Edinburgh's most famous street, a photo from Edinburgh, Scotland

Photographer's Note

The Royal Mile is world famous - and with good reason. Where else on the Planet could you take a stroll down the tail of a long-extinct volcano, from the Country's most famous Castle, past the highest Courts in the land, the seat of Local Government, down by the National Parliament to a Royal Palace?
The Royal Mile is, as it suggests, a mile long (although this is an old Scot's mile) and is actually made up of four distinct streets; Castlehill, Lawnmarket, the High Street and Canongate.
Castlehill
This is the small stretch which runs down from the Castle Esplanade to the top of Lawnmarket where it joins Johnstone Terrace. Here you can see see Cannon-ball House, which has a cannon ball alledgedly fired during the second Jacobite rebellion still lodged in the gable wall.
Lawnmarket
Lawnmarket carries on down the hill to the junction with George IV bridge and is now the home of the 'Tartan Tourist shop' For the history buffs, David Hume and James Boswell both lived in a tenement (now long gone) at James's Court.
High Street
This is the main section of the Royal Mile and stretches from George IV Bridge to the World's End - the site of the Netherbow Gate which was the boundary of the City walls. (the location of the gate is marked by a series of brass cobbles in the street. The High Street is home to the Courts, St. Giles Cathedral, the City Chambers and John Knox's house. The top section has been partially pedestianised and in August becomes the centre of the Fringe street performances, where you'll see anything from juggling chainsaws to Japanese Kabuki.
Canongate
Canongate runs down to Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament and is the forgotten part of the Mile. Many of the orginal buildings are gone and have been replaced by post-war 'brutalist' tenements. The area was historically a more industrial part of the city with a number of breweries. Canongate was where Burke and Hare picked up Mary Patterson and Janet Brown, the former ending up as one of the 17 victims of the bodysnatchers. Canongate Kirk was the venue of the 'other' Royal wedding in 2011. [www.royalmileedinburgh.com]

snunney, timecapturer, Sonata11, chawax, Noel_Byrne, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

marabu61 (4182) 2013-01-22 7:07

Witaj Gregg
I have to visit devinitively Edinburgh some time in the future.
Your well presented postcard from the royal mile is very inviting indeed. Gorgeous light and lovely architecure with a good POV and a superb framing.
have a great day
Daniel

Kamilutka (3207) 2013-01-22 7:25

Och, czy to bedzie cala seria z Edynburga?
Musisz przygotowac sie wiec na cala mase sentymentalnych westchnien z mojej strony ;-)
Royal Mile jest urocza, ale zawsze taka zapleniona turystami. U Ciebie ludzie sa jakos tak ladnie wkompnowani w calosc ze az przyjemnie sie oglada. Swietny kadr i swiatlo.
Pozdrawiam
Kamila
P.S. Co do powolnego zycia u mnie w Grecji, to owszem ale tylko poza sezonem. Latem az tu szumi. Kontrast jest ogromny.

snunney (67918) 2013-01-22 8:18

Hello Grzegorz,
The light is very enticing, illuminating this long beautiful street wonderfully. Lots to see and admire and all in excellent detail. I like very much the repeating motifs of the well worn cobble stones. Superb photo work indeed.

timecapturer (31278) 2013-01-22 9:40

Hi Grzegorz
this is one of the best shots I have ever seen of this famous place. Your POV and execution here are just superb. The light management is immaculate as is the clarity and sharp detailing. A quality image and captivating presentation. Love it!

Regards - Brian.

JFS (32429) 2013-01-22 9:44

Amazing street shot, lovely colors and great play of light, it is adorable!
Cheers,
Juan

maria-v1981 (10409) 2013-01-22 10:37

Hello Grzegorz,
A wonderful landscape with excellent perspective. The play with the light and shadow is remakable. I love it.
Have a nice evening,
Regards,
Maria

Romano46 (5988) 2013-01-22 10:40

Ciao Grzegorz
questa tua foto piace per la bella composizione che contrappone ad un soggetto (la strada)le architetture baciate dal sole che la fiancheggiano. A mio parere la bellezza della foto sta proprio nell'imponenza che hai dato al selciato e al dinamismo che conferisce alla ripresa il POV scelto. Ottima anche la nitidezza e la resa del colore.
Ciao
Romano

barni (15745) 2013-01-22 14:36

Hello Grzegorz
Jolie vue de cette rue. Belle lumière sur le clocher et une atmosphère incroyable avec le ciel sombre.
Regards
Christophe

Sonata11 (28758) 2013-01-22 20:49

Witaj Grzegorz,
wspaniala kolejna Twoja kompozycja. Wspaniale wykonane zdjecie pokazujac wspaniala archuitekture oraz codzienne zycie. Super kolorystyka, ostrosc, swiatlo, perspektuwa. Sliczne zdjecie. Bardzo mi sie podoba. Gratulacje.
Serdecznie pozdrawiam,
Barbara

chawax (15082) 2013-01-23 13:06

Hi Grzegorz,
A nice view on the famous Royal Mile. You caught a very nice light. The contrast dark / light is very nice.
Regards,
Olivier

vladic (4153) 2013-01-23 15:21

Witaj Gregg,

Królewska mila potraktowana iście po królewsku – skojarzenie z koroną rozświetlonych dachów
wieńczących te wspaniałe budynki + swoiste dostojeństwo atmosfery ulicy.

Serdeczności z zaśnieżonego Krakowa,
Wlady

Noel_Byrne (8073) 2013-01-24 6:31

Hi Gregg,
Stunning shot, and so typically, wonderfully Scottish. The architecture of this beautiful country really is unique, and if its place and time. This is the finest capture of the Royal mile I have seen, the detailed cobbles, wide open street and class buildings all look brilliant. I admire the verticality of the spire too, something I struggle a lot with!
Cheers for sharing.
All the best
Noel

jcpix (3796) 2013-01-28 14:35

Hi Greg,

In most instances the focal point being right in the middle of the frame is not all that strong, however, this is an instance that breaks that "rule" and works to perfection. This composition draws me into the scene and the soft, golden hour lighting is simply superb. Nicely exposed to balance the hard shadows,there's still plenty of detail and light throughout. Beautiful photo!

Cheers,

Jason

SWEETFREEDOM (18607) 2013-01-29 7:21

Hi Gregorz,
very nice the winter light hitting the upper part of the buildings. good details and colors too
regards
Alessandro

brianmcc (5536) 2013-01-30 14:22

hi grzegorz,
your viewpoint is fantastic looking along the beuatiful cobbled street. i love the light illuminating the tops of the buildings. excellent depth and sharpness.
have a lovely evening,
brian

macjake (39998) 2013-01-30 16:58

Hi Gregg
So this is the worlds most famous street?
Well, obviously you havn't been to MY street!!

haha...kidding of course.

perhaps its because I'm Canadian/North American? I'm not educated about this street! Perhaps North Americans aren't as familiar? or perhaps its just me! must be just me!! and here I thought I was a world traveler! I must get out more

well, as for the photo, i'm very impressed.
what strikes me right away is the brightness and luminosity that it has. the cobblestones in the lower fg are very sweet, and add alot to the scene.
I'm sure most people would want to see more people on the street for a more human look to it, but I like it like this.

well done, love the overall lighting.
cheers
craig

Angshu (51432) 2013-01-31 1:39

Hello Gregg
I always admire your subdued PP work, notably with HDR, which attempts to bring our details without losing the balance & naturality of the picture. Here for example I like the details in the shade...of the cobbled road, but the beauty has to be of the sunlit tower & the portions in the far end of the street. Not an easy catch with exposure, but well done!
Regards
Angshu