Sunday 23 January 2011

Writers’ Museum Lady Stair’s Close Edinburgh


The Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh is located in Lady Stair’s House just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.  The house is said to be named after the 18th Century owner Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Stair.  The house was built in 1622 by Sir William Gray of Pittendrum.  In 1719 Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Stair, bought Gray’s House and the surrounding close.  Throughout the 1800s the house was divided into apartments which were not well maintained.  The area now known as Lady Stair’s Close was being considered for demolition.  Then in 1893 Lord Rosebery a distant relative of Sir William Gray bought the house to restore it.  He commissioned the architect George Shaw Aitken to make it a fine town house once more.  This remodelling left the house in the shape that we find it today.  In 1907 Lady Stair’s House was gifted to the city for use as a museum and is now The Writers’ Museum.

Over the entrance to The Writers’ Museum is an ornamental carved stone lintel bearing the date 1622 and the initials of William Gray and Geida Smith they are the builders of the house.  The ornamentation is inscribed, “FEARE THE LORD & DEPART FROM EVIL.”  It would appear to be a quote from Proverbs Chapter 3 verses 7-8.  The King James Version would translate the original as “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”  It could be viewed as a self help guide suggesting that true spiritual fulfilment also brings physical health, or in reverse it could be viewed as a justification by the prosperous house builders that states that those who succeed are doing the Lord’s work.

The ornamentation above the door displays a flower and star which could indicate the rise from the ground of this tower house built upon the foundation of the union of William Gray and Geida Smith whose initials are carved separately either side of the coat of arms and also in conjunction on the left hand side of the lintel.  The left hand side of the lintel bears the star and William’s initials.  The new union will combine William’s high aspirations with Gieda’s fruitful nature.  The message detailed in the carving could be their hopes that their children will continue the family name and fortune.  This combining of the star and flower can be taken into several interpretations which should rely on accurate historic attributes. 

There is a much simpler stone to interpret which bears the dates 1622-1897.  The dates are figured on oval plaques each of which has a hand affixed.  The extended hands grasp one another in a handshake.  The dates are those of the building of the house and the completion of the repairs and remodelling by Lord Rosebery.  The two hands show that the works of man can span the ages to create a continued lineage homed in a family residence.  Lord Rosebery was a distant relation of Sir William Gray so this dated stone displays the pedigree and position of the men who built and cared for this house.

The Writers’ Museum focuses on Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.   The achievements of these three giants of Scottish Literature are shown through the collection of personal objects, portraits, manuscripts and first editions.  At the time of writing the Museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm and entry is free of charge.  The museum is sited next to Makars’ Court which is still in an evolving national literary monument.  The flagstones have been inscribed with quotes from great Scottish literary figures.  There are new stones being laid as a part of the continuing development.


PHH Sykes


The Writers' Museum Lady Stairs House Edinburgh (102)

The Writers' Museum Lady Stairs House Edinburgh (103)

The Writers' Museum Lady Stairs House Edinburgh (104)

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Roslyn Chapel Valentine's Post Cards


This is the framed set of Valentines cards used to advertise the cards for sale at Rosslyn Chapel.  The photographs of them were taken in 2009.  Although the originals may have been strictly monochrome I have colour processed these images to better show their current state of preservation and to illustrate the beautiful shades that time has brought to these printed works.  I do not own the original postcards nor do I claim to own the copyright of them.  My copyright notice is issued here in relation to the images taken by me.  It is worth noting that the cards issue the name of the chapel as Roslyn, today it goes by the name Rosslyn and the village close by is Roslin.  Time and tradition can be generous in giving us place names to ponder over.

Valentine’s of Dundee produced Scottish topographical views from the 1860s. 
The Valentine business had been based on engraving and printing.  In 1851 James Valentine added portrait photography to the Dundee business.  Valentine used a converted barouche as a mobile darkroom.  Valentine’s views in the nineteenth century covered locations opened up to the middle and upper class tourist market.  It was possible to buy drawing room albums containing selections of photographs arranged geographically and also to have individual larger prints. The prints were available in a choice of sizes, Cabinet, Imperial and Card.  Stereoscopic views were also produced and sold in boxed editions to accompany the stereoscopic viewers.  Locations were chosen throughout Scotland and from 1882 English sites were included.  By 1900 Valentine’s images covered resorts beyond the United Kingdom including Norway, Jamaica, Tangiers, Morocco, Madeira and New Zealand.


©2009 PHH Sykes
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies


Valentine's Post Cards Advert

Roslyn Chapel from South West Valentine's Post Card 3

Prentice Pillar & Lady Chapel Roslyn Chapel Valentine's Post Card

Friday 14 January 2011

Midlothian Winter Panoramas


The landscape in Midlothian offers great scope for panorama format pictures.  The winter has offered up stunning scenes which stretch from end to end of the letter box frame which encapsulates these pictures.  The blend of textures and shades delivered by the hills and pastures of Midlothian are punctuated by the woodlands and waterways.  The combination of natural elements and farmed lands make beautiful reading for those that pause to enjoy the narrative of the landscape.  Wandering through Scotland can be a mind opening exercise.  Various mountain scenes seem to adapt your vision into a widescreen set up.  You begin to take long sweeping views that run along ridges and continue on across lochs and over tree tops.  Here in Midlothian there are continual vistas that stretch the mind and camera to find the best focus to fulfil your vision.  This is the beginning of a collection of winter landscapes that benefit from being seen as a panorama.


©2011 PHH Sykes
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

For more photos click on the images below

Midlothian Winter Panoramas (103)

Midlothian Winter Panoramas (105)

Midlothian Winter Panoramas (112)

Thursday 13 January 2011

Winter Flora Macro Temple Midlothian Scotland


Living in the midst of fields, woods and countryside it is quite easy to see the subtle changes brought about by the seasons.  In the temperate climate of Midlothian you can experience a four seasons day where you have icy white hail being melted by glorious summer sun shine and in between the cold and hot you could be experiencing spring and autumn.  The macro flower pictures that I took on 11 January 2010 were showing signs of spanning the seasons.  I could see dried autumnal stems and seeds as well spring like flowers despite there being snows on the ground and a glorious warm light from a bright blue sky.

The stark lighting I choose here was accentuated to illustrate the harsh conditions that these flowers are experiencing.  The main subjects I took to were Wild Chervil and Rosebay Willowherb.  The strong streams of sunlight gave me shadows and highlights to combine.  The setting sun gave me great colours in the sky.  The camera can fail to combine the natural conditions so I used reflected light and electronic lights to amalgamate the light sources at the levels that that I needed for these photographs.  It was a cold session lasting several hours and there are more pictures to load on another occasion but I am very happy to share these stark winter images with you.

©2011 PHH Sykes
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies
http://phhsykes.blogspot.com 

For more photos click on the images below


Winter Flora Macro Midlothian Scotland (102)

Winter Flora Macro Midlothian Scotland (114)

Winter Flora Macro Midlothian Scotland (105)

Monday 10 January 2011

Midlothian Midwinter Daytime Donder


After enjoying a stimulating breakfast as documented below I was ready to take to the countryside in search of more snow.  http://phhsykes.blogspot.com/2011/01/rocket-fuel-samsung-galaxy-gt-i9000.html
The guarana and caffeine were driving me on to fill my lens with snow, sky and stunning scenery.

The earlier snows had provided me with subject matter just two days before.  http://phhsykes.blogspot.com/2011/01/scottish-snow-scenes-midlothian-meander.html
So I went back to the previous locations to record the changes made by the heavier snow fall.

This was a longer tour than the Midlothian Meander and the conditions were superb.  Even though the snow was heavy underfoot it was a pleasure to be surrounded by the winter landscape.  All around was covered in the sumptuous snow cape idly left by the passing winter weather spirits.  They had transformed every aspect of the views available with the bright white covering that extended in all directions.  The windswept sheets of snow gave unexpected textures making familiar sights seem startling and strange.  There were some superb scenes to enjoy and to photograph as I journeyed around in search of light, colour and perspective.  There was no disappointment as the winter weather had created beauty and majesty across the Pentland Hills and over the pastures to the edge of the frozen waters where I thought it was time to pack away my camera.  Then just as I was closing in on the warmth of our open hearth in Temple I saw a flock of sheep that caught my eye and had me opening up my camera bag once again.

©2011 PHH Sykes
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

For more photos click on the images below

Midlothian Midwinter Daytime Donder (102)

Midlothian Midwinter Daytime Donder (115)

Sunday 9 January 2011

A Servant of Two Masters performed by Beloit Memorial High School Theatre


Here are just a couple of pictures from the Royal Mile in Edinburgh 2010.  I was fortunate enough to photograph the cast of A Servant of Two Masters performed by Beloit Memorial High School Theatre.  These pictures have been posted in an increased size and number after a contact was made on Flickr.  It is quite a revelation of power the global community to have a comment made on my pictures which lead to me being able to make new edits and more pictures available to the people in the pictures about 4,000 miles away.  The High Street in Edinburgh throughout August is a great place to take wonderful candid pictures as there is so much going on there.  It is good to be able to make contact with the performers and to release pictures to them.  In this instance I was sure that there were more pictures available to share, but after looking through a few thousand digital files I have only found a few of this group.  One day there will be better way to organise and find pictures.  At the moment I have to rely o my memory and go searching numbered thumbnails hoping to discover the right files.  One day the camera will record the names of the people being digitally recorded at the release of the shitter.  It may be a while yet before we are all fitted with personal recognition transmitters and it could be a civil liberties outrage to suggest that this will at least make recording and sharing of photographs easier!

©2011 PHH Sykes
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies
http://phhsykes.blogspot.com


A Servant of Two Masters (106)

A Servant of Two Masters (103)

A Servant of Two Masters (102)

Scottish snow scenes A Midlothian meander


This is a brief record of an outing in the sunshine and snows of Midlothian in Scotland.  When the sun shines on the snow there is a winter beauty freely on show.  With a hop, skip and a jump I was out in the frost and chill to record the bright light on the fresh white.  The snow is not very easy to capture in pictures, but that is a part of the appeal.  The pictures I took were all created with manual settings.  I enjoy struggling over dials and buttons with frozen fingers as I take just one more exposure in an attempt to capture the natural beauty in front of me.  There is some flash in some of these exposures to provide illumination on the foreground subjects.  This outing has left me wanting more days out in the snow.  There could be a swaddled photographer taking to the chill again very soon indeed.

©2011 PHH Sykes
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies


Scottish snow scenes A Midlothian meander (103)

Scottish snow scenes A Midlothian meander (118)

Scottish snow scenes A Midlothian meander (135)

Rocket Fuel Samsung Galaxy GT-I9000 Photo Breakfast


Having recently purchased a jar of caffeine and Guarana I was ready for the ultimate wakeup call before I went out to capture the snow scenes that await my digital sensor in Scotland.  The coffee goes by the name of Rocket Fuel so I decided to capture some images with the Samsung Galaxy GT-I9000.  These two stellar performers are all I need to take me to the stars.  The coffee with the Guarana gave me a sprightly feeling.  The Samsung Galaxy does not have a photographic flash fitted but with my eyes widened by the Rocket Fuel I was not in need of extra lighting.  I like coffee, I like photography I will soon post the results of the Rocket Fuelled photography outing that followed this breakfast and see if you like the results.

©2011 PHH Sykes
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies


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2011-01-08 11.55.58

2011-01-08 11.58.49