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.


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CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
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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”?


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CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
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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.


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Focal length172mm
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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?


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Focal length16mm
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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.”


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Focal length24mm
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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
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Focal length24mm
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Shutter speed1/500s

Selfies and Red Phone Boxes at Edinburgh Castle

When you walk in the first gates of Edinburgh Castle you’ll spot two iconic red telephone boxes. I was delighted to see a father and daughter posing for a selfie which made for a nice candid photo. 🙂

Did you know that iconic red telephone box was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott?


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Visitors in The Great Hall

The Great Hall in Edinburgh Castle is a popular part of the castle, with visitors milling around throughout the day.

Here’s some info about the hall that I got from Perplexity. Sources are linked and makes for an interesting read. I was surprised it didn’t mention that Oliver Cromwell preserved the roof when he had it plastered over. That was something the guide mentioned.

History of the Great Hall in Edinburgh Castle

The Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle is a remarkable structure completed in 1511 for King James IV of Scotland.236 This medieval wonder measures 29 by 12.5 metres (95 by 41 ft) and served as the chief place of state assembly within the castle.5 While historians have occasionally disagreed about its exact dating, it is generally attributed to the early years of the 16th century during James IV’s reign.5

Architectural Features

The hall’s most distinctive feature is its magnificent wooden roof, considered one of the most superb in Britain.236 It features giant beams resting on stones carved with heads and symbols such as the thistle, a national badge of Scotland.236 This is one of only two medieval halls in Scotland that still retains its original hammerbeam roof.5 The decorative carved stone corbels supporting the roof display Renaissance detailing comparable to works at Blois, France, from around 1515, indicating that Scottish arts were relatively advanced for the time.5

Historical Timeline

James IV had little opportunity to enjoy his new grand hall, as he was killed just two years later at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, fighting against the forces of his brother-in-law, King Henry VIII of England.236

During its early years, the Great Hall hosted grand banquets and state events, though there is no evidence that the Scottish Parliament ever met here, despite some common misconceptions.2356

A significant change came in 1650 when Oliver Cromwell’s army captured Edinburgh Castle and began transforming the Great Hall into a military barracks.2356 By 1737, the hall was subdivided into three storeys to accommodate 312 soldiers.5

Following the construction of New Barracks in the 1790s, the Great Hall was converted into a military hospital.5 It continued in this function until the troops finally left in 1886/1897 (sources vary slightly on the exact date).2356

After its military use ended, the Great Hall was restored to its medieval splendour by architect Hippolyte Blanc, who worked according to contemporary Victorian ideas of medieval architecture.5 Today, the hall displays weapons and armour that reference its military past, including distinctive pole arms like the feared Lochaber axe.236

In modern times, the Great Hall is still occasionally used for ceremonial occasions and has served as a venue for BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay Live programme.5


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Focal length16mm
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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.


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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