Edinburgh

Edinburgh's medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, cascades down a volcanic ridge from Edinburgh Castle (a fortress site since at least the Iron Age) to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Royal Mile connecting them is a photographer's corridor of closes (narrow alleyways), Gothic spires, and atmospheric pub fronts. Scotland's weather, often considered a drawback, is Edinburgh's photographic asset: low cloud wrapping around Arthur's Seat, rain-slicked cobblestones reflecting warm pub light on the Grassmarket, and haar (sea fog) from the Firth of Forth produce images with a moody depth that sunshine generally cannot replicate. During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe — the world's largest arts festival, running annually since 1947 with over 3,000 shows — the streets become a theater of human subjects ideal for street photography.