Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

October 2025 - Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

Weather - A beautiful bright day  

Theme - Red and gold 

Coffees - John Hope Gateway - Excellent filled bagels, but we all commented on the high prices 

Mandy found an unusual angle at the top of a waterfall

Sandra cropped all of her photos square - this tranquil landscape was particularly effective

Ada photographed a close-up of another waterfall, the water looking like icicles

None of us were quite sure what Alison photographed, but the birds were enjoying it

Arthur found a golden flower in a wildflower meadow 

Beryl's photo looks almost wintry - a hint of the frosts to come 

Colin found some red baubles in the botanics shop - only 69 days left till Christmas!

Eileen took this portrait of one of the many cats who frequent the gardens 

Ian went for a minimal composition of golden leaves ...

... as did Kate

Alex found a composition of red berries and olden leaves 

Morningside

September 2025 - Morningside - Starting from the clock at Morningside Station

Weather - Intermittent sunshine 

Coffee - Sisorti - small, but very welcoming 

Eileen found this atmospheric abstract with a long exposure shot while walking down the street

Ian found this delightful mix of colour and movement 

Ada photographed the Morningside Clock

Alex found the Wild West in a side street

Beryl found movement in a postal worker doing his rounds 

Dorothy found a still life in the old setts emerging from the more modern tarmac

Further Afield 

Mandy found movement and character in this image of two penguins at Edinburgh zoo 

Calton Hill

September 2025 - We met outside Howie's on Waterloo Place, and then spilt off in different directions to take our photos 

Weather - Great light

Coffees - Coffee Saints - one of our favourite community cafes 

Dorothy won photo of the week for this simple image of a man standing under a tree

We spent a long time discussing the symmetry in Ian's photo 

Mandy captured this idyllic patio in the streets behind Waterloo Place

Ada set her camera to panoramic mode to capture this image 

Alex went for the obvious - the classic view of the Dugald Stewart monument, as photographed by 100s of tourists every day

Further afield 

Alex shared his photos from a rainy week in Perthshire - these trees are in the woods to the north of Kenmore 

Colin shared his photos from Rome. We were all taken by the simplicity of the tomb of Pope Francis 

Ada shared her photos from our last outing to Dalry cemetery, capturing a view through the trees

Dalry Cemetery

August 2025 - Dalry Cemetery is beautifully overgrown, so our optional theme was wildlife. Most folk weren't very successful with the theme.  

Weather - A fine day, with sunshine giving dappled light under the trees

Coffees - Saltyard, a community café nearby. Very welcoming - they put three tables together to accommodate our large group at short notice. 

Who's watching who? Dorothy photographed this handsome dog being exercised in the cemetery. 

Eileen found this urban still life in the necropolis

Did those flowers fall there naturally, or were they carefully placed? Photo by Ian C 

Kate was one of the few who stuck to the theme of wildlife 

Mandy photographed this fallen angel 

This magnificent tree was photographed by Sandra 

Another fallen angel - this time by Alex, who pointed his fisheye lens into the sun

Alison found a synchronicity of colours in an old, semi-hidden, grave marker 

Autumn is early this year: several of us photographed the hedgerow harvest, Arthur captured it best

King George V Park

August 2025, King George V Park - a quiet green space on the edge of Edinburgh's New Town

Weather - A fine day, not too bright

Optional theme - "don't use zoom" 

Coffee - Tesco, Canonmills - there's not a lot you can say about a Tesco. Alex's peach iced tea caused some hilarity at his table. 

Mandy found some fine curves in the children's playground. This photo won her Photo of the Week

Ada photographed a fine mosaic of a very stylish raven. Or maybe a crow. Or a rook, now I come to think of it. But I think raven is most likely. 

Alex photographed Rodney Street Tunnel, which leads out of the park towards Canonmills

Colin's photo of a cyclist exercising her dogs features a beautifully curved leading line 

Eileen found a beautiful piece of graphic design. We all enjoyed the bokeh here, and the contrast between the old stonework and the ironwork. 

Ian C enjoyed this collection of signs outside the Tesco at Canonmills 

Further afield 

Dorothy photographed this hummingbird at a bird feeder while visiting Colorada

Ian E found this lovely old Citroen Dyane