Usher Hall Area

'The gift of brewer Andrew Usher, the baroque Usher Hall was designed by J Stockdale Harrison of Leicester. The auditorium has superb acoustics as befits Edinburgh's main concert hall. Extensive £9m refurbishment in 2000 has introduced modern services and removable seating in the stalls.'

This is the view from Centre Stage, looking back at the auditorium.

My favourite image from our visit on year 2000's Open Day. Style and substance.

More opulent elegance. Real parquet flooring.

Refined gracefulness and good taste.

New comfortable seats which fold neatly away.

An exterior shot of one of the semicircular windows.

On 23rd September 2009 I grabbed this chance to photograph the steps still in pristine condition. The ultrawide fisheye lens also captures The Traverse Theatre.

This second fisheye picture was taken from the top of the steps.

August 2010 and the months (years?) of work seem to be finished.

That irritating clock which seldom worked has been replaced by these slabs in front of the Usher Hall beside Lothian Road.

Actual water! Quite interesting to look at, especially when someone added washing-up liquid to the fountain.

The former fountain known to locals as 'A Load of Balls'.

On the other side of Lothian Road light reflections and shadows radiate out from the Lyceum theatre.

More light and textures further along the road.

At the south east corner of Festival Square is Ann Davidson's sculpture WOMAN and CHILD, unveiled 22 July 1986.

A vertical view with reduced depth of field to blur the background.

The fountains in the foreground have an inflatable building for company.

The footbridge over the West Approach Road near its junction with Lothian Road.

Despite appearances, there is no wobble in this footbridge.

In this picture the bridge itself is the main theme. The structure looks as solid as a rock, perhaps in an attempt to symbolize the stability of the financial institutions hereabouts.

A symmetrical view of the bridge. It looks as if it could withstand just about any natural disaster, or even a nuclear explosion.

As photographed from Lothian Road.

Started out as an ordinary photograph, manipulated to produce surreal effects.

Interesting architecture behind Edinburgh Castle.

The corner at Spittal Street is decorated with these three statues.

A closer look at the robed female figure

This muscular little fellow looks like a cherub on steroids.

This once was a Picture House or cinema to use today's terminology. I remember its screen had visible seams back in the late '50s which kind of spoiled the effect.

An infrared view of the Farmers Market at Castle Terrace. Saturday 14th July 2012.

Connecting Castle Terrace to Grindlay Street at the back of the Usher Hall. The Lyceum Theatre is to the left of this view, photographed in infrared.

The Ladies loo is one floor up from the Gents in the car park at Castle Terrace.

The Royal Lyceum Theatre, just round the corner from the Usher Hall.

Festival Square beside Lothian Road, opposite the Usher Hall. A giant video screen is linked to the BBC. (Gone now jn 2016.)

July 7th 2013 was a historic day with Andy Murray winning Wimbledon. A huge crowd gathered in Festival Square to watch it on the giant TV screen.

Professional cameramen were capturing the crowd.

This looks like a serious camera, possibly linked to the satellite dish on the van in the corner.

This picture taken at the back of the square. (Wide angle photos were taken with Panasonic Lumix LX5 compact camera, long lens photos taken with Pentax K7 + 55mm-300mm lens.)

Most of the crowd were wearing sunglasses.

This view shows Lothian Road and further down, Princes Street.

Two cool customers enjoyed the shade.

The Bell Tower used to be on the other side of Lothian Road outside the Usher Hall. Its clock sometimes told the correct time. It seems to be accurate today.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes gaze upwards, watching Andy Murray's progress.

There were loud cheers when Andy scored a point.

This picture sets the scene, showing Edinburgh Castle, Traverse Theatre and Usher Hall. Many visitors gave the tourist hotspots a miss this afternoon for this important event.

An open-top vintage bus passes by on its way up Lothian Road,

Looking out from underneath the insurance company's entrance and peeking across Lothian Road to the old Picture House.

Looking splendid in the afternoon sunshine, the Lyceum theatre.