Sunshine on a rainy day

                                      Sunrise


Image part of Skywatch and other around the world can be seen here

Don't be fooled by the vivid orange sunrise. Wait a minute on the Isle of Man and the rain will shortly follow. Nice while it lasts though.

Derby Road, Ramsey, Isle of Man - Sunset

                                             Mirror image


Skywatch this week, a dusky pink serene scene. Mirror image reflections along the harbour inlet, Derby Road, looking towards Bowring Road. The sun rises over the beach, and sets inland, always casting a myriad of colurs over the harbour inlet, Sulby river and buidlings. No two days are the same, which is great for a photographer on a night time walk. 

To see a sizzling orange fiery sunset of the same view see here. You'll see what I mean about the colours of the setting sun. Unreal, yet natural.

Skywatch images around the world by others can be seen here.

Queens Drive West, Sunset

                           Remains of the day


Ramsey isn't the best place on the Isle of Man for sunsets, (we fair better for sunrises) but we do have our fair share of colourful evenings. In the opposite direction to this image, you could capture the moon. Spoiled for photographic opportunities tonight.  


For even better beach sunrsies - Jane Hards Photography 


Image part of Skywatch

England from the Isle of Man

                   The land on the horizon


Another walk up to Albert Tower, through Ballure Reservoir and no to the top. In one direction you can see Scotland, another view Ireland, and this view, the strip of slightly darker blue on the horizon, is England as viewed from the Isle of Man. On a clear day, less hazy the Lake District is a a lot more visible. But not today, too much sunshine. Not that I'm complaining.


Jane Hards Photography - more island views


Image part of Our World Tuesday.

Laa jiu, a selfie and fishing boats

                                Two for one 


Today on the blog I have combined two nemes. One day a week I introduce a Manx word, as I live on the Isle of Man. The Manx word today is coincidentally actually "today," which in Manx is "Laa jiu." The other part of the blog post contains what we are calling the "shy selfie" and somewhere in there you can spot the shadowy image of the photographer.  Image taken down by the harbour, West Quay, where moored fishing boats are at rest. 

Image Nikon D50, my old camera, around noon. 

Jane Hards Photography

Laa jiu part of ABC

Selfie part of the CDP theme day

Sulby River, Poyll Dooey

                                    Still waters


A walk along the river with a camera, down by the river, alongside the Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve. The plan to seek out and capture on camera the elusive cormorant. I didn't find the bird, but I did find this tranquil scene. I'll take that. 


Jane Hards Photography for more from the Isle of Man


Image part of Weekend Reflections

Theme Day. What I'd miss most if I left Ramsey?

                                  All of it


Today on the City Daily Photo the question is what we'd all miss most from the place we blog from. I've thought about this and I can't say one thing. I'd miss the beach. Getting my feet wet to capture a sunrise, and the sunrise itself. Sunrises over the sea are nothing short of breathe taking. I'd miss the dark skies, when the street lighting goes off at 1am and the night sky is devoid of orange urban light, replaced with natural star filled sky light. I'd miss Sundays still feel like an old fashioned Sunday, with few shops open, but enough for those emergency items. I'd miss how safe it is to live in a small town, where everyone knows each other and crime is low. I'd miss the two weeks when the island becomes the centre of the biking world, known as the Isle of Man TT races. I'd miss photographing sporting events, muddy, wet cycling, crazy fast motorbike races, and bitterly cold, torrential rain, gale force wind rugby games. I'd miss meeting tourists and making new friends each year who come over for random events mentioned above. I'd miss karaoke where songs get murdered or perfectly executed but always fun and I'd miss the pubs that host karaoke, bands, quiz nights. I'd miss the views from those pubs, looking out onto the harbour or the mountain. I'd miss the sunsets over the Poyll Dooey nature reserve and river walk, the park, the swing bridge swinging and standing on a beach looking across to mainland UK, thinking, best decision, to move here. Above all, I'd miss the people who have become friends. The people who come to events, who let me photograph them, who sing karaoke, who party, who are always there for you. They are in the photo, pinpricks from a distance, taken at Ramsey Rocks, the one night of the year the town turns out to well rock with bands and beer.

So what I'd miss, is well, Ramsey. 8 years of blogging this crazy small town, on a small island, I discover I'd miss it all.

City Daily Photo Theme Day click around to view others what they'd miss.

England is Across

                                 Over there


I live on the Isle of Man.  It's an island in the middle of the Irish Sea. Like all good things it comes in small packages but perfectly formed. That is the view from the beach to England, The Lake District, from the beach in Ramsey. I'm what is called a comeover, though I am a stayover having being here over ten years. I came from that place over there, England. Now I have learned to call, that place you see in the image the land, "across" and the island I live on is "the mainland" and a pretty little mainland it is too.


Part of abc, where other bloggers around the world show you their letter of the week.

Ramsey, Isle of Man, Dusk Sunset

                               Pretty in pink


You can tell it's getting warmer, the colors are getting brighter and the nights days are getting longer. It's 9pm, as I type, and the sky is still purple and pink. If you look closely you see people fishing off the end of the jetty, by the lighthouse. Freshly caught supper.

I could travel the world looking for a sunset, or just walk out the house and find one on my doorstep.

Other skywatch scenes around the world can be found here

Ramsey Harbour, Skywatch

                                     Sunset


Taken along Derby Road, Ramsey, Isle of Man heading towards Bowring Road. For other skies around the world click here.  A setting shot captured in between pubs. One of the few places in the world where a pub crawl and photography walk coincide beautifully.

Queen's Pier

                         What lies beneath

Queen's Pier, Ramsey, Isle of Man, sadly closed to he public now to walk along and in need of repair, but still one of the most iconic sites of the town. Dating back to 1886 and originally costing £45, 000 to build and once one of the main communication points between the island and Scotland. Now it's a become a boon subject for photographers, especially at daybreak as the sun rises. Today's theme at City Daily Photo is "triangles" and more around he world can be seen here. To view the larger high res image of this photo click here

Darling buds of Spring

                                 It's a start


This time last year we had freak snow storms. Last month we had freak high tides and flooding. Finally, the signs of Spring and settling Seasonal weather at the right time. Wait a minute on the Isle of Man, and the weather will change. Next photo could be daffodils bursting through snow.

Isle of Man, Skywatch

                               Cloud Set

It was supposed to be a sunset, but the weather decided differently. Pretty nonetheless. Other world skies can be found here

The Isle of Man TT 2012.....Soon

And here's one of 2011

This is what we call a taster of things to be posted on the blog for the next 2 weeks. If you want to be updated about the TT, or just nosy about this funny little rock in the Irish Sea then stay tuned. If you just want to check out if I still drink in the usual pubs and knock back copious doubles of Jack Daniels and still get the shot stay tuned.


Also looking for Tourists. .......I need to shoot you....only in photos. Short and sweet folks. It is karaoke Friday. I need to be in a pub. Try this Facebook Page Jane Hards Photography.....It's where I post other photos for your viewing pleasure.

Tarra.

Hiding out in the harbour - abc

Highlights on the high seas

I'm beginning to feel like Ross from Friends talking to Rachael. I never deserted the blog. I WAS ON A BREAK. Can I please add not by choice. My psycho laptop, the one with suicidal tendencies had a breakdown and fell into a coma. The nut job laptop is back, motherboard images intact and whatever therapy it needed to cope with me constantly abusing it by uploading soooooooooooooooooo many images we have reached an understanding. So here's the first one to get us back into the groove before I go off at a complete tangent as usual and into a mega rant about island life not being all it should be. A sweet little finish the day off after the rugby on the way home shot of the harbour. Gotta say, it's been all doom and gloom weather wise, but just as the laptop arrived home the glorious light returned to our shores and the wonderful sky blue appeared on the high( ok harbour inlet but let me manipulate the truth as always for purple prose effect and slip in another H) just waiting for me to capture. The vessel moored too nicely weathered and hell I've even got people in there walking to the lighthouse, just to prove I ain't the only one residing here. Just the only one in hiding. Those privy to my FB real persona can vouch for the fact I actually do have a cunning highway woman outfit. Another h, though on reflection not perhaps the most inconspicuous of outfits to wear taking photos.

Well I'm hopefully back, but I'm not a slave to the blog and this is not a to be taken too seriously look at the world I live in. Photography yes, words no. This isn't a travelogue but you will learn more about true island life and quirks than any book/site/or I love the island so much I won't have a word said against it types. It's a love hate relationship after all.

For more abc's see here

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN - SKYWTACH

STARBURST

Starting from yesterday I am starting a series of images taken on the beach. Not necessarily of the beach but what you can see all around. This is the view from Queens Promenade Beach. Those are the tallest buildings in Ramsey , St Paul's flats. From the beach looking up over the high promenade wall I could just see the skyline and get that great angle to catch the sunflare ans tip the lens to create the star effect. Don't do this at home. Naughty photographer should no better. Can damage your eye and lens. Just can't resist these shots.

A few changes to the blog.

 

 

Backlinks - Sorry but someone linking to some really bad sites. Also getting persistant bloggers linking to all post regardless of whether it relates to their blog. This is not how backlinks work.  So they are off for now.

Comments - Comments  box will only be open for a couple of days after the date of the new post. After two days I will keep existing comments and disable the comments box. Had lots of spammers dropping by on older posts and placing those long spam comments that link to spam blogs or again some bad sites. 

I did say last week this would happen and apologisies but the few spoilt it for the many. So if you want to comment do so soon (including yesterday's post) as the box will be disabled soon on this post. Another thing is I have had my blog reproduced again elsewhere so I need to look into that too. 

On a lighter note Babooshka and Ramsey Daily Photo is now on facebook. It strated as a joke after a flippant comment but now now it's getting it's own fanbase. It's actually really useful as I can put vids and clips of the island on there and other stuff not right for this blog. Everyone is welcome to join and drop their own link on the wall to their blog. I am the Puppet master. 

Join me this week on the beach here. If it rains too much though forget it. It is Ramsey after all.

So comment quick, and join us on Facebook. Todays Vid on Facebook is Back Door Slam

Thanks to the skywatch team once again and everyone taking part. Go see the them.

St Paul's Flats

Ramsey 

Isle Of Man

This blog belongs to 

Ramsey Daily Photo

http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/

If you are reading this on another site that has a different url it is an illegal copy and I will take action.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN - SKYWATCH

Poyll Dooey - Sunset Surprise(not really)

Good news a borrowed laptop for a few weeks. Bad news it's behaving very strangely.

A quick sunset over the nature reserve from about a month ago. Not much else to say tonight.

Going to grab a coffee and come back and see if I can get to grips with this laptop. Still converting and uploading images one as and when which is painstaking and boring.

Why is the line break double spaced or cramped I don't know, but's its very annoying. Any ideas anyone.

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

BEN VARREY - FISHY MERMAID TALE!

My World
Ben Varrey in Ramsey Harbour

Recently I stopped by one of my regular blog stops only to find the Ben Varrey, the ship above was docked in their harbour in Barrow. I had noticed it had left Ramsey Harbour but no idea where it had gone so thank you Enitharmon for posting the ship. Where though does the Ben Varrey get it's very unusual name? Back to the island myth and legend.


Ben Varrey is the Manx(Manx is the language of the the Isle Of Man) name for a Mermaid. Ben Varrey was a bit of a naughty mermaid. A beautiful mermaid she used to lure sailors to their death around the Isle of Man by the ususal method of the siren's song in the pursuit, whereupon the Ben Varrey would collect her shiny jewels and any more form the shipwrecks. Naughty mermaid!


I did look for Ben Varrey, but I couldn't see her. Instead I give you the cargo ship that is named after her and owned by The Ramsey Steam Ship Company. The Red Cross you see is the companies symbol. The Ben Varrey is a working ship, as Ramsey is still a working harbour. It's a cargo ship carrying mainly grain and bale around the Irish Sea and near Continenent trade. No jewels though, which is perhaps why it's namesake the Ben Varrey, mermaid doesn't bother with her, no precious shiny jewels.


Like to see the Ben Varrey in Barrow click the HERE.


For more my entries click MY WORLD and thank the skywatch gang once again for another inspired idea.

CAN YOU SEE THE BERRIED SUNSET?

Berried Sunset

Ok it should actually be sunset buried, but it was crying out for the bad pun. Apologies in advance for the groan you just made reading the title.


I actually have to thank another for this inspired skywatch shot. I was going to upload a crescent moon taken on the same night but I haven't sorted those out yet. When blog hopping I came across CHELTENHAM, MARLEY one of my regular drops and he had a beautiful berry shot(go see) and it jogged my memory about this image I took on the same night. The crescent moon was out and the sky was just awash with a palette of colours I easily rattled off a about 50 shots in about 10 mins, just adjusting the setting to eek out every last drop of light as I went along. Again this was taken over the Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve Ramsey- otherwise known as the back of my house. I know I am lucky to have this to call upon for photography. I could produce a calender or a book of images from this place, it's just so pretty and inspiring. Where is your favourite place to photograph?


Busy weekend coming up. If you are in the UK buy the Sunday Star newspaper as Gary's Cartoon will be in( under the name Barker) and watch the BARKER GALLERY BBC POLITICS SHOW as yet again they are featuring Gary's cartoon. So I am resigned to coffee and food runs while he produces 3 or 4 masterpieces, deadline by Friday lunchtime. Art and photography is like waiting for a bus. Ages for a job to come in then they all turn up at once! Unfortunately the money though doesn't all turn up at the same time.

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.

I know Tom is no longer blogging, but he does look in on us occasionally and his name will stay ont this skywatch link for me as he's the one who got me into this, was very supportive of my feldging blog when it went through a rough patch.

PRESIDENT OBAMA - AT LAST!

Image courtesy of © Gary Barker BBC Politics Show

The eyes of the of the world were upon America to "do the right thing." Thank you for not letting us down. Never in my lifetime did I think I would see a Black Man in the Whitehouse, but Obama is so much more than the colour of his skin. A gifted orator, intelligent, charismatic, forward thinking, believable, honourable human being. We don't get many of those in power sadly on either side of the political divide now. Most importantly too, is how he inspired people to actually turn up to vote, especially the young. We have too much voter apathy in this country, the UK, but here was a guy who spurred people into exercising their right to vote in what is still we are told the bastion of democracy. Last night it really did feel like the "land of the free", "could have a dream", and a "change is gonna come" to paraphrase a little.

Politics are as you know are very important to me, especially as my partner is the Political Cartoonist for the BARKER GALLERY BBC POLITICS SHOW .The image above is his latest offering created in my house in Ramsey, Isle Of Man, displayed on the BBC website and probably sold to a genuine collector at some point in the future. Sometimes Gary creates images that are quite parochial to our political situations, other times his images will document an historical event, and be part of the news themselves. I will never take a photo as important as the historical, contorversial, poignant image such as this he created this week. Obama as President is the best thing to happen for democracy in my lifetime.

My lasting memory of the celebrations will be of Jesse Jackson's genuine tears. The man who stood beside Martin Luther King, and now Obama. He was the bridge between the worlds. Time will tell what kind of President Obama will prove to be. Times are bad, and his inheritance is poor, but he promised change and so far he has delivered the biggest change of all voter apathy into voter awareness. A one time only from me, you won't hear me say this again, but "All Hail the Chief". If only Rosa Parks has lived to see this day.

America well done and thank you.