"Mount Orgueil Castle, Gorey Harbour" by Bradley Shawn Rabon
A very good friend from Redbubble, Karen Millard came to visit me on my last day in Jersey. Being that she is from Guernsey, she was already familiar with the island. After a momentous meeting at the car park in St. Helier, we made our way to the village of Gorey, with it’s iconic scene of the castle behind a row of very colourful houses and shops. Mount Orgueil castle, or more popularly known as Gorey castle, was built sometime in the 13th century (c.1204) and was built as a defense against the French attacks. France is only about 15 miles away from the Jersey coastline. The castle was protected by the sea and cliffs on 3 sides, much like Grosnez, but was much more secure as the granite mount that it was built on made it impossible to undermine.It survived a number of attacks over the next 100-150 years, and a 7 year occupation by the French. It was the residence of the governor of Jersey, but was also desolate confinement to debtors and criminals, and the occasional suspected witch. However, with the introduction of gunpowder and the new gun-mounted ships, the castle was susceptible to attacks from sea and from the adjacent hillside. Sir Walter Raleigh, Governor of Jersey 1600-1603, rejected plans to tear down the old castle in order to recycle the stone for the new fortifications of Elizabeth Castle in St. Helier. He simply said “’twere pity to cast it down”. It did remain the islands only prison until the end of the 17th century. The castle now is cared for and run by the Jersey Heritage Trust since 1994.
This is a HDR image combining 4 bracketed shots, using Photomatix Pro for Macs, and adjusting some tones and lighting in Enhance Details as part of Tone Mapping.
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark ll
28-300mm IS zoom lens
f/32
1/25, 1/100, 1/160, 1/250
ISO 100
Comments
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a fabulous scene….such a juxtaposition of architecture thru time!! Beautiful shot, Shawn!!
Thank you greatly my friend. It is one of the most iconic scenes of Jersey, so I hope I have done it justice. You are so awesome with the compliment.
– Bradley Shawn Rabon
Shouldn’t you be in bed mister?! Well I am glad you are up to share this stunning image! The colours are just total eye candy and I am loving the history lessons with you latest work! Bravo Shawn :)
I never sleep…. (YAWN) oh ok. I will go to bed now. Thank you fro the terrific compliment my dear friend. I am pleased you enjoy not only the photos but the info. I love sharing all the great knowledge I have about this most beautiful and historical Island. Just wait till I get to my photos of La Hougue Bie.
– Bradley Shawn Rabon
Gorgeous caputure of new and old,,, and love the history lesson as well!
Thank you so very much Linda. I am pleased you like it. The whole island is full of history. I like the contrast you mentioned. I hadn’t thought about it that way. Thanks!!!!
– Bradley Shawn Rabon
Nice colourful capture Bradley.
Its even more nice to get another shot from the Channel Islands into the group.
Thank you! I hope to put more in from my time in Jersey. I really appreciate it the compliment. The colours are so brilliant and I wanted to capture that.
– Bradley Shawn Rabon
Wonderful contrasts between architectures and coulours. It looks like a fairy tale village!
You are very kind my wonderful friend. It is a wonderful day out to see the shops, walk around the castle, picnic in the grounds, shoot some pictures, etc… I really do enjoy Gorey!
– Bradley Shawn Rabon
Beautiful shot Shawn!
Thank you my lovely friend. I appreciate the lovely compliment. It is a beautiful castle and village!
– Bradley Shawn Rabon
Love the bright new coloured houses against the old castle!! That wall is a perfect lead in to the pic as well. The colours POP!!!
Great capture my friend!!
Thank you enormously. I appreciate you compliment on my shot. It is a fantastic place to visit.
– Bradley Shawn Rabon
Looks like it would be a nice place to live… Very colorful and a GREAT CAPTURE :))
I don’t know about living there, but it is a brilliant and beautiful to visit for the day. I still haven’t got the shot I want of the castle so I will have to wait till next year. But I do like this one. Thank you!!!!!
– Bradley Shawn Rabon
Love the bright colours! The little boats seem to complement the colour scheme of the row of houses. It really draws our attention to the darker and more sober mass of the mountain and castle in the background. Well done, Shawn!
I’m so sorry I never responded to this! Thank you my dear friend. It really is like that. The wonderful colourful buildings at the base of the castle and the massive imposing structure on top of the rock mountain. It is a gorgeous harbour to visit, with loads of history! I so very much appreciate the lovely compliment.
– Bradley Shawn Rabon
Great !
Thank you so much Anisja. That is very kind of you. It is a really lovely place to visit.
– Bradley Shawn Rabon