Paula over at Lost in Translation runs a weekly Black and White Sunday challenge. I have been intending to write some posts about the castles and priories I have visited in Wales, but like other posts, I haven’t quite got around to them yet. But when I saw this week’s theme I thought about the ruins I have photographed and which, to me anyway, always convey that moody atmosphere which clings to ancient buildings. You can almost hear the chanting of the monks, the slap of leather sandals on Welsh slate floors, the swish of robes through the Cloister and the murmur of voices in the Chapter House where the ‘Black Canons’ assembled each morning.
And of course the background of the Welsh hills and the glowering clouds in a wet January only serve to enhance the mood.
Suitably moody and dark, Jude. If I took a B+W photo of my house this morning (through the torrential rain) I am sure it would look equally sinister, given the bleakness in Beetley today.
(And the shed has flooded again. Carlisle, I can now empathise…)
Regards as always, Pete. x
So much for the driest county! Perhaps you are just in the wrong part of Norfolk? Sun out here now, and much colder and windy.
Shed flooded again overnight, Jude. Perhaps it is just me? Remember Little Plum? He always had a cloud following him…
Oooh………love this one, Jude! Very moody indeed, and your words add to the eeriness of this scene. 😯
Ruined castles etc always have that effect on me!
You should definitely host a challenge at my place some day. This is the moodiest one so far 🙂 Thanks, Jude. Hope your year started well.
Thank you Paula, I am thrilled that you like this one 🙂
It’s a pity that the dissolution leftso may monasteries in ruins, but they still have their beauty.
Yes, old Henry certainly altered the course of history in this country.
It is very moody and lends itself well to black and white. I bet it’s riddles with ghosts!
Don’t you find these places always feel like they are? Not that I believe in ghosts as such, but the history sort of seeps through the place.
I think this is a wonderfully dramatic photo – and those monks are being quite noisy with their slapping sandals and swishing robes! 🙂
Not to mention the chanting!
Indeed! 🙂
Like this a lot, Jude! Yes, you should host a challenge for Paula. It could help promote your Garden challenge and it’s not like you don’t have the expertise. 🙂
I just stopped by to link your beautiful Wisley lights to my walk for next week, before I forget with so much going on.
I find all these ruins very moody. I have some rather nice photos of Whitby Abbey that still needs writing about! So many blog posts in my head! I have discussed hosting a challenge with Paula but it will be too late in the year for the Garden challenge. Maybe I will have to come up with another one next year?/*!?/*!?
Good grief! It must be forever since you were at Whitby Abbey! Get a wiggle on! Come on- don’t be giving me those ‘moving’ excuses 🙂 🙂
November 2008 I think, so actually longer ago than I thought! Oops! I have also several Welsh castles to post too… Maybe I need to stop taking photos for a year and just use the archives to create posts from. That might work.
I thought you were going to say ‘maybe I should stop talking so much’… 🙂 🙂 But then, I’d end up talking to myself 😦
Hahaha… you have LOTS of people to talk to apart from me. But perhaps not talking would give me more time. NO, that’s not going to happen.Most of my pleasure from blogging comes from the banter exchanged with other bloggers and visiting their blogs. Every day is different 🙂
I agree Jude this very moody photo gives me the shivers. Definitely perfect for the challenge.
Of course in colour it is rather less moody, though the only colours around there was the dull green of the hills and the brown of dead bracken.
Black and white really brings out the moodiness of ruins, and the angle you have taken it from enhances its over powering atmosphere.
Thank you PP 🙂