Fireworks at the Edinburgh Tattoo
Edinburgh Tattoo
Every August, during the Edinburgh Tattoo, we have a fireworks display from the castle six nights a week. The Tattoo is a world famous spectacular show, which takes place against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, right in the heart of Scotland’s capital city. Performers and the audience come from all over the world. The first Tattoo took place at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens in 1949. The Edinburgh Tattoo has grown enormous since then, and now has performances every night for 3 weeks during the festival, and fills the castle esplanade with a riot of colour and music. As a major attraction to visitors to Scotland, the Tattoo’s full run of performances regularly sell out well in advance of the event.
It’s another great opportunity for taking photos. I went into Princes Street tonight to take some shots. I have a favourite wee spot where there’s a big enough gap between the trees to get a good view of the castle. When I arrived, there was already another photographer waiting to take some fireworks photos. But there was enough room for the two of us, and he proved to be good company!
Edinburgh castle in the sun
Edinburgh castle esplanade
It’s been quite a washout over the last couple of weeks in some parts of Scotland. In Edinburgh we had floods earlier the month, and then what felt like endless days without a glimpse of the sun. So it was a relief at the weekend when the clouds rolled back for a while.
I had a chance to venture out with my camera so I headed into town, which seemed to suddenly be buzzing with tourists out enjoying the sunshine. It’s not long now till the Tattoo starts, so I decided to nip up to the castle esplanade to enjoy the sun. I’m lucky to have such amazing places to take photos right on my doorstep!
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Edinburgh’s fireworks
We’re lucky in Edinburgh to have occasions when the Castle is used for fireworks displays. There’s a big display at Hogmanay, and also an hour of fireworks put to music as the finale of the Edinburgh Festival. There were huge crowds out this year for the festival fireworks. Everywhere along Princes Street that had even a glimmer of a view of the sky above the castle was jammed up with people and cameras.
I gave up trying to wriggle my way into a space, and headed off round the back of the castle, for a rather different angle on the proceedings, and plenty of elbow room!
Fireworks over Edinburgh castle
Fireworks lighting up the sky over Edinburgh castle
Fireworks turn the Edinburgh sky red
Buy prints and cards of Edinburgh scenes
From the backside
Edinburgh Castle
I’ve been getting a bit carried away recently taking snowy photos and night time photos of Edinburgh castle from various vantage points on Princes Street. There are times when her rear is pretty stunning too!
The rear of Edinburgh Castle in the sun
Scottish party preparations
After a lovely evening at the final Tass session for 2010, I walked home via Princes Street. There’s been plenty of activity going on in Princes Street gardens, getting ready for the Hogmanay street party and fireworks. And the castle is looking stunning!
Edinburgh castle in winter, at night
