Here we are with yet another week of the Challenge. The last five weeks have flown by, and I got some more great images for you to see. This week we travel around England, Ireland, Scotland and then across Europe to Sicily. As always Im like a kid in a sweet shop and immediatly start googling these sites as they come in to find out all about their history. But as you all know, the Ruinhunter is a bit of a geek when it comes to such things. From the early Saxon Cross from Bakewell in Derbyshire to the Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye. We then move on to the Neolithic Long Barrow of Wayland’s Smithy in Oxfordshire before travelling across the Irish Sea and down to Killarney National Park to see the famous Muckross Abbey. And with the winter chill slowly creeping in on us, we head off to a warmer climate to see the Greek Theatre of Taormins and Porto Palo in Sicily, before heading back to the Emerald Isle to Donadea Castle in Kildare. As always the sole purpose of this challenge is to raise peoples awareness to the fact that our little world is filled with fantastic history and heritage, which is sadly forgotten about and ignored or destroyed. If you missed out on last week’s instalment of the Challenge, then you can check it out HERE.
But before we continue, I would like to make an announcement.
The end of next month is Samhain/Halloween, the Gaelic New Year celebration. Which is universally celebrated on the 31st of October. So as part of this years celebrations, on the back of the ‘Capturing History Challenge’ I would like to run an extra Spooktacular Challenge on the 31st October. Its going to be the same as the current weekly challenge, BUT all submissions must have a spooky historical connection. It could be a Haunted House, A Vampire’s Castle, a Witches Lair or anything that you can think of. Im hoping that this is going to be huge, so get your thinking caps on and you can begin submitting your images from today. In order to make sure that the Spooktacular Challenge is ready for Samhain, please try to have your image sent in no later than Midnight on Monday 26th October. Entries to the usual address edmooneyphotography@gmail.com
1. Early Saxon Cross & Carved Stones, Derbyshire, UK. By Sue Vincient @ Daily Echo
2. Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye, Scotland By Cybele Moon @ The RunesOfAGateKeepersDaughter
3. Long Barrow of Wayland’s Smithy, Oxfordshire, UK by Cameron McCulloch @ WorldsBiggestFridgeMagnet
4. Muckross Abbey, Killarney, Ireland. by Autumn Wagner @ Autumnchangesblog
5. Greek Theatre Taormina & Porto Palo Sicily. by GiusyB @ KimomoLab
6. Donadea Castle, Kildare, Ireland. by Ed Mooney @ EdMooneyPhotography
Donadea Castle is situated on the grounds of Donadea Forest Park and was first settled by the Normans whom had numerous fortifications here over the years. The ruins of the current structure were actualy built by the same guy whom built the Folly on the Hill of Allen, Gerald Aylmer the 9th Baronet of Donadea. You can read all about its history HERE
And so thats it for this week, I hope that you have enjoyed this weeks selection of images. Many of the contributors will have this included on their own blog, so if any or all of the sites this week appeal to you, please feel free to drop a line in the comments section below. Or even better yet, click on the link located underneath each image and check out what they are up too. Im sure that they would be only too happy to hear from you and answer any questions you might have.
So here is how you too, can join in;
The plan is quite simple, each Wednesday I will be posting an image of a random site with a heritage connection. Any images sent in will be included in the challenge along with your name and a link to your site. Full credit is given to each participant. The joy of this challenge is that we can all participate and share our images whilst raising the awareness of our own particular History and Heritage. The image can be anything from an old Church or Castle, to a Battlefield or Neolithic tomb, the choices are endless. And you can capture the image on any device you choose to. It can be in colour, black and white or any variation. The important thing is that we share.
And so to make sure that the challenge runs smoothly here are a few notes on how to participate:
- All images must have been taking by you, there is no time restriction on this and you retain the copyright for your images
- Images should be submitted via email by no later than midnight GMT on the Sunday before so I can ensure the challenge is ready to be posted on the Wednesday morning. My email address is edmooneyphotography@gmail.com
- You don’t have to even have to be a WordPress blogger. This challenge is open to everyone, please include your name and a link back to your blog, website or social media page.
- Images should be kept at low resolution with the largest side at 1000 pixels or less, if you need help with this you can pm me.
- Once the challenge is published I will delete all files and mails from that week .
- Each contributor should write a small piece about their image on their blog, for readers to check out, or at least the history behind the shot by adding to the comments of each challenge.
And dont forget to start sending in submissions for the SPOOKTACULAR CHALLENGE in October.
Sounds fun, I may join in at some point. 🙂
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It sure is. Would love to have you on board, please feel free to join in anytime 🙂
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Thanks Ed, will see what I can come up with………..
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Im looking forward to it 🙂
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Fabulous images and great history again this week, Ed! I’m sorry I missed it this week. I have scheduled it in from now on. 😁 love the atmosphetic shot of Dungevan Castle by Cybele Moon! 💓 And how interesting that Donadea Castle was built by Aylmer. I didnt know that. Thought it was older.
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Delighted to hear it, poor oul Ireland has been getting smothered the last few weeks:-) Cybeles shot was gorgeous, when I saw it first I thought it was a painting. What stands at Donadea is not very old in comparision. But many structures once stood there over the years, I actually need to go back there to find an old church that I missed the first time round…..
Oh the shame ……………….:-)
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How could you, Ed??? Call yourself a ruinhunter??? Only joking! 😊 You do fabulous work! Cybele has the most beautiful atmospheric photography on her blog… I get quite lost in it. Its quite ‘gothic’.
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The shameof it 🙂 Yeah Cybele, does some really cool work, its right down my street 🙂
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And mine! 😁 As an admirer, not a photographer.
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Hey Im the same, I dont look at an image from a technical point of view and go oh the dept of field is out, or the edges could be sharper.
Im still and will probably always like or dislike what I see, images are all about an emotion or capturing the essence of something, thats what I look for 🙂
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Really? But surely you cant help the perfectionist creeping in a little when you look at a pic? How do you stop that? Its how we learn
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I guess over time you develop an eye for certain things. My images are far from perfect, but I like them. If others do too, then thats great, but its not why I take pictures.
Over time I have developed my own style, just look at my early blog posts and you can see the difference.
Yes there are certain techniques and rules that you can follow, which I have learned along the way but they are not my main goal when I press the shutter button 🙂
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No I see and feel that when I look at your images. And you have definitely developed your own style, which really works! For me and lots of other people!
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thanks for such a lovely comment Ali and though I’ve been not feeling well this last while must catch up on your great blog too which I had found through Ed!
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Hope you’re feeling better soon, Cybele! Drop by my blog any time that suits, you are always welcome!
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on the mend hopefully!
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Good to hear! 😊
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Lovely set of images Eddie. Dunvegan is stunningly atmospheric. And I missed the week. Wah! I’ll try better.
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Sure is Geoff, be great to have you back, but I know better than anyone how difficult it can be at times 🙂
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I have to join in and agree about the shot of Dunvegan. It is like a Gothic painting, or an illustration for an ancient tale. Packed full of atmosphere.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Be great to have you on board Pete, Cybeles shot is quite special alright 🙂
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Many thanks Ed, and to all who commented on Dunvegan Castle!! I’ve had some come over and visit me on my blog!! I love all of the submissions on your history tour and challenges! I’m a geek too- maybe not quite as much as you 😀
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That’s great Cybele, it was a great post and image, keep them coming and I might have to get you a ruinhunter badge 😁
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oh boy!! 😀
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Reblogged this on the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter and commented:
I’m honoured to be part of Ed Mooney The Ruin Hunter’s History Challenge. Ed’s blog has won many awards for his posts and photography of the historical sites of Ireland. Do visit his blog if you haven’t already found him on WordPress.
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Great post again Ed.
Glad there were a few more entries and competition for my crown today although I think I win by virtue of the fact that I photographed the oldest by far….?
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That sounds like so much fun! I have just been contracted by a magazine in the states to write an article about Halloween and I chose the theme to be Samhain and Day of the Dead. Did you feel a mystical difference between the standing stones in Scotland and Ireland?
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Thats really cool, I would love toread that. please let me know once its published.
Sadly I have not had a chance to visit any of the Neolithic sites in Scotland YET! But I am sure they would be quite similar to those in Ireland. Some will emit a stronger energy than others.
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The book is already published! I always thought that the Scottish sites have a slightly dark energy but that could be the landscapes,
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Brilliant, i will have to check it out 🙂 You could be right, I have yet to encounter an ancient site with a dark energy, although I have come across it in some newer sites such as churches and castles.
You may very well be right, it could be something to do with the landscape. Shame I havent been able to experience it myself yet 😦
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Especially love photo # 1…..really captures the mood.
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It sure does, some fine early Saxon Stone 🙂
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Seems most tempting. I shall see if I can unearth my thinking cap from storage, and the images it suggests from even deeper storage!
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LOL, brilliant, you can even include the cobwebs. nodoubt Ill find many in my own.
I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with for the Spooktacular. Samhain is my absolute favourite time of the year 🙂
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This looks like a great challenge – I may well be joining in with it sometime! 🙂
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Oh please do, it would be great to have you join in, whenever you feel like it 🙂
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Great bunch of photos this week. Number two/Dunvegan is my favorite. What can I say? I am a sucker for Scotland… and ennui! 🙂
The further this challenge goes the more obvious it is what a great idea your Challenge is. It really brings a lot of people together, and gets us all interested in the variety of expressions we all bring here. Say what you will about the Internet and kids’ attention spans and so on… but modern Internet technology is pretty damn amazing in how it can bring together ordinary people across the global cultures who for hundreds of years have never met or known of each other’s existence.
Capturing History Week 5? 6 stars out of 5…
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Thanks so much Daniel, Im just glad so many people have taken to the idea. I guess their are two sides to everything, and whilst I am not always a fan of modern Tech, We are using it to good effect whith this challenge. I know I am getting to see and learn about places that I might never get to see in this lifetime. opefully others feel the same.
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Another fantastic collection. I paritcularly like the photos of Donadea Castle… so inspiring.
And I love the idea of the Halloween challenge. I don’t know whether I know a suitable place, but I’ll do my best to take part 🙂
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Brilliant, delighted to hear it, Im really looking forward to this particular challenge:-)
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I got distracted by your participants, Ed. I’ve been off visiting 🙂 Still not too sure how this works and whether you want just a photo or a whole piece. Presumably there’s variety because your lovely Sicilian lady has a whole post which only partly relates but gave me a lovely look at Sicily. The monastery at Tyniec would have been an ideal link but I tend to put my walks together at the last minute.
Interesting reading 🙂
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Ideally, you image goes up on the challenge and you write a post about the history which readers can follow the link back too. But it’s entirely up to you😁
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Thanks to choose my pictures 🙂
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Thank you for joining in, it was great to have you on board. Feel free to join in anytime 🙂
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Great pictures, Ed, you sure have a lot of energy to do all that traveling and research! But you are right, without people like you nobody would ever know about these scenic treasures…Keep up the good work and glad you like my much more modest blog on “Castles of Europe”….Sincerely, John Whye
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Thanks so much John, I don’t get to travel nearly as much as I want to. It’s great to see all the submissions from far away places that I might not get to see. Who knows perhaps one day? 😃
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great article
http://tripandtreatdottravelandtours.epizy.com/
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