Edinburgh Castle Photo

Photographer’s Note

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Scene
It's all about the light. As I was leaving the castle at about 1745 hours the sun was beginning set behind the hills to the west of Edinburgh and cast the horizon and this back alley of the castle in some wonderful light.

Background
My wife and I and our traveling companions had been on the go since early morning walking down to Hollyrood Palace and then back up to the castle. We had spent the afternoon in the castle enjoying the museums and the different views of Edinburgh. This image was captured as we were leaving, all four of us were bone tired but I just had to stop and enjoy the light and try to make some images. I like the glow of the light and the soft almost blown highlights of the city to the west of the castle.

Dyerco, Flavia, abulafia, Floydian, stego, Photo65Net, jmcl, plimrn, feather, scobert, Wandering_Dan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Floydian (30970) 2007-11-27 16:40

Hi John,
It's the light what makes this picture. The warm pieces that strike the wall but also further away on the houses and the hills and town below. The left side is very dominant in the frame and the light there is not at his best (i like the curve), but you probably had not much space to end up with good lines in the final composition.
Regards, Henk

clickrick (385) 2007-11-27 17:42

Hi John,

This is a beauty ! You did everything right here: the shadows and highlights have plenty of detail, you managed to include curves and straight lines, pointed towards the well framed three spires by using the wall, used the tree to make the scene tighter, etc. And you did this when 'bone tired' !! Great stuff.

Rich

abulafia (4802) 2007-11-27 17:55

Hi John
I like this shot, i remember when i was there, I took a lot of pictures, but everything was so close that all my pictures felt cramped.
But i can see that it is possible to get a good result:)
Very nice
Harry

Bruno40 (6440) 2007-11-27 18:13

The star here is the good balance of exposure between shadows and light, Well done John!
I remember a shot I have of Allora caves where the shadow was pitch black.... this is good!
TFS
Jorge

Dyerco (8850) 2007-11-27 22:25

The soft highlights reallt accentuate the textures in the stonework. Well seen.
Phil

TGULUMSER (12410) 2007-11-27 23:08

Hi John,
This is a good perspective to take this photo. Good composition, good frame,
Best regards,
Tulay

Photo65Net (43084) 2007-11-28 10:17

Hello John,
I like a lot how you worked with this beautiful light.
Soft contrasts are very pleasant, and your POV works perfectly with the architecture.
Regards,
JB.

wolf38 (12489) 2007-11-29 2:52

Hello John. An interesting motive. Architecture light and contrasts fit very well. Very beautifully and worth seeing. Best regards, Wolfgang.

stego (22322) 2007-12-01 11:26

Hi John,

Henk is only partially right about the light, it is indeed wonderful and denotes an admirable adjustment and PP, but the compo is equally important and amazingly well done. There is so much to admire in it... The shapes of the buildings and walls, the framing of the bright BG, the tiny human figures so well placed, the perfect perspective (that could be easily appear broken with the upward walls of the FG)...

The only flaw is the slight blur of the FG and of the house on the right. I guess that I am not the only one repenting himself for sometimes not using a tripod. :-)

Regards, José.

Flavia (10202) 2007-12-02 1:06

Hi John,

Nice composition and the light on the background is quite nice, but I do find the foreground a little dark...

Regards,

Flavia

baba_flies (7933) 2007-12-02 10:54

Hello John! Edinburgh is a beautiful town and I find you have captured the essence of it very well with this post. As you mention it, the glow of the light on some of the stone is simply great and it was probably not easy to work half-shadow-half-sun ... as we all know :) I have walked these streets myself and I might have stopped here too for a little photo shooting but my weather was sosolala as far as I remember. Have a good Sunday, Barbara.

batalay (20680) 2007-12-07 21:08

Hello John,

One of the Northern hinterland's most beautiful cities. You've captured a corner of the city in this well composed photograph. I guess I should not be surprised that the sun was beginning to set at 5:45 pm in September. In June I remember it still being bright at 11:00 pm. Warm regards,
And have a good weekend,

Bulent

kmarscher (2881) 2007-12-08 15:30

Yes, the lighting on the curved stone wall is so inviting and does "make" the shot. Well done.
regards,
Kathy

jmcl (13721) 2007-12-09 20:23

Hi John,

What beautiful light .. especially on the stone .. and I really love the levels in the dark area .. maintaining smooth detail and a distance from the light .. The image has great dimension .. very nice.

take care,

John

plimrn (19558) 2007-12-10 16:59

Hi John,
This month's OP describes your photo well, when they speak of chiaroscuro, "Rembrant's... theatrical use of light and shadow." You have produced a photo with drama and a sense of depth, as you note the soft glow of light on the hillside provides a great backdrop for the interplay of light and shadows on the stonework.
HLJ, Pat

gunbud (27523) 2007-12-15 20:19

Hi John,
Wonderful lighting that highlights the intricate stone work of these ancient walls. I like the fine bit of depth achieved by the opening between the walls that give a nice view of the city below.
Regards, Tom

feather (49848) 2007-12-16 9:14

Yes it's about the light, but it's also about the composition. It all fits together so well with the curving wall leading us in. It's just a short hop to the two people looking down into the city. The three spires are also an imprtant part of the image. Tired or not it was worth stopping for.
I'm waiting for some more!
Kath

scobert (5333) 2008-01-04 12:12

Hello John,
It is hard to keep up with all of your great posts from your latest trip to the British Isles. Normally this type of backlighting would only work for a silouette type of rendition but you captured this fantastic castle like a master. I love the numerous layers, the different stone patterns and most of all the lighting. Superb artistry and craftmanship!
Stan

crhieatt (5143) 2008-03-05 9:20

John,
A very tidy study and, as you say, a wonderful light to give the composition the depth it deserves.
Regards
colin

Wandering_Dan (3171) 2008-04-15 9:27

Hi, John -

Flipping back through your gallery, I spotted this one in thumbnail and was immediately taken by it. The range of light and the way you handled it are amazing. And it's a great composition that clearly conveys the sense of the castle and the town behind it.

Best,
Dan