School of Divinity

This location is the enclosed quadrangle of New College, home to the University’s School of Divinity, framed here in portrait format between two tall Gothic towers at the rear of the building. Rising between the towers is the slender crowned spire of the former Tolbooth Kirk on the Royal Mile which is not actually part of the New College, and sits across the Royal Mile at the rear of the building. The courtyard is often open although be aware it is a busy place.

This shot can be tricky to capture for the same reasons as many other buildings in the Old Town area. The tight courtyard space and high building means it is naturally quite a dark area, even on bright days. This can contrast against the brightness of the sky when clear or overcast. Also, when lining up the shot be aware that the spire in the distance is not actually central between the towers and staircase, so edging left and right is worthwhile to find a balance.