MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS - SHOULD THIS BE A BLACK AND WHITE IMAGE?

If you were here for critters yesterday you will have seen the colour version of this shot. Normally any one of the three above, bee, butterfly or plant you would see in glorious colour. When all three appear in one shot( serendipity again, the photographer's best friend) it would seem foolish not to take advantage and produce the natural colour shot. Note I said natural colour, not manipulated colour. Nature shots, should not have tweaked colour, otherwise they they become unatural images. Anyway back to the point.


It's monochrome yes, but is it odd. For the reasons above it is odd to see an image like this in greyscale. The mind's eye immeadiately would have you snap this image in colour. Some of you will be mentally adding the tones and hues as you view and will prefer the colourful one below this post. For those who are more interested in other aspects of photography you will not be veiwing the subjects as nature, but as shapes, tones, light and contrast. Is the composition of the subject more noticeable in colour or monochrome for instance? Do you see more for the lack of colour or does this image confuse you and you need the colour in the right places to view the image?

There is no right or wrong answer. Some of us prefer colour some of us prefer none. There are myths that an image shot in black and white is an instant classic, timeless professional shot. Not so. A bad shot is a bad shot, whatever format it is shot in. This image was composed and shot in colour and black and white for two very different projects I'm working on. I know which one I prefer, and I know why. That though is my personal opinion, and professional opinion. My veiws I will keep to myself.

The daily photo project and the nemes are fun blogs and posts that just show a snapshot of our lives/ towns/ work/ family/ etc. I will say this again, but please remember not everyone out there is professional, has the right equipment or is even remotely interested in a discussion on photography. I posted this image today as a request from someone who follows the blog staunchly and has had a few problems with the black and white versus colour issue. I may be a photographer, but essentially this is a daily blog so this Brad this is for you. Now let's get back to snapshots and quirkiness of Ramsey.

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PULL UP A CHAIR - MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS

Yes this is the famous abandoned chair in the nature reserve, but a different shot. It's monochrome and it's odd. Simple. The text is very hard hitting today.

We've had far to many pretty pictures on this blog recently that I thought we'd get back to reality and have the uglier side of life again. The photographer in me knew straight away that this was going to be snapped as an example of the odd shot concept. The other side of me though,
well got really angry about this.

On so many levels this image is wrong! The image was taken yet again in the nature reserve. The reserve as I have often stated is a haven for wildlife. It is not a landfill site, dumping ground, or recycling bin. Obviously some idiot out there blatantly disagrees. Now, I know I spend a lot of time over here, but that does not give me the right to pull up a abandoned chair to study the wildlife. This really angers me! For a start, if you want to get rid of it hire a skip and dispose of it.
Why would you go to the trouble of dragging the chair through the brambles onto a designated wildlife area. The other thing is, the chair itself seemed in not to bad condition. What was wrong with donating it to a local charity to get it cleaned and refurbished. I'm sure a poor soul in need of
such an item would gladly give this poor chair a home. As for the child's toy buggy, the same applies. How do we know that wouldn't have made some kids day to receive that, which another had so easily discarded.

We live in a very selfish age. There really is no need for this kind of unsociable behaviour. These abandoned items are a danger to wildlife and a missed opportunity on the recycling front. Charity is supposed to begin at home. So maybe next time you have a item you no longer need try your neighbour, charity shop, homeless centre, or recycling plant. Whoever you are that did this, I hope you and your new shiny sofa are siting very uncomfortably right now!

This is as much Ramsey as the sunsets. Some people are scared of the truth appearing on their own blog so I know I can print this in the knowledge this will not be ripped off as it's not pretty. Some people too would prefer to gloss over these issues. No, we need to address them in order to recognise what is wrong so we can correct it. Like many of the other Isle of Man problems, like the economic downturn, rising unemployment, dwindling tourist industry and yes the nepotism.
The right people for the right job. Improve what is poor, do not ignore it. Helping each other, not hijacking their ideas. Enough said. Bad day, very disappointed with certain quarters, and have learnt the hard way not to help others, and it really is who you know, not merit talent or work ethic that is the way to get on. This I needed to say in order for me to get back into blog mode and indeed picking up the camera.

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MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS - HANDS OFF IT'S MY BALL

This image will not be to everyone's taste, but I know some of you out there will get a kick out of it, the arty sport shot. A combined theme shot again. Obviously it's black and white, so that covers the monochrome and hopefully the odd part of the shot speaks for itself. Needless to say this is personally one of my favourite images to date I've posted.

I'm working on a a couple of Ramsey related projects at the moment that are going to be a little time consuming so my blog visits time may be limited. I am on the verge of a turning point professionally and need to concentrate on a few Ramsey related projects that will need my fullest attention. I may also have to curb my advice, ideas and help for a while too and it's time to follow up on some suggestions and offers I have had recently concerning my work. You may also notice the images have reverted back to a smaller size. This is simply to protect them from being used by others without my permission. I know this all sounds a little cloak and dagger but the blog is a work in progress, my words, my ideas, my images about Ramsey are to be used at my discretion, not for others to take the credit. Ramsey is my town, this is my blog.

On a lighter note tomorrow Tue. 7th Oct. will be my 200th post. Join me for an ideas session of things you'd like to know about Ramsey or links you'd like. There is so much more to show you but sometimes when you walk past something everyday you may not think to photograph it. The beach, the park, the shops, the pubs, the Manx signs, the churches, I could go on. So today, just comments on this image. Tomorrow your ideas and comments on the next 200 posts would be welcome and appreciated.


One for Ramsey residents, a message. Dig out those electric blankets for testing soon. It's free remember to have them tested but priceless for peace of mind.

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SO LONG TO THE PONDI - MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS

One day you walk past the familiar sight of the Estate affectionately known as the "Pondi" in Ramsey, the next day this is what you see. In fact today these houses no longer exist. A pile of of demolished rubble stands in the place of what were once a proportion of Ramsey residents homes. To me, who is using to passing this place to get home the image is odd, very odd.

The Pondi contained an Estate of houses known as "Commissioners houses. "To Uk readers you may be more familiar with the term "Council Houses." I am not sure what the equivalent would be in other parts of the world, or even if this type of housing exists in this form elsewhere. Council Housing is a form of accommodation that is owned by the local Council authority and rented out to tenants on long term lets(lifetime in some people's cases) at a low rental. They are not Private sector rentals. The idea was to abolish the slum landlords and overcrowding and provide the working class or lower income families with affordable habitable accommodation. This enabled people to pay a lower rent with a view to purchasing their own home in subsequent years, then relinquishing the property to new tenants and continuing the cycle to provide a step on the mortgage ladder for all. With the boom and bust nature of the world at the moment, we need more of these, yet none are being built. All I will say before I go into a rant.

The Pondi is no more!A new lovely housing Estate has been built to replace it closer to the town centre.The residents then have thankfully been rehoused. What though is to become of this area? I have heard many theories, and conjecture. I will hold fire until I get the definitive answer. I know many people who started life here and who will probably look back fondly. I hope the demolition of the Pondi is a positive step forward for Ramsey and that the land is utilised accordingly for the good of the community. I know it's not the prettiest mono oddshot, but I like photojournalism and historical documentation images and I don't get the change in Ramsey to do them often. Life isn't all sunsets after all.

Does this kind of housing exist in your part of the world?

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SMOKER'S ALLEY - MONONOCHROME ODDSHOTS MONDAY

It's Oddshot Monochrome combination again. I'm enjoying these two nemes together immensely as I have to challenge the grey matter and purposely take shots for this day only. It also means I can sneak in perhaps a real gritty slice of Ramsey life. This is the alley, back of Taubman Street, I usually take the Isle Of Man TT photos from. Well the opposing end anyway. This is the back of the little CO OP shop.

Until the island went non smoking in public places indoors these two inviting plastic white chairs (note the fag packet and discarded fag ends underneath the right hand chair) would have been an extremely odd sight on a cold wet Autumn day down a nondescript down town Ramsey back alley. Now though it's a commonplace sight to see the empty chairs awaiting the smoking ladies from the CO OP to partake of their smoking break, with a hot beverage and a little light conversation.

Ramsey has adjusted to the non smoking in public places indoors regulations very well. Even those die hard pubs that were awash with a layer of cigarette fog patrons seem to have coped well. Smokers adorn the pub doorways and back alleyways have those telltale signs like half full fag packets under empty chairs.

Do you have the same policy in your area?

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