Summertime Wed Night Photo Outings

[Deb]

As we discussed at last night's meeting - let's use this thread to discuss what we would like to do at the next meeting. If the weather is nice, perhaps we could go somewhere as a group to take pictures - e.g., Oakbank Bing, around Mid Calder, somewhere in the park, etc.

[Steve]

 

Sounds like a plan - somewhere local so that we don't waste all the nice weather travelling to somewhere, only to find the sun has gone behind a cloud when we arrive! Oakbank Bink, around Mid/ East Calder - I'm not fussy.

Steve

[Willie]

Hi All,

Can I suggest, weather permitting, the Union Canal at the Aqueduct (bridge) just past East Calder. It is somewhere that we have not been as a club. Deb and I go there quite often, as it is nearby and we usually have the place to ourselves.

To get there you go through East Calder, past Clifton Garage, and turn left on Clifton Road. go right down this road and whenever you can make a left, do so (in other words stay to the left). When you see the M8 across the field, there is a gravel road (again bearing to the left) with an old sign "Union Canal" follow this road (which is on the very high ridge of the bank of the almondvale river), and about 600 yards before the road ends there is a cut of to the right going into the parking lot. You are now right next to one side of the canal aqueduct. Total drive time about 8 min.

A second option would be J.S.Walker's farm, located on the right, just before Selm Muir reservoir. We have permission. He has an old barn (sorry not wooden) and other structures, and old broken farm machinery and some sheep, cows ect...some he keeps as pets and would love some photographs of them. The usual things found on a farm. You would probably need "Wellies" for this one.

Best - Willie

[Grahamg]

I agree with Willie's suggestion of the aquaduct (what did the Roman's ever do for us?  ).  If the weather is not quite as good as we want, we could go to the farm instead if it offers more shelter. 

I was going to throw another candidate in the ring, but seeing as we already have a lot of choices for this years competition themes, I dont want to create new confusion on this thread. 

Cheers
Graham

[Dougie]

I was up Selm Muir/Morton way last night testing my new lens (70-300 IS USM)  , the weather was nice and there is the old stone ruins before you get to Selm Muir. Is that the place your talking about?

[Willie]

Hi Dougie,

J.S. Walker's Farm - It is the active farm on the right before you get to Selm Muir.

Graham, What was your suggestion? Another idea would be to make a list of all the places that we could visit during the summer months every Wednesday night. Last year we went to Oakbank Bing, South Queensferry, House of the Binns, Selm Muir, Harelaw Reservoir and Bird Hide (Bird Hide was under reconstruction), and the Ratho Canal Basin. Not to make a vote on them or anything, but to think up some new places to go.

So far we have Almondell Park, Union Canal (Aqueduct at Linn's Mill), Walkers Farm, I didn't find the Oakbank Bing to have a lot of photographic opportunities, perhaps one of the other Bings?

One other thing - this Wednesday with the Cup final on, we may not get that much of a turn out, can I suggest that just for this one we make it a Thursday instead.

Best - Willie

[Dougie]

I know the one Willie, I went further on up the road, there is an old stone ruin of a farm, we'd get some good shots there as well.
As for places of interest, there's a great little woods at near Ratho, go into the Wilkieston lights and turn left up the Bonnington Road, once at the top, take the right turn towards Ratho, there is some parking spaces on about half-a-mile on the right, there's some amazing views from the woods towards Edinburgh, The Forth and this way to the North and West.
The Champions League doesn't interest me this year, I can't be doing with either team lol, one day Dundee United will be there

[Grahamg]

Hi

My other suggestion was to visit the bird hide at Bavelaw.  I was there on Sunday afternoon, and got some good shots.  I hadn't been there before, but it is certainly big enough for all of us.  I see that you went last year when it was being rebuilt.  I certainly found it enjoyable, not really having done much wild life shots before.

Certainly an idea for some point in the summer.

Cheers

Graham

[Willie]

Excellent suggestions guys! More the merrier! I'll start making a list. Correct me if I do not get them right - especially the names  -
(Green the club has been to, Blue we have not - at least recently)

Oakbank Bing
South Queensferry
House of the Binns
Selm Muir
Harelaw Reservoir
Ratho Canal Basin
Edinburgh at Night
Linlithgow Palace
Dawych Botanical Gardens
Union Canal (Aqueduct at Linn's Mill)
Mid Calder Kirk

Almondell Park & Bridge
Walkers Farm & Stone Farm Ruin (further up the road)
Woods near Ratho (1/2 mile from Bonnington Road)
Bavelaw Bird Hide
Falkirk Wheel
Malleny Gardens (Balerno)
Dobies Butterfly World
North Queensferry (looking South)
The walking path on the Forth Road Bridge
The Edinburgh Botanical Gardens
The Livingston Heritage Centre
Blackness Castle
Linlithgow Canal Centre

I'll keep adding to this list any suggestions that are made. So if you can think of any pass them along. It is great to have a few options!

Best - Willie

[Grahamg]

Hi

Will we go for the aquaduct tonight then.  Weather forecase say is twill stay dry, if we trust them that is. 

One other one for the list, although it is a bit further away might be the Falkirk Wheel.  I think it gets lit up at night, so might be good for another night sot location.  It is also somewhere away from the local area which we might end up getting fed up with. 

Cheers

Graham

[Gidders]

We went a couple of years ago to Malleny Gardens - the National Trust place in Balerno. The herbaceous borders will be in full bloom around Wed 11/18 June. If you are interested let me know and I will speak to the warden re entry .

[Grahamg]

I was at Malleny on Saturday, and would second the idea of going there for an outing.

[Dougie]

Sorry Troops, I can't make tomorrow night 

[Grahamg]

Another suggestion for the list.  Instead of South Queensferry looking north, how about North Queensferry looking south?  (thank goodness there are not an East and West Queensferry or this could get really confusing!) It seems that most shots I have seen of the bridges were taken from SQ.  Whether this is because photographers are a tight bunch and never wanted to pay the toll to cross the bridge is probably a matter for a separate discussion. 

I think when this was mentioned on Wednesday we discussed taking photo's from the bridge too.  Obviously, this means walking, and so might not appeal to everyone.  We could always get someone to leave a car at the other side if you don't want to walk both ways