Category Archives: Historical

Stanley Park

Posted on 10/18/2014 by Jens

Stanley Park is in downtown Vancouver and surrounded by the Pacific ocean. The land was originally used by aboriginal people for thousands of years. It was later turned into Vancouver’s first park when the city incorporated in 1886. The park was named after Lord Stanley, a British politician who had been appointed governor general. While I was exploring the park the clouds parted for a short period of time creating these heavenly beams of sunlight. It was wonderful to see, but difficult to capture the beauty with a digital camera.

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Along the Fraser River

Posted on 09/28/2014 by Jens

I was up early this morning to take images at Finn Slough which was founded by Finnish settlers who came to Richmond in the 1880s. Most of these residents made a good living from fishing and became local landowners. I always find something interesting to photograph and this morning was no exception.

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The Orpheum

Posted on 08/26/2014 by Jens

The Orpheum is a grand old theatre in downtown Vancouver that was built by the Scottish architect Marcus Priteca, which officially opened on November 7, 1927 as a vaudeville house. It was the biggest theatre in Canada when it opened, with three thousand seats and it cost $1.25 million to construct. I was fortunate to take a tour of the theatre which has huge and beautiful crystal chandeliers and the original Wurlitzer organ.

Posted in British Columbia, Historical, Inspiring, Summer | Leave a comment

Point Atkinson Battery

Posted on 05/24/2014 by Jens

During World War II a Lower Mainland Defense System was built to protect the port of Vancouver from enemy raids. Between Point Atkinson (North) and Point Grey (South) ran an imaginary line called the examination line. This marked off the harbour, all ship traffic beyond this point had to be inspected and authorized. There was a gun battery at Point Atkinson and also at Point Grey where the Museum of Anthropology now stands. The barracks that used to house the gunners at Point Atkinson are still there and are now part of Lighthouse Park. The images I took below shows the battery overlooking the Narrows which was built in 1942. As I hiked back to my vehicle I heard the distinct call of a Barred owl. It was a nice evening to be outside exploring with my camera.

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Spring Run-Off

Posted on 05/17/2014 by Jens

The Cleveland Dam is a concrete dam at the head of the Capilano River in North Vancouver, that holds back Capilano Lake, also known as Capilano reservoir. Part of the Capilano River Regional Park, it is not used for generating hydroelectricity, but rather for storing a portion of the Lower Mainland’s drinking water. It was started in 1951 and completed in 1954, and is named after Ernest Cleveland, first chief commissioner of the Greater Vancouver Water District.

Unlike the rest of Canada, we didn’t receive a lot of snow this Winter. Right now the snowpack in the mountains is melting and a large volume of water is flowing over the dam.

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Chinese New Year

Posted on 02/17/2013 by Jens

Each year in February there is the Chinese New Year Parade and it’s often raining, but this year it was just cloudy. The colours, costumes, firecrackers and lion dances make it a wonderful event for photographers. It is the year of the snake which could mean a year of changes. Gung Hay Fat Choy!

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Classical Chinese Garden

Posted on 03/17/2012 by Jens

The weather today was cloudy with sunny breaks and I decided to take some images in a classical Chinese garden. The garden is based on the harmony of four main elements: rock, water, plants, and architecture. Together, these four elements combine to create a breathtaking experience of perfect balance, yin and yang. The weathered limestone rocks, jade green water, mystical plants and architecture are in balance to create harmony.

” Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the places and moments that take our breath away. “

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Elfin Lakes

Posted on 10/02/2011 by Jens

In the Autumn I always find time to hike up to Elfin Lakes in Garabaldi Provincial Park. During the summer and on weekends this trail is very busy with dayhikers, mountain bikers and those people who are overnighting in the Elfin Lakes shelter which has bunks for 34 people. I usually hike the 22 km’s and 600 m of vertical in a single day with time for a leisurely lunch.

The trail is actually an old access road to the Diamond Head Lodge which was built in the 1940’s. Joan Matthews and two Norwegian brothers, Emil and Ottar Brandvold, from West Vancouver, built the lodge for backcountry hiking and skiing. The lodge was closed in 1972 and recently disassembled by BC Parks.

The first part of the hike winds it’s way up through tall Hemlock trees. At about the halfway point you reach the subalpine and Red Heather Meadows which are a beautiful colour in the Fall. This area is also popular with black bears who like to feed on the berries. The second part of the hike is my favourite as it runs along the Paul Ridge and you get spectacular views of Atwell Peak, Mount Garabaldi, Opal Cone, Diamond Head and Mamquam Mountain. It was a great day although the bugs were a bit of a nuisance.

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Art Deco

Posted on 06/26/2011 by Jens

One of my favourite structures is the Marine building. Vancouver’s Art Deco masterpiece was designed by the architects McCarter and Nairne. When it was completed in 1930 it was the tallest building in the British Empire. The building’s terra cotta exterior is richly detailed and meant to look as if the building had risen from the sea and was still encrusted in marine animals, coral and kelp. Art Deco is an ornamental style with lots of details and wonderful symmetry. I have read that it was based on mathematical geometric shapes and it represented elegance, glamour, functionality and modernity. Whenever I walk by the building with my camera I need to take some images.

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Finn Slough – Historical Fishing Community

Posted on 03/23/2011 by Jens

Every now and then when it looks like there is going to be a beautiful sunset I will visit the Historical Fishing Community called Finn Slough. It is located in Richmond, British Columbia on an intertidal marsh right next to the Fraser River.

People have been living in Finn Slough since 1890 when a group of Finnish fisherman arrived in the Richmond area. During this time many of the people worked in the salmon fishery and at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery. The small collection of float houses has such charm and it is a wonderful place for photographers. When I arrived I was surprised to see two adult Mute Swans in the water and I could hear the distinct “kleek-kik-ik-ik”, “kak-kak-kak” call of a Bald Eagle.