It was Wordsworth who declared that ’poetry was emotion recollected in tranquillity’.

In similar fashion, photography could perhaps be described as ’memories recollected in tranquillity’ - the visual records of those major events in one’s life creating emotions such as happiness, joy, sadness or pleasure involving weddings, our children and grandchildren, holidays or travel to places far and near.

The pleasure of reviewing an image and remembering the occasion on which it was taken is a particular enjoyment of photography - though perhaps easier in the days when the 36 exposures from a film developed at Boots were eagerly reviewed and shared with the family or later seen in an album rather than on a computer monitor or mobile phoneâ?¦. But that’s another story!

Given our ongoing travel difficulties, looking through one’s photo albums is possibly rather saddening - but foreign travel in particular has always been a great opportunity to appreciate the different cultures and lifestyles of places abroad as well as an opportunity for photography.

I was lucky enough to live in Dubai in the 1970s - shortly after the oil price rose significantly and which enabled major economic development, but long before the hectic building activity and the ’bling’ of Dubai today.

The two images accompanying this article date from that time - one shows traditional Arab racing dhows with their lateen sails, the wind broad on the beam allowing the boats to sail at their fastest.

At the time, these races involving 20 or more of the dhows would take place two or three times a year, always in the summer, and provide a wonderful sight for spectators whether ashore or on the water.

The other shows the child jockeys used in Dubai camel racing at that time.

They were used because of their light weight - a practice which was banned in 2002 and today robot jockeys are often used instead.

The children, often as young as six or seven and usually from Balochistan (Pakistan’s largest province, bordering Iran) would pilot the camels to great excitement over a course up to 10 kilometres long.

Whilst gambling was officially banned on religious grounds, owning a winning camel carried considerable local esteem as well as major monetary prizes.

The very best camels meantime, were worth millions of pounds, and enjoyed air conditioned accommodation, special diets and only the very best of facilities!

The Isle of Man Photographic Society will shortly be commencing our weekly Wednesday evening meetings, the first meeting being on October 7 when our Annual Prints competition (delayed from April earlier this year) will be judged by Pat Tutt, herself a well qualified and well known local photographer.

All meetings currently start at 7.30pm and all will be given a very warm welcome.

If these articles have been interesting and perhaps even stimulated a wish to know more, or to develop your skills in photography, our members are always willing to provide advice and assistance.

Full details of our programme can be found on the website www.iomps.com or on our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you at one of our meetings.

Chris Blyth