Thursday, February 22, 2007

Yaletown Vancouver


Vancouver has seen some dramatic changes over the past 20 years with perhaps the most stunning being the transformation of the gigantic empty lot that was the site of Expo '86 into what has become known as Yaletown.

Yaletown is a pretty nifty corner of downtown Vancouver filling the area east of Burrard Street and south to False Creek. It has retained much of that area's older heritage with many of the 50 and 100 year old heritage buildings being converted into studio sized work and living spaces. The area reminds me of the old town quarter of Montreal with the same urban planning ideas at work here in Vancouver. Keep the form of the old (the exteriors) but make the buildings functional given the needs of the 21st century. Form complimenting function rather than struggling with it.

The area is also wonderfully post-modern (aka post 20th century) in that it's home to thousands of Vancouverites who can easily walk or bike to work either downtown or just across False Creek to the south. Such a great way to lower anyone's carbon footprint and, by turning the morning commute into pure pleasure, lower anyone's stress level.

The photo in this post was taken on the south side of False Creek looking north into Yaletown the morning of November 1st 2006. I really like the ripple effect of the buildings in the water as well as the brilliant splash of fall red compliments of the trees on the far eastern edge of Granville Island. The red was pumped somewhat using Capture NX and the extra boost adds a nice centering spot in the photograph to anchor the viewers initial attention. Once you're drawn to the rich red your eyes then simultaneously take in both the top and bottom of the photograph (the buildings and their reflections) providing a nice marriage of elements - art in motion - form and function - technology and nature.

A great shot and one that I'm ->.<- this close to getting enlarged and professionally framed. "Time for some new wall art." as my friend JB used to say.

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