Skywatch # 91 The Isle of Man

No photo was hurt in the upload process

I would be lying if I said every day we have a sky so gloriously, spectacular and has the wow factor as this. When we do however, it is straight out with Nikonbaby and snap away until the last faltering light fades. No volcanic ash, no HDR, no "let's boost the colours up all the way to 11" in photoshop. It is what it is, a natural through the lens sky. Why would I want to spoil what nature intended into a fake? We don't always have lush sunsets, we get hundreds of grey rainy ones, I'll show you those too, but today a archive of the day we had one of best natural sunsets ever.

Other island views can be see here

For an array of skies worldwide see here

Bbq Sunset # Skywatch 82

In the pink

As it's persisting down (that is the polite version) with rain all week I have dug deep into the recent archives again for a warmer cheerier image. One from the "The summer of Fun" as it became known. Never ending nights of cowboy hats, beach bbq's swigging back Jack Daniels, playing with other peoples dogs, chomping on veggie burgers, meat for the carnivores and discovering, toasting custard doughnuts is not a good idea, but crabsticks surprisingly are. Above all, the company was always the best, and this tiny island provided occasionally short bursts of days when we had glorious sunsets and hot days with a gentle cool breeze. On a cold, wet, November day, I lament the passing of such days and beach bbq's. A veggie burger just doesn't taste right without a little sand in it now. Fortunately we have plenty of pubs here and the Jack Daniels is always heavily stocked up......


Which leads me to why the early post.... the pub is where you will find me tonight!




For other skies around the world see here

Manannan is skywatching

Celtic magic, not manipulation

I cannot take this torrential rain much longer so you get another of those spectacular sunsets from last year. Before those that don't know and ask, yes that is natural, no filters, and no manipulation. It is what it is a bewitching multi coloured sunset over the island. We get some stunners here, but only ones like this rarely.Could it be Manannan and a little Celtic magic or those Manx fairies on the loose with the paintbox. Don't know, don't care, but it's far more appealing than the hellish grey water sodden skies we have had through out the week, and I know which one I'd rather have.



I mention the Celts as along with the Vikings remember the island has those very deep Pagan roots. Don't forget the vampire hunter I met here too (place is apparently crawling with them) the Fenodyree, and how you have to say hello to the fairies when crossing Fairy bridge. Also my own bit of witchcraft with encouraging wild injured birds to sit on my hand. Well when I look at that sky I can believe that Mannanan has lifted his cloak here and weaving a little Manx magic. On the other hand, I just got lucky one night. Now if I can just get to photograph those vampires, fairies and ghosts that haunt the island I'd make a bloody fortune.

Other bewitching skies can be seen here . Hopefully the rain will stop and I can photograph tomorrow, those modern day Vikings, the bikers.

GOLDEN GLOW

Later with the post tonight, because I heard it was going to be dry all day. This meant I got the chance to do some early evening shooting. It's Ramsey Harbour Swing Bridge in the distance, under one of the best sunsets we've had for a while. Definately feels like summer's on it's way.

If anyone has seen the film the Martins with Kathy Burke and Lee evans you may have noticed the bridge in the background of a key scene in the film. Just behind me out of shot is Ramsey's one only nightclub called Nightlife( and other things). This is where Patrick Swayze did his "dirty dancing" when he was filming "Keeping Mom"over here. Zac Efron was recenty over here filimg aswell, and yes he was mobbed by lots of young girls when he went into a coffee shop. He even had to have a police escort out the backdoor of a local coffee shop.