Vancouver is becoming one of my favorite cities to visit and to photograph. Not being the “world class” sophisticated photographer accustomed to the urban scene, my photography excursions there are mostly limited to the Stanley Park and near waterfront areas of the city. Shall we say that I have a somewhat limited view of the city as a whole from a photography perspective though I have driven through a much wider portion of the city from time to time.
For a person who does not consider himself an urbanite, who though having no worries about driving within even congested urban environments I find it difficult to really “see” the city other than through the windscreen of a car. Many interesting looking places to walk about but how do you get to those places by foot? Another topic for another time. Let me jump right in and say I had a rather pleasant time of it this week. Owing to the time factor of these postings and the fact that someone may read it next year or beyond, I have to define “this week.” The second week of March, 2010. Just a couple of weeks following the conclusion of the Winter Olympic Games held in Vancouver this year.
A Walk / Running / Bicycle / Skating path encircles the park
Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, somewhat larger than New York’s Central Park. Access to the park is easy and parking throughout the park plentiful and I think, modestly priced. Typically I have been able to arrive in the park around midday and parking until closing time at 6 PM is $5 CAD. Since one parking ticket which can be purchased with cash or credit card at machines in all of the parking areas is good throughout the entire park, it’s convenient to drive from one part of the park to the other to save a lot of foot work.
Masts
On this trip I was able to spend two afternoons shooting in the park. The first afternoon was less than perfect weather wise owing to low clouds throughout the day and a somewhat biting wind. The second day, was rather different. The morning began with the finishing of a light drizzle overnight and by midday was showing signs of breaking into partially blue skies. Ideal light and cloud presence for my purpose. Additionally, it seemed a little warmer. Whether it was or not, it was much more pleasant to walk about. Following a quick lunch of fish and chips (why not?) at The Prospect Point Cafe overlooking the park end of Lion’s Gate Bridge, I drove back around the park to the first parking lot just inside the entrance to the park. Thus a shorter walk out of the park to my intended destination.
Totem in Stanley Park
Though I had brought my tripod with me and used it some the day before, I elected to leave it in the boot of the rental car for this walk. Actually there were a few other items which normally stay in my camera backpack but were left home this time. I was trying to conserve weight and didn’t consider that I’d take advantage of my external flash nor the extra set of charged batteries for it. I also left the dome diffuser – not that it weighs anything of significance but it adds a little bulk – and the set of Kenko macro extension tubes. Yes, I had the Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro lens in the pack but never had occasion to use it. I used primarily the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens which is my “standard” short zoom fitted with a Circular Polarizer filter, and also used the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM telephoto lens. The camara of course is the Canon 40D Digital SLR.
Next, some highlights of the walk.
Dan W. Dooley
Dan Dooley Photography
