MyWestworld

5 Spots for Spectacular Shots in Vancouver, B.C.

Posted on 14. May, 2009 by Lisa Bettany in Fresh Trax

Vancouver is a beautiful city to photograph. The beaches, parks, forests and majestic mountains towering over a glassy skyline are a photographer’s dream. I have lived here for over four years and I have yet to tire of shooting the city.

Everyone who visits Vancouver wants to take spectacular travel photos to share with friends and family, but more often than not they are disappointed with the shots they take. They return home with unoriginal snapshots of the same tourist attractions and famous landmarks, all taken from the side of the road or out of the window of a tour bus. They lament over the fact they weren’t able to capture the vibrancy of the city and conclude, “I should have just bought a post card.”

I say, “Don’t buy that postcard!” Well, buy one to post Granny a holiday memento, but I guarantee that you can take a more interesting and memorable travel photo than any postcard! I’ve scoped out five spectacular locations in Vancouver for the best photographic opportunities – and included links to them on Google Maps so you can find them lickity split!

1. Best Spot for People Shots: Kitsilano Beach

Cool Dude on a bike taken on Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver, B.C.

Kitsilano Beach is Vancouver’s South Beach. In the summertime, where , you’ll see a parade of scantily clad beach bunnies sunning themselves while their slicked-up jock boyfriends spike volleyballs between strong sips of micro-brewed beer. Competing for the girls’ attention are Indie rock boy wannabes strumming sweet nothings on their beater guitars while their Maple Leaf hotdogs pop and sizzle on make-shift BBQs.

From time to time, you may spot visiting celebrities, like Jessica Alba, wearing excessively large sunglasses and walking their tiny dogs. This is the best spot for grabbing interesting and fun people shots. It’s also very entertaining to watch, as you might imagine.

2. Best Spot for Sunset Shots: Jericho Beach

Sunset overlooking Jericho Beach Yacht Club, Vancouver, B.C.

If you are looking for a quieter spot try Jericho Beach, a spectacular, soft, sandy beach with views of downtown and the North Shore mountains. Head down to Jericho to grab that perfect sunset shot of the Vancouver skyline or the sun streaming over the snowcapped Coast Mountains with silhouetted sailboats in the distance. You may even see a blue heron, playful seal or otter out in the harbour, so remember to bring your zoom lens!

Also, make sure to check out the park. There is a beautiful pond with tall grass where you can find a bevy of avian friends, frogs and turtles.

The breathtaking view of Jericho Beach Yacht Club in the above photo was taken from Pioneer Park, a five-minute walk from the beach.

3. Best Spot for Canada Goose Shots: Granville Island

Two goslings bask in magic-hour light on Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C.

A photographic visit to Vancouver would not be complete without a Canadian goose shot. And Vancouver’s Granville Island is one of the best places to get up close and personal with our proud and sometimes a little hissy Canadian birds. Behind the Kids Market is a beautiful pond, where the geese are quite tame and will allow you to get quite close to them to take pictures. Just be forewarned, if one lunges a beak in your direction, book it, because those geese will bite! In May and early June, you may be lucky enough to spot some baby goslings on the island.

4. Best Spot for Flower and Foliage Shots: Queen Elizabeth Park

Abstract of leaf with raindrops, Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver, B.C.

No matter what time of year you visit, Queen Elizabeth Park’s public gardens are spectacular for capturing flower and foliage pictures. I am not an experienced botanist, so I can’t list all the different sub-species of Pteridophyta you may find in the park. However, I can tell you that you will find beautiful colours, textures and a diverse range of plant life to photograph, especially if you are interested in macro photography.

5. Best Spot for Marine Life Shots: Vancouver Aquarium

Tank o’ Jelly Fish, Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver, B.C.

Amid the towering trees of Stanley Park, you will find a true photographic gem, the Vancouver Aquarium. Even young shutterbugs will find plenty of great fish, dolphins, seals and beluga whales to photograph here. Spend hours getting creative with shots of jelly fish or head outside to capture shots of playful otters and sea lions. It’s a bit tricky shooting through glass, so remember to not use your flash and try to minimize glare using a circular polarizing filter.

Whether you are visiting Vancouver for the first time or have lived in the city all your life, I encourage you to get out your camera and start exploring these stunning locations. You never know what spectacular shot you will take in the process!

Tags: Beaches, Cities, photography, Vancouver