lookdownlookout 26.12.11

Finishing off the year as it began with a walk on the beach in Donegal. Got some new shoes for Christmas so I might have something new to photograph instead of always wearing my Converse!

lookdownlookout 18.12.11

These photos were taken in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery which just reopened at the end of November after 2 years of restoration and renovation. When I used to work at the Galleries this was my always my favourite site and I think that they've done a really great job of renewing it. From what I've heard and seen it has been really busy and seems to be a great success so far.

The top photos were taken in the library which used to be closed to the public but has now been moved to a different room and opened up. It is a lovely room and I really like the big round lampshades and the bookcases showing off the collection.

This is the entrance hall of the SNPG looking particularly lovely at Christmas. The paintings and the gilding have been carefully restored and the space has been modernised with some computer information points sensitively put at one side. This is definitely somewhere I intend to visit lots in 2012.

lookdownlookout 30.11.12

These photos were taken on a day of wandering and shopping in the Old Town. It's been getting dark so early recently and Edinburgh feels lovely and wintery. I like the way the shiny wet ground reflects the streetlights. Also I think that Victoria street looks good whatever the season, with its dramatic sweeping curve as well as the cute shops and restaurants.  


I did cheat a bit here and take these using the Hipstamatic app on my new iPhone but think they capture the atmosphere pretty well.

Lookdownlookout 12.11.11

My folks were visiting Edinburgh last weekend and we spent a lovely Saturday wandering around the new town before going to a concert in the Usher Hall that night. A perfect Edinburgh afternoon with a sunset to match.

lookdownlookout 22.10.11

This sculpture caught my eye whilst dashing through Amsterdam Schipol Airport on the very last wee bit of my mega-journey back to Edinburgh. It made me look twice (maybe it was the jetlag) but I like the sentiment behind it. So go on...

lookdownookout 19.10.11

During our time in Beijing we spent a brilliant afternoon wandering around 798, an area crammed full of art galleries, workshops and shops full of lots of creativity as well as tempting goodies to buy. 

lookdownlookout 20.10.11

We spent so much of our time wandering through old palaces and temples that it would be wrong not to include at least one shot of these striking red buildings with intricate woodwork and deep yellow tiled roofs (the colour of royalty). 


Another thing that fascinated me in China was the artfully erected scaffolding supporting the wizened old trees. It seemed to appear everywhere, on trees big and small, and this photo is a wee reminder of how much the Chinese obviously value them.

I know that Beijing is infamously smoggy, but it still felt strange that I didn't see a blue sky once when I was there. It was almost oppressing at times and made me wonder how the Chinese aren't more radically committed to climate change, especially since they can physically see the effects in front of them!

lookdownlookout 18.10.11

This was definitely my favourite thing that I saw in China - old men and women doing oversized calligraphy in the park using what looked like a big pointy sponge on a stick. I'm not sure what exactly they were writing but I'd like to think that it was poetry (??). The best thing was that it just evaporated after a while and disappeared, a very classy form of temporary graffiti.

Lost.

This was taken at an antiques market in Shanghai. The street was a real treasure trove of interesting bits and bobs, some rubbish and some brilliant finds. Purchases we made included personalised chops (handcarved red stamps with our names on them), a book of Mao philosophy and an opium pipe. Hmmm.

lookdownlookout 15.10.11

It's almost a month since my amazing trip to China and I've finally managed to put some photos up on my blog! These photos were taken in the new terminal at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, where I stopped over on my way to Shanghai. The adventure had begun...

lookdownlookout 16.10.11

These photos were taken when we were exploring on our first day in Shanghai. We went to Yuan Gardens, an ancient walled oasis right in the middle of a super-busy shopping district and was an amazing introduction to some of the special Chinese places we went on to discover during the week. 

The three pairs of feet consisted of me and my two lovely, lovely American college friends Casey and Karen. They demanded to appear in this blog and their wish is my command! What a fantastic and funny week.

As well as the lovely, old-fashioned side of Shanghai, we also tried to get a flavour of the more normal, modern side of the city. Definitely less glamorous but just as interesting.

And I am totally in love with the look of Chinese text - doesn't matter what it's saying, as these drink cartons demonstrate:

lookdownlookout 8.10.11

Well rainy autumn has definitely arrived in Edinburgh, although we didn't let that dampen our spirits, instead choosing to brave a very wet Princes Street for some Saturday shopping at the weekend. Included, of course, was a stop for hot chocolate which was where I took these quick pics before diving into the cream and marshmallows.

lookdownlookout 25.9.11

My orchid is probably one of my favourite possessions, so I was so pleased during the summer when it transformed itself from being a twig-with-leaves to a super-flowering, purpley pink delight. 


I was given this orchid as a present from a boy in my first class and I especially love the colour. I've been meaning to photograph it for ages (before the flowers disappear again for another year) as a reminder to myself and anyone else with an orchid: don't give up on it when the flowers fade!

lookdownlookout 26.8.11

These photos were taken one day during the festival when I took an unfamiliar turn off the Royal Mile. The writing on the wall pretty much sums up the attitude of most festival-goers I think...

lookdownlookout 17.8.11

August just wouldn't be August without an Edinburgh Festival photograph and I liked this view best - the bar at C Venue looking down from the Bridges. The city has had a real buzz about it all month and I managed to see some amazing things. Highly recommended!

lookdownlookout 25.7.11

After our wee trip to Dublin we went to visit relatives on Aranmore Island off the coast of Donegal. It was an amazing day weather-wise and we had a great time driving round and seeing the sights of the tiny green island where my Nana grew up.