Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Held each August on the Castle Esplanade, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the city’s most revered spectacles with over 200,000 visitors annually. The particular vantage point for this view is a carefully selected premium seating option just below the Royal Gallery to remain as close to the centre of the Esplanade as possible.

This shot is taken during blue hour with the castle façade to the rear of the shot, the crowds lit up in red, and performers filling the Esplanade. A wide lens is needed to take in the grandstands. Be aware that lighting continually changes during the performance so trial and error are often key, but don’t spend too long staring at camera settings and remember to enjoy the show. ISO and aperture sacrifices will generally need to be made to ensure shutter speeds remain fast enough to prevent motion blur, and make sure the moving performers stay in crisp focus.