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

Sunset blues

                                   My office


The sun rises over the sea, so Ramsey is better for seascape sunrises as it lies on the east coast. On the other hand, if you don't mind getting your feet wet, the inland sunsets can be just as colourful fading over the town. I don't mind getting feet wet, though I do mind having to buy new footwear at an alarming rate. Saltwater, not good for shoes. View captured on my trusty Nikon D7000, in the place I call my office as I do most of my seascape work photography from.  I can think of worse views. 

For more of the Isle of Man views (little island in the middle of the Irish Sea I call home) go to Jane Hards Photography

Image part of Our World Tuesday

Swanning around

                          National Bird Day


Another Sulby river side walk in the Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve. It's a haven for birds of many feathers, but no foxes badgers or squirrels. We don't have those on the Isle of Man. We do have plenty of swans though. A Spring image, it is far too wet, cold, grey and windy for swans and photographers atm. Nice weather for ducks though. 


For anyone on twitter or facebook did you know it is #NationalBirdDay where you can see other posts around the world of birds. My bird collection album


This post today is part of Our World Tuesday.

Ramsey B 33-13 Douglas B. Rugby

               Ramsey in blue, scoring a try


My Our World Tuesday post this week is about one of the local sport games on the Isle of Man, rugby. Played by both men and ladies teams, school teams, and boys teams, the juniors across the island. I photograph Ramsey most home games, played at the Mooragh Park pitch. It's a sport I have photographed for 8 seasons now, through wind rail hail or shine. Even in a snow blizzard. It's a winter game, so the sunny image will soon be replaced with wetter windier images. I have occasionally photographed away games, but usually those are cup semi final or finals. As the island is quite small and not enough teams for a full season to play each other, the teams are part of rugby leagues across. Across to anyone living on the island is England in rugby terms. I've taken the team new kit shot for the rugby club website, and have several images printed in local newspapers, both here and England. Anyone can come and watch, there is no entrance free as the pitch is open, overlooking the beach. My world in winter, rugby.  See below for links to my other photos or my facebook page, click the badge to get there.

My facebook albums here
My latest rugby in print Chester Chronicle here 
Our World Tuesday here