Castle Celebrations

Edinburgh is very much a city of celebration, and all major celebrations tend to involve Edinburgh Castle somehow. Shooting toward the castle from Inverleith is a sedate, yet still spectacular way to view the illuminated castle without the hustle and bustle of the city centre - especially during Fringe Fireworks or NYE celebrations. Captured from the elevated embankment above Inverleith Pond this view works at any time of day or night, though when the castle is illuminated to mark festivals and events, lighting transforms the castle into a piece of theatre. The spot is easily accessible in Inverleith Park.

A long lens near 200mm ensures the castle fills the width of the frame, but remember to leave some of the foreground rooftops for scale and a base. One of the main challenges here will be a long exposure shot over such a great distance. The slightest movement of the camera will result in camera shake, so using a release timer is advisable so that you are not handling the shutter. Remember also to turn off image stabilisation when a long exposure is used on a tripod. When taking this composition on a normal evening then you can afford to miss a frame here or there to camera shake, because you can simply retake the shot, but during fireworks and lighting events the moments are that bit more fleeting and immediate, so this might not always be possible.

Edinburgh Castle view from Inverleith Park before a NYE Fireworks Celebration