Edinburgh through a pinhole

After my adventures in Glasgow my pinhole camera saw some more action around Edinburgh. I had no particular agenda, but followed my nose and photographed what I saw around me.

Elegant University buildings.

On my final day I took a stroll along the Water of Leith.

St. Bernard’s Well

Down by the water’s edge. I hadn’t noticed the whirlpool in the second image until I scanned the negative.

The elegant buildings of Dean Village lining the river.

My final destination of the day was Greyfriar’s Kirkyard. Scottish graveyards are always wonderfully dramatic and perfect pinhole material!

Photos taken 3 April 2023

St Giles' Cathedral

Fourteen years on from my last visit to St Giles’ Cathedral I had only the vaguest of memories of the building so it was interesting to return and see what I’d forgotten.

Tourist season had definitely kicked in so it was tricky to capture wide, sweeping views of the Cathedral but I found plenty of lovely corners to aim my camera at and the low spring sun created some beautiful contrasts.

One clear memory I did have from last time was the many regimental flags, some of which have aged so much they’re translucent.

My favourite part of the building was the Thistle Chapel, with its ornate ceiling and wonderful characters on the pews.

Just before I left I spent some time sitting in the nave, taking in the architectural shapes and noticing where the Cathedral had been altered over the centuries. A rather more modern addition are the extraordinary ‘space ship’ lights which I rather like!

Photos taken 3rd April 2023

Sunny Edinburgh

My final day in Edinburgh was a sunny one so I made the most of this and went for a stroll by the Water of Leith - the river which runs just north of the city centre. The crisp shadows and strong contrast just demanded a monochrome approach.

St Bernard’s Well

For most of my stroll the walkway was well above the river, but I did find one spot where I could sneak down onto the riverbank.

Playing with longer exposure times to capture the movement of the water as it rushed by.

Further west I found Dean Village, where the buildings tower above the river.

After lunch I wandered back into the centre of the city and spent some time exploring the graveyard at St Cuthbert’s Church, just beneath the castle, which looms on the Edinburgh skyline.

Click on any image to see it enlarged.

Photos taken 3 April 2023

Georgian Splendour

My exploration of Edinburgh today offered plenty of contrasts. I spent some time at the wonderful St Cecilia’s Hall - a concert hall built in 1763. Its oval performing space is the height of Georgian elegance, although I did curse the modern projector screen which filled the stage and prevented me getting a photo of that end of the hall, with its beautiful pipe organ!

I was particularly taken with the oval roof light and its simple, sleek lines.

More elegant architecture along Princes Street.

Edinburgh is built on the side of a long extinct volcano which means much of the city is very hilly. Many of the streets run parallel to each other along the side of the hill, but rather than expecting pedestrians to walk long distances around the end of each street, there are many narrow alleyways (I would call them twittens but I imagine there’s a local Edinburgh name for them too!) which cut between them. Some of them involve navigating lots of steps or steep slopes, but they make for some great photo opportunities!

Old Assembly Close isn’t a close at all - you can walk right through and out the other side!

Looking up to the light along one of the alleyways.

Photos taken 30 March 2023