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

On the road again

Last one gets the drinks in

Monochrome

Very late posting tonight. As it's Sunday I have decided not to do any internet or camera work all day. Finally picked up the laptop and went straight for a file of images that I am working on tonight. Well that is if I can be bothered of course or don't get distracted by other sites. Back to the image.Pulled one at random that shows you a familiar place on the blog, but from a very different angle. This is Parliament Square. This is the opposite way round to my usual photography spot for a scene like this. Also a far wider angle than you are used to seeing, those very tight close ups of the motorbikes. As you can see from where I was shooting I had the advantage capturing them leaving towards the Mountain road, or capturing them approaching me. A tip for you here is the leaving is better than the approach due to the shadow of the tree at this time of day obscuring much of the detail on those close ups. Some of you may find that useful for next year, but I can't give all my secrets aways now can I. It is a useful tip though, better for evening than lunchtime photography here.



Want to know what this event was and why I was photographing it click here, or here or even here though I know many of you have already guessed anyway. Looks a lot safer from this view doesn't it than the others. You can also see it really is just ordinary roads that are used and not a race track.



For other monochromes by black and white maniacs click here. No dash you have all week.

Wasp on a motorbike?

Buzz off!

This image is taken from something we call Mad Sunday which I featured a few weeks ago...... Well as you can see here we have a wasp on a motorbike. One of numerous variations on a theme. Ok it's a human take on a critter on Parliament Square but I couldn't resist using another of the image. Expect all sorts of animals on motorbikes to turn up at some point from the photo collection. As a bonus you even get a swan in there too if you look closely.





I'm as busy as a bee today flitting about in a waspish manner. No that's a lie. My other half is very busy creating 2 Separate artistic commissions(yes he's the artist dahlink, I'm the photographer and yes the house is covered in sketches) and I am on the supplying coffee and ice lolly duties in a waspish manner of course.

CAN YOU SPOT THE BIKERS WAVING AT BABOOSHKA?

Here they are then the TT tourists! These images portray a tiny fraction of the thousands of people that are setting foot on the island as I type. It's been building slowly, but this first friday always see the great swelling of numbers.

The images are in no particular order, just a mix to give you a flavour of my town around 6pm friday evening. I took them from 3 different sides of the crossroads at Parliament Square. You can see glimpses of the Swan and Central pubs, the Town Hall and Library and Ray Motors Garage. Compact is a word that comes to mind. For UK readers if I said Ramsey reminds me of Trumpton, they would understand the sentiment. Trumpton was a 70's kids tv show, a tiny town which had all facilities more or less within inches of each other. Not aware of it having Pubs though! That's why I draw the comparision between the two.

This post is a bit of a hit and run. Didn't get to the laptop 'til late so a quick upload, grab a few, quick crop, desaturate and post. They're just to give you an idea what happens to a kind of "Smallsville" town during the biggest even of the year. So did you spot the two bikers (yes two, if you enlarge) waving at me and the Japanese tourist resetting his camera missing all the action. I hope it's gets the setting right before the races or he won't stand a chance.

Collecting the T.Shirt and will be wearing later today. I'll give you all a wave on the T.V if they fim my way