*New* Vintage images of Outlook Tower from our collection were added to this page 7/2004.
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*New* Vintage images of Outlook Tower from our collection were added to this page 7/2004. |
| Outlook Tower, Castlehill, Edinburgh Scotland |
| Our visit on June 5, 1996 |
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| The camera obscura in the Outlook Tower at the top of the Royal
Mile, next to the castle was established in the 1850's by the optician Maria
Theresa Short and was originally known as Short's Observatory. The optics
were replaced in 1947.
Our initial visit to this beautifully operated camera obscura with its panoramic views of historic Edinburgh was in the summer of 1978. It was the first operating camera obscura we ever saw and we fell in love with the magic of the experience. Until that point the camera obscura room had been an interest from books on the history of photography. We have been back for four visits in the years since. There is a ticket counter and gift shop at the entrance. Tickets are
sold for a specific time shown on a sign when you buy the ticket. The
camera obscura is located about six flights up in the tower. There is
no elevator but there are exhibitions of camera obscuras, pinhole photography,
and art on the floors you pass on your way up. These give nice stopping
points in the climb. At the top is an observation deck with telescopes.
At the appointed time the group files into the camera obscura and the
guide (on all of our visits they have been enthusiastic and well rehearsed
young people) gives a 15 minute demonstration of the camera obscura. In
the few minutes between presentations they have always been happy to turn
on the lights to let us photograph and videotape the interior. |
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| Images of Edinburgh Outlook Tower from Our Collection | |||||||
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