Dear Reader,

I arrived in Edinburgh in January 2024 with my partner at the time. Not long after, the relationship ended, and I found myself adrift in a city that was entirely unfamiliar. In the years since, however, I have been deeply moved and continually surprised by the sense of community and home I’ve found here.

This project has been a particular source of joy over the past four months. Through it, I’ve met new people, gathered stories, and been offered countless recommendations, each an invitation to see the city from a different angle. Some of these interviews are with people who have shaped my time here; others began as conversations with strangers who, over the course of thirty minutes to an hour, became friends.

​

What you see here is an exploration of Edinburgh through the experiences of those who call it home. Through interviews with residents and former residents from a range of backgrounds, this project considers how individuals relate to place and navigate their lives in the city.

​

Click on the portraits in the portfolio below to read each story and listen to the accompanying audio recordings. You can also purchase a print zine by emailing abovebelowzine@gmail.com while supplies last.

​

All photographs of Edinburgh are my own. The portraits were provided and are published with the kind consent of those interviewed.

​

Happy reading,

​

Kailee