With its gothic skyline, cobbled streets, and ever-changing light, Edinburgh must be one of the most photographed cities, with its fair share of the estimated 5.3 billion pictures taken daily around the globe.1 It’s not surprising, then, that the photography groups of Edinburgh u3a are popular - all three with waiting lists - but there’s support available for a fourth group if someone is inspired to start one.
Sonia D. is group leader for two of the existing groups, hosting them in her home on the first Thursday and preceding Wednesday of each month. “I give everyone a card with the dates” she says, “to keep us all on track”.
Photography was one of the first passions Sonia pursued when she retired and joined u3a on the suggestion of friends, together with play-reading. She was picking up a childhood interest, having been given a Box Brownie at age ten.
Sonia’s technical background, in a long career in university computing providing staff and students with a computing service and support, meant she was well placed to dive into the digital technology revolution of the early 2000s. She picked up a digital camera and never looked back, embracing the freedom of taking a multitude of shots whilst learning about composition: - training her eye to frame a shot.
When Sonia took over a small photography group in 2008, it didn’t take long before others were drawn in. With warm enthusiasm and thoughtful leadership, she now hosts an average of ten members per meeting, which she finds ideal for meaningful conversation. To make things easier, she runs both her groups using the same format and monthly themes.
Each month, members are given a topic, such as ‘reflections’ or 'dim light’ and they submit ten photographs in advance. At the meetings, the pictures are shown on-screen for the group to review. Together, they explore what works and what doesn’t, diving into aspects of composition - colour, light, the rule of thirds, for example. Standout images are then featured on a shared website, turning the group’s creativity into a digital gallery.
“It’s such a wonderful, creative thing,” says Sonia. “It’s educational, yes, but also about sharing experiences.” The group has both seasoned photographers and beginners using technology from smartphones to complex cameras with multiple lenses. That mix, says Sonia, brings a multitude of perspectives seen through different eyes and lenses. A recent theme of ‘texture’ for example, brought in everything from gnarled tree bark to delicate petals and pebbled gardens.
Setting up a group is not difficult, Sonia insists, thanks to the supportive u3a community including other group leaders, coordinators and of course the group members.
Find out more about joining or running a group here
Page last updated on 19th August 2025