Bristo Square

In the heart of Edinburgh’s university quarter, Bristo Square opens out before the grand McEwan Hall. It’s worth pointing out that McEwan Hall is round, the modern black-topped entry building to the right is round, and the sunken concrete plaza area is also round... in Bristo ‘Square’. The McEwan Hall is named for Scottish brewer and philanthropist William McEwan. McEwan funded the purpose-built Edinburgh University graduation hall which was designed by architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson and completed in 1897. The square is a a popular events space, gathering space and thoroughfare, so it’s often busy.

This shot was taken after sunset on a particularly windy evening. A long exposure of 15 seconds blurs passers by from the frame and creates cloud movement in the sky which would, on a calmer day, take closer to a minute-long exposure to achieve. Note that the wind direction is more or less into the camera which means the cloud streaks appear to burst overhead. Getting low to the paving patterns in the plaza with a wide lens give character to an otherwise empty foreground.