Rainbow Journeyman’s diary

Now, as I was saying, or perhaps I wasn’t but meant to, Shirley and Tony deserted us last year to go and live in some foreign climes. A place where there is a load of Bull and Culture and hot weather. Tony never could stand the cold. He reckoned his ex, army surplus, camouflaged thermals used to itch like crazy during the winter months. As the boss… after Shirley, he decided that they should desert our little community; lock stock and Patch.
Now Patch is worth a mention. He is an enigma among dogs. Patch does not think that he is a dog. He’s a dogman with a wicked sense of humour and a love of life. A bit cranky to look at. God in his wisdom had a few spare dog bits over and he gave them to Patch to play with. And somehow they work. With his winning ways, he is adorable; with true devotion to his master and the boss. When he found they were leaving: with a more than his usual dogmatic attitude he packed his bikini, dog bowl and throwing bone (Don’t ask) and left with the family to a far flung place where they deal in weird currencies and talk odd like Manuel from Fawlty Towers. (No offence, we are all fond of Manuel) They, of course, seem to be enjoying it. Which is our loss. But Shirley, I am asked to pass this on. They tell me that the local nudist leap frog team will never be the same.
Now, the point of mentioning this is simple. In the early days of picture taking for Rainbow Journeymen (See Bedruthan Steps) we had the pleasure of Shirley and Tony for what was to be almost, I think, their last supper with us. The odd rusk and a bottle of some evil brew that was donated from whence I know not. (Schluck I think) Anyway as she was leaving Shirley saw one of our digital cameras and, to cut a long discussion short, was talked into taking a picture of a bowl of fruit. Nice picture Shirley!!

Now we can’t go making a woman a Rainbow Journeyman can we? The gender bit is wrong. Sorry Shirley I peeped. But I have to admit, if there was to be a title that deserved to be given, Shirley would have the first bite. Talented at that.

To continue.
Recently T & S went onto an even stranger holiday journey…. foreign, foreign….Bulgaria, Balham, Cambodia or Wandsworth Common or something. (Patch stayed at home) In her latest e-mail highlighting their decadence, Shirley admitted that she and Tony had taken over 1,000 pictures. We had samples. Magic. Which proves my point in other blogs. From smaller starts we can all go on and take stunning pictures making history as we go. Little acorns and all that.

That of course brings me to the point of Rainbowjourneymen. History is in the making take a good browse through our site. Look at Boscastle. The white buiding with the funny roof was washed away. (Now being rebuilt) The town devastated. And, more to the point, some stunning pictures that you cannot buy elswhere to grace the walls of your cave. We can print these for you to nearly a metre square. Breathtaking.

Last year we went to Padstow to do a shoot (see www.rjsw.co.uk) Padstow, out of season, is magic. The whole place comes alive with real characters of the first order. People who are more relaxed now that they are not playing to the tourist trade. Proper job people. Fishermen, shop keepers, tradesmen (Women too). But the point is, if you take a serious look at the harbour in my last sets of pictures you will see that it was frozen. Yup, the seagulls did not have “walk on water boots.” That was real ICE!! But the light was incredible!
This year we were back again. You’ll see these picture when we have caught up with our new web design.

Now lets change the subject. Gone are the days when, as the film wrap told you, you put the sun over your shoulder….faced the subject square on and….. (At this point your subject squints like Lez Dawson used to. He was wonderful wasn’t he?) then let the sun light your subject. Under the glare of this big fiery orb your subject looked like it was competing for and winning the raisin of the year award. The eyes are none existent. The rictus grin complete with the sun dried teeth. Don’t beleive me? Dig out some of your earlier holiday photographs. We have. Nine times out of ten we prevail. Most look like the munsters. The tenth? OK, Cecil Beaton so you were one of the exceptions.
Now equipped with modern lenses, digital cameras, and light meters, (And thirty years experience) we shoot into the sun, with the sun, and under the sun; on our backs and hanging by our fingernails. The results we believe are special.

Reflected light is also a gift that many ignore. Its effect can be surreal. Shoot a subject twice at different times of day and you get completely differing results. One picture will have a wow factor the other will be, just that, a picture. So planning comes into our journeys as well. As does a map and a compass. Oh and that invaluable aid to navigation….. a tide table. God alone knows in his wisdon how they work that out, but they do.

Of course here at our Rainbow offices, we get pictures from all over the word. My lovable sister in Canada is always surprising us with cracking shots of an Oohmagooleybird, or a doowhat, doing what it does as it has its photo taken; or a picture of some such other species that we have no hope of seeing… although with global warming…who knows. And sunsets, sunsets that leave you mesmerised. Bless, she’s good but far away and she does have a disability that prevents her from becoming a Rainbow Journeyman. She’s a girl. Wrong gender. No kicking now…it’s only humour!!

That’s yer lot for today. More later this week once I have done my tax returns… ouch!!

Mike Tyrrell for www.rainbowjourneyman-southwest.co.uk