An Overcast Day in Vancouver BC

I visited Vancouver, BC, a couple of weeks ago. It’s only a 90 minute ferry ride and a 30 minute drive from where I’m staying on Vancouver Island.

For most of my life, I haven’t had much reason to go over there except the occasional work meeting or perhaps a concert. But now my sister lives there so I’ve gone over to visit a couple of times.

I used to hate going over there. You have to take multiple bridges to get anywhere and the traffic is unbelievable. It seemed like every time I went I would end up in a traffic jam!

But my sister lives near downtown, just a couple of blocks from where I made this image on False Creek one cloudy afternoon.

False Creek, Vancouver, by Anne McKinnell
Please click the image to view a larger version.

From her place you can walk anywhere:

  • to Granville Island where you can buy all your fresh fruits and veggies, be entertained by street buskers, and enjoy some fantastic restaurants and pubs;
  • you can walk along False Creek and buy fish straight from the dock;
  • you can walk to downtown;
  • you can even walk to at least three different beaches!

It seems like a totally different place from what I remember visiting people who lived in the suburbs.

I made this image by taking three exposures, one for the highlights, one for the mid-tones, and one for the shadows and combining them to create a high dynamic range image. Then I further processed it by bringing out the details with my favourite new plugin, Topaz Clarity.

If you think this looks nice, wait until you see what Vancouver looks like on a sunny day!!

I have some sunny day images and some night shots from Vancouver coming up on the blog soon.

Please share!

18 thoughts on “An Overcast Day in Vancouver BC”

  1. Hi I came across your website via google. I am travelling to Vancouver in the next couple weeks and can not wait to photograph the landscape although I am afraid my pictures will not be that great because of the rainy season. Any suggestions on snapping the best pictures or where in Vancouver should I go to take the best pictures of the city?

    1. Hi Dawn, actually this is a good time to photograph Vancouver because the clouds will make things dramatic. As long as it isn’t entirely overcast of course! Two good spots for photographing the city are from False Creek (where I made this photo) and from Stanley Park. Have a great time!

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  3. I love Vancouver but can appreciate that getting there for you can be a challenge. It is easier for you that for me coming from the east coast ;-). Excellent shot Anne.

    1. Hi Len, no, it’s not a challenge at all, it’s just a short boat ride away! I just rarely go because of all the traffic, but it sure makes a big difference when you don’t have to drive. Thanks for your comments!

  4. Love your work Anne, very inspiring stuff. Congratulations on your life transition and what can only be described as beautiful, beautiful work.

    1. Thanks Michael, I think cloudy days can often make for more interesting images as long as there is some definition in the clouds. Thanks for your visit and comments!

  5. Hi Anne, I love the process you have done with taking the image on the 3 different settings, I also use this a lot and it sure does make a nice HD. Cities can be daunting but exciting at the same time aye. Cheers Judy

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