inspired photography with just enough perspective
I shot this last week while walking across the Cambie Bridge to my hotel in Vancouver. Reminded of a ride-along I did not too long ago in my home town. I was amazed at how much goes on when the rest of us are asleep, and I live in a small town. In any case, I didn’t even know I captured this until I looked the next day. Nonetheless, it’s nice to know that all the things that happen while we sleep are looked after by these men and women in blue. God speed to you.
That’s the question I ask myself whenever I get immerse myself into the city of Vancouver. How is it possible that such an awesome city can even exists? I have no answers, just photos of the awesomeness that is this electric city. I used to live in Toronto but now I’m in Florida, I’m an American, I was born in California. Anyhoo, …when I lived in Toronto there was a sense that it was the center of the Canadian universe, and in many ways it is. But in terms of beauty and quality of life, it’s got nothing on Vancouver, not even close. So here is a taste of the northwest city on the pacific. And don’t be surprised if when you look up the word spectacular in the dictionary you see a picture of Vancouver.
I just got back from an amazing trip to Vancouver. There’s nothing better than walking around Vancouver at night unless perhaps you’re walking around during a TED conference. This is Janet Echelman’s sculpture which was lit up for thew conference last week. It’s a 745-foot wide installation made of netting and suspends between the roof of the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel and the Vancouver Convention Centre. You could actually control the lighting with your cellphone thanks to a collaboration Aaron Koblin of Google Creative Lab’s.
In Vancouver near the Westin Hotel there is this little semi-circular walkway over the water that offers a great view of the harbour. One day I watched an otter from this spot and overheard someone mention that he frequents the outdoor pool at the Westin. Animals are respected here in Vancouver like no other city, they seem to be residents accorded all the rights, and maybe even a little more. And as far as I’m concerned that’s the way it should be. This is the Coal Harbour section of Vancouver at night.
These are the still waters of Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta. As far as lakes go, this is one of he most beautiful on Earth. Certainly there are a lot of places I’ve not been, but I digress. The lake itself is about 20 miles long and surrounded by awe inspiring peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Yes, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are up there, but this lake is remote and for all intents and purposes, pristine like no other. No crowds, no helicopters, no room service, this is the real deal. In any case, if and when you get a chance, do check it out.
I took this last year while walking around Vancouver. I walk a lot when in Vancouver because there’s so much to see. There are a lot of other cities I need to see, Berlin is way up there. But Vancouver is just plain cool, laid back and the best example of the new age in North America. This is a view of Granville Island around dusk and as I recall it was a two mile walk back to my hotel from here, not that I minded one bit.
I took this last autumn when I was in Vancouver walking back to the hotel. One of these days I’ll learn how to get a good moon picture. I have a feeling it has to do with really good timing and expensive lenses which effectively narrows the odds you’ll see an awesome moon from me anytime soon. That being said, there’s always cool reflections or glow during a full moon, and that, is a little more down my alley.
Vermillion Lake is just outside Banff in Alberta Canada, part of Banff National Park. It’s impossible to drive anywhere and not be impressed by the scenery and grandeur at every turn. I was here last summer and headed out to capture this around dusk on the last day. The summer days were much longer so this was probably around eight or nine at night. I remember being swarmed by mosquitoes as I setup for this frame and then made a dash back for the car. Now looking back and remembering this, I just want to go back. Perhaps I will this summer.
My impression of sunset at Vancouver’s English Bay. Sometimes it seems the further I get from literal, the better things are. I’m drawn to abstraction in photography because it’s an escape into a world of my own imagination. Like radio, I use my imagination to fill in the gaps. In my experience, the world becomes a little more interesting when I use my imagination a little bit each day.
It took nearly all my photographic skills (okay, so I got lucky, bear with me) to capture this scene without including the throngs of summer tourists right behind me. In fact I had to get out on a rock so as not to get knocked over by a fresh bus load. But then again, I was one of those tourist so I have no reason to complain. Hey, if it wasn’t for places like this most people would never get a glimpse of the beauty we have in this world. I would prefer to be walking to the other side of this lake and continuing on for days. And I will, on another day. But on this day I took the bus. This is Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta Canada.
