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

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

Eye see you

Hello Misty!

Returning to blogging a lot has changed, what with all these new share buttons, Facebook, Twitter, Google + etc it is going to be a while to get my head round this new virtual world. Pleased to see some things have not changed, like Saturday is still the day to see animals of all shapes and sizes around the world at the click of a mouse. Obviously not a real mouse, life hasn't changed that much or advancements in technology taken us to another level completely. So for now, I give you virtual world, a close up, natural, shot of a Donkey's eye, keeping an on those blog stats and audience and as Facebook says "viral reach." Normally, I would opt for black and white for a close up like this, but I went with the colour just for the touch of reflected blue in the eye, which was my T. shirt. Obviously if this was Facebook, I'd now be tagging it and telling you to inbox me.

For more of my photography, see my Facebook page here

For other critters around the virtual world see here

Skywatch # 90 When Saturday Comes....

.....you will still find me here

Saturdays from late Autumn, through Winter to early Spring, everyone knows I will be here. Why? Rugby! Everything stops, no shopping, no cooking, the other half has to fend for himself(I do leave directions to the kitchen), while I toddle up Mooragh Park to photograph the action. I have been known to have a JD or several in the clubhouse too, as rumour has it.

After the game, fading light, forgetting to change the camera settings, one night I captured this pastel sunset, just hinting at the snow capped mountain. After a drink or several, the walk home through the park (but of course) and capturing even more unused photos. When Saturdays comes....you know the rest.

See here for my Facebook photography page.

For other skies around the world see here

Things you find washed up on a beach

Anyone missing a bicycle wheel?

Long time followers know I have a thing about people dumping their rubbish in public places. I have photographed everything from supermarket trolleys, to sofas dumped in the woods. Not good people, hire a skip, give to a charity shop, recycle in the community, ebay it whatever, but do not dump it! Lecture over. On the other hand the beach is different, it tends to get washed up there. Really odd stuff too.


I have an entire collection of "washed up from the UK" photos. Not pretty, stunning, drop dead gorgeous sunsets or to die for landscapes. No, natural one shot, images of the rubbish that finds its way from the UK. Today I show you a bicycle wheel. What happened to the rest of bike who knows, washed up in Douglas or Laxey possibly. Anyway, I like to keep it real on this blog, the good, the bad and the ugly. Who knows what else I will find on the beach next, but I'll be sure to show you, like it or not, life isn't all photoshopped sunsets!