Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5

This is a new addition to my lens lineup. In DX, the 20mm is actually 30mm, but this wide field of view is still ideal for street photography. It is of course a manual focus lens, but used with a stop of F8 or above, and with the distance set from ten feet to infinity, I find it an excellent performer.

(As with any wide lens, you really have to get up close for best performance when doing street work. Nonetheless, with some shots I was able to crop significantly (and the D40 is a 6 megapixel camera) without losing much detail. With the D40, and I imagine with most DSLRs, you can achieve accurate focus at any F-stop by paying attention to the ‘in focus’ light, green on the Nikon, which pinpoints the focus on your subject in the viewfinder.)

I like how the lens renders colours, too, and images converted to B&W seem to have a bit of added ‘punch.’ (The lens is also small, relatively light, and unobtrusive.)

But enough of my rambles, I’ll let you be judge:

Harpist

Minicam ...

Life's a yawn ...

In the pink

Focus of attention

Giving it the works

Those boots are made for walking ...

Separate tables

Castle walk ...

The Cap'n and his mate?

Adam Smith and Friends

David Hume

Walter Scott Monument, Balmoral Hotel and North Bridge

Walter Scott Monument

in the picture

Edinburgh International Festival, 2013

During an Edinburgh festival some years ago I was within earshot of the renowned artist and gallery owner Richard Demarco (a close friend of Sean Connery and other well-known Edinburghers), when I heard him remark to a friend: “Edinburgh’s amazing at this time of year ... the entire city is en fête.”

En fête it almost certainly is. Edinburgh’s population (approximately 500,000) doubles during the three weeks of the Festival (which concludes this year on August 24). The only problem is that the streets are crowded (and I do mean crowded — walk the upper part of the Royal Mile from Tron Church to Edinburgh Castle, and you’re literally shoulder-to-shoulder with other folk — every square foot of road and pavement is taken).

The upside for the street photographer is that there are limitless picture-taking opportunities. The downside is you’re lucky to get a picture without someone walking into shot.

I’m not complaining, however, as I do like the Festival, and enjoy the atmosphere generated by visitors during this time of year.

My Festival photo walk took in the upper part of the Royal Mile (Tron Church to Bank Street), from where I descended The Mound to finish up at Mound Square/Princes Street.

(All photos taken with a Nikon D3200 and 50mm lens.):

Watch the birdie ...

Spotted ...

Send in the clowns

Portrait

The arms of the law ...

In a bit of a fankle

Leaflet, sir?