It was 1985, and my very first time in the UK. I had embarked on a sweeping journey through England and Scotland—starting near The New Forest, passing through Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon, then north through York and across Hadrian’s Wall before reaching Edinburgh. The Highlands and Inverness still awaited, but first came a day spent exploring Edinburgh Castle and the famed Royal Mile.
Chocolate Cake, Condensation, and a Serendipitous Frame
Cold and wind-blown, I ducked into a small café just a block or two south of the Castle. A pot of hot tea and a slice of chocolate cake were welcome comforts. Seated at a bench table, I glanced out the window, its glass fogged with condensation—and there it was. A photograph. A perfectly composed, naturally occurring scene just beyond the pane.
Without moving from my seat, I lifted my camera and exposed a few frames of Kodachrome. As they say in Britain, “Bob’s your uncle!”—I had my image, a quiet visual souvenir from a cold Edinburgh afternoon.
A Gift and a Goodbye to a Place Now Gone
On a return trip years later, I stopped in again to share a small print with the café owners. They were about to sell the place and retire, and the gesture clearly delighted them. The café no longer exists—I’m not sure what stands in its place—but the memory lives on in this quiet, contemplative image.
Available in a Limited Edition of 25, with 2 Artist Proofs
