Raves & Rants . . from Penzance

Went up to the Cornwall Outdoors centre today to photograph writer Fi Read and family trying out their indoor climbing wall. AMongst other outdoor lunacy, they also had to do this mad 'Leap of Faith'. And since they'd done it, they thought the photographer ought to have a go too .... Photos courtesy of Fi. Thanks Fi. Just keep your eye on the ball, and jump. Return to Ocean-Image.com

A company is planning to widen the lighthouse pier in Penzance, to build a small passenger terminal and aid freight handling for the Scillonian ferry. However, to accomplish the build of what will be essentially a lorry turning area, will involve concreting over a beach, rockpools and other marine habitats on the promenade in Penzance. Apart from the obvious eyesore, the whole project is totally unnecessary, as alternative, more environmentally friendly options for improvement are readily available. (And with greater savings to the public purse). Check the details out here http://www.friendsofpzharbour.org/ I've written in to the local paper, the Cornishman ::: Dear Sir RE: Scilly link development in Penzance (Cornishman recent issues) It is appalling to think that concreting over a vast swathe of rocks and the secluded beach near Battery Rocks is the best way of ‘securing’ the Scillies link. The rock pools and pebble beach there have long been family areas, perfect for youngsters ...

There's nothing better than sitting down and watching a surf movie in a real cinema. Waves just look spectacular on a big screen, rather than squinting at the scratchy output at home from your shonky old video player. Especially when there's loads of like minded surfers hanging out there too, for mucho surf banter. Check out these sessions being run once a month in St Ives by The Surfscreen . There's a range of different films that should cover your wave riding vehicle of choice. Full screen surf porn, why wouldn't you go? Return to Ocean-Image

I was going swim out and shoot surf with top water photographer Tony Plant today, if only I didn't have to drive away to shoot Tony Blair . . . . . . . . . . There were some cranking barrels to be had at this little secret spot today. Tony was there with Ben Skinner . I would have gone in, if only I didn't have leave to do a portrait session with our now-almost-forgotten ex-Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Not the real one, though, you understand. A lookalike, John Brolly , who has impersonated him in films, videos, and famously for Alison Jackson's classic set of faked photos. He has travelled all over the globe making appearances on the back of it. Work must be tough now Gordon has got in ! John now holds the unenviable position of Mock Mayor of the Quay, as part of the Golowan Festival . Sorry can't put up my pictures of him until after the magazine has published, but keep an eye on Cornwall Today. So preferring barrels to politics, I went back to the secret spot, and...

In case you're wondering where I've been, I've actually been here, sat at my computer, struggling to learn strange languages over the dark winter nights. The finer points of HTML and PHP are still miles away from my conscious mind, but the end result will be the new Ocean-Image website, which is readying itself for launch in the near (or not so near) future. Having learnt the equivalent of 'Dos cervezas, por favor' in these languages, I have been able to mould, shape and buff the new site into a multi-paged click-fest of visual pleasure, albeit at a snail's pace. The end, or rather the start, is now in sight (site, geddit?) and a bright new dawn of sumptuous oceanic photography will be upon us. The good news is that it will feature not only seascapes from yours truly, but also offerings from some of the UK's best and biggest names in surf and water photography. I have seen these pictures already, and believe me, there is a lot of pleasure to be had. Here...

Since it only snows about once every twenty years down here in the far south west of England, you have to get out and about with the camera quickly, as the snow tends to disappear quickly. This day saw me drinking coffee in warm, bright, snow-free sunshine on the south coast, and then sliding all over the road in a blizzard on the north coast about ten minutes later. I carried on to St Ives to get some 'surfers on a snow covered beach' type shots, only to find it also bathed in bright sunshine. Honestly, us Brits would have nothing to talk about if it weren't for the weather. Return to Ocean-Image