Lauriston Castle
Lauriston Castle is a well-preserved 16th-century tower house expanded into a grand Edwardian mansion, set within quiet wooded grounds on the western edge of Edinburgh with glimpses of the Firth of Forth through the trees. The castle's asymmetrical facade, with its mix of original tower and later additions, gives you a lot to work with compositionally; try shooting from the lawn to the south to get the full frontage, or move closer to emphasize the older tower against the sky. The formal Japanese-inspired garden nearby adds strong geometric shapes and seasonal color worth including in a wider shoot. Overcast days work particularly well here, softening the light on the stonework and reducing harsh shadows on the textured facade. A 24-70mm range covers most compositions comfortably. Access is straightforward via the public grounds, and mornings tend to be quieter for unobstructed frames. (Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom)
