The Watcher's Ruin

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''....3 am.... there was a full bright moon with heavy black clouds, which threw the whole scene into a fleeting diorama of light and shade as they sailed accross. For a moment or two I could see nothing, as the shadow of a cloud obscured St Mary's church and all around it. Then as the cloud passed I could see the ruins of the abbey coming into view; and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as a sword-cut moved along, the church and the churchyard became gradually visible'' From Dracula by Bram Stoker, Chapter 7.

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This is a retouch of one of my holiday snaps. OK, maybe I got a bit carried away...

We recently visited Whitby Abbey, the place that inspired Bram Stoker to create Dracula and a mecca for folk of a Gothic persuasion.

I was expecting to be haunted by the atmosphere of the place but unfortunately a combination of (other) tourists, drizzle, an exhorbitant entrance fee and a shiny new visitor centre combined to dampen any other-worldly feelings.

Anyway, this is how I'd hoped it was going to be... a Hammer House of Horror look :o)

This is the Abbey as seen from the graveyard of the adjacent St. Mary's church. I know it looks contrived but this is a real view, if you're interested here's the original photo.

The "fog" is just a sky cloud-scape, slightly warped, and blended over the top. Various colour & lighting effects were employed to turn day to night - it's amazing what a few "stars" does to sell that idea!
You might think that the "watcher" is a bit too much but, for me, this is restrained. ;o)

Also I'd best just say that this is a great place to visit, with lots of interesting history.

Yorkshire. UK. August. 2006.