My submission to Leanne Cole and Laura Macky’s Monochrome Madness. Thank you both!
My daughter and I have climbed the very steep Calton hill in the heart of historic, cultural, and totally charming Edinburgh, up to the famous landmark at the peak; a tribute to the philosopher Dugald Stewart, and which is also next to the monument honouring Admiral Horatio Nelson. Robbie Burns’ memorial, the poet darling of 1700’s Edinburgh, is slightly farther down but every bit as impressive. The views are wonderful and the old city is embraced by purple heather and wild lupin covered hills, the silver sparkle of the firth of Forth, dramatic skies always, the pipes calling- and weather changing every five minutes. I fell in love with this city for many reasons and so….
“I will come again my love, though it be ten thousand miles!” (R. Burns)
“My love is like a red red rose” by Robbie Burns put to music and sung by Davey and the Fureys
and honouring the Irish in me do visit my Glendalough page
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and now for Monochrome on another little stroll of the haunted kind
I must admit much of gaelic lore is quite full of ghosts and magic and I recall my mum reciting a highland prayer:
“From ghosties and ghoulies and long legged beasties and things that go thump in the night – Good Lord deliver us!”
That always induced a good night’s sleep! and a hope that the closet door wouldn’t creak open in the dark releasing the most feared of the lot, the long legged beastie.
With that in mind I’m very fond of psychological ghost stories like The Others with Nicole Kidman, and an older classic by Henry James called The Turn of the Screw which was made into a black and white film; The Innocents, seen on Turner Classics.
Who would forget the angel faced Miles reciting his poem to the sexually repressed Victorian Governess brilliantly played by Deborah Kerr, after which she becomes convinced that the doomed spirits of her dead predecessor, Miss Jessel and the handsome and wicked Valet, Peter Quint are possessing and tormenting the innocent children. I got chills watching the children wandering through the gardens in the moonlight and dancing silently and alone beside the lake.
keeper of the gate
through a glass darkly
Miles famous Poem
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
I love those old black and white movies.
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me too!!
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i like the dark mood 🙂
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thanks!! There is something about it I know!! 🙂
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Wow. Love those pics!
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Thanks Kev!!!!
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Uncanny. I love psychological ghost stories. The Others was a gem.
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Ohh you know I do too!!! 🙂 Yes, the Haunting was also mentioned here and of course The Innocents- all creepy and psychological and loaded with atmosphere!!
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Lots of the images look like they belong in ghost stories Cybele, very atmospheric and surreal, really wonderful.
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thanks so much Leanne!! Yes, my gothic and steampunk side grows stronger! I am totally in love with secret passageways, old fashioned flying machines, finding old tomes, and misty old bogs!! The rest of the time I’m gardening 🙂
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Beautiful photos, Cybele. I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen The Innocents. So, I just ordered it on Netflix! I love the old films and I like Deborah Kerr! 🙂
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you will enjoy it!! Thanks Linda!
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Great, eerie photos. You reminded me of going to the Beltane celebration on Calton Hill in Edinburgh a couple of years ago. I too love those old black and white ghost stories – particularly the Haunting.
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thanks so much Andrea!! I’d love to go to that. Where do you live if you don’t mind me asking!!?
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I live in the north east of England, near Newcastle upon Tyne, if you’ve heard of it!
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Yes I have!! I thought you might be from that area!!
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Very suggestive of what is not seen…. Love it.
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thanks Six! I ‘m glad it comes across like that!
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The pleasure was mine 🙂
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Really like “Keeper of the Gate” Cybele
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thanks Mark, me too!!
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excellent post… with French accent, of course! 🙂
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Deborah Kerr… a gorgeous and talented British actress, RIP.
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I agree about Deborah Kerr– thanks Melanie!
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Beautiful images. I love the window with the light in it especially!
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thanks so much Laura!!
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You’re so welcome on all your images here. They are beautiful. As usual! I always look forward to them. 🙂
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thanks L!!!!
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You’re welcome H!
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Very dramatic! Beautifully done, Cybele! Thank you for the video link, wow!
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thank you again Amy. Yes, if you ever get the chance to see the film do watch. It’s quite powerful!!- and eerie!!
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More magical monochromes! Really beautiful Cybelle 🙂
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thank you Sarah!! I am enjoying the monochromes!
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Yes me too 🙂 We’ve got a nice little community going on with it!
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🙂
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Thanks for the post – creepy+children=chilling I’m sure you like the original The Haunting (with Claire Bloom) too 🙂
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I don’t know what it is in my world but I am a touch creepy!! 🙂 Thanks for recognizing it lol! Some of yours are a bit too! The Haunting! Yes! I should have mentioned that. Why are the older movies so much more compelling!!
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Because older films depended upon your imagination to generate the terror – not CGI.
For some great older films done on a very low budget – check out the Val Lewton produced movies from the 1940s (Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, The Seventh Victim, The Leopard Man)…
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“Because older films depended upon your imagination to generate the terror – not CGI”
absolutely!!!
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An interesting post and terrific photos.
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thank you for a lovely comment Suzanne!!
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