Rainbow Journeyman’s diary

Even Rainbow Journeymen occasionally go to their Alpha Mata’s to re-educate themselves to what other people do with Cameras. (Ok…. so I attended our local Phoenix Camera club meeting.) It is always a good venue. The range of people who do go and their talents, are impressive.

Even Greg, who has a skill well beyond being a “Git Biker” (His words not mine) excels. His Hartland Abbey shots are stunning. George too, just to show that Cameras aren’t just the province of the young, has developed his interest into new digital fields having been a stolid film user for many years. He’s a tad over 80 is our George and a more popular well liked person you’d have a problem to find. Then, I could not help but mention Richard. He too works hard for his pictures, winning competition after competition by sheer hard work and his attention to detail.

It is also interesting to see what other, better, photographers can do with portraits. I escape from being criticised here as we, as a Rainbow Team, do not do portraits. No special reasons other than our, joint, liking for the great outdoors. And a love for what nature can do to give us, as Rainbow Journey men/woman, new material each time we venture forth.
And for those of you who don’t understand our love affair with Devon and Cornwall let me explain. Peasants! (I jest)

Recently, at the request of one of our Daughters we went North. Oop North! (Big family do for Christenings etc.)
You know the kind of thing. Tons of posh nosh and clever drinkies with your pinky sticking out. (No Madam,… I did say Pinky) And a load of people who hadn’t met each other for years, living as they do so far Oop Country. So we did it big style. (Give another Kipper to the cat, etc!)
But before we left there was Money changing, passports and border controls, all to be considered. A trip to the Doctors to check that we had had our black water, and Yellow fever jabs. Packed the mosquito nets and malaria tablets and “girding our loins” (That really is a stupid saying) set off. Or is it orf. One can never tell nowadays.
Now at the risk of upsetting those of you that live there, I am sure that Lancashire is a beautiful County. And the Lake district more so. And, after the Christening, that took place with a very very nice service supervised by Punk Vicar in St-Annes-on-Sea, we decided, as Rainbow explorers, that we should go Oop to the Lakes. Now this is rare. I do’t have a particular head for heights and this was seriously North. But we went anyway. Who dares sins and all that old clap trap.
But, be warned, we are time served adopted Devonians on loan from Devon. And Devon is a hard act to follow. And I hate to say it, in Lancahire and the Lakes we were like Turtles on the beach without our shells. Nice area but…………………….
“Hm, I here you say. What does that mean. Lytham is wonderful. Look at the golf course. Are you blind, those Lakes are magnificent?”
OK, ok, so I agree. But…………, but its difficult to put it together in words, unless you have been living down here in Devon and Cornwall for as long as our Rainbow Team. We have talked about this belonging, in other bloggs, and I can explain it best by telling you that we are a multi cultural society in Devon and Cornwall.
Oh yes we are. (And, yes we do let the Welsh live here. They are nice people. Honest)
Remember………..Devon and Cornwall has always soaked up people from all popints in history, and supplied in return a wonderful ambience for living.
If you need more food for thought, remember, that over the centuries you can take a serious look at the number of wrecks that floundered on the craggy rocks of these magnificent coast lines. Wrecks that have spewed forth survivors who staggered up through the surf, arriving wet and bedraggled into the clutches of our local village communities; first to be searched for any wealth or contraband whilst they were still groggy, then to be gleefully grabbed, greedily, by the local village maidens, marched backwards to the local church. (Whilst still groggy) Taught to say “I do” by a big brother. Adding to, in their turn, intelligent multi talented, (Most important) imported, breeding stock.
All of which was a direct challenge to the other available bachelors,…….. the village idiots. Now these poor souls were the end result of too much inbreeding by the original Landed gentry. And, in the face of this challenge from the sea they would have left the community hot foot to get away from these virile mariners by going into the big city. Which is probably now the reason why we have so many mealy mouthed politicians feeding off us in Parliament. (Ooh did I say that. How naughty! Slap wrist.

So in a nut shell. Devon and Cornwall, steeps itself into your soul and you cannot think of living anywhere else. Every one you ask, from no matter where in the country, who has come to live in the South West, all say the same thing. They would not go back.

So Devon and Cornwall hold onto our hearts and minds. And I will give you an example of what I mean. (”Oh no not again.” I hear you cry.) When we go out all kitted up to do a shoot there are sheer volumes of wonderful places to go see and digitally record. So many beautiful places to choose that leave us with problems the night before; poring over maps and routes to decide where and by what road we intend to approach the chosen area. If you have read my previous Bloggs you will understand. It’s all to do with photographic light and time of day. And time of year. After all is said, these are Rainbow Journeys. A quick dash to a spot on the map followed by a scrabble for pictures is not our style.
In our travels we choose carefully, trying to keep a reasonable balance between the places we have travelled to before, and the type of images we have used on our site.

You can see the results and remember we always welcome your input if you think that we have missed something important to do with these beautiful counties or to your area.

More soon

Mike Tyrrell for Rainbow Journeys