This weeks image for the Monochrome Madness Challenge comes all the way from Leighlinbridge in County Carlow. And yes it is called Black Castle, not to be mistaken for the Black Castle from Game of Thrones, but equally fascinating. I have found myself continuously shooting religious sites for quite a while now, and to be honest I am growing tired from it. Dont get me wrong I do enjoy shooting these places, but my real passion lies with Castles and Neolithic sites. They have a special appeal for me which I cant explain. So consider this weeks image a sneak-peak of things to come. It is now my mission to hunt down more of these sites that really appeal to me.
I took this particular shot from across the river Barrow, which shows both the Castle and the Bridge for which it was built to protect. Sadly the skies were not particularly favourable for shooting, so this image required some work in RAW to recover as much detail as possible. So that’s it for this weeks contribution, you can as always check out the rest of this weeks MMC images which will go live some time later today over on Leanne Cole’s Blog, depending on your time zone. Every week you will find contributions from from photographers around the globe. So whether you are looking for inspiration or have a bit of a thing for black & white photography lie I do, you know were to find it. 🙂
To see more of these images, why not visit my Website or join me on Facebook or Twitter.
Ed Mooney Photography 
Gorgeous!
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Thank you Von, really glad you liked it 🙂
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You’re welcome! The water seems to look alive, like it’s a creature more than a liquid. Wonderfully done. 🙂
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This photo is so great, it makes me wish I were there!
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Thanks Maria, glad to hear 🙂
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So beautiful!
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Glad you liked it 🙂
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Amazing!
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Thank you Rajiv 🙂
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I thought that was the Charles Bridge in Prague for a minute
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I see what you mean, one of my favorite European cities. Sadly When I was last there, I was not into photography. Would love to return with my camera 🙂
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Very nice work here Ed – I have been out of town (yes, shooting of course) and have not been able to comment as much as I normally do with images – I do like the way the water mirrors the sky and the overall great tone of darkness (storm warning) that it projects.
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Thanks Robert, I thought you might have been. I got out on the road myself. The skies were almost none existant in this shot, so I had my work cut out to bring out the detail even with the CPF on the lense. Eventually I had to go back to the raw file and do some work in ACR, but it worked.
Thankfully as the day progressed the sky got better 🙂
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A testament to those who do not shoot RAW – recovery, recovery!
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Aint that the truth 🙂
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This is an amazing image! – Such a brilliant gothic feel
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Thank you Kathy, its just a sneak peak. And was the last shot I took of the castle. I really wanted to show its purpose in protecting the bridge over the river. Hope to have a full article with some more shots up next week 🙂
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Beautiful work Ed. I’de still like to do a “Featured Photographer” post of you soon. Please send me some information about your craft. Send to theblogidentity@gmail.com. Thanks!
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Thank you, That would be cool, is their anything in particular you would like. I have done a few pieces recently online and a magazine. Let us know whatever you need and I can put something together for you.
You can reach me at edmooneyphotography@gmail.com
Eddie
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Ed that is such an amazing picture! The brooding atmosphere of Castle Black and the storm looming overhead… the drama is overwhelming! Makes me want to write a story!
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Go on I dare ya…………
Shame I could not get access so I only have some external shots. Just starting to research its history now, I love these places, who knows what I will find out?
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Just means you’ll have to go back another time!
I’m looking forward to what you dig up in your research… have fun! Research can be really frustrating and/ or really exciting!
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Probably not, the castle is on private lands, and from what I have found out so far, they aint into having visitors!!!
Now Im actually more interested in reading your story, will it be a siege, a haunting or a treasure hunt?
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A-ha! Maybe none of the above! It will have to wait till I get back from my hols! But why don’t you have a go? Sounds like you got some great ideas there…
Shame the Black’s of Black Castle don’t welcome visitors; makes me wonder what they’re trying to hide?
Bloody private owners, eh… how dare they protect their privacy lol!!!
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Cheek of them, perhaps I may have to storm the castle myself, LOL. Not sure that my creative writing skills would be up to it, if at all. So I might leave that to (you) the experts 🙂
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Haha! I have honestly never reached a point in my life where I have achieved sufficient knowledge or ability to call myself an expert at ANYTHING!
There are lots of people who know a lot of stuff about a lot of things, but personally, I have found the more I learn, the more I realise I don’t know, and the more I doubt what I actually have learned so far… still with me? Lol!
Maybe that’s a bit deep for a sunny Wednesday morning!
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Not at all, I agree completely. You can never stop learning , be it Writing, Photography, Sports or whatever. So lets just say, you got alot more experience than I 🙂
So keep writing, I will keep reading, and perhaps I might learn something 🙂
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And right back at ya!
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You got it 🙂
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LOVE the processing 🙂
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Thank you Sarah, it was touch n go for a while,to recover the sky, but I think It worked out well 🙂
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It really did! Punchy 🙂
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Fantastic image Ed 🙂
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Thank you Joe, much appreciated 😉
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All I can think is Ominous! Wonderful image Eddie.
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Thanks Laura, it all paid of in the end, I should have the full set up next week but I think this is my favourite 🙂
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Cool! I’ll look forward to them.
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What a work of art! It’s an intensely interesting landscape that just keeps the eye moving, drawing the observer deeper and deeper into the ominous mood. The sky is so rich. The light behind the clouds deepens the darkness. And the light under the second underpass on the bridge really draws attendtion to the architecture of the bridge. Nice that the black castle is the blackest in the water.
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Thank you Cheryl, It nearly didn’t happen. The skies were not favourable that morning, but I managed to recover some detail thankfully. This was my last shot and I wanted to get the bridge for which the castle was built to protect and the reflection in the river. Thankfully it all worked out 🙂
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very impressive in BW, the cotrasti and light so well in balance.
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Thank you, glad you liked it 🙂
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Great entry! Love the reflections 😊
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Thank you, much appreciated 🙂
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This one is definitely a favourite with that ominous Irish sky and the reflection!! I love it!
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Cheers Cybele, taken on a smartphone 🙂
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