Captured #17: August 2025
Edinburgh is a very photogenic city, and each season offers a different perspective – the autumn haar, long winter nights (and sometimes snow), cherry blossoms in spring and the festivals in the summer.
August is festival season. The international festival, the fringe festival, the book festival, the art festival and this year the film festival as well. The population of the city doubles, the streets are packed with performers visiting from across the globe. It really is an amazing experience. If you’re an Edinburgh resident, the best thing to do is lean into it rather than avoid it.
This year was blessed with good weather (well, apart from the biblical storm at the beginning) which means more people, and more opportunities for taking photos. If you’re into street photography but you find photographing people uncomfortable then come to Edinburgh in August! The streets are packed with performers advertising their shows and they’re all delighted to pose for shots (especially if you promise to share details on your Instagram).
Despite wallowing in a bit of a photographic slump over the past couple of months, I managed to find a bit of time to shoot the festival streets in between attending an epic agenda of shows this year. Here are some of my favourites.
Lisbon and Cascais
I spent a few days in Lisbon at the beginning of the month and I absolutely loved it. This wasn’t a photography trip so I was only shooting sporadically, but I still got a few shots I really liked. I mean, it’s hard not to in what must be one of the most photogenic cities in the world.
I definitely plan to go back on a photography-specific trip, perhaps a bit earlier in the year when it’s less hot and not quite so rammed.
🌐 Found online
Some interesting photography-related things I’ve found on the web recently:
- IRYS Photos. IRYS is a new photography app from Alan Schaller. Well, it’s more than that since he’s looking to mix in community building, competitions, galleries, an agency and more! It’s a bold move. Despite there being a multitude of Instagram clones, perhaps the depth of ambition of IRYS, as well as the impact of Alan Schaller, will make it the one to beat. You can find me on there @ollyheadey.
- Astronomer Photographer of the Year. Forget random snaps from the streets, these night shots are incredible on every level.
- ‘There’s something very interesting about boring’: Martin Parr on his life in pictures. Wonderful article with Martin Parr discussing some of his most famous pictures. Legend.
- Cliff-divers, floating drinkers and billion-dollar flies: everyday moments on Earth – in pictures. A selection of wonderful photos from LensCulture’s New Visions awards.
- 7 days left to enter the Street Photographers Foundation Awards 2025.
- iPhone Cameras are Actually Really Good. Yes, but there’s something special about using a real camera and the images are better aren’t they?
- I’d quite like to buy some of these books by Charles H. Traub.
📺 YouTubers
A few I liked.
I really enjoy Roman Fox's take on how to improve your photography and this is a good one.
I'd class Joe Allam as more of an "influencer" but I kinda like his chilled videos. This was a good one and it really made me want to visit Shanghai.
What Actually Is Street Photography?
Tim Jamieson's videos are getting better and I liked this one where he reflected on the definition of street photography. I think he gets it right.
How To Take Portraits With Natural Light – 11 Tips With Alan Schaller
A quick one about shooting portraits in natural light. I always learn something from his videos and that's why they're great.
This will make any photo better, instantly
James Popsys knows what he's on about.
Listening Party 🔈
On the pods this month.
Photographic Memory: I look at her and light goes all through me
If ever there was a band that should be featured in this newsletter it's one called Photographic Memory. I came across this on Pitchfork who gave it a 7.3 which is fairly high praise for them. It's a real grower, hard to classify really, but something like emo shoegaze ("Nu Gaze"?) to beat-driven indie rock.
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See you in a few weeks 👋