It's Oddshot Monochrome combination again. I'm enjoying these two nemes together immensely as I have to challenge the grey matter and purposely take shots for this day only. It also means I can sneak in perhaps a real gritty slice of Ramsey life. This is the alley, back of Taubman Street, I usually take the Isle Of Man TT photos from. Well the opposing end anyway. This is the back of the little CO OP shop.Until the island went non smoking in public places indoors these two inviting plastic white chairs (note the fag packet and discarded fag ends underneath the right hand chair) would have been an extremely odd sight on a cold wet Autumn day down a nondescript down town Ramsey back alley. Now though it's a commonplace sight to see the empty chairs awaiting the smoking ladies from the CO OP to partake of their smoking break, with a hot beverage and a little light conversation.
Ramsey has adjusted to the non smoking in public places indoors regulations very well. Even those die hard pubs that were awash with a layer of cigarette fog patrons seem to have coped well. Smokers adorn the pub doorways and back alleyways have those telltale signs like half full fag packets under empty chairs.
Do you have the same policy in your area?
Want to join the weird world of Odd Shots Monday? Then see KATNEY
Want to join the beautiful and creative world of Mononchorome Monday? Then see Aileni at LOOSE ENDS
47 comments:
I have wondered how the island has coped. The Queens was one I thought might suffer. No smoking ladies? My aunt used to work there, and yes she smoked. Like the manxie below too.
since the ban, I think there's more chance of me getting ill now through passive smoking, as every time I walk past a pub, shop or office, there's always a small group of people polluting the atmosphere. Whereby before the outside air was clear & I hardly went into a pub.
I now go in bars and restaurants because I can eat without taking in cigarette smoke. Good for me.
Your grey matter is certainly working overtime Babooshka and you've got this one nailed. Love it....Just as I love going into all the Ramsey pubs, especially my fave the Traff now that the smoking ban has arrived. And this from a chap who was smoking 40 a day, gosh 11 years ago. Wow doesn't time fly.
LB,
No smoking is a mixed bag. I'll quiet my views. Let's just say business was
better before. Ramsey downtown has NY feel, without the junkie needles. Classy shot LB of real life.
How nice of them to have white chairs for puffing so that they just popped in this great BW shot. I just love all the butts laying around. Here, there are piles of them in the gutters around major stop lights. The smokers toss em out while waiting on the light to change. Thanks guys for all the filters which will never biodegrade. Geez.
Hey, like visiting Gary's sites you have listed on your sidebar. He has Sarah Palin nailed!
We also have alleys frequented by smoker's and they do represent a grittier slice of the city. It might even be dangerous taking a photo there. What will all that second hand smoke (smile).
I like it because it's "real." that scene is repeated all over the U.S. - where indoor smoking bans are in place.
The two white windows plus the white chairs give this a good symmetry.
My town has a smoking ban in restaurants, and public buildings. Only pubs that don't serve meals and are open only to ages 21 and up are allowed to have smokers.
Filthy habit. Tasmania had the first comprehensive anti-smoking legislation is Australia (thankfully).
I'm thrilled not to have to sit in smoky places but having to push through throngs of smokers every time you want to enter a building is tedious.
Those chairs really do stand out..
surprenante cette photo avec ces deux chaises de jardin dans cette cour. une drôle d'atmosphère.
Surprisingly this picture with those two lawn chairs in the courtyard. a strange atmosphere.
An oustanding true to life graphic. It is extremely generous to have the two chairs in place. Smoking is no longer a common sight in our part of the world. Not only is it totally banned from all enclosed buildings, as well as entrances and doorways but also from parks and public places. Life is becoming more difficult for smokers by the day.
Frankie
I echo gail's man 100%
At our local Asda the workers gather in the trolley-sheds to smoke and I was given a severe talking to when I tried to photograph the scene.
What about that CO OP? Is it doing well these days? In Sweden they've had some difficult decades with many many shops closed and a few giant supermarkets created.
Hello Baboohska !
I don't smoke... Smile...
The photo is very nice in B&W...
See You later.
I love the way those white chairs stand out.
same in France ! smoki,ng has also been banned from public places , but I have never seen any chairs waiting for the smokers in back alleys ! I like this black and white shot and the story that goes with it !
london at 3pm: everyone's outside the office buildings, wrapped up in their woollies, polluting the air - we found this hilarious on our last trip to london, something unheard of in greece, because no one gives a toss if you're a non-smoker, they never ask if they can light up in a public place!
relaxing having a smoke next to a garbage bin?! poor smokers!
Oh yes, standing on a street corner has taken on a whole new meaning.
Southampton is better on the inside but stinks on the outside. Smokers need to stub in out in a bin, not the pavement. Stark image lonley image.
I smoked for 20 years, but quit about 3 years ago. I always said I would not be the mean old exsmoker who says bad things about people that still smoke.....I lied. I hate the smell of it, I hate having to walk through people smoking and I hate people that stand right in front of the door smoking. I do like the odd shot though, first think I though was who would sit next to the trash...
Yes, we have the no smoking ban in Phoenix too and there are similar accomodations around the back of many businesses. Sometimes you have to walk a gauntlet of smokers to get into the front door.
Oh my! How I wish that my country as well would impost such "non-smoking" law! But as they say, almost 50% of tax revenues are from smoking taxes. So having that law here is like beyond impossible!
Great photo by the way! Depicts a story by itself! But having a very informative essay, was a blast! Thanks for the added info! I kept on bragging about Isle of Man to my college friends especially the things that I learn from your blog! Hope you find my Cavite as good as well! God Bless!
Steven^^
Hiya B,
I wonder what Jim would make of this. Do you remeMber him sneaking out for one? I'm still tuning in, just not always at a pc. All brilliant images.
Keep it up.
Jacqui.
That shot reminds me of my smoking days. I quit in 2001 after smoking since the 1970s. By the time I quit many bars had similar allies for smoking. At this point there aren't very many places that let you smoke inside where I live (U.S.). Carver's Photoblog
Same policy in Germany. Great shot!
I wish everybody could quit smoking. My sons smoke and that breaks my heart.
Thanks for stopping by, Babooshka. You certainly make the rounds!
Ah, smoking. Severely allergic to it, spent years not being able to work in offices and other professions because of it. It should be illegal for all the damage that it does and so little good. Nuff said.
it is an odd surreal photo... I like it... :-)
This may post twice because the browser froze in the middle of sending.
Great capture! I really like the way the white chairs stand out. North Carolina is tobacco country and the restaurant laws haven't passed yet. There are a few that have gone smoke-free.
this b & w is awsome! almost surreal!
That's a lousy place to light up - but makes for a great photo.
California is banning smoking everywhere - in fact, the corp I work for is banning smoking coutry wide anywhere on premises. Next thing is that I will not be able to eat on premises except at designated locations...
Great composition. In France also you have to stay outside if you want to smoke. This is the new law for every place which receive public.
Here in Mumbai,we will soon have the same law-smoking outside only.
I saw smoking areas in the blocks during my 6 week stay with sis-in-law in Singapore.
Thank you for visiting Anus Photoblog
A nice way to wait for the trash pick up ...
:-Daryl
My clothes and hair don't stink when I finish a shift. That's good enough for me. Just need those smokers to use an ashtray now. You make Ramsey a
very interesting place and I live here already.
I've found the smoking ban has created a new sub-culture in the pub doorways. I live a couple of doors away from a pub, and feel much safer coming home late at night as there's always people hanging around having a ciggie. You quite often get a bit of Glasgow banter from them, which I like (when I can understand it, which isn't always!).
I find it amazing the lengths people go to to smoke these days, standing outside when it is pouring with rain takes dedication. Great shot for the themes.
Great contrasts with the stark white chairs and the murky background.
Very nice combo of odd and monochrome. I work in a public building. No smoking within 10 feet of the front door. Smokers can't just step outside to enjoy a cigarette, they must go down the sidewalk and stand in the rain. BJ
i really like these kinds of pictures they're my favorite kind...i love this
The chairs are striking against the gray urban settting. That bin with wheels is quite interesting.
I have always felt that it is the sole right of the restaurant/ tavern owner to decide whether he /she wants their establishment smoke free or not. I siply detest government interference in the business owner's livlihood.
I think smokers should go outside. For non-smokes, smoke smells bad, and the odor sticks to you and your clothes. But I don't think, if I were a smoker, that I'd like to go outside and smoke next to a dumpster.
Looks like the two chairs went out back for a cigarette break themselves!
Great shot and photo lesson :)
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