By the Power of Greyskull

If you are a resident of central Kentucky, especially in and around the Lexington area, then you have driven by the castle and wondered what lay behind those stone walls.  As a kid, on those infrequent trips to Lexington, we would drive down Versailles Road, past what I imagined to be the residence of He-Man, and I would dream of a world filled with knights, princesses, and dragons.  Even as I grew into an adult, the castle still held an air of mystique.  Part of me knew that by accepting the invitation to photograph the Big Brothers and Big Sisters event being held there, I would dispel that mystique.

As Leanna and I topped the small hill that lead up to the side entrance, there was a certain rush of anticipation.  The boy in me wanted the impossible; to be whisked away to some fantasy world, surrounded by a fairy tale medieval Europe.  The 25 year old rational thinker knew that it would be a pale imitation of the fantasies that I had been imagining for two decades now.

Was I disappointed?  Perhaps a little.  I’ve grown too reasoned, too hardened.  The castle was described to us as “A castle on the outside, a palace on the inside.”  Still though, the Chinese dragon statues were a little too hard to stomach.  I was hoping for an authentic medieval experience.  I wanted stone walls, tapestries, and long wooden tables.  Instead, there was a compromise of modern design and convention, married together with someone’s idea of what the average American might think a castle looks like on the inside.  

Whatever the original dream may have been, the castle has now been transformed into a nice, but not quite exquisite, bed and breakfast.  There are anachronisms abound, as you will see in some of the images.  I feel like if the designers would have put more effort towards concealing some of the more obtuse eyesores, the overall experience would be significantly enhanced.  Unfortunately, some conventions, such as exit signs, will always stick out like sore thumbs.  Not that it was, or would be, a bad experience; only that it was not the experience I was looking for.

I am grateful for the opportunity provided to me by the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization.  It was my first attempt at photographing a social event, and I think it went well, if not great.  I still have a lot to learn, and operating in that situation is worlds different then what I am accustomed to.  The pictures that I took for the event will be on TopsinLex reasonably soon.  Fortunately, I was allowed to show up a couple hours early to the event, and had free reign of the premises.

Ryan

First some images of the exterior.  It was hard to get images without a a basketball court, swimming pool, or tennis court in them.  In hindsight, I should have used those anachronisms to my advantage, instead of trying to exclude them as much as possible.

Next, here are some images I took of the interior lighting.  I was pleased with how these turned out.

Finally, here are some images of my wife Leanna out and about the castle walls.  Thanks to our friend Sarah for the totally rad vintage dress.