Raves & Rants . . from Penzance

Surfers in crystal clear water It was a bit of a long shot really, to get a photo of a meandering basking shark at sea level from an aircraft 500ft up, doing 100 miles an hour.  So it needed a long lens, duly poked through the opened plane window, a steadying hand against the wind rush, and a firm grip on the camera body to make sure it didn't plummet onto one of the surfers below.   Turns out it's actually quite difficult to shoot a slow moving object from a fast moving one, but with the aid of some very skillful manouevering from the pilot, there were a few shots in the bag at the end of the flight.   I'll put the results up here, and on Ocean-Image.com  after certain publications have publicated over the next couple of days.  But in the meantime, I can share the one above, showing the clarity of the water down here, as some lucky longboarders share a crystal clean wave on a white sand beach. Return to Ocean-Image.com

  This weekend saw Penzance promenade buzzing to the sounds of crowds of people, helicopters and high octane motors as the inaugural P1 Superstock Powerboat Grand Prix got underway.  The two classes of 150 or 300 horsepower boats buzzed the prom at speeds up to 100mph while thousands of spectators lined the seafront in the glorious weather.  This photog went for a spin in one of the boats last week, trying to shoot the driver and navigator from the back seat, nearly losing all my gear, as well as myself,  over the back whilst airborne after hitting some cross chop from another boat. This game is not for the faint hearted. Great sea conditions, sunny weather and a bit of chop for aerial action made for some exciting racing, the two classes eventually won by Premiere Cru in the 150 HP, and Heights of Abraham in the 300HP classes. Top marks to local organisers Cornwall's Coolest and the  Zero Lounge for organising the music tent and the very best in current local bands, i

.....why we live here. Sat, as usual, at the computer screen the other day, cursing the lack of surf and an urgent assignment of bulk photo editing requiring attention, the briefest glimpse of blue outside inspired me to immediately re-prioritise and head out the cliffs with the camera.  A short walk, clear skies and fresh air, and this viewpoint quickly put a different slant on the day. Surely one of the best views in the country ? Return to Ocean-Image.com

Spotted on the side of a chapel in St Ives. Return to Ocean-Image.com

Not really a surf or photography related post, but news of another feast of visual entertainment available at a village hall near you soon.  Following the fortunes of Elspeth Garter, volunteer at the Help the Jaded charity shop, with her assistants Marion and Leonard, the plot twists and turns of the Charity Shop Cabaret go from bizarre to surreal and back again.  All the time trailing a constant stream of laughter, and in one case, a little bit of wee (not mentioning any names though).  Party tricks with After Eight mints, a Michael Jackson Thriller dance and the unforgettable Cup of Tea ceremony all had me creased up.  The top quality writing from Penryn-based Trifle Gathering Productions , in collaboration with Nick Whitby of True West , is, as their website says, set to the classic sounds of their own vintage vinyl resident DJ, Friedo. Included in the entry price is a touch of bingo, which, in their own Charity Shop style, manages to help the evening lift us out of the tedium