The Glorious Banners of St. Giles, Edinburgh

The interior of St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh on a bright, sunny day in July, 2018. I visited again recently but these are from my first visit.

I visited the cathedral with the aim to photograph it, but I forgot to bring my tripod! It was sitting in my suitcase in my hotel room. I did my best, using tables and benches and the floor instead to hold my camera steady.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/30s

Curiosity in the Old Town

We were wandering up the Royal Mile in Edinburgh when I spotted these two women looking up. At what, I’m not sure, there wasn’t anything special in the building they were looking at. Is there such a thing as “Edinburgh Neck”?


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/640s

Scottish Skyline: From Spires to Bridges

A beautiful sunset pictured from our apartment in Edinburgh a few weeks ago. The weather was glorious that week! It hardly rained at all!

Did you know that the Forth Bridge, visible just left of centre, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the world’s longest cantilever railway bridge when it opened in 1890? It’s still a marvel of Victorian engineering that stands proud on the Scottish skyline.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length172mm
ISO250
Shutter speed1/200s

A Tartan Souvenir Moment

A woman inspects a set of playable junior bagpipes that her husband bought in a nearby tourist store near Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.

She smiles, but I’m not sure if she’s happy. 😉

Did you know, the bagpipes, often considered Scotland’s national instrument, actually have ancient origins that trace back to the Middle East before finding their iconic home in the Highlands?


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length16mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/500s

A Burst of Yellow in Edinburgh Traffic

A yellow bus following a yellow Tesla taxi caught my eye on the streets of Edinburgh recently. Most of the Teslas I saw there were white! A bold move by the taxi driver.

I wonder if they have the “I bought it before Elon went crazy” bumper sticker on the back. I presume not. Elon showed his true colours many years ago.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length100mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/2500s

A Selfie with Deacon Brodie

What! You’re looking at your phone! I imagine Deacon Brodie would be amazed at technology today.

Apparently he was a “respected cabinetmaker by day and a burglar by night, making him one of Edinburgh’s most notorious historical figures”


Apertureƒ/3.5
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO640
Shutter speed1/500s

Edinburgh’s Public Square of Conscience

Several years ago, I came across Anonymous for the Voiceless in Cork, and I’ve seen them demonstrate a few times since. I saw them in Edinburgh last week when they had a small demonstration, surrounded by young people.

Anonymous for the Voiceless (AV) is an animal rights organisation specialising in edifying the public on the streets with Cubes of Truth and fostering highly effective activism groups worldwide. We hold an abolitionist stance against all forms of non-human animal exploitation and promote a clear and direct vegan message.”


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/500s

Through the Window: Edinburgh Reflections

A single, solitary table inside an empty office. A glass jar sits on the table, waiting for the next business to come and rent the room. Maybe a parting gift from the previous occupant?


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO16000
Shutter speed1/500s

Rooftop Sunrise in Edinburgh

One of the good things about an early flight is getting up early to see the sunrise. That was me yesterday morning, when the world outside was mostly asleep, but I was preparing to head to the airport in Edinburgh for a flight to Cork.


Apertureƒ/3.5
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO1000
Shutter speed1/30s

Evening Light on Cathedral Lane, Edinburgh

Yesterday evening, walking along a road in Edinburgh, I saw that the setting sun was casting long shadows, and as luck would have it, those make interesting subjects, especially the light and dark of sun and shadow.

Hopefully, the person in the pub was having a nice evening in there, it was lovely being out.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length70mm
ISO500
Shutter speed1/500s

Shadow Play on a Scottish Street

Shadows on a wall as the sun sets in Edinburgh.

I had hoped to go up Calton Hill this evening, but the Beltane fire festival is happening there tonight. I have to be up early in the morning, so I decided not to go, but now I already regret not going! I’d have stayed far too long taking photos and be so tired for my flight in the morning.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length112mm
ISO500
Shutter speed1/500s

Pastel Skies Over Edinburgh

I wasn’t expecting much of a sunset this evening because the sky at the horizon was filled with clouds, but I was proved wrong. The clouds were lit up in a lovely glow by the setting sun.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length166mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/40s