Haunted Craigdarroch Castle
How should I capture this haunted house?
This is Craigdarroch Castle which stands on a hill overlooking the city of Victoria, British Columbia. It was built in 1890 by wealthy coal baron Robert Dunsmuir. The Dunsmuirs were a large and powerful family, involved in politics and industry. They owned an iron works, a quarry, coal mines, ships and railways. They were immensely influential in British Columbia during the reign of Queen Victoria. I don't know what happened to the family in later years but while they no longer own the property, it seems they may have left some spirits behind to occupy their former residence.
Craigdarroch Castle appears high on any list of the most haunted houses in Canada, but the current owners do not like this to be discussed - and they certainly don't want pesky ghost hunters hanging around.
The stories of the haunting include a woman in white who appears in windows and on a staircase, a small crying child, objects moving around on their own and also a piano which plays in a locked room. There is more. I've been inside a couple of times and considering all the reports of paranormal activity, I was very disappointed when I did not see or photograph a ghost. Not yet in any case.
I think perhaps the ghosts have not appeared in my photos because of the way I handled the camera - or could it be the processing?
Before I make any serious attempt at photographing the ghosts I need make sure I can capture the mood or feeling of a haunted house. Please check out the two alternate versions of the photo.
Which of these, if any, says Haunted House to you? The original? The black and white above?
How about this sepia version? Please let me know what you think. You may be helping to solve a hundred-year-old mystery. Want to help me find some more ghosts? Before I forget, I just want to add a note to my good friend, @dswigle... Dear Denise,
I've heard somewhere that if there would be ghosts they would be captured on the photos :) But well.. I don't know if the way you handle your camera could have an impact on that :)
It looks like a beautiful house and I can imagine it being the main location for a horror movie :)
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! I'm not sure if they've ever shot a movie here, but two of the brothers had a falling out, and one moved away across town and built his own castle! That 2nd castle, called Hatley Castle is used in movies all the time - most notably the X-men movies.
I had no idea! They probably have no issues with finances then ;)
Thanks very much, @pixresteemer!
Thank you @phototalent!
Definitely the black and white for me. Gives it that old time Hollywood horror picture look. I think the key is to believe. The ghosts aren't going to show for a skeptic ;)
Thank you, I'm partial to the black and white myself, just wondered what others would think.
Wow, this is a great photo. I love the original, but what sort of creepy are you going for? If you want that old Universal monsters Dracula feel, I'd pick the second one. But that last one, that's the best in my opinion. It gives that old spiritualist vibe off that I associate with hauntings.
Nice! I appreciate your thoughts on this. I'm leaning towards the second version myself.
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I like the original picture. I'm a sucker for a sky at dusk though. I live in a very popular area for paranormal stuff. I'm a big believer in the theory that only some people have the ability to see ghosts, and I am so grateful that knock on wood I am not one of them.
Unfortunately, that is not the case for two people whom I know. One of them being my youngest brother @recan, he hates it and he should. Boy he can give you some stories. I rather not know them and do an about face.
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This is also true in my family. We have a bit of history with ghost stories beginning with the home of my paternal grandfather.
My best friend's daughter is only 6, and she has already reported seeing many famous ghosts around town without any knowledge of them in advance. Poor kid. She keeps telling her mom about these strange people.
Six is too young for this sort of nonsense. It sounds like she is seeing the real thing, that would be terrifying!
Sadly, evil doesn’t care for kids either.
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Thank you! I had some success with ghosts in the past, although they do frighten me. Victoria is just crawling with ghosts, most of them dating back to gold-rush days. A lot of greed and violence in those days led to some horrible deaths and tortured souls unable to find peace.
You are brave to want to catch a picture. I've done some ghost tours with people snapping pictures left and right over graveyards, and catching orbs and all sorts of stuff. Meanwhile I was off to the corner like, "can we move on now? I'm scared." :)
Did you happen to catch any of my series about the haunted golf course? This would be more in that vein ;-)
Yes I did :)
So the problem I would have doing another story at Craigdarroch is they are not going to allow me to show up with a model dressed in a sheet! The castle is now a museum and a tourist attraction but for some reason, they don't want the ghost stories told. It would have to be real ghosts or nothing at all. :-0
Well you just might get lucky with the real thing, who knows. Odd that they don't utilize the opportunity to make nighttime money with the ghost bit. Or maybe the ghosts told them not to...
You're right, it was the ghosts :-)
The B&W does it best!
Thanks very much, that's my favourite as well :-)
Great Images!
The b&w image is certainly a bit creepy so I’d say you captured the ghosts perfectly. Steem on :)
Thanks very much, glad you liked the photos!