The Edinburgh Photography Meetup Group

Are there really five Thursdays in May this year?! What have I signed myself up for, hosting a 5-Thursday month?

As the country prepares for the May Day Bank Holiday long weekend, let's have a good old fashioned meet-up in a traditional favourite Edinburgh location. The Meadows will be in full bloom, full of students procrastinating revising for their final exams, and a great opportunity for some street photography.

No bigger theme other than I might not see the Meadows in bloom this year if I don't set a meet-up event for it. Let's meet at 1pm at the main junction which is called Meadows Compass on Google Map, and where North Meadows Walk, Middle Meadows Walk and Jawbone Walk meet.

We can go for drinks/chips at the Black Ivy further along Bruntsfield Links. If it's a nice day, we can sit outside on the patio. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

All welcome including complete beginners!

We will take a wee wander around classic cityscapes and locations in Edinburgh City Centre with a focus on the picturesque Stockbridge, Dean’s village and Circus Lane! I will set us some technical challenges so that we can all get some hands-on practical experience!

There will be ample opportunity to ask questions about particular techniques and everything inbetween…the more the merrier!

We will meet outside the Stockbridge Tap and have a chance to gather and chat beforehand and everyone is very welcome to join us for a drink/bite to eat afterwards!

Come along to Montgomery Street Park and meet some of the local dogs and their owners, who have been invited to join us and will be happy for you to take pet portraits or try for some ball chasing action shots. I'm sure they'd love a copy if you get a great shot of their pet.

You could also explore the nearby local shops on Easter Road and then join us for drinks/chips at Herringbone, London Road Gardens.

We'll meet on the stone steps in Montgomery Street Park.

By the Sea at Sunny Dunny

Today we will take a day out to Dunbar or Sunny Dunny (generally known as the sunniest place in Scotland).

We will take a walk around the harbour area, with lots of fishing boats, former workshops and granaries and a lifeboat station. Then we will walk around the Battery and see the Kittiwake colony.

After this we will take a walk along the cliff top trail to Belhaven Bridge, better known as the Bridge to Nowhere. There will be photo opportunities at the bridge and along the coastline and possible birdlife sightings.

The walk will take approximately 1 hour allowing for photographs along the way. If anyone prefers not to walk there is a bus option to the bridge - see Travel below.

We will finish off with a drink at the Brig and Barrel pub which is an 8 minute walk from the bridge and a 2 minute walk to the bus stop for returning to Edinburgh.

What to bring:
We would recommend a zoom lens for the kittiwakes and any other wildlife sightings.
We would also recommend a tripod and ND filters if you wish to take long exposure photos of the sea.

Travel to and from Dunbar:

Bus:

There is an X7 bus which leaves West Maitland Street at 12:06 and Waterloo Place at 12:16 and arrives at Dunbar High Street at 13:30. It is then a 7 minute walk to the Leisure Pool.

Buses leave Dunbar from near the Brig and Barrel at 17:22, 17:52, 18:22, 18:51.

Train:

There is a train from Edinburgh Waverley at 12:10 arriving in Dunbar at 12:43. It is then a 10 minute walk to the Leisure Pool.

Trains leave Dunbar station at 17:10, 17:34 and 18:42. It is a 30 minute walk to the train station from the Brig and Barrel.

Car:

For those who prefer to drive there is free parking at the Dunbar Leisure Pool. Pay and display parking is available at Belhaven Bay for accessing the bridge.

If you can offer a lift to others please do post a message in the meetup comments so others can request a lift.

Travel to the Belhaven Bridge from Dunbar:

If you prefer not to walk to the bridge the X7 bus does stop near the Brig and Barrel which is about a 8 minute walk to the bridge. Buses leave Dunbar High Street at 15:43, 16:04, 16:26.