Harbour reflections

                                    Still waters


Not a recent image as the Isle of Man seems to be under a rain cloud for the past 3 weeks. Grey skies do make great black and white landscapes though.  The in-between pubs walk shot. Mirror image of the Sulby River, moored boats along the quayside, looking towards Bowring Road. 


Image part of Skywatch, were other sky shots of the world can be seen.

Stormy weather over Snaefell

                            It's not all sunsets



Snaefell is the Mountain you can see bottom right of the photo. On a clear day you can see for miles, across to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Not on a stormy weather day though like today. That's when the pub is a better option. Taken from the Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve.


Snaefell 
Poyll Dooey on a sunnier and snowier days


Image part of Abc

Autumn Sunsets

                         Remains of the day


One from the archives. The Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve. Dying embers of the evening sky. No street light, purer colours.  Bit of peace and quiet in a noisy world.


Image part of  Our World Tuesday


Nikon D50, Ramsey, Isle of Man.

Before the strom

                             Rain never stops play


Mooragh Promenade and beach
Ramsey
Isle of Man


The view before the rugby game. You can tell when the game starts, that's always when the rain hits. If you like an apartment with a sea view though, with a park seconds away. This is your spot.



Image part of The Weekend in Black and White

Sulby River Reflections

                             Mirror Image


Sulny River
Sulby Bridge

Nothing changes much apart from the weather and the camera. This was taken 2008, on a Nikon D50, attempting manual settings.

Image part of weekend reflections

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.

Mad Sunday, Isle of Man TT - Pink Panther, of course

                       Fancy dress, optional.....


.....but a lap of the famous Isle of Man TT course isn't for tourists and locals. It's all part of the two week Road Races fun, some for charity, some just for the hell of it.  Motorbikes as far as the eye can see down Road, Lezayre turrning into Parliament Square. For more bikers in costume click here. 

Image part of ABC

Denise will understand. 

More TT Race images here

Where the brook meets the sea

                  Here. Behind me is the beach


If you follow the path upwards through Ballure Glen across the road and further upwards you'll reach the source of the brook, Ballure Reservoir. Behind me is the beach and the brook becomes a trickle until it eventually meets the Irish Sea. At high tide, you can't enter the the Glen via the beach, so always best to check those tide times.

Image part of Our World Tuesday. Click the link for others around the world. 

For more Isle of Man Images see here.

Shadows and sunshine

                              Halfway point


Crossing the bridge that connects one side of Ramsey to the other. Midday sunshine casting shadows patterns

Ramsey Swing Bridge, Isle of Man

Image part of The Weekend in Black and White

Gimme Shelter

from the rain, because it's not always blue skies
 


A Saturday photo. The place where I sit before photographing Ramsey Rugby, and the half time break. The beginning of the season is around late August each year, and blue skies abound. Fast forward a few months and winter rugby games are accompanied with torrential rain, and howling gales. This is where I seek shelter. This bench nestled within a brick structure on Mooragh Promenade, overlooking the Irish Sea. There is more than one of these shelters along the promenade, but this is the one right behind the rugby pitch. Though with the horizontal rain, it's not always as sheltering as it should be. Theme day on the blog today, with all the other City Daily bloggers is Shelter. 

Click here for other images from the daily photos
Click here for Skywatch for skies around the world

Ramsey Rocks, sunset

                               Street party


Ramsey Rocks, I've mentioned before is a annual event that takes place in the town along the harbour quayside each July. For one night only, bands, kids entertainment, food stalls etc are out in force. Except this year. This year was a washout, and cancelled due the inclement weather. The image of a full town turnout resplendent with sunset, was, unfortunately last year. Oh well, what's another year to wait. The local pubs however did a roaring trade as many of the bands played indoors and those already out for the festivities made their way there too, minus the kids. 


Image part of Skywatch.

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

Ballure Glen

                               The walk to the sea


Ballure Glen is another hidden walk you'd overlook if you didn't know where to look, as it's set off the main road leading out of Ramsey to Douglas. If you start at the top entrance, off Ballure Road, you follow the path and stream from Ballure Reservoir, that will eventually lead you to the Irish Sea and beach  If you decide to go over the little bridge situated within the glen, you have a small climb up to Ballure Walk and where you'll find a picnic area. The island is full of myths and legends, and one of those tells of Carrasdoo men.  Believed to have had a base by the arches where the path meets beach.  There fires were lit tricking ships leading to their destruction. These  men were known as 'wreckers'. The Isle of Man, has a always will be a strange but beautiful place.


Part of Our World Tuesday

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.

Elfin Glen, Ramsey, Isle of Man

                           A Woodland Walk

The left hand path lead towards the Mountain Road and Albert Tower. The right hand path leads towards Lhergy Frissell and onwards down to the hairpin ( a well named tight bend) also part of the Mountain Road. From the top and looking out of the glen you have a wonderful view of the town of Ramsey and the coastline, viewing mainland Britain. That's on a clear day. If the mountain mist is about you'll be lucky to see your hand in front of your face. Either way a nice out of town walk. 


Image part of Black and White Wednesday, and more from other bloggers can be seen here

Waiting, Isle of Man TT

                      Not the queue to the pub


It's ABC on the blog circuit this week ad the letter is Z. If you look closely on the image you can see black and white stripes midway in the photo across the road. Those are where pedestrians wait to cross the road safely, and it is called a Zebra crossing. Many countries have these, nothing unique to the island, but use of varies throughout the world. A instantly recognizable image that transcends most languages. The image taken at the two week event, Isle of Man TT Road Races. This may look like the queue for a pint from the pub in the distance, The Central, but the spectators waiting on Parliament Street for the motorbike race to begin. 

Jane Hards Photography


Other ABC posts around the world can be seen here

Ramsey Rocks, Ramsey National Week

                               Summer Nights


Next week on the Isle of Man is Ramsey National Week and the image above is from the annual festival, Ramsey Rocks which takes place down by the harbour quayside. Local bands, family fun, food stalls and  kids entertainment.  If  it rains, there is always the pub. Several pubs in fact.  Possibly the busiest night out in the town, or at least one of them.  Fingers crossed for sunshine hoping for sunshine.

Ramsey Rocks, bands, bull riding and beers can be seen here

Image part of Skywatch where other skies of the world ca be seen.

Yn vooir - The waves

                     Night time photography


As it is ABC on the blog, another Manx word or saying. I thought Y might be a difficult letter, but a whole list of words appeared. yn vooir =  the waves. Night time photography, with the Nikon, crashing waves under moonlight rays. Living on an island you are never far from the sea, and midnight strolls along Queen's Promenade are the norm. 

Y words in Manx


For other abc's around the world see here. 

Red Arrows, Upside down

                          The display team


Almost every year, on Ramsey's special day (conveniently named "Ramsey Day") during the Isle of Man TT Road Races we have the UK Red Arrows display team do a flyover display. Tricks, licks, upside down spills, crossovers, leaving contrails of coloured and/or white smoke in their wake. Everybody with a camera, smart phone, video etc has the chance to get a least one shot. One of about 30 captured, where all are upside down, which is the theme today for us bloggers. 

Other interpretations of the "upside down" them can be found here


Jane Hards Photography

Walk up to Albert Tower, for the view

                            Misty Mountains 


Short and sweet tonight. A walk out of town up through the Ballure Reservoir, cross the mountain road, continue to Albert Tower and watch the local mist known as Manannan's cloak roll over North Barrule. Then the walk back down through through the glens in time to catch a sunset. Not bad days photography work with the 
trusty Nikon


Jane Hards Photography 


Image is "up" part of ABC, created by Mrs Nesbitt, who will be over to the Isle of Man and Ramsey next week and Our World

Harley Davidson, stylish.

Design classic

Somethings are a design classic, and buck modern trends. The Harley Davidson motorbike is one of them. Synonymous with all things motorbike related, visions of the open road, cinematic panoramas, freedom, alone, but not lonely, part of the crowd, whilst remaining an individual. The iconic bike parked up in my hometown during Isle of Man TT Races, for what we call Ramsey Day  All the fun and focus of the two week festivities create a family orientated day for bikers, tourists and locals. Many a classic Harley can be found, with many an admirer. Including me.

Jane Hards Photography 

Image part of City Daily Photo theme day, which occurs first day of the new month, the theme today being stylish. For others around the world, see here

Isle of Man TT, Parliament Square, Ramsey

                          Throwback, 2009


The event known as the Isle of Man TT Races is almost here. A throwback shot, race week 2009. Fading evening light casts bike shadows, and sometimes a sunset if the riders get all the laps in, though not here, just the rainclouds passing over blue skies.  Due to the inclement weather on the island, the day race schedule is subject to change and evening races occur. Best advice for tourists. Pack shorts, sandals and a umbrella. You're bound to need all of them, sometimes together. I'm a photographer, and the TT for me is both work and pleasure. Jane Hards Photography, an older image on a Nikon D50.


For more TT and Isle of Man images see here

For other skywatch images around the world see here

TT Tourists, Ramsey Day

                              Ramsey Day


As Mrs Nesbitt, who initially started the abc round will be visiting the Isle of Man soon for the annual Isle of Man TT Road Races, a timely image of other visiting tourists. This scene is from Ramsey Day, a day set aside during the Road Races for activities such as the Motorcycle Sprint and display teams to entertain the crowds, along with things for the kids like face painting. The sunshine can't be guaranteed, but a fly over and display by the Red Arrows can be. 


For TT Race photos see Jane Hards Photography

Isle of Man TT, older post

More abc images around the world can be found here

Storm clouds, Queens Pier

                             on a rainy day, or not


Instead of a sunrise, storm clouds on the horizon. Looks can be deceiving though and the ominous threatening storm passed over the island and the sun shone. 

Jane Hards Photography


Image part of Skywatch, where people across the world show their skies.

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

Parliament Square, Isle of Man TT

                             Chasing sidecars


It's almost that time of year again the island is becomes a haven for motorbikers tourists and competitors (one of those is Mrs Nesbitt who created the abc meme) the Isle of Man TT Road Races. As you can see Parliament Square part of the race route, right in the heart of Ramsey For those who follow the races via TV, this is one of the camera checkpoints shown, passing through Parliament Square. It's also the place I do my job, TT photographer.


Jane Hards Photography - TT photos
Isle of Man TT - older post

Image part of abc

Ramsey Hairpin

                           The Biker View


Ramsey Hairpin, to those familiar with the Isle of man TT Races this will be a familiar view, a sharp turn leaving Ramsey and heading towards the mountain road. When not doubling as a racetrack as you can see it's a suburban sedate road with little traffic apart from "rush hour" commute. It's the Isle of Man. Our rush hour is a little more relaxed. You're more likely to be stuck behind a tractor than a traffic jam. If you can make it across the road in one piece, you'll find woodland walks leading to Albert Tower and a view of the town, which everyone has photographed at some point.


Jane Hards Photography - TT photos

Image part of Our World Tuesday

Mooragh Promenade

                         The beach seat view


Sundays are made for sitting on a bench and watching the waves. The more adventourous can brave the freezing cold waters and surf the waves. The photographer can sit a capture the scene. 

Jane Hards Photography

Image part of The Weekend in Black and White

Mooragh Lake Reflections

                               Mirror Image


The local boating lake in the local park on a breeze free Spring day. O the Isle of Man, that could all change  within hours, but pretty while it lasts.

Jane Hards Photography - see more

Image part of Weekend Reflections

Open, the new tram tracks

                          Alternative travel


The tram tracks have undergone an update and renovation during the closed winter period. General maintenance and shiny new cables, and paved and painted. A popular way for tourists to view the island, by tram all the way from Ramsey, through Laxey when you can depart for Snaefell Mountian, or continue on to Douglas. It's a long ride, so if you're in a hurry bus or car might be for you, but on a sunny lazy day, a slower ride through the Manx landscape might be the way to go. If you don't mind a bit of a chill sit in the outdoor car, as it's a great vantage point for photography. 

 Jane Hards Photography

Image part of abc

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.

Harbour inlet

                           Water like glass


Another old one on the little point and shoot. Locals will notice, the absence of the swimming pool, which would now be part of the skyline, next to the residential property left of the image. The harbour inlet which ebbs and flows out to sea in the image, and behind to Mooragh lake out of shot. Taken on North Shore Road, Ramsey, Isle of Man


More island images  - Jane Hards Photography

Image part of The Weekend in Black and White

Weekend reflections

                                River blues


Mirror image reflections on the Sulby river. One for my friends who miss this area more than any other part of the town of Ramsey, Isle of Man. .


Jane Hards Photography


Image part of weekend reflections

Skyline sunset, Isle of Man

                          Dark skies at dusk


The setting sun over urban Ramsey skyline, residential apartments.  Queen's Promenade looking towards St Paul's Square. 


Jane Hards Photography


Image part of Skywatch, Nikon D7000

Gladstone Park and Skyhill

                                           The back view


If the postman calls and you're not in, this is where you'll find your postal items, Gladstone Park, the white building in front of the peak in the distance Skyhill. View taken for the bridle path, formerly the train line, Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve. Plans to turn the are into a Supermarket are often rumoured, but so far no extra supermarkets. 


Jane Hards Photography

Nikon D50 about 2007 and the view is still the same.

North Barrule, Isle of Man

                                 Up North


A walk up to the Albert Tower is a great vantage point to overlook the town, the coastline or this view of the the North Barrule. Some views, are worth a climb, Captured on a sunny Summer's day.

Jane Hards Photography for more Isle of Man views from sunrise to sunset

Image part of ABC where fellow bloggers upload a image for each letter of the alphabet.

Cherry Blossom on Parliament Street

                                                                           Spring

A archive from a few years ago on the little point and shoot, taken around this time  of year on the local high street. A few regeneration changes to this area since this captured image, but pale green building is still the Mitre pub and the cherry trees still blossom. You know it's Spring when the blossom arrives. 

Parliament Street, Ramsey, Isle of Man

Jane Hards Photography

Image part of Our World Tuesday

The white bridge

in black and white


The single file bridge, the aptly white bridge, straddling the Sulby River, Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve. Sky Hill in the distance. The bridge atm is need of a coat of paint, or perhaps it should be reamed the rusty bridge.


Jane Hards Photography 


Image part of The Weekend in Black and White

Under the pier reflections

                                      Still

Back out with the little point and shoot camera, leaving the big DSLR at home. Sometimes, it's better to have the smaller camera, you look for a different view.

Queens Pier, Ramsey, Isle of Man 

Jane Hards Photography

Image part of Weekend Reflections

Mona Street & North Barrule

                                  Summer


One of my earliest photos of Ramsey, my adopted hometown. I'm standing on the corner of Mona Street, looking towards North Barrule, the grassy peak in the distance. The old swimming baths still open at the time (now the bowling alley) the tan coloured building directly below Barrule in the image. You can just see the orange vehicle parked outside the old baths, that would be a tourist coach which usually had a scheduled stop for refreshments in the old swimming baths cafe. Summer sunshine about 2006. 


Camera at this time, Nikon D50 

Jane Hards Photography

Call this one a Throwback Thursday

Mythcial, Manannan's Cloak,

                           It's a Manx thing


This week on the ABC round I am spoiled for choice, living on the Isle of Man. The local language once almost obsolete, but again being spoken by islanders is known as Manx.  Even the local sea mist (featured yesterday) has a Manx flavour, known locally as Manannan's Cloak, a mythical sea mist, a shroud to protect us from enemies thrown over the island to obscure you it from view, by the sea God Manannan also known as Manannan Mac Lir. For further reading see links below. The mist usually lasts a day or so, rolling in from the sea, over the island and can indeed be quite spooky and play havoc with your camera lens. 


Jane Hards photography - to see more of the mist rolling in from the sea. 
Manannan Mac Lir. - fro more on the Manannan
ABC - for more post on the letter of the week by fellow bloggers

I wonder if any of you out there, also have a specfic name for your local fog/mist.

Manannan's Cloak

                         The local sea fog

Manannan's Cloak is a local mist which from time to time rolls in from the sea, covering the island in a foggy, hazy, blurry shroud said to protect  the island from being seen from marauding enemies.  The sea mist gets it's name from Manannan, a sea God, who from time to time according to legend, protects the island, hence Manannan's Cloak. I don't think we are being besieged by marauding Vikings today, or even tourists for that matter, so feeling quite safe, to photograph the local phenomena. 

 

Jane Hards Photography

 

More on Manannan Mac Lir can be found here

 

Image taken Stanley Mount West, Ramsey, Isle of Man, part of Our World Tuesday

The Swan

                               Bird's eye view


This week my Skywatch image is a place familiar to readers of the blog from the early days, The Swan Pub.  A large public house situated on the corner of Lezayre Road and Parliament Square, a regular drinking hole for locals and a one Isle of Man TT tourists will recognize as a place to watch the motorbikes race round the route through Ramsey. Sunset, optional, pint and pub lunch compulsory, karaoke depends on who is singing. 


Jane Hards Photography - the people, the pub views

Image past of Skywatch, where people join one  day a week to show their skies.

Manx Taxis, Albert Road

                              The quiet time


The building to the right of the image, where the lights are on inside, is the base for Manx Taxis, situated on Albert Road. Even small towns have taxi firms for late night revellers, early morning airport runs, school runs, hospital runs and I'm having a taxi because it's raining and this shopping is heavy runs. After the school run and before the evening pub crowd go out shot. The quiet time for the night shift before the door to pubs runs start. 


Jane Hards Photography

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

Snow days

                           and slushy walks


One from the archives, when the town closed due to an influx of the white stuff. It's been 5 years since this scene and snowmen popped up on every street corner. I'd actually like another snow day. While everyone else takes the day off, to have a snowball fight, I'd be busy working capturing the snow covered landscape. Another part of the town, over the bridge taken from North Shore Road, looking Shipyards Road, leading down to the harbour. 

Jane Hards Photography

Image part of Our World Tuesday

Balck and white, harbour sunset

                        View from the pub


The colours were amazing stunning spectacular and all those adjectives some people use to describe their photos, when it should be for the viewer to decide. Stripped of colour, Ramsey Harbour, view from outside the oneof the many pubs of the town. Not a bad pint, and not a bad view either, even if it lack colour for some.

Jane Hards Photography for more images

Photo part of The Weekend in Black and White

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

Good Morning Sunshine

               Sunrise. It rained two hrs later


My office view this morning. You have to feel sorry for me don't you. I wasn't the only early bird, a few dog walkers, photographers and someone out with a metal detector. I hope they were lucky. I was content with the morning shoot.


Jane Hards Photography 


Image part of Skywatch for more of other skies around the world.

Kayagh

                                    Misty


For those of you who don't know, I blog from a small island called the Isle of Man, from the even smaller town of Ramsey. I thought it would be ideal to introduce a Manx word with each image on the abc round each week. Although most people speak English, the Manx language has been introduced and spoken again on the island after almost dying out. As a comeover, someone who came here from across, UK, this is as much of an education for myslef as it is for the reader. So word for today is Kayagh, meaning misty as it was the morning of this photo. One of the first I captured when I moved here, on a film camera. The jetty and lighthouse, looking the same today as it did 12 years ago. Only the camera has changed, but I intend to find that film camera and take it up again.

Jane Hards Photography

Image part of ABC

For those of you wanting to learn more Manx click here