RAMSEY SWING BRIDGE- MY WORLD

Ramsey Swing Bridge- Golden Wonder - 13/100

I can't believe I haven't had the bridge yet for My World. So here it is the most famous bridge in the world, well my world, Ramsey Swing Bridge. Why is it numbered 13 of 100, because I was challenged to shoot one subject 100 different ways, and the subject just happened to be the bridge. Crazy I know, but the public get what the public wants otherwise I would be in a right jam with some of you out there not pandering to your whims. So the underground cult of Babooshka's Ramsey Swing Bridge contiues.


I actually do love this bridge, but I like bridges anyway. From the mechanics, the design and the purpose. Bridges afterall are connecting places. In this case the very little bridge connects one side of the harbour to the other. Over the bridge takes you to another world, Mooragh Promenande, Mooragh Park, the new swimming pool and the most importantly the beach. It may be bracing, ok blowing a gale, a little wet, ok torrential rain but it's still a beach that most people would like to relax and walk along but don't have and without the bridge above I wouldn't be able to get there. Well actually I could get to the beach, by taking a really, really long walk round the harbour but then I wouldn't be able to photograph such a picturesque bridge would I? That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. It swings by the way to allow ships with sail masts to pass through out to sea. Would you like to see it swung out. You would, click here( red is always a link)


Well still on the borrowed laptop and still on the old photos. I may have to do some night photography as the Christmas tree is up in Ramsey and the lights are on. I have also seen Santa Claus in someones garden but don't tell the kids. He looks like he has had too may mince pies already and I can't see him getting round the world in one night.

For more my entries click MY WORLD and thank the skywatch gang once again for another inspired idea.

MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS - BLACK AND BLUES

Black & Blues

Due to no laptop and inability to access my photography stock I am posting a personal professional favourite of mine rather than a daily photo. Not a studio shot but a live concert image which is the odd part. Most people assume this shot had to be staged and in a studio under perfect conditions. The monochrome part speaks for it's self. The title well I don't think I need to elaborate other than a play on words. This image for me personifies what my real photography is all about. I love this shot. Click here to see another shot that falls into this camp.

Laxey Blues Festival 2008 was the venue for the image. As usual, a good time was had by all into the early hours over the weekend in May this year. The festival is the pre curser to the TT. This year, celebrating it's 1oth anniversary, although it's such a national institution visitors could be forgiven for assuming the event is older. Attracting international and local musicians it's a must see event for islanders. Held at various venues throughout the village of Laxey, with the day events free and evening line up priced accordingly, the music extravaganza therefore includes all budgets and caters for all ages. If you like rock, blues, a touch of folk, but definitely live music, then this is the event for you. Tips would be take the kids in the day, leave them at home at night and book a taxi in advance to take you home, otherwise you will end up sleeping on a park bench in Laxey.


The venues tend to be dark, and can be unforgiving for photographers. I tried a few different shots this year to try and use the darkness, rather than compete with it. Here then is
"harmonica man", as I call him from the fabulous "Walter Ego." I was hoping for a little cigarette smoke to waft past for the ultimate French Parisan Jazz shot, but no not this year due to the inside smoking ban. Make the most of this shot, this is not really for blog use, but my Professional music collection. I have already allowed Lou Reed on here too. No more, this is a daily blog.


I'll get round to emails later this week as and when I can. Apologisies to all, for the delay and exceptionally infrequent visits.

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

ALONG CAME A SPIDER - CRITTERS SUNDAY

House Spider- Tegenaria Domestica

Pretty huh! No going back yesterdays post of Radioactive Ramsey- manipulated pebbles on the beach I thought I would stick with the theme and have the Spiders From Mars. Ok not Mars, but my house. Yes this little critter was at the time running around my house. Big isn't it? Now spiders are happy to roam around my house and birds are free to fling themselves into the patio windows and wait for me to teach them to fly again, but the have a price to pay, just a small one.
They do have to have their photo taken. They usually oblige. As you can see Tegenaria Domestica posed nicely before scuttling away. She ( I saw her babies) also signed a model release
form too, which means she is happy for me to sell her image. I hope you agree I got her best side.


 do any of you have a spider phobia? Apologises for scaring the poop out of you with this image. Promise when the new laptop comes and I can upload the cute animals I'll post those again.


It's all gone a little pear shaped this week, so this image is from the stock photography collection.
New laptop on the horizon and transfer of recent images happening Monday. The back up of the images isn't a problem, I have those but I need a laptop to upload too and Gary's is tied up with his artwork. I am on borrowed time again for this post.


I may have found the answer to my online printing problem, for postcards anyway. Looking for a good deal so I could keep the photos for sale at a reasonable rate. Looking into a costing of bulk orders, seems good and may be calling on you to take a look at back posts to see which images would best suit a postcard. No spiders, unless of course some of you want to send out a scary postcard to your boss or a joke to an arachnophobe. I know that has happened before.


For more wonderful camera critters see MISTY DAWN Camera critters and be sure to leave a nice comment for Misty' s own outstanding posts.

RADIOACTIVE RAMSEY?

Luminous pebbles

Look what on found on the beach along the Mooragh, Ramsey.... Radioactive pebbles. Scary huh!
Ok you got me. I think we can all safely assume I manipulated the image somewhat, well a quite lot. To me this is what digital software is for. Not to tidy up an image, but to add a novel element
like say a Martian landscape with orange an lilac luminescent pebbles. As you can see my photos are still be held hostage by my laptop and I can't upload new ones until next week. So in the meantime an old stock image that I have had some fun with. I like it I will have to do more over the top stuff like this, just for fun. Amazing the images you forget about. Amazing too to think someone has this image on a mug. Going off at a tangent below.



As you know Gary was relinquished from his Political Cartoonist Job at the BBC this week. Well it seems a lot of people were quite upset about this and contacted the BBC.
We knew Gary had a following but the feedback he has had has been incredible. The upshot of all this is the BBC has confirmed with Gary that they don't want to lose him altogether, but due to the credit crunch cuts had to be made. What to do. The Barker Gallery for now has finished, the last cartoon went on yesterday. The old Galleries will stay on the website, that's 4 of them, for anyone to see at anytime. From time to time Gary will be called upon to do the odd piece of artwork ad hoc and one day hopefully when the recession has passed... well that's the future. The website he built for his illustrations will now be the first point of hire.



One request if I may? The BBC, well Gavin Allen, Editor - The Politics Show have actually written a lovely piece about the Barker Gallery and with a feedback form for comment. If you click HERE you can have a read for yourselves. Gary can't read it. Too modest about his talent. Well I'm not, about his. I'm an excellent photographer, but the best Political Cartoonist, and I know from your emails how many of you agree. Thank you.

MOORAGH LAKE - SKYWATCH

Mooragh lake, Mooragh Park

Skywatch again. Still no laptop, so an archive. Not as in a few months but as in a few years. I think this was one of the first images I took when we moved to the Isle Of Man. Must be aout 4- 5 years old. Fortunately Gary has some of my older sales images on his laptop so I can dip into them for the blog. Why has Gary got these images on his blog? He paints them for sale. Not all of my photos, just certain ones. If you look closely there is even a copyright on this image under my real name. As you can see this isn't your usual blog image, but a sales site one.

The park and lake have proved to be a great success for Ramsey, bringing visitors and tourists alike for canoeing, birdwatching, skateboarding or just to relax for lunch in one of the 2 cafes. Events are still held here such as varied music festivals, youth cycling tours and of course Ramsey Sprint(motorbikes along the promenade) during the TT Road Races. Of course you will also find this photographer up there. By the way this is the lake that I went for an unintentional swim in when my canoe capsized. It was so black I thought it was still a swamp. How I got back in the canoe fully clothed and sopping wet is still beyond me. Happy to report no sharks in the lake, but the financial sharks are lurking on dry land. If you read yesterdays post you will understand. Click Tony Soprano for the shark ref.

Guess what. Gary is doing his final cartoon for the(click) BBC, Barker Gallery tonight. Sad day. He also needs the laptop back soon, very soon.

To join us go to SKYWATCH.

The concept was DOT'S, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch are Klaus | Sandy | Ivar | Wren | Fishing Guy| Louise

TONY SOPRANO HAS AN ISLE OF MAN BANK ACCOUNT

Barker

Bet that got your attention didn't it!

Actually, it's true.

Ok, not strictly true as he was a fictional character, but you get my drift. The fictional character, Tony Soprano of The Sopranos(doh!) did have money stashed away here in the Isle of Man in a Off Shore bank account, set up by his Russian contacts. Go back and check it out. Mid series I think. Really not my imagination, they name the Isle of Man in two episodes, honest. So referring to the 3 legs that appear on both the Isle Of Man and the Sicily flag now you know why. Not quite sure if we have a Manx Mafia but if we have should I be worrying now I have drawn your attention to the flags and dodgy cash connection. If my blog doesn't appear tomorrow you will know why. I might be sleeping with the fishes! You understand I'm joking don't you? That's just for those devoid of a sense of humour.


The Isle of Man has long since had a reputation for a place to salt your off shore funny money away, alas not entirely true. Things have tightened up here. So while we do have a low tax threshold, we try not to be financial heaven for erm, funny money attained through, how shall we say not on the level means. Obama also has his on views on "Tax Havens" as we are known.
You may want to see what he has to say. No link you can find that out. I dare not prompt you.


The cartoon bears no relation to the post. No images and in light of recent events wanted to show something lighter from the Barker Illustration Collection rather than the Political.

T IS FOR - TOURIST TROPHY, ISLE OF MAN TT

John McGuiness

ABC - Tourist Trophy, Isle Of Man TT. I had something else planned but unfortunately not able to access the images presently and well you read yesterday's post, others matters to see too.

This is the image that I had printed on a T.shirt and was wearing during the TT. Now you know.

Next time I do the TT I will tell you all about Homestay and how not to get ripped off during the event. Click here to see my sales and magazine photos of the TT from earlier posts.

Want to join ABC got the lovely hostess with the mostest, MRS NESBITT'S PLACE