RAMSEY HARBOUR, A FILM LOCATION- MY WORLD

On  a not so Clear day

The Isle of Man is often used as film location, sometimes studio work other times outside locations often doubling for many other countries or England of yesteryear.  From Keeping Mom to The Libertine many Hollywood and smaller independent production companies make use of the stunning locations which just happen to be in my world. One of them is the lighthouse above which featured fleetingly in the film On A Clear Day

On a Clear Day is a 2005 comedy/drama film written by Alex Rose and directed by Gaby Dellal. It stars Peter Mullan and Billy Boyd(a former hobbit)

After 36 years working as a labourer in the shipyards on the River Clyde (in Govan, Glasgow), Frank Redmond becomes stagnant and quickly sinks into depression. A naturally strong swimmer, Frank gets an idea while on a 'booze cruise' with his friends to swim the English Channel to France. A simple but heartwarming tale, especially relevant now with so many people thrown on the scrapheap again during this next recession. A movie of hope just to make you smile, and that's not a bad thing is it?

The lighthouse is not the only landmark in Ramsey to feature in this film. Queens Pier also features in the very first sequence and later in the film. Coincidentally it's also featured here for a previous my world, skywatch and abc post.  Click here to see one of those posts.  Just before I started this blog we had a weekend away across in England. On the way to the airport we passed a tent in a field. Nothing special about that you might say. What if I told you that tent had the one and only Burt Reynolds in filming A Bunch of Amateurs. If only I had know I would be doing this blog I would have stopped the taxi to the airport and got the camera out and got his pic. 

Click here to see a list of Isle of Man films

FOR MORE MY WORLD CLICK HERE.

WHAT IS THIS OVER MOORAGH PARK? -MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS

Do you think a cold front means a warm back?

Well I hope you all agree with me this is definitely odd. Taken over Mooragh Park by the entrance form the roadside, I spotted this very strange horizontal set of lines. I have the colour versions too but it was so striking in contrast I knew immediately it would be an ideal black and white and an strange one too.

The feint vertical lines are not rays of light but extremely fine rain, so why was the cloud so light and white? I took this with the little Olympus and no alterations so those shades are as taken. The horizontal lines ran for quite a length either side of this image Looks like the clouds are full of lovely white snow doesn't it, but unfortunately not. No this weird image is quite a common sight here, it's called a "cold front" a weather phenomena .

So there you are. A natural weather occurrence not at all odd when you know what one is but decidedly weird when you don't. We actually get them here a lot usually followed by rain and followed with me and camera as they are ideal photography subjects. I hope the rowers didn't get too wet on the lake. It really did precipitate down fairly soon after this was taken.

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

Want to join the beautiful and creative world of MononchoromeMonday? Then see Aileni at LOOSE ENDS

JACKDAW, RAMSEY HARBOUR- CRITTERS SUNDAY

Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz

Jackdaws, a member of the crow family are a very common birds on the Isle Of Man, especially around Ramsey Harbour. This one settled on the rope lines of a moored boat and seemed to be oblivious to my camera

 and I. Good. It meant I could get an image of the lovely plumage. Note the variety of colours from deep magenta to iridescent blues and greens.  A quick look they look all black but the plumage does have these very subtle change of colours. The throat and back of the head plumage have a lovely shimmering silver grey tone.  This one seemed to be very interested in something, but I have no idea what it was but I can guess it was shiny.

Jackdaws have a reputation like the magpie for theft of precious objects. They are known to have a penchant for shiny objects and swoop down to steal the item that capture their attention and fly off to the safety of their nest or other desired safe place. Fortunately the camera is matt black and I had gloves on so no distracting shiny items for the Jackdaw.  Actually they I have never seen one behave at all badly. Even our garden ones tend to be well behaved and queue for food. In fact I seen tiny siskins and goldfinches chase a Jackdaw away.

or more cute and crazies see MISTY DAWN and her own beauties and others

RAMSEY SWING BRIDGE- INSIDE OUT

It's 14/100 Everyone

What is the surprise shot going to be today? Can you guess. I bet you can't(can).

Here we go again! It's time for the obligatory "Cult of Babooshka's Ramsey Swing Bridge" Image.Today we have reached the grand total of 14. The challenge 100 shots

of the same subject at varying angles, times etc. So here you are.

It's taken from the very heart of the bridge(yes they have hearts, minds and souls) the centre of the pathway, underneath the apex of the arc taking in the pathway and the left hand side arch. Taken around noon on a sunny day to create those interweaving shadows. I included a slither of the right hand arch so you can contextualize the width of the pathway. You can see the raised path/sidewalk on the right and the left is the driveway for cars. Small distance isn't it. I went with black and white as the last few have been colour. You also see locals, yes real live people in the distance chatting or perhaps just waiting for me to take the image so not to be any closer to in the frame. Spoilsports. Either way I sneaked them in so ha ha!

I do like to tone things down after skywatch which is click here is that's the one for you.

Thanks for all the techie advice. I had tried word but no it seems it's IE. I've switched to Safari and the line breaks seem to now be in the right place. For now anyway.

So is anyone else photographing the same subject over and over or am I the only nutter?

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN - SKYWATCH

Poyll Dooey - Sunset Surprise(not really)

Good news a borrowed laptop for a few weeks. Bad news it's behaving very strangely.

A quick sunset over the nature reserve from about a month ago. Not much else to say tonight.

Going to grab a coffee and come back and see if I can get to grips with this laptop. Still converting and uploading images one as and when which is painstaking and boring.

Why is the line break double spaced or cramped I don't know, but's its very annoying. Any ideas anyone.

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

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH STREAMING LIGHT

I see a teeth and tongue

This is the jetty in Ramsey. As simple as that for a subject. The sun was behind the jetty. The tide as you can see was low. The sun high noon sun shone through the jetty slats bouncing the light on the low water creating a white glow. The jetty slats broke the light as it streamed through creating the illusion of the slats being black. Desaturate the image, so taking any colour out which in this case was a slight blue tinge to the water and there you have it, the above image.


Ok it's not that simple! Firstly you have to spot the potential in the subject in the first place. That is what separates photographers from people who take photographs. Composition. So many potentially good images are ruined by poor balancing or setting of the image. Think before you click. Have you got what you want in the right place. Timing. The light was perfect at this time, but only at this time. To get that slither of white swirling shimmering light was at the time of taking the image or not at all. The ensuing tide would have been too reflective casting a white sheet of colour over the water rather than just that central column with the outer edges silver and the slats jet black. Taken once only and desaturated to a monochrome image. No other alteration apart form re size for the blog.


Now it's your turn. Go on and post your results with no photoshop!


Unfortunately I won't be around to answer to many queries. Laptop time is now down to the bear minimum. Emails are on hold. It's why you have another archive from the real photography section. Not so much whether you like it, but to learn from.

V- IS FOR VACANT

Pretty Vacant

V - Is for vacant

Now there's no point in asking you'll get no reply, (just like Isle of Man Newspapers!), honestly no one's out to lunch as no one is at home. This is just another empty property I have come across on my travels around Ramsey, Lezayre Road in fact. If anyone was looking for prime spot in Ramsey to rent a flat(apartment for my American friends) then I would suggest here. A minute from the Swan pub, Shoprite Supermarket, The library in fact you could watch the Isle Of Man TT Races from the window. Any takers?


It really is rotten luck that a lovely building such a this should be lain to waste. On the other it makes a great photo opportunity. With the credit crunch now it's just a vicious circle of pretty vacant properties like this beauty awaiting a tenant or buyer while falling into ruin, then becoming to expensive to restore etc. I've no illusions about the romance of buildings such as these. Yes perfect for photographers, but I'd much rather it was restored and converted into affordable housing even if that means making it into a bland faceless facade. Unfortunately accommodation is paramount not my photographs.

This image is a month old. Still no laptop and my borrowing time is now down to a minimum. Some of you may have noticed I have had a little fun with this post.


To view the road this property is on, click below


Lezayre Road
Foootbridge

Mrse nesbitt is the lady of letters.