Some very well done "door" shots Teacher!!!

Here are what I believe are the top ten photographic attractions in Vancouver from the perspective of a local photographer:

1. Grouse Mountain which overlooks the city and accessible by large gondola from North Vancouver.
2. Whistler, BC, bout an hour north accessible by bus or car. It is spectacular as is the drive.
3. Stanley Park in the centre of the city, which is accessible by walking, bus or car. If you take a car to the park, remember to buy a parking ticket from the roadside vending stations. The park is 1000 acres of pristine land/park surrounded by ocean, has a world class aquarium and zoo and it leads you to the magnificent Lions Gate Bridge.
4. Lions Gate Bridge, simply do not miss walking it and photographing from on top.
5. Downtown Eastside. This is what some call a "shady" end of town. Lots of folks who would have liked more from life, but, somehow happy (more or less). It has its detractors and challenges, but is a window into a truly unique, colourful and exciting culture that is difficult to replicate anywhere. Take a basic street camera that is low key to not draw attention or stand back with a long lens. The folks will leave you alone if you respect their privacy and oh yes, I recommend you go during the day. BTW, this trip takes you through a most colourful Chinatown that is adjacent to Main & Hastings (one of the most celebrated intersections in North America).
6. Chinatown, It was one of the largest in North America at one time as it was the hub for immigration back in the day when the Chinese literally built the trans Canadian railway so many years ago. It is unique and chock-full of photo ops.
7. YVR is Vancouver's International Airport and is available by car, bus or the unique Sky Train system. It is till accessible enough that you can stand very near one end of a most used runway for photo opportunities.
8. Sky Train, with stations available all over the city. Swoop silently above the city (and in one neat tunnel) photographing how Vancouver lives by both day and night.
9. The Sears Tower revolving restaurant. Once an hour it completes its totally scenic 360 degree view of the city. Wide-open for photos, especially at night.
10. Downtown Vancouver is resplendant with new buildings clothed in glass and other reflective surfaces that interject one another making for some really unique vertical photography opportunities. If this doesn't interest you, head over to Granville Island, by bus, car or better yet pedestrian ferry caught form the West-End in the heart of the city for a morning experience of a totally different small scale culture with its shops, restaurants and many art studios where some of the best artists can be seen at work. Or, maybe the top of Queen Elizabeth Park in the residential heart of the city, accessible by car and bus, for a shot of Vancouver framed by the North Shore Mountains and Pacific Ocean, or an hour or two in Yale Town which enjoys a youthful and vibrant culture on the shore of Burrard Inlet (ocean). Or maybe Gas Town, that tenaciously holds on to it's 150 year old culture and architecture (adjacent to the Downtown Eastside.

I tried to limit my recommendations to ten top spots, but as you can see there are far too many in Vancouver to limit it to ten. I have enjoyed the Rocky Mountaineer as well and am certain it will live up to its excellent reputation. You are about to take a trip of a lifetime, so have your batteries charged, lens cap off and shutter-finger poised for action!!!!

Bon Voyage!!!

Here are what I believe are the top ten photographic attractions in Vancouver from the perspective of a local photographer:

1. Grouse Mountain which overlooks the city and accessible by large gondola from North Vancouver.
2. Whistler, BC, bout an hour north accessible by bus or car. It is spectacular as is the drive.
3. Stanley Park in the centre of the city, which is accessible by walking, bus or car. If you take a car to the park, remember to buy a parking ticket from the roadside vending stations. The park is 1000 acres of pristine land/park surrounded by ocean, has a world class aquarium and zoo and it leads you to the magnificent Lions Gate Bridge.
4. Lions Gate Bridge, simply do not miss walking it and photographing from on top.
5. Downtown Eastside. This is what some call a "shady" end of town. Lots of folks who would have liked more from life, but, somehow happy (more or less). It has its detractors and challenges, but is a window into a truly unique, colourful and exciting culture that is difficult to replicate anywhere. Take a basic street camera that is low key to not draw attention or stand back with a long lens. The folks will leave you alone if you respect their privacy and oh yes, I recommend you go during the day. BTW, this trip takes you through a most colourful Chinatown that is adjacent to Main & Hastings (one of the most celebrated intersections in North America).
6. Chinatown, It was one of the largest in North America at one time as it was the hub for immigration back in the day when the Chinese literally built the trans Canadian railway so many years ago. It is unique and chock-full of photo ops.
7. YVR is Vancouver's International Airport and is available by car, bus or the unique Sky Train system. It is till accessible enough that you can stand very near one end of a most used runway for photo opportunities.
8. Sky Train, with stations available all over the city. Swoop silently above the city (and in one neat tunnel) photographing how Vancouver lives by both day and night.
9. The Sears Tower revolving restaurant. Once an hour it completes its totally scenic 360 degree view of the city. Wide-open for photos, especially at night.
10. Downtown Vancouver is resplendant with new buildings clothed in glass and other reflective surfaces that interject one another making for some really unique vertical photography opportunities. If this doesn't interest you, head over to Granville Island, by bus, car or better yet pedestrian ferry caught form the West-End in the heart of the city for a morning experience of a totally different small scale culture with its shops, restaurants and many art studios where some of the best artists can be seen at work. Or, maybe the top of Queen Elizabeth Park in the residential heart of the city, accessible by car and bus, for a shot of Vancouver framed by the North Shore Mountains and Pacific Ocean, or an hour or two in Yale Town which enjoys a youthful and vibrant culture on the shore of Burrard Inlet (ocean). Or maybe Gas Town, that tenaciously holds on to it's 150 year old culture and architecture (adjacent to the Downtown Eastside.

I tried to limit my recommendations to ten top spots, but as you can see there are far too many in Vancouver to limit it to ten. I have enjoyed the Rocky Mountaineer as well and am certain it will live up to its excellent reputation. You are about to take a trip of a lifetime, so have your batteries charged, lens cap off and shutter-finger poised for action!!!!

Bon Voyage!!!

I have a Nikon D800 with the "Trinity" lens, a Fuji XT2, A Fuji X100S and a Sony like yours. Guess which is always with me? The Fuji X100 S!!! Size is all subjective. It is large compared to the Sony, but tiny compared to the DSLR. I think its magic is in it size, superb lens (35 MM eqv), IQ, built-in flash and leaf shutter. Street and people photography are its absolute strengths. I have yet to miss a people first-time shot yet. This camera is consistently capable of picking off people shots with absolute accuracy and superb fill-flash. Maybe rent one for the day??? Enjoy...

Thx so much! Gotta go now!!!

Have it & love it for those times where a quick workflow is needed. The clarity feature is really hard to beat for IQ and speed!

LUMINAR is the way to go.... Very inexpensive, very easy to use and great rendering...

Amazingly, some folks have had much better luck with this lens. Rockwell thinks it is the bee's knees while others on the forum denigrate it for its lack of clarity. Go figure!

Light weight medium zoom, 24-70 or 18-55 and don't forget a fast (1.4) 35 or 50 for dark indoor shooting or night shooting. For me, weight is more of a factor than reach. After a long day carting a camera around, too many or too heavy is a challenge I can do without these days. Bon Voyage...