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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Reservoir Reflections

                              Peace and quiet


A recent discovery on my doorstep, Ballure Reservoir. This tranquil spot isn't just a reservoir, it's home to a variety of wildlife, of which I shall hopefully be discovering and photographing as Spring gets underway. I've already taken a batch of images of the reservoir itself and will be back up there ramble round further along the nature trails. A lovey find a minutes from my home and off the beaten track. It's my new second office, the beach still being my first. The beauty of self employed photography, I can go there anytime and not wait for the weekend. More to follow on this area. 

Ramsey, Isle of Man 

Jane Hards Photography

Image part of Our World Tuesday.

Ballure reservoir

                                  And relax


I can't believe I've only just discovered this place after living on the Isle of Man for 12 years now, especially as it's a 15 min walk from my home. It's now become my other office, as I'll be doing a lot of photography here. Off the beaten track and an uphill climb but the views alone are worth it. More to come on the reservoir, the wildlife attracted around the area, the local fishermen, and whatever I happen upon up there, like the nature trails. To discover such a treasure trove in a such a small town is a boon. 

 Jane Hards Photography find me on facebook

Image part of Weekend Reflections, something I happened upon via Hyde Daily Photo Volume 2. Thanks Gerald, you've inspired my photography mojo for new finds.

Theme Day. What I'd miss most if I left Ramsey?

                                  All of it


Today on the City Daily Photo the question is what we'd all miss most from the place we blog from. I've thought about this and I can't say one thing. I'd miss the beach. Getting my feet wet to capture a sunrise, and the sunrise itself. Sunrises over the sea are nothing short of breathe taking. I'd miss the dark skies, when the street lighting goes off at 1am and the night sky is devoid of orange urban light, replaced with natural star filled sky light. I'd miss Sundays still feel like an old fashioned Sunday, with few shops open, but enough for those emergency items. I'd miss how safe it is to live in a small town, where everyone knows each other and crime is low. I'd miss the two weeks when the island becomes the centre of the biking world, known as the Isle of Man TT races. I'd miss photographing sporting events, muddy, wet cycling, crazy fast motorbike races, and bitterly cold, torrential rain, gale force wind rugby games. I'd miss meeting tourists and making new friends each year who come over for random events mentioned above. I'd miss karaoke where songs get murdered or perfectly executed but always fun and I'd miss the pubs that host karaoke, bands, quiz nights. I'd miss the views from those pubs, looking out onto the harbour or the mountain. I'd miss the sunsets over the Poyll Dooey nature reserve and river walk, the park, the swing bridge swinging and standing on a beach looking across to mainland UK, thinking, best decision, to move here. Above all, I'd miss the people who have become friends. The people who come to events, who let me photograph them, who sing karaoke, who party, who are always there for you. They are in the photo, pinpricks from a distance, taken at Ramsey Rocks, the one night of the year the town turns out to well rock with bands and beer.

So what I'd miss, is well, Ramsey. 8 years of blogging this crazy small town, on a small island, I discover I'd miss it all.

City Daily Photo Theme Day click around to view others what they'd miss.

Icy reflections

                               Mooragh Lake


The boating lake in winter is often frozen, allowing for mirror image captures. Dusk and cloud cover accentuate the setting sun colours.

Mooragh Park
Ramsey
Isle of Man 

Jane Hards Photography

 More on the Mooragh

Boats in the harbour

                                No sailing


Reflections
The harbour inlet
North Shore Road
Ramsey
Isle of Man

Part of abc

Tomorrow, we might even have snow. What a difference a day makes

The Lakeside, Mooragh Park

                                       Food and reflections


I mentioned in a previous post, the local park boasts, not one but two places to eat. This is the other one, The Lakeside. Overlooking the lake, indoors boutique bistro style restaurant or alfresco dining. Sundays include, roast carveries, with a daily day and evening menu. Flavours of the world and locally sourced produce  are served, with a creative chef twist  The premises is unlicensed but customers may bring along there own alcohol of choice, with free corkage. The Lakeside also caters for private functions, like christenings and Birthday parties.  Not many places can offer a lakeside view with a meal, set away from the hustle and bustle of the town.

Isle of Man, multi coloured skywatch reflections

            Like an explosion in a paint shop


Some days the sky is grey, some days it's overflowing with colour. Either way, I'll be photographing it daily, tide in or tide out. My wet feet feet suffer for my art. Also I need new shoes. Salt water and shoes, not a good mix. Ramsey, Queens Promenade beach, Isle of Man.

Skywatchers around the world can be found 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

Skywatch # 89 Blue sky sinking!

Touch of the blues

I'll keep it short and sweet. If you look closely, you can see a touch of lush, blue sky captured reflecting the light beautifully in a arty farty way. Definitely not one of the glorious sunsets, or sunrises I've posted, but a blurry swirly, upside down world of sky, caught in a puddle of dirty water. Anything can be a thing of beauty photographed a certain way. Or an arty farty blur. It was this or rugby again. Haha.

Good to be back.

See here for others around the world.

Serenity - Skywatch

Reflections on a Skywatch Theme

Apologies to any Sci Fi fans who searched Serenity and were hoping to catch a glimpse of the cast of Firefly ( yes I am TV, film buff, uber geek in addition to the music buff bit too) but his particular image above is my own personal slice of serenity. Not your most up to date image, another of those snowy image shots I rattled off within a couple of hours in one day, knowing the next this scene would disappear, probably for another 7 years until we have any kind of snowfall worth mentioning. I did warn you the icy/ snow photos would run linger for a while but I do try and vary them. Blatant lie there. It's the same Sulby river walk as last week, further along the path with a touch of melting ice in the foreground and the stillest of reflections. You'll note reflections play a big part of the blog. Easiest shot in the world on a clear crisp Winter's day with no breeze and they are always a pretty spectacular shot even in a mere novices hand with a simple (no this is the big Nikon) point and shoot. In other words, if in doubt shoot over water. It doubles the amount of available light by bouncing it around and the flatter it is the deeper the depth of the reflection.


Short and sweet tonight and I won't be around. Babooshka does not exist but the photographer does and I will be out celebrating my Birthday for the next 3 days. Yes I know it is tomorrow, Friday, but somewhere around the world over the next three day it is Jan 29th. That's my excuse an I'm sticking to it. For more Skywatch images please click here

A cold snap - Skywatch again

Skating on thin ice anyone?

I know I should of called it "frozen" or "ice ice baby"(but I did sneak one song in) but as a photographer, or should I say snapper, it was the obvious title for you to groan at. Well that's the kind of weather we having been having around these parts lately. So long as it doesn't rain (so dreary) I'll take the ice and snow shots any day. Always amazes me the colours and tones frozen water on a cool, crisp, breeze free winter's day can at sundown over Mooragh Lake can produce. Needless to say manual settings of course to capture the colours and not auto which would bleach out the blue hue of the sky and the deeper blue of those obliging clouds rolling into view. Makes a photographer's life so much easier when the sky complies and those clouds sit atop the trees in the icy lake reflection. The golden yellow tones of the setting sun to break up the blue a bonus. Photographer's are often lazy artists, I know I used to draw and my partner is the artist now. Seconds for me to capture, hours for him to paint.


For other skies of the world from sunsets to sunrises you can click here (8pm onwards) and a visit the globe virtually at the click of a mouse.

Not virgin territory but mine

A river runs through it

Yes cryptic titles and cloak and dagger shenanigans greet you here for this weeks peek at the sky. It's not the Atlantic of course, just the little biddy Sulby river meandering gently. All we be revealed soon, but not just yet. Before I wade in headlong into unknown waters, or shall we say Virgin territory like the uncharted waters and previously not captured angle above. I need to be as clear and calm as this image. You know a bit of(shall we throw in some annoying corporate speak) blue sky thinking, and bottom fishing for those thinking outside the box. Now if we just add water, get our ducks in a row, behind the curve we may be able to float that balloon and land that plane on the right track.


Relax and wander up the little path on the right into the nature reserve or into town. Up to you which way you go. For me the only way is up, up and away in well possibly a beautiful balloon would be nice, but that is maybe verging on the ridiculous along the still waters of the river. No planes, trains and automobiles for me just plain sailing upstream on a sailboat or maybe a yacht would be nice, destination my own private island at the peak of this image. Now that would be real Virgin territory and not at all original, erm unlike this photo shall we say.



Check out this link here about the blog. It's totally mad and it's not me.

TALES FROM THE RIVERBANK - MY WORLD

Mystic River

My World

This image is a bit of mystery. Not how it was taken that's the easy bit, I know that. It's where it was taken. By that I mean I know it's along the Sulby River, I know it's the Poyll Dooey nature reserve, I know all I have to do is wander over in my kimono and slippers take the photo and be back in the house before the kettle boils,(I only said I could do that I didn't say I did) but I can't recall exactly which stretch of the river it was. Doh! On the memory card the image is sandwiched between two totally different images I remember capturing and why, but this one is a one take image of yes a beautiful reflection but why? Not that a beautiful reflection should not be reason in it's self. Was it to tell you about the geology of the island, the overflow from the reservoir, the pond life (use your imagination) or the surrounding myths and legends I was capturing the scene for I don't know. My world today then is a mystery that also reminds me of a painting and I can't figure out what or who? Any ideas? I think this flu is making me delirious, that or the medicine.


Waterworld scenes I can recall when, where, and why click to reveal.


Reflection
Spooky
Monster
Mellow Yellow
River Deep Mountain High

Klaus, Imac, Fishing Guy, Ivar, Tom, Louise, Wren, Sandy and others are to thank for the My World neme. Click here for more my world's just for fun again of course.


babooshka ramsey daily photo http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/