Shooting at Night in Vancouver

Shelley-Ann · Feb 4, 2009

Hello!
I'm off to Vancouver again for business, and I hope to get some time to do some shooting.

I'm looking to do some night shots. Can anyone suggest where I can get some spectacular views?

Thanks.

Dinesh · Feb 4, 2009

If he is out on parole, contact John Callow (jdcallow).

jd callow · Feb 4, 2009

Shelley,
What is it that you have in mind? There are vistas that reach across the water (false creek especially), but mostly Vancouver is like any other city on the water. It does have wonderful predawn and early evening light and the city as a whole is very attractive. let me know where your interests lay.

Toffle · Feb 4, 2009

I've only been there once, and didn't get that much time to do any real shooting, but I would suggest the following.

It's an interesting city, and it has a character all its own. The junkies play all day and night if you are into street photography, and the homeless seem to all take part in a wide-scale recycling operation every evening.

I got a few interesting shots down on Granville, near Tom Lee a few years ago. Not exactly "spectacular views", but some very gritty atmosphere. I would think you could get some nice shots of Lions Gate and the industrial landscape on the far side there. The area around Stanley Park and Robson street would be interesting as well. There are some nice cityscapes there with all the new condos etc. that would look quite nice reflected in the evening waters across Coal Harbour. Granville Island was quite a treat when I was there, but I don't know what it's like in the evenings.

Bear in mind that it's winter, which is not the best time to be getting the flavour of the city. You won't be dealing with Ontario's snow at any rate. Let us know how it goes.

Cheers,

Shelley-Ann · Feb 5, 2009

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.
I took a wrong turn onto East Hastings the last time I was there, so I think I'll pass on the "street photography" for now. It was quite a shock.
JD.. I was staying near that Waterfront complex (Off West Hastings) the last time I was there, so I got some shots from the tower, so I'm looking for something else.

Let me think about it a bit more and pm you.

jd callow · Feb 5, 2009

Good Enough let me know and I'll see if i can't find some locations for you. I've been spending my mornings shooting street scenes at dawn it has been very good.

Dennis S · Feb 6, 2009

Take the sea bus across to Londsdale Quay is nice lookin back to Vancouver @ night

katphood · Feb 6, 2009

It's been a very long time, but I believe the happening downtown area is called Gastown or something.

Dennis S · Feb 6, 2009

Yup, Gastown. Named after Gassy Jack. His statue is @ the east side of Gas Town.

Dennis S · Feb 7, 2009

It's an interesting city, and it has a character all its own. The junkies play all day and night if you are into street photography, and the homeless seem to all take part in a wide-scale recycling operation every evening.
Quite true indeed.

j_landecker · Feb 7, 2009

You might try Granville Island (at the foot of the Granville St bridge across from downtown).

telkwa · Feb 7, 2009

dances_w_clouds said:
Take the sea bus across to Londsdale Quay is nice lookin back to Vancouver @ night

Here's a 5 year old version of part of that view, taken from the sea bus. It can look quite a lot nicer than what I've captured.
http://nealcurrie.com/media/van_night/large/08.jpg

Shelley-Ann · Feb 7, 2009

Gastown is very close to my hotel, so I'll try some shots in the evening (maybe on the first night when I'm not so worn down from work).

Toffle · Feb 7, 2009

Shelley-Ann said:
Gastown is very close to my hotel, so I'll try some shots in the evening (maybe on the first night when I'm not so worn down from work).

The big clock in Gastown should be a very cool subject in low light. As I recall, it should be somewhat shrouded in steam. (or is that some other place I'm thinking of? Getting old... they say the memory is the second thing to go... :rolleyes: )

Cheers,

jd callow · Feb 7, 2009

It is a steam driven clock and could be cool at night. For entertainment district shots at night Gas town is good, granville by Smithe (or is it smythe?) would probably be better and English bay may work as well. There are a lot of street side grocer's that stay open into the dark hours, all of the hotels and many of the offices are lite at night (at least at street level). I've fallen in love with the older apartment buildings. One thing missing in Vancouver are the neon signs that made many of Fred Herzog's images of Vancouver sing.

Dennis S · Feb 7, 2009

Sorry Toffle I didn't mean to steal your words it was suppose to show up as a quote from you when you were writing about the homeless people going all out doing a recycling program. Thats one of the things that some of my relatives said to me too when they were out here last summer. And yes it is spelled Smythe. You can see how Vancouver is really trying to go green by slicing down all the trees on Granville. The skytain stations on the new line are not finished yet so that might do for some rough shots. Go down to Yale town and False Creek that is all nicely fixed up. That should be good for a few shots. And the weather is going to be cold so nice clear contrasty shots. (contrasy should be a word or is it ?)

Dennis S · Feb 7, 2009

telkwa said:
Here's a 5 year old version of part of that view, taken from the sea bus. It can look quite a lot nicer than what I've captured.
http://nealcurrie.com/media/van_night/large/08.jpg

Yes that definitley needs to be shot again

jfg-pbs · Feb 9, 2009

If you're staying near Gastown then you have lots of opportunities nearby. North Shore/Seabus, Yaletown, and Granville Street/Island are all easily accessable. There's also Robson Street(street/fashion) and Stanley Park(urban nature), and as long as you don't drift too far up East Hastings-south of Terminal Station, around BC Place, has some really great industrial scenery.

Shelley-Ann · Feb 10, 2009

I managed to shoot that clock in gastown last night. I'm going to one of the local film labs here (if I get time) so I'll post the results in my gallery.

Shelley-Ann · Feb 22, 2009

I've posted three shots in my gallery which I think are decent. I'm disappointed about the overexposure, but I guess it isn't bad considering that it was the first time I used tungsten film.

Shooting at Night in Vancouver

Shelley-Ann

Dinesh

jd callow

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Toffle

Shelley-Ann

jd callow

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Dennis S

katphood

Dennis S

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j_landecker

telkwa

Shelley-Ann

Toffle

jd callow

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Dennis S

Dennis S

jfg-pbs

Shelley-Ann

Shelley-Ann

Shooting at Night in Vancouver

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