windy now and then. Normally the lake is quite calm as you can see in previous posts. I don't think anyone was trying out the gym equipment featured in another post scattered about the park that windy afternoon. In fact, I think I was the only fool up there that day. Just for the photo of course.

People on the street

                                                      Ramsey Rocks


First day of each new month is Theme Day. This month's theme is "People on the street." I've chosen one from the archives. People on the street enjoying the local yearly festival, "Ramsey Rocks." Well enjoying it until it becomes Ramsey Washout and we endure through the rain. Or hit the pub.

Other cities taking part in the theme cam be found here
http://cdpbthemeday.blogspot.com/2014/02/march-2014-gallery-people-on-street.html

Ellan Vanin is the E

Another river walk

As usual I try and educate you in a little Manx, the once fluently spoken language of the island I live on, the Isle of Man. Don't study the image to hard to focus on the river or the foliage for the E. It is the big picture you should concentrate on, as a whole. In fact I could have chosen any unused island photo for this one. E's are good, a great letter to use, as there are so many Manx words beginning with E. I digress. Ellan Vannin is in fact the Manx name of the Isle of Man. Tune in next week for more crazy Manx words.


Other abc's can be found by clicking here

Seaweed

ABC this week is bought to you by the letter S

Living on an island I am surrounded by S's. Everything from sea to seagulls to saltwater to sailboats....even my favourite pub is s The Swan, which of course leads me nicely onto the non alcoholic swans of the bird variety around these parts as another S. Anything of course could be a shadow shot, fail safe sunrise and sunset I always have waiting to upload for rainy days, but I went with this arty farty little seaweed image. Quite monstrous looking thing it is too! I went with black and white for the textures and a close up on the more hideous aspects. Not exactly the prettiest image, but this is what we really get washed up on our shores, along with all manner of crap from buckets to bicycle wheels. Some days the whole beach seemed to be covered in this stuff above until the tide washes it back out again. Yuk! Not a fan. I like my beaches seaweed free and walkable for dogs without getting snarled up in the alien looking stuff.


Smoaghan is a Manx word for seaweed and though there are more, many more that is the only one beginning with S. I can think of a very foul English word for the stuff which I shall refrain from typing though!


For other s's around the world click here

White cat blues

Don't ask me what kitty is doing in the road

It has been such a long time since I've been part of Critters, but as some of you know my blogging days in general have been quiet due to the laptop in a coma holding the images to ransom. Now all is well and I am plundering the older images before I take anymore new to see what I actually want to keep. This is a keeper.


If you look along the bottom of the post this cat which has been nicknamed Duchess( Aristocats obviously) or Arthur (an old UK advert) depending on if you think it is a she or a he will appear again on previous posts. You can also check out white cat myths too on those pages. Not just black cats that have myths written about them you know. Why Arthur/Duchess was sat in a quiet suburban road curbside I don't know. I do know if you turn the photo on to one side it looks like he/she is sat on a ledge. Two images for one. Either way I know A/D is a very photographic kitty kat and I'm sure I'm not done with A/D yet. Whoever owns A/D thank you for letting A/D out and about in Ramsey. Not that you can keep a cat in anyway.



Some time later today you can click here to see more critters around the World. Hello Misty.

I is for Iconic

Pridddddddy!

Abc

I know I could of had the easier obvious options, Isle of Man, island, Irish Sea but now I have the laptop back a chance to plunder( Viking style of course) the older images. One Harley Davidson being admired by locals and tourists on "Ramsey Day" ( yes we do have our own special day) when the TT Road Races take a a break. I am leaving this post tonight short and sweet, and just leave you to enjoy the image. I know I do. Reminds me soon the motorbikes are back, and so will some of you who will see this image tonight. I did wonder who owned it. I mean take a look at that number plate. Could this belong to an American tourist who liked certain TV show from the '70s or one of our more hazardous Ramsey residents? Leave you to ponder that one.


For more abc's see here

In honour of Eric Tenin -The Godfather of City Daily Photo

Praise be to Eric Tenin

5th Year celebration of Paris Daily Photo

Many of us over the years have probably had what we thought was a unique brainwave, a daily photo of the place we live. Sorry folks, myself included, and I am a brainwave kind of a lass, Eric had the conception, is the Godfather of the original Daily Photo. What better city too in my absolute favourite country in the whole wide world but a Daily Photo of Paris, France.

Today we in the City Daily Photo community are honouring the founder in his trademark style " from the ground up" genre of image with one taken from where we reside. From the rank amateur to the more accomplished professional all are welcome in the community, from one horse town to the biggest cities in the world and it is Eric we have to thank for bringing us all together under the umbrella of a website community to show our place to the world.

Congratulations Eric, and long may you reign so long as you understand I am still Queen B of my island.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Solitary Man - Monochrome Weekly

Man in Black

The photographers best friend is not Photoshop. It is serendipity. It is that single solitary moment when the photography gods conspire to deliver into your hands the image naturally that looks awkward when staged. All you have to do is notice it. You can't learn that from a book or be taught it, it's instinct. As you can see I am still making the most of the one and only day of snow we had and again another gift.The man so helpfully dressed from head to toe in black against such a pure white solid blanket of snow. The one raised foot to indicate movement within a frozen frame. Always capture with one foot slightly raised to show the sole. Again it just looks better, right, good and I am not going to bore with any jargon, it's obvious why. Could only be monochrome. Not an image where you stumble around for your setting, or you will loose the composition of the lone figure which is the key element of the image. Just take it or lose it.

Now that was far too sensible. I should really tell you that the mound of land is Sky Hill where there was this huge Lord of The Rings Style Battle (no hobbits, dwarfs or elves) between the locals and invading Viking, but I have done that soooooooooooooooooooo many times before now that I'm sure the link will pop up again or a picture and you can check it out. No today was simply see point and shoot.


For more Monochrome weekly images click here

Envionmentally unfriendly

No I don't know why it's there

Can anyone tell me what they think that is sticking out of the water and also why? I know I have come across some strange things and shall we say interesting items but this bar or post of some kind looks a little scary to me. Put it this way, I wouldn't fancy being out and about on a canoe and running smack into or onto this as you bounced over the short drop of water. Ouch! This wasn't the only one I found. Roughly about 6 just poking out at various intervals along the rapid flowing water seemingly embedded in the river bed. Maybe an alien spacecraft crash landed and these are the remnants of the unidentified material. Maybe it's just a more likely mundane explanation like vandals clogging up the river with something other than a shopping trolley. That I would say is the more likely answer.Who knows? Who really cares? Who will do anything about it?

I'll leave this with you. I'm just the recorder of the images around me. To check out others monochromes see here

RAMSEY SWING BRIDGE- INSIDE OUT

It's 14/100 Everyone

What is the surprise shot going to be today? Can you guess. I bet you can't(can).

Here we go again! It's time for the obligatory "Cult of Babooshka's Ramsey Swing Bridge" Image.Today we have reached the grand total of 14. The challenge 100 shots

of the same subject at varying angles, times etc. So here you are.

It's taken from the very heart of the bridge(yes they have hearts, minds and souls) the centre of the pathway, underneath the apex of the arc taking in the pathway and the left hand side arch. Taken around noon on a sunny day to create those interweaving shadows. I included a slither of the right hand arch so you can contextualize the width of the pathway. You can see the raised path/sidewalk on the right and the left is the driveway for cars. Small distance isn't it. I went with black and white as the last few have been colour. You also see locals, yes real live people in the distance chatting or perhaps just waiting for me to take the image so not to be any closer to in the frame. Spoilsports. Either way I sneaked them in so ha ha!

I do like to tone things down after skywatch which is click here is that's the one for you.

Thanks for all the techie advice. I had tried word but no it seems it's IE. I've switched to Safari and the line breaks seem to now be in the right place. For now anyway.

So is anyone else photographing the same subject over and over or am I the only nutter?

MOORAGH PARK

Mooragh Park, Ramsey, Isle Of Man

Yesterday I posted a series of very precise firework shots from Mooragh Park. Today a very different style of shot looking in the opposite direction. Every so often I leave the mighty Nikon at home and take out the tiny point and shoot no frill Olympus and post a few shots. I always say it is the photographer and not the camera that is most important. Even yesterday's images, although on the better camera, I still had to compose, fame and time - without a tripod. What of today's image?

The Olympus is a great little pocket camera to use when it's raining or a lot of moisture in the air.
Under these conditions and poor light you can often, if you use the right subject, and compose before you shoot, obtain an image that could be from another era. The sky was so pale grey that it becomes almost white in monchrome as does the foreground foliage already in shadow, becomes silhouetted. The rain, so fine, is picked up on a point and shoot as a misty layer, giving the background a nice hazy feel across North Barrule Mountain and Albert Tower. Note that Albert Tower, that's the centre focal point, what looks like a line, a chimney stack in the distance is actually emphasised and sharper in the reflected glass like image.

Two posts, same place, different cameras, weather conditions, hour, and subject, same photographer. Note the common link. The daily photo is not about photography, it is about the place we post from. Most people who participate are not photographers like myself and have either a point an shoot or camera phone and little time. Let's just remember that when we stop by a daily photo. Think before you judge, read the text and digest, think before you post a comment or are about to skip posting a comment, because the image isn't incredible fireworks. I guarantee you if you go to even one different blog today and look at it carefully you will understand what I mean and make someone happier for a a few pleasant words.

UNDERNEATH THE RAMSEY ARCHES

This little archway is situated on the stretch of beach between the towns of Ramsey and Maughold. If you continue the walk towards the right side of the image, tide out you can walk round the sweeping bay, over rock pools to Maughold Beach.

It can only be accessed when the tide is out, so visitors to the town could miss this, a lot of locals do, but it's worth the short walk out. If you follow the stream inland it leads back to the main road leading down into Ramsey Town Centre. No groovy signs to point the way here though like yesterdays post! Along the way you'll pass an array of wild birds, frogs, toads and if you're lucky the odd rabbit. So far I have not been lucky enough to snap a rabbit, well not here anyway. It's perfect for photographers, just wait a while and wildlife will come to you and hang around long enough for you to start snapping.

Just after I shot this image the tide ebbed it's way in and I had to walk briskly to get to Ramsey Pier. I think it was worth crossing the stream and getting wet boots to shoot though. Speaking of my funky blue suede walking boots they are poorly and need of repair. They are my old faithfuls, really funky and with my skinny black jeans and do make me look like a fly stuck in ointment. Yeah, but I can walk through anything in them. Even the ensuing tide.

By the way I would like to say how clever I was to snap the dog owner in one arch and the dog in another but not so. Serendipity again, they just happened by that way as I snapped. No on second thoughts, I am such a photographic genius I spotted them and composed the juxtaposed dog and walker in each dividing frame. Honest!