The Portrait Gallery

Location:  a poor weather forecast made us decide to visit an exhibition of digital photography at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. On the day, the weather was better than expected, so some of us explored the surrounding streets instead. 

Weather: dull but dry; better than expected. 

Optional theme: yellow. We leaned heavily into this theme - several of us based our whole morning's shooting around the colour yellow.

Refreshments - The gallery café. Coronation chicken focaccia was very warmly received! 

Memorable moment: when reviewing these photos, we had a spirited debate about whether gold was a shade of yellow, or a different colour. 

Eileen found multiple layers of gold frames in the gallery

Kate's photo finds gold in the architecture 

New recruit Vincent found another layered composition in the gallery 

Ada found a yellow detail in a child's portrait 

An abstract detail from a portrait of Nicola Benedetti, found by Alex 

Beryl found a clash of gold and blue 

Colin found a yellow fingerprint reader on the gallery wall 

Further afield 

Dorothy photographed a hummingbird hawk-moth 

Ian shared some photos from a recent trip to Orkney 

Sandra shared the first phot she ever took as a member of the group 

Various locations

This is a mix of photos from various locations we've visited over the past three weeks. 

Alex captured this abstract view of the Granton Gasholder lying on his back in the centre of the park 

Ada captured a classic view of Duddingston Loch from Dr Neil's Garden 

The theme at South Queensferry was black and white. This is Colin's interpretation of the theme

Dorothy shared this very funny shot of a dog being prepared for his agility contest. Don't worry - he got to eat the treat! 

Eileen loves to photograph intentional camera movement so we assumed this was deliberate - but she tells us this time it was accidental

Maggie shot this abstract of the Queensferry Crossing 

Mandy was tickled by these bush dogs she saw at a recent zoo visit. Cute but deadly.

Sandra's reflection of branches in a small pond feels very serene 

Canonmills

Location - starting from the clock at Canonmills  

Weather - fine spring day, occasional bright sunshine

Optional theme - scapes (landscapes, riverscapes etc) 

Refreshments - Betty and George was hugely successful for everyone 

Ada photographed a very sociable group of benches 

Alex found a more romantic seating plan

Arthur photographed the trees along the Water of Leith 

Beryl channeled her inner Gursky

Also following the theme, Colin found a busy cityscape

Eileen found a fascinating angle in a familiar scene 

Canonmills Baptist Church was photographed by Ian 

Kate nailed the theme this week 

Three green bottles photographed by Maggie 

Sandra found a church tower in the skyline 

Starbank Park

Location: Starbank Park 

Weather - Bright and sunny

Optional theme - Small worlds (suggested for us by ChatGPT)

Refreshments - The Pier House - finest bacon rolls in North Edinburgh 

Arthur photographed the blossom with the Firth of Forth in the background

Eileen's version of "small world" shows a tiny TARDIS

Ian gave us a beautiful close-up

Kate found geometric shapes in nearby Newhaven Harbour 

Maggie found abstract shapes in this complex tulip

Sandra's tulip portrait concentrates on colour 

Alex chose a minimal composition 

Ada found a different view of our theme - the small world enjoyed by children playing in the park 

Inverleith Park and Stockbridge

Meeting place: outside the Raeburn

Weather: a fine spring day 

Optional theme: lines 

Refreshments: Two Children - excellent cakes and bacon rolls

Sandra captured this dream-like image of Darwin's Barberry 

Lines of tenements photographed by Ada 

Two ducks in a line, floating in the clouds - photographed by Alex 

Colin photographed this distant clock tower 

Dorothy found a diagonal line of flower pots mounted against the horizontal lines of the fence

Ian found lines in this sun dial 

Maggie found multiple layers of reflections in this composition