MANANNAN'S CLOAK - MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS

Ramsey hides under Manannan's Cloak

Manannan is the mythical god of the sea, lord and protector of our land, Isle of Man. Manannan appears in many other Pagan and Celtic myths and legends but for us he is the guy who put the "Man" in the Isle of Man, and why you sometimes see the spelling of Mann as well. What is Manannan's cloak though? I can tell you one thing it's not and that is snow. I have really missed not capturing any snow shots his year. Back to Manannan's cloak this weeks Monochrome Oddshot.

Manannan's Cloak.

A mythical shroud of mist that was thrown over the island to hide us from our enemies.

Manannan was also known to be a shape shifter, so next time to you ask a local the way, be polite. It could just be Manannan and if decides you aren't a worthy visitor he will shroud and protect us from you. Shape shifter sounds like something out of Star Trek doesn't it.

We still get the mist descend upon us. The image shows a rolling mist on the mountains, sometimes it rolls in from the sea. It is an awesome sight, especially when caught my sunlight. Sometimes a white blanket, a gold sheet, or a lilac candyfloss gently engulfing the island. Underneath the cloak is the North Barrule Mountain. I never tire of seeing this eerie mist especially when travelling over the mountains and your view is totally obscured. It is so evocative of every horror story, and fairytale you can think of. A bit like the island a horror story built on a fairytale, the legendary blog and Babooshka is the mythical creature that brings you the words and images that won't stay hidden. Now if I can just find That wallaby..

Join my new group on Facebook- Ramsey Daily Photo or Babooshka Akshoobab

Want to join the beautiful and creative world of Mononchorome Monday? Then see Aileni at Loose Ends

Want to join the weird world of Odd Shots Monday? Then see Katney

(I will sort my facebook soon promise. Sorry for neglecting it. We are definitely planning to move to France. The Isle of Man and us will part ways. I have tried.)

WHITE CAT MYTHOLOGY- CRITTER SUNDAY

Everybody wants to be a cat

The friendly white cat is back. Until I know he or she's name I will refer to it as Duchess. Surely a starlet in the making. Can't you just picture Duchess with diamond choker.

I wonder if anyone has found anymore updates on white cat mythology?I found a little more here below

The new ones

Some sailors will not board a ship after a white cat. The cat has to be taken off and board after the sailor.

Dreaming of a white cat talking to you is sign of a new baby.

Saying good morning to a white cat meaning a smiling day. Not saying good morning to a white cat means a crying day. 

White cat passing a white door means ill health is upon you.

The previous ones

n cat lore white cats are a symbol of light and good.
In the UK a white cat crossing your path is considered unlucky.
It America it is considered lucky if a white cat crosses your path.
Also too though in America it is considered unlucky to see a white cat at night
To dream of a white cat is considered a fortuitous omen, a portent of glad tidings, creativity and a contented spritual life.
To kill a white cat leaves your soul to the devil.
A white cat is often considered an angel, say hell0 and they will watch over you.

Unlike the black cat myths, the white cat has little attached to it inmythology. In some versions of the tale of Rapunzel she had 3 white cats to help her spin her hair into a golden ladder for her lover. Unlike the Manx cat and the black cat, the white cat seems to be relatively myth free. Perhaps you know of a white cat myth of superstition in your part of the world?

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

More manx cat myths to follow.  Just waiting for another Manx cat to pass my way to photograph.

Meaow for now

RAMSEY WHAT A WASTE OF SPACE!

Jacob's ladder maybe?

If you are here for skywatch it is the post below. I always like to have a reality check with the images. Pretty skies need to be balanced withe cold light of day photos. One from the socio economic pile- in other words the crappy side of life. 

Stairway to heaven, hell no

This is about as downtown as it gets. It's the harbour, West Quay a big chunk of nothing. I have no idea what used to be there and no idea if there are any plans for this space now. It is just there. The last thing we need here is more designer flats/ apartments that won't sell due to the economic downturn. We already have a pile of those empty quayside. What we could do with in this space is affordable accommodation mini market/cafe/fishmongers/grocers... anything but an empty space.  As for the ladder it was there for days just propped up against the wall.  I'm clueless about that too but it sort of suits the image, senseless, aimless, going nowhere.  Roll up with those metaphors and analogises.

Road to nowhere?

What is the oddest of all about this is the cleanliness of the place. Usually a space like this has graffiti scrawled over it, beers cans and chip wrappers discarded. Look at it. Almost as  if someone has swept it and washed the walls down.  To be honest I find that a little freaky.  In keeping with the sort of spooky scene I overexposed the sky just to have cast that white blast over the scene to give it an unsophisticated look. It reminds me of '60s British cinema( when we made proper films) when the working class found a voice and we recognised not everyone lives in London wears a bowler hat or is a chimney sweep. Well it would do if it wasn't so freaky clean, er like a film set.

Wish you were here?

Any suggestions what you think this Ramsey waste of space should be maybe like a drop in centre for addicted to toadstools(?) Manx Fairies then do have your say and I'll be sure to put it to tender. 

Read between the lines

Is there anybody out there? Just doing it My way.  Whatever that is.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN - FENODYREE SKYWATCH

From here to Infinity

Skywatch

A magical Manx sky in Ramsey, The Polly Dooey Nature Reserve. A very low ground image looking towards the last remnants of the setting sun.  That's the colour of the sky as it was. No alterations whatsoever.  Perhaps it's so colourful due to the Fenodyree. 

Fenodyree.

A Shy loyal creature who works the land. In return he askd for food and clothing. Don't upset him though my giving him clothing he does'nt approve of. he may leave you for pastures new.

Another snippet of this bonkers island with it's strange tales.  I can think of a least two major selling books that have used a version of the Fenodyree. Let you work out which.

The c

THE MATRIX- (OR WHY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY ARE PRETENTIOUS)

What lies beneath?

Down on the waterfront, it could have a contender for the "Cult of Babooshka's Ramsey Swing Bridge" but nah it's an offer I could refuse. Today we have instead an image that has perplexed me possibly as much as it will you. Why the hell did I take this. Simply an exercise in colour, light, texture and geometry.

It's taken of course on the edge of the harbour walkway, looking directly underneath The Ramsey Swing Bridge entrance. The first thing that struck me was the colour of the metalwork. It's a faded red and matt compared to the images you've seen before above which are deep red gloss paint. The bolsters underneath are covered in verdigris and rusting creating these green, gold orange tints. The moored boats blue and white bounce the light hitting the other side of the bridge rendering a slight purple tinge to the water in the right hand corner against the the true colour of the water in the top left corner which is barely blue. The criss crossing metal work creating form a strange matrix of lines encircling the cylindrical bolster. Each of those sections created by the grid of lines has caught it's own level of light and enhanced, trapped or obscured light to cast differing colours onto the water. No two sections therefore are the same colour. The swan bright white caught centrally has a ring of light water around it due to the light bouncing off him.

The image is a curio, a passing image that could only be taken at that angle due to the walkway edge. Always look above and below so much going on. Like the Matrix the reality on a cold grey day, poor light would be flat, lifeless and real. On a sunny day, at the tight angle the colours and reality are heightened. Use your illusion.

It's not a wall hanging image. I doubt I would tender for sale or commission for use. However if I did this is the kind of pretentious nonsense above that would sell it. It's all true, but does it need saying? Sometimes you just like an image, sometimes you don't. I do because I like the quirkiness. The reality of photography is this month I should have been photographing corporate images of new registration cars for a dealership. Your bog standard side on, head on shots. Got the text today to say that people aren't buying new cars in droves this month. The shoot is postponed until they do. The reality of photography for most photographers is the next shoot, mundane or creative not long drawn out discussions on the virtue of an image. That doesn't pay the bills. So maybe you understand why I make light of this strange way to make a living and sometimes want to blog about anything but photography!

So how was your day?

YELLOW FACTS REFLECTED UPON

They call us Mellow Yellow

ABC - Y is for All about yellow facts, fun and trivia.

The yellow house you see reflected is the one you have often seen in my Sulby River images. I'm not really a  man made yellow fan  but I do like photographing images around the edge of the river here and this house is an anchor to balance many an image. I am however a fan of yellow that occurs in nature, as in Provence.  Van Gogh's chair though is my most favourite man made yellow. You really have to see that chair in the flesh to appreciate it.  Who'd like some yellow facts then?

Yellow Journalism -Exaggerates or sensationalises a journalistic story for profit.

Yellow Peril- Danger, Danger

Yellow Jersey - Tour de France is awarded to the leader at each stage

Yellow - In the English language first use of this spelling, used in the epic Poem Beowulf

Yellow -Thai Solar Calender, wearing of yellow on a monday

Yellow Card - Football/ Soccer warning- red means yo are sent off

Yellow Dog Democrat - Southern voter in America who consistently voted Democrat

Yellow Flag- At sea for the letter Q

Yellow streak- Cowardise

Mellow Yellow- Song about ah that would be telling you find out for yourselves......if you are bananas enough. 

There are indeed a lot of yellow facts, literature, songs, political overtones I could go on here were just a few for you to go and check out the info more in depth.

One more. Don't forget we all live in a Yellow Submarine. It's underneath the geese.

See Mrs Nesbitt for more Abc's, the hostest with the mostest.

ISLE OF MAN TT- MY WORLD

Would you do this?

Isle of Man TT -  My job is photographing events like this.

I am a photographer I sell my images freelance. This year images were sold privately, public, motorbike magazines and for print on strange items for mugs to T.shirts. Who knows you may have my image without even realising it in magazine you picked up at the airport in say Brazil. What though is the TT.

This is very important part of My World.  It is our biggest tourist attraction and my biggest chance to photograph a World Event, over 1000 images in two weeks. My busiest and most profitable time. Next year I am already booked for a magazine and an online website. Click here to see of my images on the blog. All subject to copyright. 

MY WORLD and thank the skywatch gang once again for another inspired idea.