Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen, Scotland

Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen, Scotland

When this scene was captured, there was a plan to raise Union Terrace Gardens to Street level and cover over the railway line and Denburn Road too. What then was called the City Square Project did have attractions but losing the sense of seclusion of the existing Union Terrace Gardens would have been a pity. That created the mirage that any bustle around Aberdeen's centre was far, far away. In the end, the project was cancelled, so we still have this gem of a location.

The photo that you see here now replaces an earlier attempt with a 35 mm compact film camera captured during the week following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Apart from the restrictions of a fixed 35 mm lens, my photographic expertise back then was nothing compared to what it is now. For one thing, the granite facade of His Majesty's Theatre almost blended with the white clouds behind it. Hopefully, this photo does the pleasing urban scene more justice though the statue of William Wallace isn't a prominent as it might be with the dark foliage behind it. A lighter background would be in order though I wonder if I could have done anything towards that end on the day. At least, it wasn't covered in white screens like on my last visit to the Granite City; the then ongoing restoration is long complete.

See more photos from this album (A Northern Crossing)