Botanical Garden Glasshouse

This impressive Victorian Palm House is one of two that have been home to thousands of wonderful exotic plants at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh since the 1800s. Designed by Scottish architect Robert Matheson, this handsome sandstone and glass-topped building shelters palms and tender species from warmer climes. The image shows it three-quarters on across a manicured lawn with a bright sky of broken cloud behind the glass canopy. Entry to the wider Botanic Garden is free, though access to the Palm Houses is by paid ticketed entry only.

An all-seasons subject, though spring and autumn add the most colour to the surrounding trees. Early afternoon light should illuminate the sandstone arches to bring out the detail and texture. A super-wide lens is ideal to capture the entire structure from this range, but if you don’t have one then there is room to move back with a standard lens and ensure you can get it all in. Watch for blown out highlights from light reflecting off the white framework and underexpose slightly if necessary. A polariser will help to manage reflections and lift the blue of the sky on a bright day.